No more free 360 remote

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6143445.html)


Xbox 360 loses remote

Limited edition mini Media Remote Control with premium pack runs out; preorders being filled now out of luck.
When the Xbox 360 made its grand launch in North America last November, gamers who got a hold of the hard-to-find premium pack were treated to a few extras. In addition to a 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller, and HD AV cables, early adopters also got a limited edition Xbox 360 Media Remote Control. Though chances of finding an Xbox 360 are remote, the chances of finding one with the bonus remote are even more...remote.

The limited run of bonus Media Remote Controls is apparently over. A GameStop employee has confirmed to GameSpot that the bonus remotes have not been shipping with the Xbox 360 Premium Packs that have been trickling into their store. This means that Xbox 360 preorders that still remain unfulfilled--and may very well have been placed months ago--won't be getting the controller. GameSpot has received unconfirmed reports that the discontinuation has infuriated gamers who preordered the console long ago expecting the remote to be included.

All is not lost though. Gamers looking to get a TV-style remote control to play DVDs and whatnot can still pony up for Microsoft's Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote ($29.99) or Logitech's Harmony Advanced Universal Remote for Xbox 360 ($129.99).

By Tim Surette -- GameSpot
Posted Jan 31, 2006 5:52 pm PT


I always thought it was the regular remote for free instead of a mini-remote....

Well, I guess the people who are still waiting on their pre-orders are out of luck. I wouldn't be surprised if they stopped after all the pre-orders are filled, but MS should still give the remaining pre-orders the remote.

[Glockstar]

I always thought it was the regular remote for free instead of a mini-remote....


Me too.

So I wonder if we could an impression, or two, on this "Limited Edition" remote, by any of the lucky bastiches who picked up a 360 on/around launch. (Or maybe they did already and I just missed it?) Not that it matters anymore...

Alls I know is that the regular remote looks pretty sweet.

[Fivespot]

Me too.

So I wonder if we could an impression, or two, on this "Limited Edition" remote, by any of the lucky bastiches who picked up a 360 on/around launch. (Or maybe they did already and I just missed it?) Not that it matters anymore...

Alls I know is that the regular remote looks pretty sweet.

I don't know - it's a remote... Kind of nice having it because it does everything the controller does: turns on the console, can access media center capabilities, functional DVD player remote when using the 360 to watch movies, small, light, and so on.

I use it mainly when watching movies or listening to music but I don't really do much of that on my 360 to begin with. It's more a gaming machine to me than an all purpose entertainment device (although it's perfectly capable if I needed it to be).

So if you watch a lot of movies on your console - than yes, you would want this remote (or the other one available for purchase). If not, no biggie. Pretty typical of all the consoles I suppose (except GC).

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I see myself using my upcoming 360 as a gaming machine only as well. With it still being a newpiece of hardware, I really don't want to put too much wear and tear on the 360.

The remote would have been nice as a freebie, but since I didn't buy the Xbox remote, I seriously doubt I'll buy one for 360.

[Superior Beatslayer]

I don't know - it's a remote... Kind of nice having it because it does everything the controller does: turns on the console, can access media center capabilities, functional DVD player remote when using the 360 to watch movies, small, light, and so on.

I use it mainly when watching movies or listening to music but I don't really do much of that on my 360 to begin with. It's more a gaming machine to me than an all purpose entertainment device (although it's perfectly capable if I needed it to be).

So if you watch a lot of movies on your console - than yes, you would want this remote (or the other one available for purchase). If not, no biggie. Pretty typical of all the consoles I suppose (except GC).


Nope, not even. I was actually wondering about this earlier and I just put a disc of 'Friends', and it works. If you think about it why wouldn't it, theres no real place for receivers on the 360 except for the USB ports, but that just wouldn't seem logical to me.

[Glockstar]

I don't know - it's a remote...

Yeah, but is it the same remote as the one that I'm seeing on shelves now... you know, this one...

http://z.about.com/d/xbox/1/0/h/7/remote1.jpg

...just in some special color (like "chrome") or something? Is it smaller than? Bigger (...heck, I don't know)? Does it have all the same buttons, and functionality as the "regular" remote? I mean, they're calling it "Limited Edition"... why?

[Fivespot]

The freebie is smaller (maybe 5/8 the size of the larger version) and has all the same buttons except the numeric keypad, eject, and two others that I can't read when looking at the pic you posted.