I totally agree with your comment. This new "arcade" model is solely designed to compete with the Wii.

Sony fanboys don't understand that a large majority of the gaming demographic are casual gamers where price comes first. Which is why the Wii is so successful.

Hardcore gamers and even diehard "fanboys" make up a very small percentage of the user base. Casual gamers that just buy a console to play Madden every year or the GTA games will surely pick up the 360 over the PS3 bc the 360 is $280 while the PS3 is $500. They don't care about online or added features such as Bluray.

Don't really care for this because I already got mines and I would never buy this kind if Xbox 360 pack.

I'd say nice move to counter the last gen console wii, which has nothing but a fancy controller. Dont know how many single player games can be enjoyed on it, its fun for 2 or more people but sux at solo play.

Xbox arcade sounds old, they should have named it something more family centered.

I bought the core and I don't feel conned, why would I? it does all the things I want it too, yes I bought the hard-disk later which again I do not have a problem with because at when I bought the core that was all I could afford at the time so was actually very pleased.

With regards to the new models they don't affect me at all, HDMI is great but I use VGA which is also......drum rolls....great.

Apple has done the same thing with the IPOD for years. Smaller, cheaper, longer battery life, more storage capacity, more features, colors, more features and file playback, etc...

Nintendo did the same thing with the Gameboy --> Gameboy color. Gamboy Adcance --> Gameboy Advance SP. DS --> DS Lite. Look at Sony. 20GB PS3 no wifi no card media ports. 80GB PS3 no EE backwards compatability hardware. PC's always come out with faster CPU's. GPU's always come out with something better, usually in the same calendar year.

It happens in all consumer electronics. Designs get improved, cost goes down, features are improved. Do we feel ripped off when we buy a new car, then next years model is improved and cheaper????? Remember the reason the 360 didnt put HDMI in the original launch units was because HDMI 1.3 was not ever a completed spec when the 360 launched in November 2005. Thats one of the biggest reasons the PS3 got delayed from Spring 2006 to November 2006 was so they could include HDMI 1.3

Last time I checked you could use any model 360 Core Premium or Elite with or without HDMI to play games right????? What is HDMI relevant to??? Marginally better picture quality vs component, 1080P support on all 1080P HDTV's, and the HDCP for high definition movie security. Face it Sony overhyped 1080P and HDMI so they could make the PS3 seem more attractive, in reality only the Blue-Ray movie playback is dependent on HDMI. THATS THE TRUTH!!!!!

I would just like to add that once the PS3 is available for $399.00 or less then I plan to buy one. Although Blue-Ray, wifi, card media ports, HDMI 1.3, Gigabit Ethernet, and a standard HDD are nice features. I did not ask for them, they are not necessary to play games, and dont feel the need to pay for them at this time. Not when I can get the same graphics for less money on the 360.

Both consoles have thier pro's and con's. I will get both consoles so I can have all the exclusives I want. And be able to choose the best version of multiplatform games based on graphics, online features, and content!!!!!

and the packaging looks more "fun" as well...and I agree with PimpDaddy
(never thought i'd agree with a pimp...lol) the Ipod fully utilized this strategy ( multiple sku's, increased reliability and function)...products should always become more and more attractive and fully target a certain demographic as they become more affordable...Nintendo has done this to their advantage as well...these are the times we live in boys and gals...gone are the days of the old way of marketing consoles...Sony certainly played a major part in revolutionizing the way games and consoles are marketed and packaged...and will continue of course...