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Is the Xbox 360 price cut enough to go after the Wii?

With the new Xbox 360 price cut official what does this actually mean for gamers? Just like the discussion we did with Sony's PS3 price cuts and hardware refresh, we like to play devils advocate again and discuss the flip side of the coin and what a price cut actually translates to gamers.

Microsoft has indicated their desire to go after and take a piece of Nintendo Wii's market share. That is why Microsoft has focused so much resource on the social aspects to Xbox Live such as the new Mii-like avatars and the Nintendo like channels in the new dashboard.

It makes sense, if you want to go after a target audience you have to emulate what the successful competitor is doing. With the new Xbox 360 Arcade priced below.....
The Mikester - contributor
Published: 485 days 14 hours ago | Article | Xbox 360 | Wii | Gaming | Industry News
 
 

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dktxx2 - 486 days 10 hours ago
1 -
We don't even know if the price cut will help keep the ps3 at bay, so it going against the Wii is a big big IF.
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mikeslemonade - 485 days 13 hours ago
1.1 -
Right now it's only the core that is at that price point and not many people will be content on buying the core when they know the 60gb or maybe the elite is better.
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ReBurn - 485 days 12 hours ago
1.2 -
That $199 SKU isn't aimed at people who weigh the advantages of a hard drive in gaming. It is most definitely aimed at people who are buying gifts and people who occasionally play for fun. I think it is a direct shot at the Wii market, especially when combined with the new dashboard this fall.
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lsujester - 485 days 10 hours ago
1.3 -
No matter how cheap they put the 360, they're still not going to surpass the Wii with this. Most of the people buying Wii's could really care less about the 360, it's a whole different market.

However, it will probably be a big boost to get them back to outselling Sony, at least short-term.
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FantasyStar - 485 days 10 hours ago
1.4 - @1.3
I'd have to disagree. The reason people buy Wiis is because it's "cheap entertainment". The 360 has the power and support to back up its system. Once the casual market catches on, they'll move up to the 360. The Motion-Control fad is dying and people are starting to realize that the Wii has crap games and crap support, compared to the 360. Casual gamers may be casual by definition, but they're as content as picking up the latest tech just as much as anyone else.
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mikeslemonade - 485 days 9 hours ago
1.5 -
I think the Arcade will draw more gamers who already own the Wii or the PS3. The casual audience who are buying the Wii right now aren't going to be content on buying a lower sku of something. They rather just buy the Wii which comes with everything and you don't really need to buy too many accessories. Even though the Arcade is already well suited to basically play almost everything, pyschologically a casual consumer doesn't like to get a gimped sku regardless if he is going to use all those functions.
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JoySticksFTW - 485 days 8 hours ago
1.6 - This isn't a troll here, but if that price cut eventually includes the new Jasper board that'll really help.
That's what I'm waiting on. That stigma of Xbox360 having faulty hardware is still alive for some people, and may lessen the effects that a price cut could bring.

Does anyone know when the Jasper boards are supposed to hit? Last I heard is they are supposed to premier this month.
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Ital50Stal - 485 days 6 hours ago
1.7 - Take it from a retailer..best game selection, best price, almost best graphics, best warranty..
Ive worked at a Best Buy in the gaming department and most parents had no idea what a Wii is but did know it was the cheapest new console on the market (and all the hype around it n their kids begging for it).
With 360 being about 60-70 bucks (canadian) less, I think its going to sell its self. The Graphics the 360 is offering at this new price is insane and nobody can knock microsoft anymore about the red rings because you dont see it anymore in retail unless the system is a few years old (even our demo units never got Red Rings and they were on 24/7 with hardly any extra venting and FILLED with dust). I dont see them smoking the Wii overnight but it eventually will happen unless the Wii also drops in price or comes out with non-mario titles and or good games.
2 theKiller | 486 days 7 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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Nugan - 485 days 12 hours ago
2.1 -
As far as I know, there is no N4G rule against blog articles, as long as they are actually written as an original article and not totally unprofessional rambling or a copy/paste of another news story.

I mean, who cares if the article is well written? I've read some blog articles that are far more interesting than the stuff at, say, Game Daily.
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White-Sharingan - 485 days 15 hours ago
3 -
they should forget to battle it out with the Wii and focus more against the PS3

considering in sales; 360 is in last place
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lsujester - 485 days 10 hours ago
3.1 -
The 360 is what, 5-6 million consoles ahead and consistently outselling Sony in software? How are they in last place?
4 thenickel | 485 days 13 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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DJ - 485 days 13 hours ago
4.1 - If you take a look at Sony's current ventures
Such as LittleBigPlanet and Eyepet, I think you can see that they're beginning to understand what it will take to compete with the Wii without necessarily copying its brand image (very dangerous to do so).
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KingDizzi - 485 days 13 hours ago
5 -
MS are trying to do too much at once and are failing miserably. Nintendo has the casual audience in the bag while Sony are going for the hardcore HOWEVER Sony are really good at breaking into the casual audience, Singstar is homage to there success with casuals as well as Buzz.
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Taker_129 - 485 days 13 hours ago
6 - No
Microsoft will never touch the Wii as long as they continue to charge for their online service. I doubt if this price cut will have a big effect on the ps3 sales.
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sidar - 485 days 13 hours ago
6.1 -
" Microsoft will never touch the Wii as long as they continue to charge for their online service"

In all fairness, Nintendo barely has one, its shattered over different games with different systems.
So what does their online system got to do with this?

The problem is not the Price it self, its the Way you play these games.
It's the controller what made the Wii what it is now.
If Nintendo used the GCN controller alone...The claims of it not selling at all would be true then.

edit: why do you pretend this article is about 360 vs Ps3? it clearly says Wii.
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Taker_129 - 485 days 12 hours ago
6.2 - @sidar
It matters because the biggest selling point on the 360 is XBL, and to enjoy that feature, it will cost you more money. Sure Nintendo Wii's online service is crap, but if people cared about that then it wouldn't be selling as well as it is.

And there is really only two games coming out for the 360 that could be system sellers, and that is Fable 2 and Left 4 Dead. Gears 2 will be a great game, and most likely sale millions. But as a system seller, it will most likely fail. And true the Wii does offer a new way to play games, that is the reason why it's selling so well. What does the 360 have that compares?
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sidar - 485 days 12 hours ago
6.3 -
If MS want a big piece of the Nintendo audience, Its not the online system that will do it.
They think the price cut will help but that's not enough.
Most people don't even know what XBL is unless you are known to gaming.

Xbox isn't failing because of XBL its mostlikely due the fact that it had a bad reputation due the RROD.( and i don't see any promotion anymore)
People who know of XBL and know what it offers are mostlikley to lay down that money, else they wouldnt be getting them.
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etownone - 485 days 12 hours ago
6.4 - @ taker
"It matters because the biggest selling point on the 360 is XBL,"

XBL is a premium service aimed at peolple with a broadband connection.

In other words,
1. people that can afford the added expense of broadband.
2. people that can get broadband connection where they live.
3. and the parents that allow their kids to play opline.

If you have broadband, paying $4 a month for XBL is more than worth it.

if not....thats ok because

THE BIGGEST SELLING POINT FOR THE 360 ARE THE GAMES!

as in the highest rated exclusives, biggest game library, and better multi-platforms.
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Taker_129 - 485 days 12 hours ago
6.5 - @etownone
Im sorry dude, but you're stuck in the year 2007. Where are all those highly rated exclusives this year? Too Human, Ninja Gaidan 2, Tales of Verspiria, Infinite Undiscovery, All fall in to the 7-8 rating range. Sure those are still good games but highly rated? NO. And multiplat games have been the same since Cod4, so where have you been? True the 360 does have the biggest library of games but if those games didn't get people to buy the console then, what makes you think they will now.
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etownone - 485 days 11 hours ago
6.6 - @ taker
"Im sorry dude, but you're stuck in the year 2007"

haha... no i'm just telling you the FACTS as of today sept 7, 2008.
get it straight, and do your research.

PS3 has ONE AAA game thats exclusive...thats it. while the 360 has about 7.

AAA = higher than 90% on metacritic and game sales

where as ps3 owners might argue that point because they want to insist games like RFoM1, uncharted and Motorstorm are AAA.... when they are NOT. It's just ps3 has no exclusive AAA games.

And games look the same since COD4... WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

hahahaha..... just the way MS took PS2's highest rated and biggest selling franchise and got it same day release on 360 and then not only did it sells more on 360 BUT it has 2xAA and HD graohics, whereas the ps3 version has no AA and SUB -hd

That title alone is a slap to all ps3 owners. (especially the ones that bought a ps3 for GTA because they cant even play the DLC)

To you even argue that point that 99% of multiplat games run better on 360 shows you have no clue what your talking about or just another
sony fan that lives in denial.
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silverchode - 485 days 10 hours ago
6.7 -
halo3, gears, forza2 and 2 xbox live games are over 90.
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Taker_129 - 485 days 10 hours ago
6.8 - @etownone
I really don't know how we got on the subject of ps3 since the article was about the 360 and the wii, but I will reply to you anyway. By your logic, No exclusive game this year on the 360 has been "AAA" except Braid. So does that mean that all the exclusive games on the 360 are bad? NO.

So just because Ratchet, Uncharted, etc. are a percent away from 90 on metacritic they are not worthy of a purchase? GTA 4 is the highest rated game on both the ps3 and the 360 but does that mean its the best game on both consoles? NO it doesn't. Personally, I thought GTA4 was boring and repeative, but many people still consider it a great game. And you say that the 360 version of gta4 has 2xAA and is in true HD, but most reviewers still think the ps3 version looks better, so what does that tell you?

And as far as Multiplat games are concerned, I don't need to argue because most play the same. Burnout, DMC4, GTA4, BF:BC, Quake Wars, DBZ:BL, R6V2, Soul Calibur 4, etc all look the same on both consoles.
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soul899er - 485 days 13 hours ago
7 -
No, they should focus on beating the PS3 first before the even think of competing with the Wii.
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etownone - 485 days 12 hours ago
7.1 -
reality check.

umm... isnt the ps3 in last place? as in like 5 million behind?
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Common Sense - 485 days 12 hours ago
7.2 - Reality Check
Isn't the PS3 outselling the 360 on a monthly basis, even though it's the priciest?
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zo6_lover27 - 485 days 12 hours ago
8 -
Its not going to get the Wii audience. The people who want the Wii only want the wii, they think the Wii gets you active and doing something, they also see the motion controller as "fun", to them the Wii is the only option.
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omegaheat - 485 days 12 hours ago
9 - So much hatred
Last night there was an article claiming that the Xbox360 had a 68% failure rate. That article was pulled faster than I could post my comment. It was very stupid to make such a statement without any real evidence. You just can't make up numbers like that and then post them. Not even bloggers can get away with that. I have never seen such a high flood of negative comments coming in regards to the Xbox360. These articles are starting to look like biased gamers and not bloggers who are fighting an immature and hidden war. Some of them are blantantly wishing the failure of the 360. I didn't know things were getting this bad, but they are.............
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silverchode - 485 days 12 hours ago
10 -
lets see how it does it first week then we can answer this.
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ReBurn - 485 days 12 hours ago
10.1 -
The first week? The battle for sales isn't determined in a week. The full effect of this price drop is going to be seen over the next 4 months during the holiday shopping season. At the current prices, if the PS3 still manages to sell more than the 360 this holiday season then Microsoft has something to worry about.
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ReBurn - 485 days 12 hours ago
11 -
I think the new price puts Microsoft in a very good competitive position if they can produce and market games that appeal to a more casual audience. I hope Microsoft doesn't forget about the 20 million of us that have carried them so far. The new dashboard and talk of motion controllers makes me wonder where their heads are.
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IWentBrokeForGaming - 485 days 12 hours ago
12 - I'd pick this over a Wii
but I already own all 3. Better exclusives, less shovelware, and better graphics... all within the same price range... move over Wii!
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cereal_killa - 485 days 12 hours ago
13 -
@etownone you stated the 360: the highest rated exclusives, biggest game library, and better multi-platforms.

Sorry but so far the last few great exclusive were Mass Effect, Gear1 and Halo 3 nothing else has been to spectacular, Biggest game library- yes but only because of a year head start .. and better multi-platform: maybe at the beginning but only a blind fanboy would see that multi-plat games looks the same if not verrrrry close to each other some slightly better on the 360 some on PS3 but the difference is minimal so there s no real winner there.

Then the true fanboy comment comes out.....
umm... isn't the ps3 in last place? as in like 5 million behind

This being said because Taker called you bluff so u went to desperation tactics to try and win your argument.
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etownone - 485 days 11 hours ago
13.1 -
"This being said because Taker called you bluff so u went to desperation tactics to try and win your argument"

wow... you reading way too much in between the lines.
I just dont understand how people think Xbox is losing when it's like 5 million ahead of the ps3...at the ps3 rate of sales it would take years to catch up now, especially now considering the $199 arcade.

called my bluff?? the hell you talking bout?

and you said it yourself.."slightly better on the 360"
EXACTLY! hey dont get me wrong, when i heard about the "power of the cell" and blu-ray and blu-tooth ps3 being the mercedes of gaming systems.... with all these extras and a year later start.. the games are STILL like you said "slightly better!!" After all the HYPE, even i thought ps3 would blow the 360 games out the water same way xbox sh1tted on ps2 with every multi-plat game.

either way, i responded to Taker on his first statement and that response goes to you as well.

by the way, you mentioned Mass Effect and I just finshed it last week... one of my fav games of all time.. truly EPIC.
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silverchode - 485 days 10 hours ago
13.2 - your out of bubbles ^^^
do you really belive that the ps3 will keep beating the 360 by the same margin now as in the months ahead. the demand for the ps3 keeps going up while the demand for the 360 keeps going down.
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Ital50Stal - 485 days 6 hours ago
13.3 -
Etownone is outta bubbles because N4G has way to many ps3 fanboys..If you say the slightest thing against ps3...its over! lol
Well either that or all the people defending ps3 to death own shares/stocks in sony because it is hard to believe anyone would defend a product this hard. Its just a console..dont be poor and just buy them all..at these prices, its hard not to.
Every system has its up's and down's.

360= best gaming system
ps3= best media/entertainment system
Wii= best family/party system

Disagree?
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KRUSSIDULL - 484 days 18 hours ago
13.4 -
They should add a fanboy rating system for N4G so we can see how much PS3/360/Wii Fanboy u are.
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NoxiousD - 485 days 11 hours ago
14 - praying
The 360 is NOT a bad system, despite what people say. I own a PS3 60 GB only, and I am in very satisfied with it. I had to sell my Elite due to a financial situation with College. I am looking to buy an used elite from Gamestop for only 179.99!!! a great price, and buy the harddrive on Amazon for 90. This price cut, came at a perfect time... I do not care what people say, but Wii is just a fad. They openly admitted they are running out of ideas... But I personally have many ideas for the Wii. A new mario, an official sequel to the super mario brothers series, a new zelda also a official sequel, new metroid, bring back final fantasy not the crystal crap, bring back some kind of DS interaction with the games and bring out better games for the hardcore audience...
But the 360 dropping the price is a blesing and a curse. If this thing doesn't sell.. we got a new sega disaster on our hands. But they would just come out with a new console. Pheonix, is right around the corner..
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frey - 485 days 11 hours ago
15 - Not quite
Well the whole drop in price is a great way to gain sales, but the wii is aimed at the little kids who will whine to mommy and daddy to get them it, the 360 is not the system they will go after because frankly, they don't want a decent system, they want DAH WII!
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NoxiousD - 485 days 11 hours ago
16 - Can't argue with that.
You are right, the nintendo Wii is aimed for little kids and beginning gamers. It's like nintendo reinvented itself for a new audience. The 360 and PS3 are aimed for college and high school students and veteran gamers. If this doesn't sell the 360, what will?
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FantasyStar - 485 days 10 hours ago
16.1 - "If this doesn't sell the 360, what will?"
a free coupon for a 1 hour session w/ a hooker bundled with every 360 purchase.
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Arius Dion - 485 days 10 hours ago
17 - To answer the question...
No. This most recent price drop will do nothing to Wii sales. Maybe if M$ throws in a free Wii with the purchase of the 199$ 360 sales might increase ; )
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NoxiousD - 485 days 10 hours ago
18 - LOL
Free Wii, that would be priceless, so microsoft is going to buy the stock of Wii's they can get and give it as a consolation price to hold you over until the 360 dies on you? the freakin wii can't even play DVD's without it being hacked lol, this thing is like generations behind in hardware lol. Everything the Wii is doing, could be done before.. The 360 better outsell the wii now, there is no excuse..
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Product - 485 days 9 hours ago
19 -
Funny how people still want a dvd player in the wii.......its a game system.Does anyone in the world not own a dvd player.Dvd players are so inexpensive im just waiting for McDonalds to start handing those things out in their happy meals.
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NowGen - 485 days 8 hours ago
20 - what market?
for all the people who say that the arcade sku at $199 wont attract people who buy the wii are being hypocritical. sure it will attract them. it going to attract att those people who know nothing about all the extra bells and whistles that real next gen consoles offer. (sorry wii, ur not next gen)nintendo cant have it both ways. 1st you hear that nintendo is winning the next gen console war. (i dont agree)beating sony and micro. but when the 360 hit under $200, now they say that nintendo doesn't sell to the same market that would buy a 360. i'm confused. if your willing to take credit for selling the most systems, then who are you selling them to? if the market that buys wii only wont buy a $199 360, then who are these people. are they gamers or not? or is it like i've always said, nintendo wii is not competing with this gens systems. they went down a different road all together. one where they targeted people who tend to not play games often, and could care less about all the new advances in the true next gen systems. the next time some one wants to spout that crap that the wii is winning this console war, just remember, its not the wii vs ps3 vs 360. this time its casual gamers vs hardcore gamers. and right now the casual group's system is leading. and i can deal with that. just don't try to pass the wii off as some next gen #1 leading system seller. its in its own catergory.(toddler) the real fight is going on in the sony and Microsoft camp. nintendo fan, KNOW YOUR PLACE!
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BrotherNick - 485 days 7 hours ago
20.1 -
Wii is for people who do things other than games. It's the social console. What I don't like about consoles nowadays is that it just seems nonsocial to be gaming online all the time.
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IWentBrokeForGaming - 485 days 8 hours ago
21 - The real test in Sony is
they know microsoft will try and be first out the door next gen again. They should be worried about that, considering PS3 games will then be compared to the next Xbox games and if Sony would jump in so fast to then put out a PS4 would that show they truely believe in shelling out all that money in tech in the PS3? it wouldn't to me. But people know Microsofts "supposively" plan for a 4 - 5 year console span (which in their terms is okay), which will be fine as long as they keep dev. support for 360 it will be totally fine. But I think console life spans being shortened is going to become the new trend and I kinda feel it should be excepted... if people are willing to constantly upgrade their PC's some times constantly within even 1 year... why can't console gamers? what truely makes that so wrong?. As long as Microsoft stays first ahead of Sony, they picture they will be fine... because as we are seeing the PS3 games are starting to look strong as hell when compared to 360 (I do feel Gears is a game that graphically still makes PS3 fanboys cry). But little games even like LBP are doing things that make me say "DAMN" (my kratos code isn't working and Im PO'd). But with games like Killzone and Heavy Rain... visually looking amazing! (although I feel more games need these kinda visuals to make me truely believe PS3 is that much better than 360, cause those are the only games that truely show it). But Sony should be worried cause as they take pride in where their graphics are going, the newer Xbox is looming to drain the thunder with a new era of cutting edge graphics etc.. then back on the front of 360 with overall most games between the 2 being multiplatform and outside of exclusives they are looking the same in graphics, 360 will be cheaper and more competative on the fact that they are very comparable by a majority of games and by their visuals. Then the PS3 will be sandwhiched in a battle between 2 generations of Xbox and this is where Im betting Microsoft wants them to be, between a rock and a hard place. Im done kinda ranting and stuff but Im sure, you can see what Im talking about! and if you don't you're most likely a fanboy that don't want to hear the tune of a different drummer!
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Product - 485 days 5 hours ago
22 -
@ NowGen
You do realize that in europe the xbox360 has been cheaper then the wii for half a year and its still getting crushed?
Also funny how you think its impossible to be both hardcore and casual,but then again you must have the same definition on "hardcore" as the rest of the haters.
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Dill-Schil - 485 days 4 hours ago
23 -
who cares.. not me and a 200 dollar price tag for a piece of faulty equipment is not worth the risk. microsoft can suck it! and im tired of articales saying oh it was forced to an early release and if people were smart and realize when your a multi-billion dollar company you can stop ANYTHING at ANYTIME! i hate people and i hate fanboys well if nintendo and sony can get it right and make a console that works then why cant microsoft? next it will be a handheld that catches our hands on fire and then spits on us and takes a big sh!t on out faces while we are down whatever happened to playing a video game just for fun
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