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MS reveals multiple 360 bundles News
Xbox 360 News by Tom Bramwell
With Xbox 360's Gears of War already leaving a trail of bloody competitors in its wake at the top of the UK chart, Microsoft has announced a console-and-game bundle will go on sale this Friday to try and tempt some more newcomers.
Priced at GBP 299.99, the bundle consists of a premium edition Xbox 360 console and a copy of the game, which has been reviewing very strongly, and has already usurped Halo 2 as the most-played game on Xbox Live.
In a separate announcement, Microsoft revealed last night that Gears has now sold more than one million copies worldwide in just two weeks. "That makes Gears of War the fastest-selling original Xbox game of all time (non-sequel)," the semi-official Gamerscoreblog noted.
Update: A few hours after we received word about the Gears bundle, Microsoft got back in touch to add that this Friday will also see the release of a bundle including WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 and another featuring Call of Duty 3. As with the Gears bundle, it's a premium console (including 30 days of Xbox Live Gold membership, it's worth noting) and the game for GBP 300.
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Jesus: Action Figure
22/11/06 @ 10:49
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Still not tempted at that price :O
One day though... and soon I'm sure! |
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patchbox360
22/11/06 @ 11:04
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Check BLOCKBUSTER
Pro EVo 6, Gears of War, Splinter Cell 4, PGR 360 with hard drive - 349.99 |
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gizmo, you are right this is the £299 deal but play are discounting it http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/HPO/3-... very templted get pick one up for my brother
Awsome deal the premium pack works out at £240 then :-)
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 11:06
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asphaltcowboy
22/11/06 @ 11:10
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The blockbuster deal is superb...
@Jesus: Action Figure - if the price at blockbusters doesn't tempt you... I'm not sure you'll ever be tempted! |
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Psychotext
22/11/06 @ 11:15
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Nice... £269.99 at play.com with gears. So tempted. But I'm really trying to hold out for the hardware revision!
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Carrybagma
22/11/06 @ 11:19
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So tempted. But I'm really trying to hold out for the hardware revision! Absolutely. Me too. A loud, whining box is not going to go in my front room.
Incidentally, whichever marketing type thought to use the 'Mad World' song with the current GoW ad deserves a bonus. They'll pick up extra sales off that ad. ED2: @Rambaldi: The die-shrink on the main chips. Less power, so less heat, so smaller (and probably better) fan, and therefore much less noise. Maybe a smaller power brick too. Who knows what else. I'd love it if they managed to pack the PSU into the case.
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 11:21
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My 360 was shipped just prior to last christmas, so I guess its one of the first. Unless there is something different about mine, the noice doesn't bother me - and I don't have my volume up that loud. If you're worried about the noise, you should actually listen to one - I don't think you'd find it that bad.
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@Carrybagma - sorry man but you are wrong. The prevelent noise from the 360 (which is loud if you are in a quiet room I admit) is from the DVD drive spinning, no amount of die shrinkage and internal electronics is going to fix that.
The fans are not a problem at all. When you are in the dashboard or playing a demo from the harddrive so a DVD game isn't spinning then the noise is no more than any other similiarly powerful device. Ie a laptop or a well built PC. Oh and as for the PSU, I never see it - it's behind the TV somewhere (well ventilated though), why build it in? Why make the console heavier and hotter than it needs to be? I've had my 360 for ages, I plugged it in and it's stayed there ever since. Built in PSU is not an issue, nor are fan noises. The only issue I wish they would sort is the noisy drive tray (a bit whirry/rattly) but it's not a big problem by any means as game noise usually drowns it out.
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 11:39
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PlugMonkey
22/11/06 @ 11:43
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Yeah, it's definitely the DVD drive on mine. It sounds like it's going to take off when you first turn it on.
As soon as the game's audio kicks in though, I don't notice it at all. It's admittedly loud for a DVD drive, but it's not actually loud loud. |
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Carrybagma
22/11/06 @ 11:59
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I didn't know that the DVD drive was the loudest part. Maybe the noise isn't that bad as someone suggested, but either way, I really don't expect to spend money on decent kit only to have it wooshing and whining. Turning up the sound to cover the noise isn't a decent solution. Besides, if Sony and Nintendo can produce a 'quiet' console, why can't Microsoft? I'll happily wait a year for a hardware revision, and play something else in the meantime. Actually, it may be more than a year.. :o(
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Yeah I understand, but the point is there is little point waiting for a hardware revision as a "quieter DVD drive/housing" is not part of that revision. The fans may be quieter on the revised box but they are not loud now so if that is what was putting you (a generic you) off then it's a pointless wait as the noise will still be there.
And that was the advice to the O/P who said he was tempted to wait for a hardware revision because of noise problems. Of course MS "may" make a quieter drive in which case fine, but with no guarantee and a looooooong wait it's a bit of a gamble to make when the great games are there NOW and stock is in the shops waiting. |
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NthSimulachum
22/11/06 @ 12:14
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Haven't they made the DVD drive quieter in more recent production runs? Mine is one of the earliest and the DVD drive is rather noisy, though not while playing movies thankfully, since it isn't spinning nowhere near full speed.
And Console Cowboy, Eurogamer isn't a particularly accurate name for this site. Bathgamer sounds a bit too filthy, possibly why they rejected it.
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 12:16
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crazyhorse174
22/11/06 @ 12:35
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I got my 360 on launch day last year and its not that noisy - not any noisier than my laptop is anyway, and the laptop has an external fan underneath it to try and keep it cool.
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"Haven't they made the DVD drive quieter in more recent production runs? Mine is one of the earliest and the DVD drive is rather noisy, though not while playing movies thankfully, since it isn't spinning nowhere near full speed. "
Actually from my research the later ones (I have one) have Hitachi Drives, the early ones had Tosh/Samsung ones. THe Tosh drives (early ones) are said to have quieter drives (though still noisy as you seem to prove). There may now be a third batch with quieter drives than the Hitachi (approved accoustics) but no confirmation. Honestly though, a daft reason to put off buying the console if you are going to buy it anyway. I'd rather play GEARS now while it's hot and while there are people around playing it (in co-op etc) than in a year when it's all "Halo 3 this" and "Halo 3 that" if we are talking about this game. |
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Carrybagma
22/11/06 @ 12:40
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@sharpfish: I'm pretty certain they'll bring out a 'lite' version to replace the current one, with the die shrink and any noise, heat and disc-damage issues fixed. *Maybe* even HD-DVD. Microsoft *hate* anyone else doing anything better than them - they're certain to address these issues. The only thing they're wary of is upsetting existing owners, but then if they make a version so much better that existing owners will be tempted to buy again... :o)
Yeah, I may have a long wait, but I don't mind while there's something else to tinker with in the meantime. Besides, just think of the big, juicy back catalogue I'll have to choose from when I do get one.. |
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Psychotext
22/11/06 @ 12:42
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sharpfish: I fail to see what difference it makes playing gears now rather than in 6 months. I don't really care too much about online and even if I did it's not as if people will suddenly stop playing. The die shrink will be here in the next few months and it's likely that MS are going to be including bigger hard drives and probably a HDMI port / WiFi built in too. Yes, the chances are that they're going to quiet it down (including the dvd drive) too. Less heat will let them use better soundproofing and lets face it, most 12x (or higher) PC dvd drives don't make that sort of noise.
So worth the wait for me. I have a ton of games still left to play on my xbox, gamecube, ps2 and PC. |
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Yeap fair enough guys, I thought you were saying you were desperate to play Gears (or something) but were put off by the noise issue. That's all. AS that is not the case you are both correct and it's probably better wait if there is no rush for you.
And you are right it will have a very tasty back-catalogue this time next year! :) Oh and if they do release a newer version in a year (with hdmi etc) then I too would probably sell this one and rebuy the "better" version. However I think MS are just going to release a breakout box/Cable for hdmi and not build in hd-dvd any time soon (it's still expensive). The cooler running units are nice but not essential as only the first crop (pre jan 06?) had overheating issues, my march 06 unit runs for hours without problem. Just for informational puposes to the lurkers reading this you understand.
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 13:12
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Jheronimus
22/11/06 @ 13:28
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A friend of mine yust bought a X360 two days ago because of GoW. Systemseller indeed :P
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Carrybagma
22/11/06 @ 13:35
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One other reason I'm holding off it because my telly isn't HD-ready at all, and I'm in no rush to upgrade there either. If I'm going to get a HD-capable console, I really want to see the games in all their HD glory. Not the best of reasons for holding off, but just another one.
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"One other reason I'm holding off it because my telly isn't HD-ready at all, and I'm in no rush to upgrade there either. If I'm going to get a HD-capable console, I really want to see the games in all their HD glory. Not the best of reasons for holding off, but just another one."
No, I think that IS a good reason to hold off. I did, That's why I didn't buy a box on launch (well that and the fact I couldn't see any decent games on the horizon back then). I then waited until mid 2006 before I bought one, a short while after getting my 32" HDTV (720p not 1080p). They were both to compliment each other and spurred the purchase of each on a bit but obviously it cost a bit in the long run. |
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Jesus: Action Figure
22/11/06 @ 13:42
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"If I'm going to get a HD-capable console, I really want to see the games in all their HD glory. Not the best of reasons for holding off, but just another one."
Actually, that's one of the other reasons I'm holding off for now. I realise that games won't look like kids drawings if I play through my normal telly, but if it's a main feature of the console I'd like to take advantage of it. On a seperate note, I've just seen Gears of War on the SDTV here at work and though it looks very nice, I wasn't overly wowed by it. I was assured it looks significantly better on HDTV - another reason for waiting till I have one I guess. |
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sanctusmortis
22/11/06 @ 13:51
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I've never got the "waiting til I have a HDTV" attitude. It looks beautiful anough on my 32" non-widescreen SDTV, and I have no wish to change that...
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Inflatable
22/11/06 @ 14:09
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Actually I think GoW looks very nice on my SDTV.. Biggest problem of playing on a SDTV usually is the presence of a lot of aliasing (a.k.a. jaggies) because of the low resolution, but I don't notice any of that in GoW.. I guess they upped the AA for 480 output..
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The "noise and power brick" people who refuse to buy the 360 are so weak.
It's a bloody games console for gawds sake, you play games on it. If you like the games for it buy it. Don't cite pathetic teeny hardware issues as a reason not to buy a console. The 360 represents very good value for money these days IMO. You get a helluva lot for £270 from play!
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 14:17
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PlugMonkey
22/11/06 @ 14:18
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"I was assured it looks significantly better on HDTV - another reason for waiting till I have one I guess."
I wouldn't say 'significantly better'. In fact 'better' is probably stretching the point. 'Slightly better' would be closer to the truth. I spend all day at work with an HDTV and then go home to a SDTV and I really don't notice much of a difference to my gaming. I'm glad I didn't wait until I can afford one. People talk like it's the next revolution in gaming. It's not. It's more like making the move from composite to SCART. If you've got a few spare quid, I'd recommend a decent surround sound system ahead of a high def telly. It will make the far greater difference to your gaming experience. |
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Penguinzoot
22/11/06 @ 14:40
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300 bob is (was) £15. Bargain! I'll have 20 please!
/readies credit card |
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Psychotext
22/11/06 @ 14:43
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JayPee: What's the rush? People have plenty of reasons not to get plenty of things. Playing the 360 at my brother's house I found myself getting more and more wound up by the noise it was making. By the end of the night I wanted to put a hammer through it... so yeah, the noise thing is a good reason. I don't really understand the power brick being a problem though. Just chuck it behind your unit.
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I want an excuse to get one but I'm still not tempted . For me 360 needs more good games that are not FPS's or driving games. The games I liked most on Xbox where usually the Japanese ones that sadly no one bought *sigh*
Dead Rising looks decent but needing a new expensive TV to read the text means theres no chance I'm buying a 360 for that.
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most recently on 22/11/06 @ 14:48
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asphaltcowboy
22/11/06 @ 14:51
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RE: putting off til you get a HDTV... do what I did...
I couldn't wait, so I just got a VGA cable and run it through my monitor... will have an HDTV soon though hopefully! |
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"Wow, PlugMonkey, that's a brave opinion you have there. 720p with triple the amount of pixels looks far, far better than 480i to me."
Same here, though in the case of Gears it does look decent on SD due to it's reserved colour palleted and softedge textures/geometry. For a lot of other games though 720p is a definite improvement. Oh and scart *is* composite just with a standard euro connector (same signal, same quality!) unless you mean RGB scart. And RGB Scart is still a small improvement over composite. If you want to do that comparison then it should be "like going from Composite to *COMPONENT* connection". Which in some ways it is. |
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