Target ditching the 360 Core system too?

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 7th 2007 at 4:30PM }

Following last week's rumor that Best Buy will no longer stock the Xbox 360 Core system, Joystiq has received an anonymous tip that Target will be doing the same. The tip was accompanied by several images of the product listing in a store PDA, with the image above regrettably being the clearest. The upper right corner displays the Core system's status as "Discontinued." Coupled with the Best Buy rumor, it's starting to look like the Core is definitely being phased out. The question is whether or not another product will take its place or if the Premium and Elite models will become the only remaining choice.

We're curious to see what our readers think about the possibility that the Core is going the way of the dodo. While it would eliminate the cheapest 360 offering, it would also ensure that future 360s would all benefit from a guaranteed hard drive, which would also conceivably allow game developers to utilize the hard drive for more detailed games. What do you think? Should the Core be discontinued or is it better for Microsoft to keep its bottom tier choice?

Tags: core, coresystem, nomorecore, rumors

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Iliad Force @ Aug 7th 2007 4:49PM

Good question. It seems clear that developers would rather not have to worry about coding for the Core. But if it's true that somewhere between 15 and 20 percent of 360s sold are or have been Core, discontinuing the SKU doesn't eliminate that problem. Ideally, MS never would have released a neutered version of the 360. Sure, it helped Redmond at the holidays when confused parents were suckered by the $100 price difference. But did they really think through the ramifications of that two-tiered system? Seems like a rookie mistake to me. (Not unlike the stunningly poor design of the 360 vis-a-vis heat management.)

J.W. @ Aug 7th 2007 4:52PM

I've been a long-time defender of the Core. I think it is a good console for someone who may not have the financial means to invest in a Premium console, but still want to get in on the fun. If Microsoft is, in fact, axing the Xbox 360 Core, then that may alienate an entire segment of their fanbase that would then only have the Wii as their means of gaming on a budget.

Grindstone @ Aug 7th 2007 4:54PM

Bah! Just kill the damn thing off already. It's holding back developers. Just lower the pricve on the HDD and move on.

GregA @ Aug 7th 2007 4:57PM

I am guessing that the reason the Core is being discontinued at retailers is they are not selling through. Retailers would sell the product as long as it made them money, they simply dont care about the technical merits.

And before MS haters and PS3 fanboys croon about this, that means more than anything else that one of the things consumers want with the Xbox 360 is XBL. That is a marketing disaster for both the Wii and the PS3.

My prediction, once the "next gen" console midlife starts next year, the Xbox with its superior to everything else by a country mile XBL starts to kick in, the Wii and PS3 fade into nothingness.

Marasai @ Aug 7th 2007 4:58PM

I'm sure MS wants the core around, because it allows them to say their system starts at 270 or whatever it is priced at.

But I think with ther reality that Devs can now require the HDD, it simply doens't make sense to buy without one day upping to the hdd one day. I think retailers realize that.

Toph @ Aug 7th 2007 5:00PM

The Core system was offered as a go-between between older generation gamers and ones that wanted to hop into the 'next gen', but didn't want to pay the total price. Those were also the gamers that thought Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and King Kong were worth getting on day one.

Now that we have umpteen numbers of AMAZING 360 games in the library and on the upcoming games' list, I feel the Core has done it's job and should be phased out. It may hinder game development in a world where we don't need that at all, considering how competitive the market is.
It also really restricts the shelf room for the Premium and Elite, something that MIGHT JUST BE AN ISSUE this Holiday season. We have FOUR 360 systems now; one or two of those will sell better, but someone down the line will have to settle on a Core where they might have been ready to shell out money for an Elite. True they could just go to another location, but that's bad for the company that stocked the Core.

IF, IF the Core is to still stay in circulation, it should be exclusive to lower-cost stores like Wal-Mart.
GameStop, Best Buy and other high-end electronics/gaming stores should strictly sell the Elite, the Halo3 system, and the Premium. Those that might shop at those low-cost, 'value' stores may not even pursue getting an Xbox Live membership, which negates the need for the HD in the first place.

Deleting the Core, limiting it's production run, or only offering it at 'value' chains is a service for the gamers, and will prove itself in the cost figures.

fruit_bat @ Aug 7th 2007 5:10PM

Kill it!!!
they are dropping the price for a reason. It won't be too long till they drop the price even more on the premium, so why keep the core around.

IrishRED @ Aug 7th 2007 5:20PM

The Target Computers "Discontinue" the Core Model that was 299 and then bring in new code and a separate product file for for the new prices.

Bubs @ Aug 7th 2007 5:22PM

360 SUCKS AND BLU-RAY IS GOD , BOW DOWN ALL !!!

@ request of A.C. Ege from Amazon forums, PS3's #1 FAN !

Zapper @ Aug 7th 2007 5:28PM

I would love to see one(or both) of these big box stores to severely cut the price on these to get them out the door...then buy th e120GB drive for a wicked cool system at a good price...

If anyone sees these on sale for $200 or so...

JeremyK @ Aug 7th 2007 5:40PM

I never got the benefit of buying a core. Sure it was $100 cheaper but you still needed to buy a $40 memory card. I'm skeptical people can't afford $400 but $340 is fine and dandy. How are these people even going to afford to buy games in the future at $60 a pop?

Sure I know a lot of people that bought core's but only because of the shortage when the 360 launched. They bought a HD at the same time...

I'd be interested in know how many actual core owner don't actually own a HD that they purchased seperately...

Trogdor @ Aug 7th 2007 5:45PM

I doubt the core is going anywhere. The only way that Microsoft could totally eliminate the core and allow developers to code games with the HDD required would be to offer a program to give every person who purchased a core a discount on the HDD or a free HDD. Otherwise they would be opening themselves up to legal action if games suddenly came out with the HDD required. Not that they would lose the lawsuit (it's Microsoft), but it would be bad for their image and that's the one thing the 360 doesn't need any more of.

lysernix @ Aug 7th 2007 5:45PM

The *only* way it should have ever have been allowed to exist is if it came with a 512MB card FROM THE GET GO. Anything less was and is laughable.

So... the way it was, and the way it remains (the same since launch) is unacceptable. The only purpose (as the first poster stated as well) is to lure uneducated parents who then in turn disappoint and have to get additional accessories immediatley.

It is an insult to the customer to offer this gimped product.

dutchb0y @ Aug 7th 2007 5:52PM

Definitely lose the Core. It's a bit of a painted-in-the-corner scenario, but that 20GB HD price MUST drop, and they might as well do that for the separate SKU unit. Cut a deal for people with legit CORE SN's as a mail-in rebate, perhaps, to let people get their HD on with minimal funds. Say.. $30? If you don't have a core.. normal price for you!

The HD is essential, I think, for the long-term XBOX strategy. It just makes sense to drop the core ASAP so that number of machines becomes a smaller and smaller percentage of the population as time goes on.

Matt @ Aug 7th 2007 5:59PM

Indeed, IrishRED may be correct. Think about it, what if the Falcon equipped consoles all come with HDMI? Then, MSFT has a reason to give entirely new SKUs. Alternatively, another reason for the existing Core SKU to go away, but not the Core itself could be the eventual inclusion of a wireless controller in lieu of the wired model. After all, how can MSFT justify $279 for the Core as its currently equipped?

john @ Aug 7th 2007 6:25PM

They should only do it when they can get the price of the Premium/Pro sku down to $299. XBox *must have* a 200-299 offering.

intRvenous @ Aug 7th 2007 6:36PM

@1. agreed - killing doesn't mean devs can just ignore the HDD restriction. There are probably a couple million Cores in homes, they can't just ignore that.

Otherwise, it's a no-brainer to kill it. Anyone actually know someone who has one?

BirdmanSTX @ Aug 7th 2007 6:48PM

"The Target Computers "Discontinue" the Core Model that was 299 and then bring in new code and a separate product file for for the new prices."

If that's true, that would mean the Premium and Elite would be Discontinued as well then right, as all three are having price changes?

ccc @ Aug 7th 2007 6:55PM

Getting rid of the core system in some ways can be potentually a bad thing.
Example, I was planning on getting one of the newer 360 models with the 65 or 45 nm chip set to replace my old 1. If I have to buy a Hdd with the newer system thats not so bad, I can sell it right? I already have the 120 gig, but without the core system around will retailers still be purchasing the Hdd by it self from consumers anymore? Could be a bad thing but only time will tell I guess.

Jeff @ Aug 7th 2007 7:10PM

It think its a good thing to get rid of it, however developers wont be guaranteed anything, The Core was still sold for 2 years. and i dont think this is a M$ action, i think its the retailers, it doesnt sell so they get rid of it. But M$ has said forever that they want to get the 360 down to $200 and the core was made to get there first.

Richard Mitchell @ Aug 7th 2007 7:36PM

"Anyone actually know someone who has one?"

Actually, mine (which is finally off for repair BTW) is a core. Way back in February '06, my local GameStop called me. The manager told me they still didn't have any new Premiums (which is what I had reserved) but they had Cores. I decided to bite the bullet and had the balance refunded. I wound up buying an HDD and HD cables the same day for about $40-50 more than the actual Premium.

Considering the shortage though, I needed to get my 360 on.

JMiller @ Aug 7th 2007 11:12PM

Few weeks ago I saw Sears Grand with the core systems on sale for $203.91

buurin @ Aug 8th 2007 2:10AM

I got the red rings tonight (this will be my 4th xbox!) and as usual I went to Fred Meyer to buy a core while my box is out for repair... To my suprise they said they dont carry the core anymore either.

mattclarkie @ Aug 8th 2007 8:28AM

I can't understand why people buy the Core.

When the initial launch shortage existed I saw several shops selling Cores, but I held out, and 1 week later I got the Premium.

I know 3 people that just couldn't wait, they bought the core, the HDD, the Component cable and a Wireless Controller. They really regret doing that and it cost them a fortune. About £100 more than buying the Premium I got because of the compulsary bundles.

MS has no obligation to the Core owners, they bought it with the knowledge that many features such as Arcarde, DLC, and Marketplace would not work, but I feel they could do a HDD deal for people who register their Core with MS, sell it at cost price.

As someone pointed out the Memory card required meant that the Core was not much cheaper, the cost of a game, so the poverty argument is a bit flawed.

And we all know the Core caused/contributed to the original launch shortage, many people were waiting for the Premiums, and MS sold a bunch of Cores with a lower loss that the Premiums.

Josh @ Aug 8th 2007 9:41AM

"I never got the benefit of buying a core. Sure it was $100 cheaper but you still needed to buy a $40 memory card. I'm skeptical people can't afford $400 but $340 is fine and dandy. How are these people even going to afford to buy games in the future at $60 a pop?"

If you are giving one as a gift and don't know crap about the system, the core is pretty attractive. Let the eventual user of the console spend the money on the card or hard drive.

Josh @ Aug 8th 2007 9:43AM

If the core is really being discontinued, I see it being replaced with another model to stay in the same price range.

M. Dizzy @ Aug 8th 2007 10:17AM

Plain and simple, the core should never have been made. MS could have sold their entire launch in US being all Premiums...people bought cores because that's all that was available. The core was bad because developers cannot rely on the HD being there. What's worse is that the 100 dollar "savings" was nonexistant after you take into account the fact that you had to pay either 60 dollars for a memory card or 100 extra for the HD for saving your game.

chadomac @ Aug 8th 2007 1:04PM

this is correct they are getting new upc's for the new price point. as i am a manger for target i investegated how they were going to change the price and they are just getting new upc's. i scaned all 3 this morning and all of them came up discounted so the core is still here and its not going anywhere sorry wrong info person should have checked all 3 units.

Lord Chako @ Aug 8th 2007 5:02PM

BS chadomac.
If you really did work for target, you would know we don't have "managers", but "executive team leads" instead.
Second, I checked the status today at work (in-stock team member) and the premium and elite are still listed as "active". Only the core is listed as "discontinued".

That, and target doesn't use upc's. We use our own in-house coding system. An ETL would know this.

FiredCylinder @ Aug 8th 2007 7:19PM

I work at Target, and at least at my store, the Premium and Elites are discontinued as well. My theory is that they are discontinuing the current UPCs for a new one that comes as a bundle. I bet the Core isn't going anywhere.

SRU Platinum @ Aug 9th 2007 5:51PM

They should get rid of the core. Noone buys it and the few that do end up getting a hard drive eventually anyways.

BTW was at Best Buy yesterday and they had 5 360s (all elites), 0 Wiis and 12 PS3 60 gigs. It was hilarious they had them under PS3 and PSP games and had even brought out a thing so they could have more out. I beleive they had more in the back to

quinton @ Aug 20th 2007 7:25AM

I say ditch the Core system and make more room on the shelves for the Premium and Elite Editions.

zourskittles @ Aug 20th 2007 10:19PM

I have the same story as Richard, except my parents just couldnt find a premium in the whole STATE before christmas so I got the Core instead...and yes, I had to pay for the extra equipment. I don't really like the premiums silver disc tray anyones, seems to cheap.