Xbox 360 launches Arcade model to challenge Wii

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — Microsoft on Tuesday began US sales of a scaled-down Xbox 360 model billed by some analysts as a doomed bid to unseat Nintendo's Wii console as ruler of the casual video game market.

"It is squarely targeted at the Wii," Directions on Microsoft analyst Matt Rosoff told AFP.

Xbox 360 Arcade comes with five family-oriented video games including PAC-MAN and Uno, and is capable of downloading more games from the Internet.

The Arcade model lacks a hard drive but provides 256 megabytes of memory for storing game play and software, according to Microsoft.

Arcade consoles are priced at 280 dollars while Nintendo's Wii consoles are priced at 250 dollars and have been selling as fast as they arrive in US stores.

Xbox 360 Arcade...