J Allard speaks out about the hard drive issue

Microsoft’s decision to sell the Xbox 360 in two configurations is “pro-consumer”, according to J Allard. It allows Xbox 360 purchasers to decide whether or not having a hard drive is worth the extra money.

Allard commented that,

“You buy the Xbox 360 Core system, you can build up to the premium system and you won’t be left out of anything along the way,”

illustrating that consumers would have greater choice and flexibility with the availability of the two Xbox 360 configurations, as those purchasing the cheaper Core System could decide if and when they wished to purchase a hard drive for their consoles.

This flexibility, according to Allard, is not widely available in the consumer electronics market, and represents Microsoft’s commitment to providing consumers with choice. As he says,

“Consumers like choice, and it’s a very pro-consumer move on our part to say, ‘We’ve got two configurations of system that’ll be launching in Europe and if they’re not right, we have the flexibility to go and change it’.”

All Xbox 360 games will be playable without the hard drive, thus ensuring that Core System purchasers will not be limited in game choice by their system’s lack of hard drive.

Developers such as “Saint’s Row” creator Volition expressed frustration at having to develop for the console minus its hard drive, citing issues such as streaming and caching.

Allard acknowledged developers’ disappointment, saying,

“Are there developers who are disappointed? Yeah, sure,”

but balanced this by pointing out that

“from the developer point of view you have the best tools and the commitment of the most well-resourced company in the world going worldwide with this product and saying that we want to grow the audience. So that seems like a win for developers.”

Related:

• Preorder your Xbox 360 here