Unconfirmed: Platinum Xbox 360 + HD-DVD = $900?!

By Bademailname

"The HD drive is expected to sell at 500 dollars."

...uhh, err, the hell? Wasn't the add-on drive supposed to go for less? I mean, like half as much? The sentence caught me unawares, so I prodded.

Me: "Five Hundred? Doesn't that sound a little steep? I was thinking 200 or 250."

Rep: "Well, the Blu-Ray players are going for a thousand, and other HD-DVD players are going for half that, so that's going to be the price point."

Wow. OK. So that would make an XBox 360 with an HD-DVD drive either $800 (core) or $900 (platinum) USD. If true, this makes an equivalent PS3 up to $300 cheaper.

What's wrong with this picture? Nothing, if you ask me. Call it fanboyism if you want. Call it rehashing the same old tired "MS is a bunch of greedy despots" line. Really, call it: This is what the gaming economy will purportedly bear: two very high-priced, highline gaming consoles, muscles bulging out of the plastic; and one scrawny nerd in the corner with fantastic ideas and a great throwing arm.

I haven't noticed Microsoft mentioning anything about a suggested price point for their upcoming add-on, which leads me to believe that they want to keep it a secret for as long as humanly possible ... long enough at least to sell a few more 360s because they are cheaper than a better-equipped PS3. Long enough for them to toss a few more jibes at the expense of Ken "you'll work for my box" Kutaragi. Long enough to make you, me, and the guy reading over my shoulder all believe that Microsoft may actually deliver a gamer's trifecta: Great hardware, killer apps, and beaucoup sweet add-ons.

And then we'll all find out that it'll cost you a PS3 and a Wii to get it.

bademailname is your typical white-guy-in-the-thirties gamer, and has been a fan of the pasttime ever since Joust on the 2600. Check out his blog here.