[Chris]

Seemingly since the beginning of time, man and woman have been willing to paying discounted prices for subsidized hardware with long-term service agreements. It's how the majority of smartphones are sold, and in the dial-up era, you could snag a low-cost PC if you were willing to pay out the nose for blazing fast 56K Internet service. Could the same principle drive Xbox 360 sales? Get ready to find out.

We don't have any official word on this, but according The Verge, which is usually spot-on with its information, Microsoft's is getting ready to sell a subsidized Xbox 360 console package for $99 that includes a 4GB console and Kinect sensor. To qualify for that low price, gamers will have to commit to a 2-year service agreement at $15 per month, which adds an additional $360 to the total cost.

The subscription fee includes Microsoft's Xbox Live Gold service, which normally runs about $60 per year, or around $35 if you shop online deals and take advantage of timely discounts. Streaming cable content and sports packages may also be included in the subscription fee, as well as a 2-year warranty.

Our knee-jerk reaction is that a subsidized Xbox 360 is a clever way of price gouging gamers, but if you run the numbers, this isn't exactly highway robbery, depending on the extras. At face value, a 4GB Xbox 360 console with Kinect hardware costs $300 MSRP, plus another $120 for two years of Xbox Live Gold service. That's a grand total of $420 versus $460 for the long-term subsidized cost with warranty. Depending on the other extras, gamers could potentially break even or come out ahead without the burden of a high upfront investment.

Would you be interested in a subsidized Xbox 360 console as outlined above, or does the value fall too short?

Maximum PC | Subsidized Xbox 360 with Kinect to Run $99 with a Two Year Service Agreement


Can you say rip off?

[aden34]

i guess this could be good for people who can't afford it, but the over all cost is still a rip off

[Tucker]

Anybody else find it ironic that the total cost equals 360? Also I don't see how this is a rip off if in the end you pay under the amount you would of when purchasing it outright.

This may or may not be a big hit in the UK (if the package even comes to the UK). Most parents buy games consoles from Argos and put it on a buy now pay later agreement. I don't think this deal will change that.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Tucker

Anybody else find it ironic that the total cost equals 360? Also I don't see how this is a rip off if in the end you pay under the amount you would of when purchasing it outright.

This may or may not be a big hit in the UK (if the package even comes to the UK). Most parents buy games consoles from Argos and put it on a buy now pay later agreement. I don't think this deal will change that.

Not sure how you came up with that. I often find the 4gb kinect bundle for $250 or less and 13 months of gold for $35

You end out paying more also due to you pay tax every month on the live.

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by Chris

Not sure how you came up with that. I often find the 4gb kinect bundle for $250 or less and 13 months of gold for $35

You end out paying more also due to you pay tax every month on the live.

Yeah I read the pricing wrong towards the end of the article. But still isn't a rip off. A lot of families might not have the money spare upfront and would be better off with smaller payments but still want to treat their kids.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Tucker

Yeah I read the pricing wrong towards the end of the article. But still isn't a rip off. A lot of families might not have the money spare upfront and would be better off with smaller payments but still want to treat their kids.

Yea if you don't have the $250 or more to shell out right upfront this is a good deal. Black Friday deals are still the best though, picked up a 250gb slim for $135 and a kinect bundle for $200

[Halo 4]

I thought this would of been a good deal at first, until I read what you had to do.. which was spend $15.00 a month.... I mean, I wouldn't mind paying $14.99 a month but $15? They must be crazy...

[Wookie]

Been knew about this, you're saving around 40$ at the end. Useless!

[xl Autrix lx]

Originally Posted by Wookie

Been knew about this, you're saving around 40$ at the end. Useless!

If you think 40$ is useless, you must be living the high life.

40$ decides whether or not I can make it to college that week.

So to some it might be quite the big deal.

[Cody]

So what if you don't abide by the contract? They blacklist your console?
This should be interesting, I'd buy it depending on the conditions.