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Analysis: As a marketer, the last thing you tell your management to do is to cut price of your product. Despite the expected generated sales increase, it might generate more downsides that expected:

- Your product is losing added value
- You give the market a signal your sales might not be as good as expected
- You have to compensate for the retail stock
- It might announce a new product coming soon

In addition to those points, the timing of such a price cut is extremely critical. While some of us could agree a price cut for the back to school season is a good idea, some others will argue it was not needed because of the future Halo 3 release and the recent Elite version announcement.

Cutting the xBox prices drives more negative attention than expected. Sony PS3 is still more expensive and suffering from sales issues and Nintendo Wii still leads the market. This price cut will not have a significant impact to change it.

News Source: glgroup.com

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BioShock is undoubtedly a critical darling, but it’s not without its share of technical woes. 2K Games is already on the ball with the widescreen field of view “issue,” and has even slackened activation requirements, allowing for up to five SecuROM activations per copy of BioShock. Unfortunately, activation problems go deeper than that, since the Sony-owned SecuROM has deemed it necessary to pack in a rootkit with the BioShock installation, both for registered versions of the game and, inexplicably, the demo. We would’ve hoped 2K games chose its DRM provider carefully, and screened for such shenanigans, but Sony’s SecuROM really has no excuse, since we’ve certainly been down this path before.

News Source: Engadget

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Microsoft states in the announcement that 360 consumers have generated $2.7 billion in revenue since November of 2006, comparing favorably to the $1.7 billion generated by the Wii and the $1.3 billion by the PS3 in the same period. Microsoft pointed out that the top selling game for July was the Xbox 360 version of NCAA Football 08, and that this version outsold the PS3 and the PS2 versions of the same game, combined.

Microsoft has also added some statistics of its own, stating that sales for the month were up 24% year-over-year for 360 software. They also stated that the console’s accessory attach rate is no 3.3, and the software attach rate is 6.2.

News Source: Next-Gen.biz

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The Core console’s price point falls to just £179.99 today – the same as Nintendo’s Wii – whilst the 20GB Premium model is reduced by £30 to £249.99.

And Microsoft’s UK marketing manager for the Xbox 360, Dan Cornelius, believes that the dip in price will steal the attention of new entrants to the market away from PS3 this Christmas.

“If you look at PS3, it’s a lot of money for families to come in at,” he told MCV.

“Sony is requiring a fairly novice gamer to enter into things like Blu-Ray and wireless gaming by default. The Core’s still doing well for us in the UK and the price drop is bound to produce a spike in sales.

These customers like the fact that they don’t have to foot the bill for a load of technology they don’t need. It means we can gain access to a type of consumer that PS3 cannot.”

News Source: MCVUK

News Source: exp.de

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“Falcon (the code name for the updated 360) is coming your way this fall,” says Dean Takahashi after speaking with unnamed sources. “The first Xbox 360s with it are probably on ships coming from China.”

The newer machines are said to cost less and improve reliability over current 90-nanometer 360 units that have been plagued with overheating issues causing a large number of systems to fail. As a result, Microsoft extended the warranty on Xbox 360 from one to three years in July.

“If you’re in the market for an Xbox 360 but really want to wait for the highest-quality machine, in theory you might want to wait until Falcon,” Takahashi adds. “You’ll be buying a console that will last longer and have less risk of failure.”

News Source: Gamepro.com

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Despite the fact that XBux which helps extreme sporting event promoters and athletes find sponsors, is nowhere near the video game world, Microsoft alleges that XBux is infringing on its XBox trademark, according to XBux. XBux, of Redwood City, Calif., says Microsoft originally argued that both companies were in the “entertainment business,” and therefore crossed paths, but backed away from this position. Microsoft seemed to go away for a few months, then came back and deposed XBux’s chief executive, a former venture capitalist named Richard Grogan-Crane.

Grogan-Crane says Microsoft suggested that he change his company’s name to “XBucks.”

News Source: Venturebeat.com

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Yo,

This needs some attention finally, 6 months of waiting and 4 months looking for a fix this horrible issue has not been resolved as of yet. Please read below and through the forums how microsoft is really messing up releasing a XBOX360 wireless gaming receiver that when plugged it goes to initialize. Upon loading the driver the power hungry USB device knocks out ALL to MOST USB devices attached to the same machine. I am a huge XBOX fan but enough isenough.

Each package has the customer cut along the dotted line, when doing so the
wire loops vertically to the TOP of the package!!! many have cut the wire including myself.

If you were so lucky as to NOT destroy your own product during removal frompackaging. You were warmly greeted with this device huggin all the powerfrom your USB device mainly knocking out keyboards and mice, which cant be fixed until you remove the device and reboot.

The solution is to buy a powered USB hub, then plug the device into the hub and then into the computer which does not lock up any thing.

I am now going to list 4-5 links to major sites, read the forums and the products review about 90% of the people that actaully bought on e is going through.

Its not FAIR, please help us consumers as we have called into xbox support only to be told that its not and xbox product and they will only take your call unless you have a 360 or XBOX1 console. Making impossible to file a complaint unless you can provide a serial number.

* Amazon (read review 50% not working)
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Wireless-Gaming-Receiver-Windows/dp/B000HZFCT2

* New egg(read review 80% not working)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16874103054

* Neowin (read thread)
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=538920&st=0&p=588590945&#entry588590945

* And @ last the xbox forum this is the best one
http://forums.xbox.com/1/10649420/ShowPost.aspx#10649420

how this has been going on 6 months and no site has posted this is amazing, help us gamers out as we are being ripped off.

Thanks for the paper weight Microsoft!!!

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As a precautionary measure, Microsoft Corporation is voluntarily providing its customers with a free retrofit to the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel. The Wheels were manufactured during 2006 – 2007. A component in the Wheel chassis may in rare cases overheat and release smoke when the AC-DC power supply is used to energize the Wheel.

There have been no reported incidences of fire, personal injury or property damage due to the Wheel malfunction. Despite no known safety incidents, we are advising our customers about this because of our strong commitment to ensuring that our products are safe and perform to our design specifications.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should print out the retrofit form or call Microsoft at 1-800-4my-Xbox to register to receive the retrofit and protect against the potential hazard described above. Instructions will be provided with the retrofit. We are notifying and will be coordinating our response activities with the relevant regulatory agencies such as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. This may impact delivery dates.

Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should stop using the AC-DC power supply until they have obtained their retrofit. Owners may continue to operate the Wheel using battery power. While operating in battery mode, the force feedback feature will not be available. Once retrofitted, owners may run the Wheel using AC power and reactivate this feature.

News Source: Xbox.com

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Hey guys-

Sorry about all the conflict. IG development people (specifically Chris and Rowan who are both on vacation) were trying to take a day off today (we’ve been working about six months 6-7 days a week). I’m trying to see what everybody’s concerns are and consult with the staff.

I know people are frustrated, but we are dealing with internet time here. It wasn’t until 7 pm EST that I was able to even talk to anybody in our Australian studio, which is open today (9 AM their time).

I hear you that not everybody was thrilled with the PC launch. And I’m trying to collect information and see what the facts are. PC game development does not function in a matter of seconds or hours, especially when most of the team is on vacation. But I hear you, and we’re looking into the issue. I’ll only ask you have a bit of understanding as to the time scale that software development issues must occur in.

Best regards,

Ken Levine

News Source: 2kgames