(apologies in advance, this post is a hodgepodge of half-formed ideas...)

I guess it was probably the same all over the world, but at launch it was very difficult to buy an Xbox without the DVD pack included. That's since changed - you can buy a plain xbox for only $649 (gasp). PS2 is currently $499. Gamecube arrives in a few more weeks, not sure how much.

The xbox games here are, erm, about 5 lobsters :)

As they tend to say in the console world - people don't buy add-ons. So it doesn't bode well for the xbox DVD kit, (or the PS2 Hard drive/Ethernet kit when it arrives)

The only xbox-not-dead guess I keep rabbitting on about is the M$ win at all costs approach. You'll see them free in boxes of cornflakes if it means market share.

(And hey, I *like* the DC controller :) )

Aside: I did a search on a [link|http://www.davidjones.com.au|local shop's web site] for 'Nintendo', seeking GameCube pricing. And the first item returned in my search was... hint: not the gamecube.