Xbox 360 Bundles

Xbox 360 Bundles

At this time, there are at least four Xbox 360 bundles available at the retail level. Different stores may offer additional packages that throw in free Xbox 360 accessories or some games, but by and large, they can be broken down into four configurations.

Xbox 360 Core

When the system originally launched, there were only two configurations to choose from. The Xbox 360 Core and the Xbox 360 (Premium). The Core is the basic model and as such, it comes with only entry-level specifications. Some of the shortcomings to the Core include the lack of an internal hard drive, wired controllers, and an initial lack of HD output. This changed later on.

Today, the Xbox 360 Core is no longer offered at the retail level. You can still find it as a used video game system on eBay, however.

Xbox 360 Premium

The alternative to the Xbox 360 Core is the Xbox 360 Premium, also known as the Xbox 360 Pro or simply as the Xbox 360. It's not that the Premium/Pro package is capable of playing more Xbox 360 games, but it does come equipped with a better feature set. Key differences between the Core and the Premium are optional optical out, a detachable 20GB HDD, HDMI 1.2 output, and an upgraded motherboard.

Xbox 360 Arcade

In October 2007, Microsoft released the Xbox 360 Arcade configuration as a replacement for the Core. The main upgrade over the Core is that the Arcade comes bundled with a special pack of five Xbox Live Arcade titles loaded on a single disc. The games on this disc are Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Edition, and Uno. Other upgrades include HDMI 1.2 output, a 256MB memory unit, and a wireless controller.

Xbox 360 Elite

Sitting on top of the mountain is the Xbox 360 Elite. Instead of the regular white casing that the other units have, the Elite comes wrapped in a gorgeous matte black finish. The hard drive has also been increased in size to 120 gigabytes. You will also find that the Xbox 360 Elite is typically sold as part of bundle with a game or two.

Halo 3 Edition

It goes without saying that Halo 3 was one of the greatest games of 2007. People have been waiting for the first-person shooting game for a very long time, so Microsoft unleashed quite the marketing blitz to promote their new flagship title. Along with this promotion came the Halo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360. The features and specifications are identical to the Premium package, but the Halo edition comes painted in Spartan green and gold. It also comes bundled with a wired headset and an exclusive dashboard theme, in addition to a wireless controller.

Which Package Is Right for Me?

Realistically, you shouldn't worry too much about which of the Xbox 360 bundles you decide to buy, because they can all play the best Xbox 360 games. There are certainly advantages to the more expensive versions, but the best deal you can score is when a store has a special Xbox 360 package for you to consider. During these video game sales, you can score up to four video games for free!