Remember the not-so good old days where we would have had to shell out an extra 100 bucks just to get a measly 20 gigabyte hard drive? Well, times change, my friend. Today, Microsoft has announced the brand new ‘Xbox Live Pack’, a dream for Arcade (or Core) model owners who have been looking to upgrade their substandard system. The pack, which includes a headset, an internet cable, 3 months of Xbox-Live Gold Subscription, and a 60 gigabyte HDD, will come at a bargain of $99 U.S. Dollars.

It’s clear that Microsoft is trying to compete directly with the Nintendo Wii this holiday season. With the Xbox 360 Arcade system starting at $199 ($50 less then the Wii) and the ability to upgrade for pretty cheap whenever you feel the time is right, this could turn out to be a good strategy to get those casual Wii gamers to make a shift into the world of Xbox. Sony has no plans for any kind of price cuts this holiday season due to their current financial state. Sony Computer Entertainment exec. Ray Maguire say that Sony, "has a business to run" and must "do the right thing" for Sony shareholders. This too is a good opportunity for Microsoft to push their low console price and extend their lead against the PS3.

All in all, it looks like you guys who are stuck with the Core/Arcade console will have a good opportunity to upgrade this November when the new Xbox Live Pack hits retail. See you online!