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johnnymk
06-26-2006, 03:20 PM
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6153170.html


Redmond-based internal publicist John Porcano uses his blog to report that the software giant will not reduce the price of its next-gen console in late 2006.

By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot
Posted Jun 26, 2006

Until May, conventional wisdom was that, when the holidays rolled around, Microsoft would drop the price of the Xbox 360. The reason? Prevailing opinion reasoned that, since Sony would price the PlayStation 3 near the 360's $299/$399 dual-price SKUs, Microsoft would in turn undermine the console's launch by undercutting its rival--that, and release Halo 3.

However, just like the holiday release of the final chapter in the Master Chief's Covenant-blasting adventures, a budget-priced PS3 is now only the stuff of nerd dreams. Likewise, a late 2006 360 price drop will not come to pass, according to a post on Gamerscoreblog.com by John Porcaro, a Microsoft PR manager.

"As you're all aware, there have been rumors of a price drop for the Xbox 360 coming along later this year," wrote Porcaro. "The official word from folks in the know is that there are currently no plans for a price drop this fall." (Emphasis in the original.)

The rest of Porcaro's blog post goes on to talk about how the cost of a $299 baseline Xbox 360 is a small price to pay to enter the next-generation of gaming, given the fact Xbox Live Silver is free and the console also plays DVDs and MP3s. Oddly, though, Porcaro's superiors in the Redmond, Washington, headquarters had not returned requests for confirmation of the price drop as of press time.

gear02
06-26-2006, 04:45 PM
True as it may...I think this guy is going to get fired soon.

Devhux
06-26-2006, 06:20 PM
You know, announcing a price drop at this stage of the game wouldn't be advantageous to Microsoft -- MS needs as many XBOx 360 buyers as possible, and announcing a price drop would cause quite a lot of people to reconsider (especially if the drop was $100 or more).

Better to wait until maybe September or so, then shock Sony.

gear02
06-26-2006, 06:40 PM
You know, announcing a price drop at this stage of the game wouldn't be advantageous to Microsoft -- MS needs as many XBOx 360 buyers as possible, and announcing a price drop would cause quite a lot of people to reconsider (especially if the drop was $100 or more).

Better to wait until maybe September or so, then shock Sony.

Yeah definately not a good move too announce right now...but that sounds like an unauthorized post.

Unless it's a ploy to unofficially address a rumor without being committal (i.e. lower prices in november and claim the guy wasn't speaking for the company). In that case, it's a brilliant move :)

zero2dash
06-27-2006, 10:45 AM
Guru's right...if they're going to price drop, they'll wait til a month or less before the Ps3 hits shelves.

In reality - they still don't need a price drop...a pack-in game or something would suit them just as well, because they're still offering a damn good system for a $200 less than the competition (Core 360 - $300, core Ps3 - $500; Premium 360 - $400, premium Ps3 - $600). That's the key.