14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft seems determined to limit the storage space of most Xbox 360 gamers to 120 GB. The 250 GB hard drive, initially released as part of a bundle that also included Modern Warfare 2, the biggest selling game of 2009, is set to also appear as part of a bundle with Final Fantasy XIII, the Square Enix-made Japanese role playing game that arrives in early March. But there's no sign the Redmond-based company is planning to offer it as a standalone product alongside its gaming console.
In an interview with Joystiq, Aaron Greenberg, who is the product manager for Xbox Live and the Xbox 360, has said that “We did it with the Modern Warfare bundle, which, as people know, was a huge success, completely sold out. We're excited to bring it back with the limited edition Final Fantasy bundle.”
The Microsoft man believes that “part of what makes it special” is the limited availability and that a full release will not be happening any time soon.
Still, Greenberg allowed himself some turning space by saying that the software giant is evaluating how much space Xbox 360 players really need. At the moment, the bulk of the space in a gaming console is being used up by game demos and by those videogames installed on the hard drive in order to limit the loading times and reduce the noise made by the disk drive. The increase in downloadable content released for most titles can also eat up a lot of space.
The Redmond-based company seems to be acting a bit too paternalistic when it comes to hard drives and space. As long as it has the ability to get 250 GB hard drives, which work well with the Xbox 360, it should offer them to all those interested and find another way to spice up big game bundles.