Rumor: Xbox 360 holiday bundles to include family friendly games [update]

by Dustin Burg { Oct 7th 2008 at 9:45AM }

Update: Swedish retailer Webhallen.com has the rumored Arcade, Pro and Elite holiday bundles for sale and pictured on their site. It's more proof, but we still have no "official" word from Microsoft. Thanks Dirty Whirlwind.

Just as was done last year, Microsoft may be looking to release special Xbox 360 packages that are bundled with a few free games to entice holiday console purchasers. And according to our insider Gamestop tipster, this holiday Microsoft will be bundling family friendly games with all three major 360 consoles.

We've been informed that the Xbox 360 Arcade model will come packaged with SEGA Superstar Tennis and both the Pro and Elite models will come bundled with Kung Fu Panda and LEGO Indiana Jones. Sadly, we don't have any picture proof of the new bundles or a solid release date, but we'll keep digging to see whether or not the holiday game bundling is legit. For now, we advise being optimistically skeptical.

[Thanks, Travisto]

Tags: elite, holiday-bundles, kung-fu-panda, lego-indiana-jones, pro, sega, sega-superstar-tennis, xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Don-Don @ Oct 7th 2008 9:55AM

Would it be safe to say that if the games are bundled in-box that they're highly likely be Jaspers?

DBoyFlex @ Oct 7th 2008 10:10AM

Or would they not be, as an enticement to get rid of the old Falcons before the Jaspers actually hit? Who knows. it is such a game.

Don-Don @ Oct 7th 2008 10:13AM

I was hoping that all the deals on the Pro and Elite we've been seeing lately were retailers trying to clear out their leftover Falcons in preparation for the holiday bundle.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 7th 2008 10:19AM

@ Don
I guess last year when the Falcon hit in August, they then made the bundles with MUA and F2 and those xboxes were in fact the Falcon, not just MS clearing the previous models, so it is possible. Either way, the current xbox revision is much more reliable than the previous versions, so just go get one if you are in the market. Actually, wait, as Lego indy was quite fun. But if we keep waiting for the next revision, we would never end up with anything... Well, maybe a fatter wallet,

Don-Don @ Oct 7th 2008 10:34AM

@DBoyFlex:
It's not even for me (I have a Falcon). I'm just trying to get friends to buy a 360, and Jasper does alot to quell RRoD fears.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 7th 2008 10:42AM

Ah, that is true though. Just an FYI, if your friend or relative or whatever really has fears of it, you can go to Best Buy (if you are in the USofA) and get a product replacement plan. It lasts for 2 years and is about 50 bucks. If the xbox breaks (anything except you chucking it off a cliff--intentional stuff) they give you a whole new unit right off the shelf. I have that and have cashed in on it a few times. Saves the hassel of dealing with MS and you walk in with a broke unit, show it to them, walk out with a new unit. Actually, I paid 350 for mine, then the price dropped, and I had to exchange it and I also was refunded the 50 dollar difference in price since the MSRP dropped. Kinda nice. That is my piece of mind, at least. If you are outside the US, things may be different. I had a few friends buy from BB and get the warranty and have had no problems at all, but the warranty did help quiet their anxiety about getting the RRoD, amongst other things. Just thought you might like to know.

Dirty Whirlwind @ Oct 7th 2008 10:08AM

http://www.webhallen.com/list.php?avd=1&konsol=28&genre=1854

Pictures and release date. October 17th, in Europe at least, it seems.

Deezul @ Oct 7th 2008 10:55AM

Best Buy extended warranties do NOT cover RROD - they will tell you to send it MS yourself. So tell them either you HD is bad or the DVD drive isn't reading. That's what I did with an extended warrenty I purchased for an $400 Pro, returned it and got the Elite at $450 after the first price drop.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 7th 2008 11:03AM

Odd. whenever I go, they say they cover anything except intentional damage, even the RRoD. All you have to do is prove it (seriously, you go to Geek Squad and they hook it up and have to replicate the problem). Once you do, they do a swap-a-roo. At least that is how it is in my area. They do seem to have varying store policy as I called various stores within the city and in different cities and they all say something different. Nice that you could just walk in and say it was messed up to get a new one, I actually have had to prove it. But with a problem, they would exchange any problem other than running over it with my car. Oh well. At least it is not hard to replicate problems on the 360, and it is even easier when you have a real problem.

nomadic0ne @ Oct 7th 2008 11:27AM

Aside from the age old motherboard and reliability discussions...

...WHY KungFu Panda?!?

I'm not against Family games. They're fun! I like them!
But...a MOVIE game??

*sigh*
So much for looking forward to the holiday bundles...

/end mini rant

dicknjane @ Oct 7th 2008 3:42PM

Kung Fu Panda actually got good reviews from across the boards, from 7.5's to 8's. way better than many kids movie games. this and lego indy are perfect games to put in the bundle.

DBoyFlex @ Oct 7th 2008 11:36AM

Ah, back on topic, I did thoroughly enjoy Lego Indy. The Kung Fu panda demo, on the other hand, not so good. I guess if neither are your thing, go sell them to game stop and put the credit towards another game and either way you made out cause the bundle pack is not going to cost more, or at least they didn't in the past.

idreamofsteel @ Oct 7th 2008 12:06PM

I had a ms rep come into my eb games in Canada and tell us about this bundle. It looks like its coming in NA as well.

Mike @ Oct 7th 2008 12:02PM

If you buy at Costco you don't have to prove it is broke. Tell them after you have played for a couple hours the picture gets a purple or green tint and you read on the forums this a tell for it burning out soon. But I would get your next XBOX360 at Costo too.