Xbox 360 HD-DVD Arriving This Nov. For $199

FINALLY, we have Stateside release information for the Xbox 360's hotly-anticipated HD-DVD drive. Coming out just in time to give the difficult-to-find, Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3 a run for its money arriving "mid-November" to happy HD customers everywhere. For that price, you'll get the USB-connected drive, the Xbox Universal Remote, and a HD-DVD copy of King Kong. Not a bad deal, eh?

"The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best high-definition movie experience and value on the marke. The reviews, the word of mouth and the consumer response have all been crystal clear — HD DVD is the format of choice. We're not forcing movie technology on game players but are instead letting them choose how to personalize their experiences. If they want HD DVD, there's no better value out there."

While the drive + console comes out a price similar to the PS3, Microsoft continues to emphasize its view that HD shouldn't be forced down anyone's throats, instead letting users decide if they feel like dishing out the extra $200 for their HD viewing pleasure. Oh, and the upcoming 1080p update certainly doesn't hurt matter either. So, the holidays are promising to be brutal, sports fans; start placing your bets now.

[via Kotaku]