Microsoft has refused to blink in the video game console war with Sony, revealing that it will ely on exciting new games such as the third instalment of Halo to boost sales of its Microsoft Xbox 360 rather than entering a price war with its rival.

Sony slashed the cost of its advanced PlayStation 3 console this week in the US by $100, a move that turned up the heat on Microsoft.

Yet Microsoft has refused to take the bait and has instead unveiled a Spartan Green version of the Microsoft Xbox 360 to accompany the highly anticipated Halo game. The decision to maintain its pricing structure comes despite the company missing its target for 12 million global console shipments by the end of June after it reported it had sold 11.6 million units thus far.

Shane Kim, the head of Microsoft Games Studios, said:

“We have no desire, no need, to react to anything the competition has done … We feel really great about the Xbox 360 right now.”

Microsoft has sold nearly six million Xbox 360 consoles in the US, although it was released much earlier than the latest incarnation of the PlayStation that has achieved a disappointing 1.4 million sales in the region. Sony has suffered as a result of Nintendo’s Wii console that has shifted 2.8 million units since its launch last year.

Kim said the new version of Halo, the violent science fiction action game that has proved a hit around the world, as well as the fourth version of the Grand Theft Auto series would continue to drive sales of the Microsoft Xbox 360. Halo is available only on the Microsoft console as the software giant owns Bungie Studios, the game’s developer.

Source: nzherald.co.nz

Xbox 360 Components & Accessories

Microsoft Xbox 360 also has a built-in 100BASE-TX 8P8C ethernet port, suitable for connecting to Xbox Live, and three USB ports.

The Xbox 360 supports up to four wireless controllers and three wired controllers; the Xbox 360 only has 3 USB slots but a USB hub can be used to extend the maximum number of wired controllers. The wired version of the controller can also be used as a PC gamepad via its standard USB connection. The wireless controller can also be used as a PC gamepad in conjunction with a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver allows all wireless Xbox 360 accessories to be used on the PC. A wireless force feedback racing wheel was released on November 1, 2006.

The Microsoft Xbox 360 controller is somewhat different from the original Xbox controllers. The black and white buttons have been replaced by bumper buttons, which are on the shoulder of the controller, just above the triggers. It is noticeably smoother, has a white-gray theme, and is very small and ergonomically built. The wireless version runs on 2 AA batteries or a rechargeable battery pack. The life remaining on these batteries can be checked by pushing the Xbox Guide Button and looking in the upper margin for a battery which displays up to 4 bars.