Reuters/MSNBC: Microsoft Cuts Prices on "Platinum Hits"

[haithaminator]

I was watching CNN and while taking my eyes away from all the bull**** about this upcoming "war". i saw on the bottom of the screen that Xbox and Gamecube were going to drop in price, does anyone know of this and if so what will the new prices be like?
-thanks

[RudedogX]

Check the front page.

[SkoalMint]

Originally posted by rudedogX
Check the front page.

For those of you that need translation from Rude to English, he means the front page of CNN not the front page of this site. Here is a link to the actual article.

BTW - they are talking about price cuts to games or the GC bundle, not to the individual consoles, so nothing new here.

[Jafo232]

heh, except for HALO:

http://msnbc.com/news/871350.asp?0dm=C12MT

REDMOND, WASHINGTON-BASED Microsoft said the “Platinum Hits” program would start with more than a dozen titles at a price of about $19.99 each. Top titles for the Xbox, which holds the No. 2 position in the U.S. market, usually retail for $49 or in some cases $39. (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)

Among the titles to be offered at the discounted price are Xbox hits like Microsoft’s “Amped Freestyle Snowboarding” and “Project Gotham Racing” and third-party titles like Electronic Arts Inc.’s “Bond: Agent Under Fire” and Activision Inc.’s “Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions.”

Ed Bland, a senior director of sales and marketing for the Xbox, told Reuters games will have to be on the market for at least nine months to be eligible for “Platinum Hit” status, with sales of about 350,000 to 500,000 units, though Bland said that figure can vary.

“It ends up being a great sort of impulse buy for consumers,” Bland said.

The Xbox’s biggest hit title to date, Microsoft’s own “Halo,” will not immediately move to the discount program, and will continue to retail for $49, as it has since it launched with the Xbox in 2001.

“It is doing very well at $49,” Bland said, noting that it will move to “Platinum Hit” status at some point later in the future.

Bland also said “Platinum Hits” titles will get special packaging distinct from their previous boxes and will have additional display space at retail.

Sony Corp. launched a hits program for its PlayStation 2 console last year, and Nintendo Co. Ltd. unveiled one for its GameCube last week.

[RudedogX]

Originally posted by SkoalMint
For those of you that need translation from Rude to English, he means the front page of CNN not the front page of this site. Here is a link to the actual article.

BTW - they are talking about price cuts to games or the GC bundle, not to the individual consoles, so nothing new here.

Or you could check out the front page of here...XBA Home Page Platinum Hits

[SkoalMint]

Originally posted by rudedogX
Or you could check out the front page of here...XBA Home Page Platinum Hits

Doh

I was looking for console price cuts on the XBA homepage - guess that is why I missed it. Thanks for clearing me up on that one.

Skoal makes mental note to get eyes checked

[Xbox Owner]

REDMOND, Wash. -- Gamers in North America can now stock up and fill out their Xbox(TM) libraries with some of the best Xbox games ever created -- for a price that will bring almost as much joy as the games themselves.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of the Platinum Hits program for Xbox. Platinum Hits games are available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of $19.99* (U.S.) at most retailers; games selected for the program must have achieved a high sales volume.

Xbox captured the imagination of gamers in 2002, becoming the No. 2 console in the United States, according to The NPD Group/NPD Funworld. Microsoft expects that the Platinum Hits program will continue to energize gamers and help Xbox maintain its impressive attach rate.

"The Platinum Hits program will drive increased interest in Xbox and broaden the target audience," said Wayne Yodzio, vice president, world manager at Toys R Us Inc. "These games are all already proven winners that have sold well, and when we start offering them in our stores at this lower price point, I anticipate we’ll have our aisles filled with a lot of very happy gamers."

The titles in the first wave of Platinum Hits games are as follows:

-- "Amped(TM) Freestyle Snowboarding" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Blood Wake(TM)" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Crash Bandicoot(R): The Wrath of Cortex" (Universal Interactive)
-- "James Bond 007 in . . . Agent Under Fire(TM)" (Electronic Arts)
-- "Max Payne" (Rockstar Games)
-- "Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Project Gotham Racing(TM)" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "RalliSport Challenge" (Microsoft Game Studios)
-- "Silent Hill(R) 2: Restless Dreams(TM)" (Konami of America Inc.)
-- "Simpsons Road Rage" (Electronic Arts)
-- "SpyHunter" (Midway)
-- "SSX Tricky" (Electronic Arts)
-- "Star Wars: Obi-Wan" (LucasArts)
-- "Star Wars: Starfighter Special Edition" (LucasArts)
-- "Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater(R) 3" (Activision)
-- "Wreckless(TM): The Yakuza Missions" (Activision)


New games will be added to the Platinum Hits product line on an ongoing basis. Platinum Hits games will be sold in silver packaging that includes the original product artwork. Information on the program can be found at http://www.xbox.com/games/platinumhits/



Niiiiccceee... Looks like PGR and Amped will be in my house soon.

[carlbme]

Sweet, guess i'll finally purchase a few of those now.

[carlbme]

http://www.xboxaddict.com/forums/sho...threadid=32238

It's not too hard to see that there was already one of these posted on the same page

[Jafo232]

Ok, and the MSNBC/Reuters link is WHERE in that post?

I would take MS(nbc)'s word over the Communist News Networks any day.

[carlbme]

Either way it's still about the same thing. And considering that this was known before either one of these networks mentioned anything about it they all belong in the same thread.

[Jafo232]

Ok, well this entire forum is about the XBOX, so I guess it should just be one long thread.

[LynxFX]

How about I just use my magical mod powers and make this problem go away.

*pooooooof* --merged

[jabrre]

You will also find some really great deals of XBOX games that are not on the list too. I got Serious Sam for only $19.99 and Whacked for only $29.99 at Meijer's. They may not be selling hot, but still.....its a good deal for anybody who is just starting their XBOX collection like I am.

Halo, IMHO, doesnt need to get on the Platinum list right now. Its selling very well. However, look for the game to go to the $19.99 range when Halo 2 gets released this Holiday shopping season.

[Snoopy7548]

i think im going to circuit city on friday or monday (i have no school those days), so ill probly buy serious sam and wreckless. and maybe crash bandicoot. i dont know

[canadianboi3]

ill get halo if it drops price wise.