When it comes to video games and pricing, saying Australians don’t always get a fair shake is a bit of an understatement – which is why the pricing for Microsoft’s swanky new Xbox 360 steering wheel is such an anomaly. The US price is $60. The Australian price? $59.95.
Is this a first for Australian video game retail?
We think so.
Is it too optimistic to interpret this as a sign of things to come?
Probably.
The wheel ships to retailers in Australia on September 26.
Stevorooni
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:18 PMam I in some sort of bizzaro land?
Francis
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:18 PMIs it me or does anyone else thinks that wheel is butt ugly!
Glenn J
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:19 PMMark, Get a hands on of this thing ASAP if you can. I’m mightily interested, but would love to hear more!
Glib
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:44 PMWhat he said. Please.
DeReam
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:59 PM+1 – Convenience of a controller with a better range of motion… count me in as very interested.
boomtish
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:22 PM$60 worth of crap – get $60 off a real wheel
Lord Bob
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:25 PMI’m pretty sure I’ve seen something like that in the window of the local adult shop.
As for the price, it’s an accessory the the games-are-more-expensive-here rule doesn’t necissarily apply. But wouldn’t be surprised if it gets here and has a last minute price hike.
706
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:31 PM‘Now with extra strong vibration’
…I’m a horrible person
Lord Bob
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:49 PMBuy one of these and your girlfriend won’t think you are.
tom
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:25 PMbetter pre order or something, cause the price will most likely go up before its released
proto
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:29 PMLooks more like some form of double-ended marital aid to me.
nonozone
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 11:56 PMhow long will it take before it stars in a little video called:
2 girls, 1 wheel
RaygunBrown
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:30 PMI don’t want that thing but the pricing sure is interesting.
FatShady
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:30 PMAt $60 I’d buy one… I kind of like em!
Reaper
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:38 PMIf you buy products based on what they look like and not their use… you’re an idiot.
Valor
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:53 PMSo you’d buy a fluorescent pink, condom shaped pencil made out of a tampon since looks are a non-issue right at this point in time?
Maybe it’s because you’re a fanboy of the fluorescent pink, condom shaped tampon pencils manufacturer simply because you want to justify your guilty purchase?
Don’t say dumb things…
mattroe
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:17 PMThat argument doesn’t make sense. There’s a difference between something simply not looking the way you want it to and something looking as ridiculous as what you described.
solypsis
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 6:36 PMummm … since your all talking about functionality vs aesthetics, can I point out that they STILL can’t get the d-pad right!
Why have so many companies struggled in making such a simple piece of plastic?
Even the 360 pad redesign to fix this exact issue was an over-engineered fail.
Thank god I won’t be playing Sf4 on this heap of poopy.
Valor
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 10:41 PMApparently my post wasn’t made or something but here it is again. I should have added one more remark that LIKE everything else, there must be balance. I thought this was common knowledge by know but hey, time makes fools of us all.
My point was not that this U “wheel” is as obscene as a fluorescent pink, condom shaped tampon pencil but lacks balance. Sure you can appreciate it if it looks like a work of art but honestly who’s going to use something that electrocutes you when it senses user satisfaction.
I was also saying that anyone who wants said masochistic device is only trying to impose bad ideas onto other simply because they can’t accept they made a mistake for poor choice or “failure”.
Now leave it be.
sarujin
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:39 PMWhat ever happened to the old Xbox360 wheel?
It seemed to disappear from the market? I realise it wasn’t a great model of wheel, 90degree rotation, pretty basic everywhere else. I did always mean to pick one of them up.
MikeZdoseit
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:47 PMI got one and it wasn’t good. It made every raceing game i played 10th times harder (forza 2 on medium difficulty was nigh impossible to even place in the top 6), hence it just collects dust now.
Braaains
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:48 PMIt’s a misprint, it’s actually $599.50. $59.95 is the GST.
Michael "Why can't I have a cool handle" Winters
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:53 PMI laugh at the joke but cry inside because it’s entirely probable.
buckE
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:49 PMWhy can’t Microsoft just stop being so controlling and let me use my damn G27 on my Xbox 360?!?!? Forza 4 would be so much better with a proper steering wheel :’(
Janek
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:01 PM+1
pawno
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:22 PM+1 million
I won’t buy Forza 4 because I can’t use my existing G25 wheel with it. Looks like GT5 gets more lovin’
Aidan
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 2:50 PMThat’s better than I expected.
Here’s hoping this is a sign of more realistic prices for accessories. The HDDs especially are just absurdly overpriced.
Stacey
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:06 PMHave to say, that is not what I consider a steering wheel. Motion sensing for driving sims/games just doesn’t work that well, you really need force feedback for any sense of realism. Would rather use a standard controller.
Jordaan
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:12 PMPeople, this isn’t ‘motion sensing”. There is a metal section beneath the guide button that attaches to a base. That acts as the axis of rotation.
Dissection
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:17 PM$60? Not too bad but if I ever buy racing games on the 360 I think I’ll fork out an extra $10 and get the XCM F-1 Converter and use my G27 instead.
Ben J
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:27 PMI’ll probably buy this. I’m glad MS have played nice with Australia for once too.
I’m really intrigued to see how this thing works. What can I actually mount it on to?
stepox
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 3:31 PMUgly as sin but that’s a surprising price.
ben
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:02 PMthe thing looks like a double sided dildo.
paul
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:18 PMYou are excited that the price is the same as the us when the australian dollar is worth $1.07US?
Dissection
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:25 PMConsidering that the strength of the Aussie dollar has never seen us receive a fair price in comparison with the US…yes…
Steve0410
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 4:56 PMIt’s cheap because there’s nothing inside it.
Derris
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 5:26 PMi’ll take my g27 any day…
and my pc too lol
Otoha
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 5:40 PMIt’s cheap in terms of typical Australian price mark up, but expensive in terms of actual components
Ben
Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at 5:55 PMUm, so it’s a U shaped, Xbox branded sixaxis?