Cash in on great value in games and entertainment

Xbox 360 today invites you to experience more fun, more entertainment and more ways to connect with friends and family at an even better value. Beginning 22nd September, the recommended retail price of an Xbox 360 Elite will drop by $100, retailing for just $4991 in New Zealand. On top of that customers buying an Xbox 360 Elite from the day of the price drop through to October 20th 2009 will receive a bonus copy of the highly anticipated blockbuster title Halo 3: ODST.

With the Xbox 360 Arcade starting at a recommended retail price of just $3491, Xbox 360 puts all your entertainment in one place. In time for Christmas, you can play games, watch movies and keep up with your Twitter and Facebook social circles, all from your living room. The Xbox 360 Pro console will remain available at $449.00 (RRP) while supplies last and, as announced earlier this year; the Xbox 360 you buy today will work with code-named “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming in the future.

“With Christmas right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” said Tom Hunt, Xbox category manager, Microsoft New Zealand. “If you’re looking for a fantastic social entertainment experience that won’t break the bank, then now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360. I believe we’ve got the best games, more ways to connect with friends and family and so much more on the horizon.”

Having an Xbox 360 at the centre of your living room provides entertainment for any occasion. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore gamer, playing single player or with friends, you can enjoy hundreds of titles that fit your gaming style. Before the end of the year, you will be able to watch some of your favourite movies in the comfort of your home, while you share the fun with friends and family around the world through Xbox LIVE:

• Games for Everyone: Enjoy Xbox 360 game favourites such as recently released EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 and continue the fun through the holidays with a line-up that is sure to entertain every type of gamer. Hold auditions or sing your heart out with “Lips: Number One Hits” and “Guitar Hero 5”. For those who crave action, players can tear-up the tracks of “Forza Motorsport 3,” jump back into the Halo universe as an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper in “Halo 3: ODST,” or deploy for combat with this year’s highly anticipated title from Infinity Ward, “Modern Warfare® 2,” the sequel to the best selling first person action game in history “Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®”.

• More Ways to Connect: Xbox LIVE, the industry-leading online gaming and entertainment network, will soon offer its 20 million community members even more blockbuster partnerships and features, introducing a whole new era of social entertainment in the living room. Starting this spring, you can connect with friends on Facebook and share photos and real-time status updates right from your television, or stay connected to Twitter by reading, posting and replying to Tweets.

• Movies on Demand: Launching later this year, with Xbox Movies on Demand you will be able to watch a selection of the greatest movies when you want them in 1080p HD quality with no discs, no downloads, no delays2.

• Your Xbox, Your Way: In the meantime, visit the Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace for the latest fashions and download* full Xbox 360 titles through Games on Demand.

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1 Recommended retail price. The price you actually pay will be determined by the retailer. At participating retailers.

2 HD videos are provided in 1080p. 1080p-capable HDTV and HDMI cable required to achieve this performance. Instant 1080p HD feature also requires adequate broadband speed, and video and audio quality will vary based on speed.

* Downloads of content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace are only available for Xbox LIVE account holders aged 18 years and over in New Zealand.