This just in! Read all about! More news about the Xbox 360 price cuts have just come in. According to the Joystiq blog, an insider from the Microsoft marketing department, Microsoft plans to use the Xbox 360 Arcade Bundle as a direct competitor to the Nintendo Wii. The Microsoft marketing department plans to market the Xbox 360 Arcade with more family-friendly entertainment in order to catch up to the Wii. The Arcade bundle will come with traditional Arcade essentials such as a 512MB memory card, a motion controller, and a few montioned controlled games developed by Rare. Expect the Xbox 360 Arcade bundle to come out around the holiday season of 2008. The arcade bundle is expected to have a retail price tag of $199.

As far as the newly mentioned motion controller, it is compatible with all Xbox 360 models and will be sold seperately. With this new motion controller, we should also expect new games for the Xbox 360 that will utilize the new motion controller. Stay tuned!

- Geoff

[Source: Xbox 360 Fanboy]

The rumors have been flying around again. And this time it seems to be true. According to gaming blog Joystiq, all three Xbox 360 models will be getting a price cut. The gaming blog stated the following:

“A few of our retail contacts, some of whom have given us good intel in the past–and who all work for separate corporations–have sent us identical information regarding a price drop.”

The rumors seem to be true due to a recent Radio Shack newspaper advertisement. All three Xbox models on the advertisement have a price drop. The 120GB Xbox 360 Elite is listed at $399, a price drop from $449. The new 60GB Xbox 360 Pro model is listed at $299, a price drop from $349. And the Xbox 360 Arcade, which does not have a hard drive, is listed at only $199, a price drop from $279. These price drops make them very competitive with the Sony PS3, which is listed at $399 for a 80GB model, as well as the Nintendo Wii, which is listed at $249. Microsoft has yet to have a official response to the rumors.

- Geoff

[Source: Joystiq]

For all of you who have been holding their breath for the new Fallout 3 video game can finally exhale. Bethesda Game Studios, the developer of Fallout 3, finally announced the release date for the video game, which is set to hit retail stores in North America on October 28th and internationally on October 31st. But this gets even more interesting. On the same week, Dead Space, the similar horror third-person shooter game developed by Electronic Arts, will be releasing the very same week. Obviously Bethesda feel confident about their product to set a release on the same week of Dead Space. It will be real interesting to see which video game will come out on top. Check out the screenshots of Fallout 3 below. Please stay tuned for more details as they come our way.

- Geoff

[Source: Xbox 360 Fanboy]

So what are the top games to play on Xbox Live for both the original Xbox and the Xbox 360. Check this out from Xbox Live’s Major Nelson.

LIVE Activity for week of August 11th

Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Call of Duty 4
2 Halo 3
3 GTA IV
4 Gears of War
5 Madden NFL 09
6 Rock Band
7 Guitar Hero III
8 Battlefield: Bad Company
9 SOULCALIBUR IV
10 Fable II Pub Games

Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions)
1 BC:Rearmed
2 Fable II Pub Games
3 Braid
4 Geometry Wars Evolved²
5 UNO
6 1942: Joint Strike
7 DOOM
8 SOULCALIBUR
9 N+
10 Worms
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.

Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Halo 2
2 Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3 Fable
4 Counter-Strike
5 Fable: Lost Chapters
6 Splinter Cell Chaos
7 Conker: Live Reloaded
8 Doom 3
9 Battlefield 2: MC
10 Call of Duty 3

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade, full versions purchased that week.

- Geoff

[Source: Major Nelson]

“Let the force be with you” proclaimed LucasArts. As the developer of the new video game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, LucasArts has announced that a playable demo will be made available this Thursday, August 21, at the  XBox Live Marketplace. This demo gives players a little taste of what to expect as well as teach players how to use the new Force Grip power feature. As the first game to be developed internally by LucasArts, it utilizes modern hardware technology in order for the player to control the Force. An entirely new chapter in the Star Wars saga, the video games is set to reveal Darth Vader’s new “apprentice” as well as new revelations regarding the Star Wars galaxy. The release date for the game in North America is September 16, 2008 and will be available for the Xbox 360 gaming console.

- Geoff

[Source:GameInforWire]

Have you ever wondered why video games cost so much? Nowadays they normally cost around $60 dollars upon release. Well, the reality is that making a game is no cheap adventure. The production costs for games now rival some movies. So before you go off swearing at the abhorrent cost, let me lay some knowledge down on you.

In the December 2007 Issue of the Official XBOX Magazine, there was a breakdown of where your money goes when you buy a game. Believe it or not, it doesn’t all go to some bigwig whom is living the high life- that’s only $9 dollars or it. Check out the breakdown for the cost of XBOX 360 games:

Retailer Cut = $12

Microsoft Licensing and Manufacturing =$12

Marketing = $7

Development Costs = $20

Publisher Overhead= $9

Total Cost= $60

[Source: XBOX Magazine]