For all Australians not Importing. Date announced!

[Cuber001]

Well this just shows how much gaming in Australia blows!

SYDNEY November 22, 2005 ? It?s only ninety-nine sleeps until Australians can get their hands on the world?s most powerful games console, the Xbox 360.

Microsoft today announced that two versions of the console will go on sale from 12:01am on March 2nd, 2006. Consumers will be able to choose from the Xbox 360 System at RRP*$649.95 and the Xbox 360 Core System at RRP*$499.95.

It was cheaper buying it from Videogamesplus!!! Not to mention 3 months late! And have you seen the prives of the accessories!

A wide range of Xbox 360 accessories will be available on launch. The current list includes:

• Wireless (RRP*$79.95) and Wired (RRP*$59.95) controllers
• Play charge kit (RRP*$34.95)
• Rechargeable battery pack and cradle (RRP*$49.95)
• Batterypack (RRP*$19.95)
• 20Gb hard drive (RRP*$169.95)
• 64MB Memory unit (RRP*$49.95)
• Wireless networking adaptor (RRP*$169.95)
• VGA cable (RRP*$49.95)
• Advanced AV pack (RRP*$39.95)
• High Definition AV pack (RRP*$49.95)
• Headset (RRP*$49.95)
• Faceplate (RRP*$29.95)
• Universal Media Remote (RRP*$49.95)

Xbox 360 consoles, games and accessories will be available from leading retail outlets.

Very Expensive!

http://www.xbox.com/en-AU/community/...downbegins.htm

[charlesr]

I thought that australia normally got a good deal on timings, but actually that's purely based on me importing PAL (<==surely contradiction in terms!) excitebike64 from tunsagames.au or whatever it was, a year before it came out in the UK.

[Spatial]

So much for an almost simultaneous worldwide launch. Why the long delay?

[Cuber001]

Who knows! And i don't think we ever will. But it must have something to do with units. If there are mass shortages in 3 regions, imagine a fourth?

[charlesr]

point all your friends in this direction for import advice then

[nonny]

Yep Im in Australia and I am importing.

I've had my preorder with Amazon ever since they announced the UK date and I am getting it shipped to my parents in South Wales where it will promptly be couriered over... so with any luck should get it about a week after UK launch.

The most sucky thing about the Australian launch apart from the delay is they have now taken the XBL headset out of the premium pack as well... Import ahoy!

[lostn]

F##king hell. So much for MS's worldwide 2005 launch.

March 06? Bah. Neglected as always.

I think I'm going to preorder about 10 of them just to resell them on ebay. I gotta get even some how.

And $649 for the premium? F--- you Microsoft.

Importing it will cost about $500-550.

[sj33]

Are you sure those prices are not in Australian dollars?

AUS$649 = ~GBP?278, which works out about right.

[nonny]

The price is exactly the same but the lack of headset in the premium pack now means Australians would have to pay $50 more for the same deal.

As I said, I was always importing anyway, shipping is going to be about ?100'ish but given the timeframe its worth it overall.

[lostn]

They are australian dollars, and that is dear for australian prices.

By the way, you're probably getting shafted worse than we are. I heard a US$299 console equates to 299 pounds. Rip off.

But when you convert $399 USD into AU, you'd get about $530 odd. Of course, they select their own pricing depending on the region, rather than converting the US price.

$649 is how much the first Xbox launched at, but back then we had good ol' Nintendo releasing their Gamecube a month later for $299 which naturally forced MS to slash the price by $249 and give a rebate to early purchasers. I hope the Revolution comes out quick, so that MS is forced to drop their prices once again.

[Lyris]

Australia uses PAL games and 220v 50hz. I'm sure plenty of Aussies will do the math(s) and just buy the European version. Or better yet, the American one.

[fahrenheit]

I'm in New Zealand which has its launch inline with the Aussie one except we are paying $720NZ (289 pounds) for the 360 system.

I think the website details are still considered as 'placeholder' as they state that the package includes the VGA adaptor instead of the HD Component cable. Of course the VGA cable has no composite connector so anyone with a TV would be unable to connect it. So take with a pinch of salt.

I'm still leaning towards importing an NTSC machine but I don't want to have to use a step-down transformer. So my priority will be sourcing a local psu (or one from the UK) before I purchase the console. So next year it will have to be I guess?

[nonny]

Yep... I hear they arent going to sell the power supply separately mate, even though the UK one will work with a US console, but not the other way around.

It leads me to believe the UK PSU is multi-voltage but the US one isnt.

As they wont sell them separate you might be better off importing from the UK like I am as the Aussie/NZ package doesnt include the XBL headset either its not much more cash to get it early and pay shipping.

[fahrenheit]

Someone somewhere will be offering replacements, whether they are an official repairer or if a thirdparty makes one, one will be available at some stage sooner or later.
I'm also looking at the modding community to see if it will be possible to physically mod the psu. I'm not too keen on cracking open a brand new console, but the psu is fair game.

[nonny]

Fair enough... just seems like alot of hassle when sourcing a UK machine is probably going to work out about the same in cost.