New Xbox 360 bundles rumored, XNA games headed to Xbox live

There's a couple of developments in Xbox land today, one official and one decidedly less so. On the latter front are some rumored new Xbox 360 bundles that French website Gamick.fr claims to have caught sight of on a Microsoft marketing site. As you can see above, the bundle (in this case for the Elite model) supposedly includes Forza 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance for "free." A Premium bundle with the same games was also spotted, but there's no indication of one for the Core model. According to Gamick, the only other information about the bundles is that they were labeled as "Holiday Value Bundles." In more official Xbox news, attendees at Microsoft's Gamefest 2007 got a chance to check out Torpex Games' "Schizoid," which is the first Xbox Live Arcade game to be created with XNA Game Studio (it'll be available later this year). What's more, Microsoft also announced that the top four winners of its XNA-centered Dream-Build-Play contest will be able to have their games published on Xbox Live, although there doesn't appear to be any word on exactly when they'll be available.

Read - Gamick.fr, Rumored Xbox 360 bundles [Via Joystiq]
Read - Microsoft XNA Games Press Release

[dave @ Aug 13th 2007 2:41PM]

Premium gets HDMI, and now they need something to justify the cost of the Elite, other than the 120GB HDD. Perhaps this bundle won't be available for the Premium? At least not "for free"?

[jroc @ Aug 13th 2007 2:52PM]

I already have Forza 2 motorsport but I do not have a 360. I will get an elite if M$ would put the fucking reliable chipset in it already. Here's a thought, stop making 360s until we can have the reliable processors in them!!! Why make defective consoles, just stop production until you can get your ass in gear.

[joe @ Aug 13th 2007 3:18PM]

You know they did develop a new chipset that they be using in new Xbox 360's

[CharlieX @ Aug 13th 2007 4:11PM]

I'm stoked about the new chipset... after 3 failed 360's... but that means probably buying a brand new one to get those chips, no?

[joe @ Aug 13th 2007 4:55PM]

There is no exchange program that I am aware of but since the new chipset is cheaper to manufacture I would guess that M$ will start sending back the new chipset kind to people who send in their Xbox in for warranty repair.

[laboo @ Aug 13th 2007 3:00PM]

are these going to be the falcon edition everyone has been talking about?

[The General @ Aug 13th 2007 3:02PM]

Well, the black colour of course. Apple charges $30 more for the black MacBook than they do for an equal spec'd white MacBook. So, why can't Microsoft do the same?

[Ruben @ Aug 13th 2007 4:09PM]

Or maybe its because it includes a 120 gig hard drive and an HDMI cable, as opposed to 20 gig and no HDMI cable?

[The General @ Aug 13th 2007 4:34PM]

I suppose that could be another reason. :)

What would be excellent is if they put the HD-DVD player in the Elite and charged $599 for it.

Direct competition with PS3, but with the Elite you actually get some good games.

[anonymouspimp @ Aug 13th 2007 3:06PM]

Please don't bring that "first" crap to engadget. I can't wait until school starts.

Anyways... I hope they bundle Madden with Xbox. That's what i'll be waiting for. At least for a little while... until I cave.

[bones @ Aug 13th 2007 3:40PM]

worst

[Bricks @ Aug 13th 2007 4:05PM]

Engadget: Please find some way to humiliate these "first" people. Don't allow them to clog up a good site with their crap. Thanks.

[Pumapayam @ Aug 13th 2007 4:31PM]

Why do they even bother posting "first", this is not a message board with a post count. Here's a cookie for that achievement. Now leave.

[Emirhan @ Aug 13th 2007 5:12PM]

Jroc, are you real? Why did you picked up Forza if you don't have the actual console, I wonder where you put the disc to play.

[jroc @ Aug 13th 2007 5:28PM]

Yeah I bought forza 2 already and lost planet for that matter to get the limited edition versions, which are practically impossible to find now. I have been waiting about 10 months for the 65nm chip which has been delayed about 5 times now.

[Emirhan @ Aug 13th 2007 6:21PM]

You are paitient, there is no way I could do that. Just get the 360 now and later sell it on ebay when the 65nm are out. You'll only lose $120 it is worth it.

[Phil @ Aug 14th 2007 5:08AM]

But don't things like this make the whole 'PS3 is too expensive' argument groundless?!

Furthermore, the 'it has no games' argument would also appear to be flawed if someone buys games for a console that is'nt even out?!!

Well, ya learn something new everyday.... :-)

[Sean Dimaculangan @ Aug 13th 2007 9:51PM]

Well i bought the 360 Elite when it first came out so the only thing that i dislike so far is the DVD drive is pretty loud, but other than that it works great...

[Iced_Eagle @ Aug 14th 2007 3:29AM]

For clarification, perhaps you can say you can download v1 of XNA Games Studio, however it's XNA Game Studio 2.0 that is coming out later this year.

Obviously the games were created with the publically available version.

[Galley @ Aug 14th 2007 9:41AM]

They oughta have a "Buy one, get one free" sale on the Xbox 360. That way you should always have one to play while the other is in the shop.

Thanks, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitresses!

[EricD @ Aug 17th 2007 3:44AM]

Why would you keep buying a console if dies on you the first time?