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Taken from the Wired Newsletter.
Online retailers have begun taking advance orders for Microsoft's forthcoming Xbox gaming console, but some consumers are steamed at being forced to buy extra games and hardware that add hundreds of dollars to the price.
The Xbox, Microsoft's hot new gaming console, will hit store shelves Nov. 8 for $299. It will likely be on every kid's Christmas wish list, but will probably be back-ordered for months.
Last week, retailers started taking advance orders, but to get a console before the holidays, customers are being forced to buy bundles of extra games and hardware that almost double the price.
Online gaming merchants such as ToysRUs.com and EBWorld are not selling the $299 Xbox console alone.
Consumers must also buy at least three games, which are chosen by the retailer, not the customer, plus a spare controller, DVD remotes and other extras. One of the games must be a Microsoft title.
"I would like to have a choice in what games I buy," complained Richard Grimes of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who balked at the prices of the bundles. "Chances are if you buy a bundle, you will pay $50 for a game you don't want."
The cheapest Xbox bundle offered by online retailers is $499 -- $200 more than the suggested price of the console alone.
Gamestop's top bundle, called the Ultimate Bundle, which comes with 14 titles and an extended warranty, sells for a whopping $1,200.
And some of the bundles cost more than the price of the goods sold separately.
One of EBWorld's bundles, for example, charged $500 for goods that would have cost $490 had they been sold individually.
"There's few of the bundles out there where you break even, but a few are $25 or $50 more than if you buy the pieces separately, which is unnatural if you ask me," Grimes said.
Grimes said he wanted to buy just the console and a few items at his discretion.
EBWorld did not return several phone calls requesting comment.
ToysRUs.com said bundling policy benefited the consumers, and hardcore gamers prefer to shop this way.
"We've observed the vast majority of customers are buying accessories and titles with the console," said Jeanne Meyer, vice president of corporate communication for ToysRUs.com. "We think it makes sense because they save on shipping and handling and get it all in one fell swoop."
But the bundling policy is not determined by the retailers: It is Microsoft's idea.
Microsoft set the minimum requirements for the pre-order program: Merchants must sell one Microsoft game title and two third-party titles, plus one extra controller; which titles come with which bundle is decided by the retailers.
"The diversity of offerings from retailers represents what consumers have told us they want, namely the choice to reserve hardware, software, accessories and various combinations thereof," said James Bernard, PR manager for Xbox at Microsoft. "If someone really wants a choice, on day one they can buy a console and whatever games they please. (Bundling) gives them a choice beforehand to reserve an Xbox and a couple of games."
Bernard said the console will be sold as a stand-alone unit when it ships on November 8.
Online retailers have begun taking advance orders for Microsoft's forthcoming Xbox gaming console, but some consumers are steamed at being forced to buy extra games and hardware that add hundreds of dollars to the price.
The Xbox, Microsoft's hot new gaming console, will hit store shelves Nov. 8 for $299. It will likely be on every kid's Christmas wish list, but will probably be back-ordered for months.
Last week, retailers started taking advance orders, but to get a console before the holidays, customers are being forced to buy bundles of extra games and hardware that almost double the price.
Online gaming merchants such as ToysRUs.com and EBWorld are not selling the $299 Xbox console alone.
Consumers must also buy at least three games, which are chosen by the retailer, not the customer, plus a spare controller, DVD remotes and other extras. One of the games must be a Microsoft title.
"I would like to have a choice in what games I buy," complained Richard Grimes of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who balked at the prices of the bundles. "Chances are if you buy a bundle, you will pay $50 for a game you don't want."
The cheapest Xbox bundle offered by online retailers is $499 -- $200 more than the suggested price of the console alone.
Gamestop's top bundle, called the Ultimate Bundle, which comes with 14 titles and an extended warranty, sells for a whopping $1,200.
And some of the bundles cost more than the price of the goods sold separately.
One of EBWorld's bundles, for example, charged $500 for goods that would have cost $490 had they been sold individually.
"There's few of the bundles out there where you break even, but a few are $25 or $50 more than if you buy the pieces separately, which is unnatural if you ask me," Grimes said.
Grimes said he wanted to buy just the console and a few items at his discretion.
EBWorld did not return several phone calls requesting comment.
ToysRUs.com said bundling policy benefited the consumers, and hardcore gamers prefer to shop this way.
"We've observed the vast majority of customers are buying accessories and titles with the console," said Jeanne Meyer, vice president of corporate communication for ToysRUs.com. "We think it makes sense because they save on shipping and handling and get it all in one fell swoop."
But the bundling policy is not determined by the retailers: It is Microsoft's idea.
Microsoft set the minimum requirements for the pre-order program: Merchants must sell one Microsoft game title and two third-party titles, plus one extra controller; which titles come with which bundle is decided by the retailers.
"The diversity of offerings from retailers represents what consumers have told us they want, namely the choice to reserve hardware, software, accessories and various combinations thereof," said James Bernard, PR manager for Xbox at Microsoft. "If someone really wants a choice, on day one they can buy a console and whatever games they please. (Bundling) gives them a choice beforehand to reserve an Xbox and a couple of games."
Bernard said the console will be sold as a stand-alone unit when it ships on November 8.
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Turbonutter wrote:
> Barstewards.
That was to the original post.
> Barstewards.
That was to the original post.
Please guys, not the time. Emotions are high, just walk away.
Sorry?
Barstewards.
16 for the UK.
Wookiee, how many over here?
There were 12 games at launch for PS2 in Japan, 25 in the US.
Well, here's a list of US XBox launch titles:
NFL Fever 2002,
Project Gotham Racing,
Fusion Frenzy,
HALO,
OddWorld: Munch's Oddysee,
Madden NFL 2002,
Cel Damage,
Star Wars StarFighter SE,
Simpsons Road Rage,
Dead or Alive 3,
Shrek,
NHL Hitz 2002,
Nascar Thunder 2002
Nascar Heat 2002,
Tony hawks 2x,
Mad Dash Racing,
Air Force Delta storm.
So I think most people will be able to pick a few titles out of that lot.
Oh, and if you want to buy it al seperately, you may want to hang on, as another 12 titles are released the following week.
Who said the XBox had little support?
I think that it must have the largest number of titles at launch , more than any console.
NFL Fever 2002,
Project Gotham Racing,
Fusion Frenzy,
HALO,
OddWorld: Munch's Oddysee,
Madden NFL 2002,
Cel Damage,
Star Wars StarFighter SE,
Simpsons Road Rage,
Dead or Alive 3,
Shrek,
NHL Hitz 2002,
Nascar Thunder 2002
Nascar Heat 2002,
Tony hawks 2x,
Mad Dash Racing,
Air Force Delta storm.
So I think most people will be able to pick a few titles out of that lot.
Oh, and if you want to buy it al seperately, you may want to hang on, as another 12 titles are released the following week.
Who said the XBox had little support?
I think that it must have the largest number of titles at launch , more than any console.
Original message:
But the bundling policy is not determined by the retailers: It is Microsoft's idea.
Microsoft set the minimum requirements for
> the pre-order program: Merchants must sell one Microsoft game title
> and two third-party titles, plus one extra controller; which titles
> come with which bundle is decided by the retailers.
MS say you cannot preorder withough getting at least 2 games, chosen by the retailer. Sounds like youre getting more than you want there... especially if you have to pay extra for the bundle.
But the bundling policy is not determined by the retailers: It is Microsoft's idea.
Microsoft set the minimum requirements for
> the pre-order program: Merchants must sell one Microsoft game title
> and two third-party titles, plus one extra controller; which titles
> come with which bundle is decided by the retailers.
MS say you cannot preorder withough getting at least 2 games, chosen by the retailer. Sounds like youre getting more than you want there... especially if you have to pay extra for the bundle.
Slaveunit wrote:
Anyone who really wants one is
> going to preorder, not rely on the shelf stock. The fact that they
> can only get them with a load of stuff they dont want is appalling,
> and the face that bundles cost more than getting them seperate is
> worse!
Excuse me? Stuff they don't want.
So you've still only got 1 pad for your PS2/N64/DC whatever you've got?
I'd hardly call an extra pad "Something you don't want".
I remember looking into importing an XBox from the States, and I looked at ebworld.com for some info. This is off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate:
They said that the main bundle they were selling was the XBox (incl. the 1 pad), 3 games (as you've already said) and 1 extra piece of hardware which was either another pad, the DVD kit thingy, or a memort card (bit pointless as it has a HDD - but theres Americans eh? :-))
As I've said, I'm not too bothered, because I doubt I'll be getting one at launch anyway, although it would be nice...
Anyone who really wants one is
> going to preorder, not rely on the shelf stock. The fact that they
> can only get them with a load of stuff they dont want is appalling,
> and the face that bundles cost more than getting them seperate is
> worse!
Excuse me? Stuff they don't want.
So you've still only got 1 pad for your PS2/N64/DC whatever you've got?
I'd hardly call an extra pad "Something you don't want".
I remember looking into importing an XBox from the States, and I looked at ebworld.com for some info. This is off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure it's accurate:
They said that the main bundle they were selling was the XBox (incl. the 1 pad), 3 games (as you've already said) and 1 extra piece of hardware which was either another pad, the DVD kit thingy, or a memort card (bit pointless as it has a HDD - but theres Americans eh? :-))
As I've said, I'm not too bothered, because I doubt I'll be getting one at launch anyway, although it would be nice...
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