Microsoft Announces New Holiday Bundles Across all SKUs

[fitbabits]

Clearly determined to make the most of the recent momentum gained from cutting the price of all three SKUs, Microsoft has announced three new holiday bundles for the Arcade, Pro and Elite models.

For an estimated retail price of $199, the Xbox 360 Arcade Holiday Bundle comes with six free games, including SEGA Superstars Tennis™ (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/s/segasuperstarstennis/) and five Xbox LIVE® Arcade games. Additionally, the Xbox 360 console ($299 ERP) and Xbox 360 Elite ($399 ERP) Holiday Bundles pair the consoles and the promise of the New Xbox Experience with two amazing games: LEGO® Indiana Jones™: The Original Adventures (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/l/legoindianajonesoriginal/) and Kung Fu Panda™ (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/k/kungfupanda/) at no added cost.

SEGA Superstar Tennis - Metacritic average - 67% (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/segasuperstarstennis?q=sega%20superstar%20tennis)
Lego Indiana Jones - Metacritic average - 77% (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/legoindianajonestheoriginaladventures?q=lego%20ind iana)
Kung Fu Panda - Metacritic average - 75% (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/kungfupanda?q=kung%20fu%20panda)

It's a good time to be a gamer, there's no question.

[Johan]

It's a good time to be a gamer, there's no question.

Unless you're out of work...or broke...or your investments have dropped 35%...or your mortgage is upside down (home worth less than mortgage)...or....or...

Yeah! Great times! :)

[fitbabits]

Unless you're out of work...or broke...or your investments have dropped 35%...or your mortgage is upside down (home worth less than mortgage)...or....or...

Yeah! Great times! :)

If you can afford it, gaming is a great distraction.

BTW, I fit in three of your four categories.

[Johan]

If you can afford it, gaming is a great distraction.

I agree. It's also a lot of fun with others (friends, significant-others, kids...I LOVE playing with/against the kids). This generation is shaping up reasonably well, I'd say! Each of the big three has issues that bother me, but all three are working hard at pumping out some great titles and features.

BTW, I fit in three of your four categories.

:( Sorry.

[Mike Kelehan]

I did NOT expect Kung Fu Panda to have the highest Metacritic out of those three.

[AgtFox]

I did NOT expect Kung Fu Panda to have the highest Metacritic out of those three.
Although I haven't played it, I have heard it is a pretty good game for a movie tie-in.

[fitbabits]

I did NOT expect Kung Fu Panda to have the highest Metacritic out of those three.

KFP is awesome. It's a shame it was marketed the way it was as it could have done so much better.

[Spigot]

KFP is awesome. It's a shame it was marketed the way it was as it could have done so much better.The movie or the game, because I agree with you about the movie. It wasn't what I expected and was a great kung fu movie that just happened to star animated animals (and Jack Black wasn't even that annoying!)

[fitbabits]

The movie or the game, because I agree with you about the movie. It wasn't what I expected and was a great kung fu movie that just happened to star animated animals (and Jack Black wasn't even that annoying!)
Both, I guess.

[Wraith]

I'm curious why they chose the games they did. Are potential Elite buyers going to be swayed by Lego Indy and KFP? Wouldn't it have made more sense to bundle a more "core"-type game with the elite, and maybe a more mainstream title with the Premium, err Pro, I mean Xbox 360 60GB?

[DjinniMan]

I will be getting a 2nd 360 to let the kids have in their room, gotta love streaming Netflix. I'd been holding off getting an arcade, figuring there would be some bundles. Looks like I was right!

[Mike Kelehan]

I'm curious why they chose the games they did. Are potential Elite buyers going to be swayed by Lego Indy and KFP? Wouldn't it have made more sense to bundle a more "core"-type game with the elite, and maybe a more mainstream title with the Premium, err Pro, I mean Xbox 360 60GB?

Potential Elite buyers already know they want it. The more casual crowd is the one that needs point-of-sale swaying. Bundling a core game in with it is just going to be a lost sale for that core game.

[Zanzibar]

Wow, this is cool. My office was about to buy some 60gb models; I just talked our IT guy into waiting for these bundles to hit the shelves. Any ideas when they're gonna be in the wild?

[Deunnero]

They have $179.99 20 gig 360's (headset included) at the XS Cargo store here in Ottawa ... they are refurbs. Not sure what kind of warantee they have though

[Phades]

Those seem like some really crappy pack ins imo.. Last year was MUCH better with Marvel:UA and Forza 2.

[Wraith]

Potential Elite buyers already know they want it. The more casual crowd is the one that needs point-of-sale swaying. Bundling a core game in with it is just going to be a lost sale for that core game.If Elite buyers don't care about the bundled games, and casual (or non-core) buyers don't care about the Elite, why have that bundle in the first place?

[rinichanraar]

If Elite buyers don't care about the bundled games, and casual (or non-core) buyers don't care about the Elite, why have that bundle in the first place?

I think they're trying to sway the casual buyers into getting an Elite. I don't know if it actually works, but I guess I see what they're trying to do.

[MagGnome]

These bundles do seem a little strange. I wonder how many people will actually be swayed by the Kung Fu Panda pack in? I'm not saying the game is bad or anything, but it seems like an odd choice for a bundle.

[Zanzibar]

I think they're trying to sway the casual buyers into getting an Elite. I don't know if it actually works, but I guess I see what they're trying to do.

Yeah, they really are trying to expand the market to people that are on the fence; it seems like now they're just juicing it to get to the less hardcore types. I think Lego Indy is a fabulous pack-in for the more casual gamers, and KFP should have good kid appeal.

[DeathtollWRX]

Wow those are decent family games. I'm thinking this is going to really help push those consoles. Especially with the Indy movie coming to DVD soon and Kung Fu Panda being a decent game things are looking good for Microsoft. I wonder if you get to choose the five Xboxlive games. I probably should read the post.

[Xerxes]

Any of those Jaspers?

[rinichanraar]

Yeah, they really are trying to expand the market to people that are on the fence; it seems like now they're just juicing it to get to the less hardcore types. I think Lego Indy is a fabulous pack-in for the more casual gamers, and KFP should have good kid appeal.

Yeah, and not to mention they're games based on movies, so it's even more likely that a casual gamer could get interested in it. Like, "Ooh! I like Indiana Jones! I should get this bundle 'cause the game comes free!"

[astranoir]

I noticed they're also coming with a free trial of Netflix.