Microsoft's new plan. $99 system (360) & two year contracts.

[Gregory]

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/2/299...sidized-bundle

Microsoft is planning to launch a $99 Xbox console package with a monthly subscription as early as next week, according to our sources. The software giant will offer the 4GB console with a Kinect sensor at its range of Microsoft Stores in the US, subsidized with a monthly cost of $15. We're told that the two-year subscription will provide access to the Xbox Live Gold service and possibly some additional streaming content from cable providers or sports package providers. Customers who sign-up for the deal will also be covered under a two-year warranty.

There will be an early termination fee for those wishing to break the contract ahead of its two-year duration, and we understand that Microsoft will position the package as a competitor to Apple TV, Roku, and PlayStation 3. For those buying the bundle now and getting the cheapest two-year Xbox Live Gold option, that's about $299.00 + $120 = $420 vs. $459 over a duration of two years. With E3 2012 on the horizon, and Microsoft working on a "Woodstock" music service — it's clear that the company wants to ensure as many people as possible have an Xbox in their living rooms.

Boy, this sounds great, especially since they're supposed to be showing even more advertisements? Shouldn't paying to play online have zero adverts and none of this ridiculous shit? The savings of $30 over two years is negligible (especially if you have to cancel) when the only thing worth having a 360 is how well the multiplayer actually works compared to Sony & Nintendo. Even then, it's full of assholes and people that shouldn't be breeding (especially with my mother). Glad I cancelled my subscription.

Thoughts?

[Reno]

I have no reason to pay any attention to the 360 other than wanting to play Tales of Vesperia eventually.

[Julia Chang]

sheesh. I knew they were bringing a new Xbox 360 lite console out but I read it was next year but paying $15 a month seems ridiculous.

[Starcry]

I'm just glad I got mine before this crap.

[blutonium92]

Wish companies would stop trying to prolong the life of there ancient consoles. Develop some new ones for gods sake!

Who the hell wants to play a 360, shite graphics and poor FPS, slow loading times ect. Does my head in.

[Reno]

Yeah those greedy companies should definitely make a new console every week.

[Starcry]

Wish companies would stop trying to prolong the life of there ancient consoles. Develop some new ones for gods sake!

Who the hell wants to play a 360, shite graphics and poor FPS, slow loading times ect. Does my head in.

Why not just buy a powerful PC and play on that until the company's bring out something new. The current gen (Apart from the Wii) is far from ancient and is fine as it is. Also last E3 they announced an upgrade for the Wii (Wii U) There have also been whispers of a new Xbox and PlayStation... but there is a disturbing rumour going around that they will lock out used games on them. But who knows.

For the record - I VERY much enjoy playing on my 360. Sure Dragon Age: Origins got a shitty port (On PS3 as well...) but I feel comfortable on it. I have about 20 games in the collection, a few of them "Niche" games. I personally find ANY slow loading and most problems are usually solved when you (Like the PS3) install it to hdd. I think it has become such a everyday thing that when I buy a new game, right off the bat I install it to the hdd. (While it is installing I grab food to eat, stuff to drink and do a quick tidy up.)

As for poor FPS - is that "Frames Per Second" or "First Person Shooter"?

If it's frames - Then you are looking at the WRONG console. The 360 has next to NO frame rate issues. If anything it has always been the PS3 versions. (Something about the processing cores not being used probably.)

If it's first person - Then I am confused. The community is just as bad on both consoles. Plus they both have their problems when it comes to glitches.

I am not sure which gen you grew up with, but I dread to know considering you call the current gen "Ancient." But I am guessing you are from the new gen that pressures publishers into releasing incomplete games just to make you happy.

If only you knew what goes behind the scenes. It takes YEARS to make a stable console. Even with all the current "Advanced" technology we have. (Every gen has "Advanced" tech. Doesn't stop them taking almost 4 years to develop a new console.)

So I don't think Microsoft are doing this to "prolong a dying console" they are doing it for the same reason EA forced Bioware to release Dragon Age 2 while incomplete. Greed.

[blutonium92]

Why not just buy a powerful PC and play on that until the company's bring out something new. The current gen (Apart from the Wii) is far from ancient and is fine as it is. Also last E3 they announced an upgrade for the Wii (Wii U) There have also been whispers of a new Xbox and PlayStation... but there is a disturbing rumour going around that they will lock out used games on them. But who knows.

Well iv always been a PC gamer, but i do enjoy consoles. Alot of people dont notice but after your used to playing games at a steady 60fps and swap over to a console the its terrible! I admit not all games on the consoles are like this but a fair few are dropping well down in the frames per second and the loading times being diar still stand (playing FF XII-2 even installed on the HDD has loading times long enough for you to fall asleep!).

As for what gen of consoles i grew up with well i started with SNES, Megadrive ect. I mean the 360 came out in 2005! by the time they release the next console in "2013" thatd be a life span of 8 years! If it takes 4 years to develop a console we should have had the "720" three years ago.

[Starcry]

Ah that explains it all. I've known a fair few people who are PC gamers who just happen to go onto consoles for the hell of it. Sure I understand the strange feeling from smooth to bumpy, but it is what us console gamers have been used to for a long time now.

I know some games still can be shitty these days. But that is mostly due to the studio's shitty/lazy coding. (Amongst other things...)

As for time frame. Well they have to wait a few years for the console they bought out to do well before going onto next one. Not sure if you remember, but the 360 spent the first 2 years of it's life in a scandal. So by the 3rd year they would of been working on a new one. Which will hopefully be announced at E3 this year.

[Julia Chang]

@Starcry - that's what I heard, that they're gonna make us download games on demand for the next Xbox console. Dunno if it's true or not.

[Starcry]

Well they can kiss my ass if they do that.

[Julia Chang]

agreed there. I don't like the idea of a console having to have digital downloads in order to play games. I prefer consoles that you can play discs on.

[MetalGearDan]

Paying monthly for a 360 i'd rather pay that for a pay monthly mobile phone contract.