The New XBOX 360 'Elite'

[Havoc]

From Micrsosoft's webpage:


REDMOND, Wash. — March 27, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,” said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.”

Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price1 of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:2


The new Xbox 360 Elite console is expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.
Click for high-res version.

• Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.

• Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.

• Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.

• Xbox LIVE Silver Membership. With this, gamers can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox LIVE Marketplace content such as game demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox LIVE Arcade.

• One-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold. An Xbox LIVE Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Those who subscribe to this premium service can engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor their matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Xbox LIVE Arcade.


The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold separately:

• Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit. Complete with a charging cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit allows gamers to recharge their Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without interrupting their gameplay. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).

• Xbox 360 rechargeable battery (black). The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $11.99 (U.S.).

So is anyone getting this? I think it's absurd that instead of price cuts, MS insists on raising prices with new configurations. For shame.

[Erdrick Holmes]

Meh, I heard you can do just fine with a 360 premium set. I mean a 60gb harddrive is quite big as it is. HD Support is, in my opinion, very poinltess for gaming.

[Yew-Yevon]

I might...just to play the 360 demos on the oxm discs that I can't get to on my normal xbox. And with a 250GB external drive it should be interesting.

[Orophin]

Meh, I heard you can do just fine with a 360 premium set. I mean a 60gb harddrive is quite big as it is.

The Premium only have 20Gb, not 60.


HD Support is, in my opinion, very poinltess for gaming.

Try playing a game in 1080p and then switch to 480i. :p

[Erdrick Holmes]

I've actually done that when I played games like Halo 2 with HD support turned on with my buddy's HDTV. While it looks very nice it's not enough to persuade me to go buy an HD set.

[Araciel]

but halo 2 is an xbox game, not a 360 game

[MecaKane]

Yeah, I don't think GAYloHalo 2 would have a resolution increase on a HDTV, it'd just be in progressive scan, I don't know how much better that'd be.
Now Xbox 360 games in high def is exactly like the difference between playing a PC game in 640x480, and 1024x768 or the even higher equivlent resolution for 1080p. Which is a lot better than the difference in watching TV shows in high def, except for the shows probably being in widescreen.

[XxSephirothxX]

Halo 2 only outputs at 480p, not 720p or 1080i/p. :p And the fact that it's an Xbox 1 game means they can't do nearly as much with textures, shading, etc. So really, it's not going to look much better on an HDTV.

I'm not going to shell out more money for a new 360 just because it's better. However, my 360's disc drive is rather borked, and I think it's probably going to give out within six months or a year. Once the prices drop, I'll either get another premium, or buy an Elite. The bigger HDD and HDMI would be nice. You only get to use 12 of the 20 gigs of the original harddrive, and that is simply not enough if you ever want to download video or demos and have room to spare for music or anything like that.

[Roto13]

I'm planning on buying a 360 when if/when I have the money for one, but I think I'll stick with the normal kind.

[MecaKane]

Xbox 360 uses 8gb of its harddrive?
wtf for?

[JKTrix]

I have a younger cousin who wants to buy a 360 (but they are hella expensive here). This is a good opportunity, I can sell him my Xbox for a decent price and then get this one. I'll be in the 'states shortly before this comes out, so I may be able to get it.

If not, I'll just get the bigger HD because the 20 GB filled up real quick.

HD should not be judged by Halo alone. Once you see real HD (or even 'True HD') in a game that utilizes it well, you can't say that it's pointless.

It's not that important, but it's not pointless.

[XxSephirothxX]

Xbox 360 uses 8gb of its harddrive?
wtf for?
I don't know. But it's a bitch.

[Dreddz]

20GB does me just fine. I only need demo's really.

[Orophin]

I've actually done that when I played games like Halo 2 with HD support turned on with my buddy's HDTV. While it looks very nice it's not enough to persuade me to go buy an HD set.

480p is not HD. It's still the same resolution that a normal TV can do. The image is just a little better because the signal is progressive instead of interlaced. If you found 480p to look very nice, I can't image how great you will find a game in 1080p.

[Ramza Beoulve]

At times like this I really miss my SNES ¬.¬