Xbox 360 Arcade Unboxed

Thanks to Emanuel, an intrepid tipster who went above and beyond the call of duty, Engdget managed to get a full unboxing of the Xbox 360 Arcade before Microsoft has even been able to send out a press release about the thing. Whenever the console officially lands, you can expect to pick up the hard drive free console for $279.99, which includes a 256MB Memory Card, a Wireless controller, an HDMI port minus the cable, and a disc that includes copies of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Demo, and Uno.

Check out the full gallery after the jump.

[Omegasyde]

Umm. Sort of ironic that the game comes with XBL games being that if you wanted to get more XBL games would would need a harddrive.

The definitely should of sold this version of the console with halo 3, or something better to match Wii Sports.

[wageslave]

Halo 3 is a Mature rated title. You dont pack those in. Further, its the biggest game of the year -- why give it away?

Further, you dont need a HD to play Xbox LIVE titles. That is why they included the memory card.

[Close_Second]

Can you please explain how if someone purchased this package that they would not need a hard drive to download and play more XBLA games other than those provided on the CD?

To be honest, the core should now come with a 20GB HDD, the premium a 60GB HDD and the Elite can stay the same in terms of HDD capacity.

@PlastixBlue: You have to be kidding - I hardly expect a casual gamer to have to micromanage their downloads like that. Yes, it is an option but not a very good one especially when you consider that the average size of XBLA games has been increasing. One of the games last week was 80MB in size alone! If this is the strategy MS wanted to follow then they should have released it with a 1GB card as minimum!

[plastixblue]

They included a 256mb memory card. You can delete games to make more room and redownload them again at no cost.

[Jeremy Gerard]

They should have cracked it open! I wanna see what kind of guts it has, 65nm or what?

[Omegasyde]

What do you do when you want to play more than 2 XBL games? Let alone you still need the memory card for other useful stuff like you know...
......Saving games for instance?

Gamers shouldn't complain about any price cut or deal for ANY SYSTEM.
But it seems that Microsoft could of added alot more for that price.

I know not to look a gift horse in the mouth, But damn this horse is ugly.

[unrealchris]

they should just have added a hard drive and a game

[MrWeymes]

are hard drives? And how do you save your games without a hard drive?

[ThaGeNeCySt]

lol @ people disagreeing with you for asking a question. Anyways... 20gb HDD is $99.99 & the 120gb HDD is $179.99... without a harddrive, you save stuff to a memory card

[Makroyale]

There were rumors that games were going to start coming out requiring a HD...

I guess they're expecting these to compete with the Wii and then when the dust settles they'll bring out their games requiring a HD and tell the consumer to "Pay up and buy a HD dummy, you should've bought a Wii Bia".

[power of Green]

If you don't plan on buying it you shouldn't worry about it. To almost all of the above. Perfect console for casual gamers nice family console for people that do not wan't to spend lots of cash on a toy and do not go online but if they do change their minds they can always upgrade.

[XBOTSMUSTDIE]

It's the xbots way....You don't have to pay for xbox live, you don't have to buy HDDVD, you don't have to buy wifi, you don't have buy HDMI, you don't have to buy Harddrive, you don't have to buy wireless controller it's only optional if you later want to get them, M$ doesn't forces their fans by giving us options. Can you got get any more pathetic...Next XBOX M$ is going to charge you guys by hour to play video games and you will still have the same answer, M$ is not forcing you to pay.....There is a sucker born every day

[Close_Second]

...on the 360 are available from Xbox Live Arcade. What do casual gamers do if they cannot download more XBLA games?

@XbotsMustDie: You don't strike me as wanting to own a 360 so please take your opinion and f**k off. Why do trolls like you feel the need to share your opinion when its not wanted or needed. I dare say if you stood on your hands and passed wind that you'd probably garner more respect. F**king fanboys...

[Makroyale]

I'd tell them to buy a Wii...

Who the hell wants to play Uno. I know they're targeting casual gamers here, but the Wii already owns that market.

[Omegasyde]

Not to sound like a "Sony Pony", but I strongly disagree.

Uno is like the only family friendly one. The others are rated "G" but Microsoft could of picked up better ones like the poker game.

And it is still 20 more dollars than a Wii which Nintendo is known for being more kid-friendly(?) and it comes with Wii sports which better than all of those XBL games combined. It would of been smarter to make the premium with a < 10gig hard drive for $299.

[power of Green]

You fanboys are pointless. I'd rather ignor you then read your posts. lol Its obvious you're not going to buy this SKU. You don't speak for the demographic its aimed at! what so ever, matter of fact most of you are Sony fanboys. Your opinions are not even valid in regards to reasons why people should think this SKU is flawed when you are hardcore fans of another console and came in here to talk it down.

"What do casual gamers do if they cannot download more XBLA games?"

^^ play disc games and purchase more arcade packs on disc obviously the "arcade games" are not DLC in the first place hence the "game disc" the MeM-cards are for games saves etc and the MEM-cards are aimed at a certain demographic(none hardcores +). The good thing is people can do what they wan't.

These consoles at least on the MSFT side are sold based on intended use(whats great is you can build them all up the same). If the 20 gig HDD was added on MSFT would have to add cost defeating the purpose of the Prem and Arcade Sku marketing stradegy in bringing all the prices down.

I think the foaming at the mouth views are based from knowing the 360 is to close to the mass market range.

Now off to ignoring people named XBOT etc.

[Close_Second]

...but the 360 does not have an abundance of what I would consider casual games. XBLA has always been pushed by MS as a "casual gamers" paradise but you really do need an HDD to exploit it.

I do however think this SKU is pretty good value for money when all things are considered. Now, if only MS could lower the price of the 20GB HDD as well.

[Makroyale]

The Halo version...

And yes, I DO prefer the PS3 to the Xbox, but I'm just giving my honest opinion. If I bought that product and they started to release games that required a HD, I would be VERY upset.

Coming from someone who bought an xbox, then a $99 wireless adaptor, then another $50 Video adapter just so I could connect HDMI to my TV and then an optical connection going to my receiver that I didn't upgrade yet to HDMI yet.

[tomfoolery]

Face it kiddos,
you're getting smoked by your competitors this gen ,and you can't take it ,
and to let you know dumb arses, I'm loving every minute of it.
You deserve it you Sonyphony suckers.

You people need to take off your Sony knee pads,wipe off your mouths,
shake off your inferiority complexes,and be REAL GAMERS...........
..................JUMP IN or Wii up boys.

Just trying to help out,because I think you PS numbnuts really
need it(help that is).
Tom.

Edit to sucksSonyweenie below.
Ummmmmm.....were you talking,and if you were........shut yer pwned pie hole.
tOM

[riksweeney]

"REAL GAMERS"? On the Xbox 360? Are you kidding me?

The original Xbox didn't have a single innovative title and neither does the 360, they just peddle the same tired FPS / Racing genres.

[power of Green]

Is correct.

You have the choice, people wanting to record and watch HD programing do not order the standard black non HD with no HDD cable set-top box they pick up or order the silver ones. lol Get what you need sheesh.

[Makroyale]

So far M$ has done a good job and people have bought their products. They're definitely in the right price range at $279.99, something many families can afford.

Maybe you're right... I guess if a kid had his mind set at playing Halo 3, an average income or maybe even low income family can pick this up and satisfy the brat.

[heavyarms]

Dont kid yourself, anyone that buys this is a sux-er!!! Be honest, would you buy this for your kids, hell no. I would get a premium. This is the suxer of all xbox's.

[tomfoolery]

sales speak so pretty much............you're lame buddy.

[nirwanda]

they had put a 2GB memory card in preloaded with live arcade demo's and a small handful of games

[ceedubya9]

Its an entry level 360 with a memory card and free arcade games. Its not intended to appeal to us hardcore gamers. Its more in line for those that don't spend time on net threads arguing about the console wars :). Actually, I think its a good idea. There are plenty of people who aren't in need of all of the Hard drive space, and just need something to play their new Madden on every year. As long as they can save their games, then its all good. For us hardcore gamers, this sku seems like a waste of time, but you have to remember that we only make up a small portion of the gaming population.

[G_CodeMonkey]

Bubbles for clarity! gCM

[duckman2470]

Incase you people did not read it correctly The arcade games are ONLY DEMOS, you know the same exact ones you get for FREE on live ..lol
This is only a Core 360 (NO HARDDRIVE) with a 256Mb memory card for game saves. These Cheesey Arcade DEMOS are located on the disc itself which means in order to play them you will have to insert the disc.

"a disc that includes demos of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship, and Uno."

What i find funny is that MS discontinued the original core system now they toss in a tiny memory card and a few demos and walla a new Core is born ..lol The Funniest part is that some of you Xbots think its a such a great deal,, lmao Five Demos and a Memory card hehehe...

ummm, Sorry to pop ur bubble but try clicking on View images , it brings you right to the news report which clearly states that there ALL DEMOS. here is the link http://www.engadget.com/200...
just incase you have trouble clicking on View images"

Also notice the picture of the back of the box which states "5 TRIAL GAMES" http://www.engadget.com/gal...

[ceedubya9]

The only demo it mentions is of the Pacman game. The rest are full games.

"Whenever the console officially lands, you can expect to pick up the hard drive free console for $279.99, which includes a 256MB Memory Card, a Wireless controller, an HDMI port minus the cable, and a disc that includes copies of Xbox LIVE Arcade games Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP DEMO, and Uno."

[ceedubya9]

Yeah, thanks duckman. I see it. Demoes and games are two different things. That makes the package a lot less attractive if you ask me. Thanks for setting me straight man.

[duckman2470]

you know what the sad part is, allot of people will just read the front of the box which says 5 games included, buy it thinking they can bring it home and play for awhile but find out the hardway that its only demos with like 1 level.

The other thing that ticks me off is the way MS is Trying to push there remaining defective stock off on consumers before they bring out the suposadly fixed/redesigned Falcon. They Disconinuted the Core system and just gave it a new name "xbox 360 arcade" deceiving most people into thinking its a new and impoved system when the fact is its just the old core defective stock with a memoy card and a few demos.

A responisble company would have pulled the stock off the shelfs and sell a new Redesigned Fixed version (aka the falcon) Not rename and continue to sell the old defective stock like MS is doing. This alone should open the eyes of anyone considering a 360.

I use to be a hardcore Xbox fan infact i was part of the original xbox live beta back in the day, i was a faithful customer until Feb of this year when i went through 2 360s both ROD, called MS and i was told to buy a elite or my live account and all content i bought on live (games, themes, expansions etc..) would be lost as my live account would be deleted if no activity is found within so many weeks. That was the last straw for me, I Went back to PC gaming.

Anyway after dealing with MS 1st hand this sort of deception really dont surprize me and im more then happy I Just sold everything and dont have to deal with them again. Belive it or not i was even offered a New 360 Free from a close friend who works for a major game developer and i refused it. Even for free i wouldnt go back to MS.

All i can do is give some solid advice to others thinking about buying a 360, WAIT Dont buy into there ploys and get stuck with a Defective gaming console, you will end up in a 3-red light repair loop you cant get out of. IF Your mind is set on buying a 360 Wait another year to see if the defective design has actualy been fixed with the newer falcon, Only then should anyone consider buying one.

[G_CodeMonkey]

1) It makes it more compelling for a mom/dad to look at it vs. Wii and stick it in their cart with a copy of Halo3. Plus, check out the branding on the front. Mom and Dad know the Uno and Pacman brands and likely have pleasant memories of them.

2) As far as DEMOS, it doesn't make sense. On a separate package (not the console box) but the included DVD box, it shows all five games "plus 5 trial games". If M$ only included the trials for these, where is the "plus??" -- it has to be full versions. In addition, previous Arcade packs were the full versions. They'd be shooting themselves in the foot with demos only (not that M$ fails to self-inflict every now and then).

Could I be wrong? Sure--wouldn't be the first time. But at this point I'd bet $$$ that in the end it will show they aren't demos but the full five games (plus five other demos). Somehow, I think the crossed out "copies"/demos won't be accurate. gCM

[ceedubya9]

Some say all demos, some say a few full games and some demoes, and others say all free games. If they are all demoes instead, then that would be a waste of time. We'll just have to wait for an official announcement to see what's up.

[Boon Tarkas]

But releasing this package without a hard drive is absolutely stupid. I feel sorry for anyone that mistakenly decides to pick this up.

[etownone]

you get a wireless controller this time.
you get an HDMI port
the new falcon 65cpu
a memory card to save you games
and 5 free live games...

for 279? compare that to the Wii...and you have a next gen HD gaming console that alot of parents might consider. There is a MASS MARKET of people out there that are CHEAP!! and more for CHEAPER to them always seems better. Although none of us would consider a 360 without a HDD...the CHEAP azz MASS MARKET will...

[Douglasp]

One of these for the only reason of putting a cheap streamer on my BR TV. Every other streamer cost 300 and don't play games. With this I get a streamer to my BR tv + 5 games so my son can play (he loves feeding frenzy and boom boom rocket) + 5 more trial games. Some of you really love to spin things around hu. I sometimes think either people are joking and if they are not joking they are dammm retarded.
http://www.engadget.com/gal...