360 Camera bundle $40, 256MB MU $60, wireless headset $60?

OMEN · 06-04-2006, 07:41 AM

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Microsoft knows it's hip to accessorize, and at this year's E3, the company revealed some new products for its Xbox 360. Coming soon are the Xbox Live Vision camera peripheral, a Bluetooth wireless headset, and a wireless steering wheel aimed at the 360's many driving games. The three accessories were shown off behind glass at Microsoft's E3 booth, along with a wireless gaming receiver that allows 360 peripherals to be used with PCs. As with any announcement, the next thing gamers want to know is, "when and how much?" Though Microsoft has confirmed a release date for the Vision only (September 19 in North America), all the other bits of information are up in the air. However, one Web site claims to have the scoop.
This morning, the folks over at Joystiq posted some details it got from a mole inside Microsoft. According to the snitch, the Vision camera will be bundled with Xbox Live Arcade game Uno and a month's subscription to Xbox Live Gold for...drum roll...$40. Also rolling out will be the wireless headset with a 30-foot range and a 256MB memory unit, both for $60. The gaming receiver and faceplates with Halo, Forza Motorsport 2, and Viva PiÃ±ata themes will all cost $20.
The mole had no pricing information on the steering wheel or the external HD-DVD drive, but the majority of the above peripherals will be released in the good-ol' "Holiday 2006" window, except for the wireless gaming receiver, which hits in early 2007.
Microsoft only had the following to say: "At this point Microsoft has announced the launch dates and some of the initial title support for the Xbox Live Vision camera. However, Microsoft has not announced pricing, or any additional details regarding the Xbox Live Vision camera. These will be announced ahead of the launch." Stamp the mole's report "unofficial" in big, red letters.
But is it plausible? The answer, based on Microsoft's tendencies, is a resounding "heck yeah!" The Vision bundle is just what Microsoft wants to get into gamers' homes. For a reasonable $40, the company can show off its Xbox Live service and the camera functions with an Xbox Live Arcade hit, in hopes of hooking gamers into yearlong subscriptions.
There's no word on an a la carte Xbox Live Vision deal. That could cause an uproar for the many gamers who already own Uno and multimonth subscriptions. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. Breaking down the value of the bundle, the camera would run about $27 (Uno is five dollars, one month of Xbox Live Gold is eight dollars), so if the camera is sold separately, it will likely run around $30.
The mole also seems to hit the mark on the other accessories, as faceplates are currently going for $20, and $60 seems like a solid value for both the wireless headset and the memory unit (well, maybe not the memory unit as the 20GB HD is still priced at $100--but that's another story).
Of course, we won't know for sure until Microsoft announces something official, but it's looking like a wireless, camera-happy holiday for Xbox 360 gamers from where we stand.

Gamespot

360 Camera bundle $40, 256MB MU $60, wireless headset $60?

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