Usually I'm not an early adopter of any platform. I have limited funds and choose to alocate them wisely. Once a year I go against this principle for Christmas/my birthday and splurge on myself. This year I had it all picked out, Xbox 360, but there was no way in hell I would wait in line. I reserved $500 and some change for the purchase, knowing tax would bite me.
Finding the right package
I used only one online tracker (http://xbox360tracker.com/ ) and waited for just the right offer to pass me by. Luckily, or unluckily if you understand credit, I found an offer from Dell for the premium system, 1 wireless controller, play and charge kit, 3 games (kameo, madden, pgr3), and 12 months of xbox live for 680. The accessories and games alone equalled $300 + the $399 base of the premium system. Not too bad for everything I would have eventually paid for.
There have been a number of reported issues such as overheating, lockups, or other quirks.
- Configuration
- Orientation: Vertical. It seems to "prefer" this setting as the controllers are at the bottom of the console and every picture I've seen is in this configuration. I've always hated loading DVDs this way though.
- Power Supply: On the TV stand behind the TV. There's not much room to draw air but it's exposed enough and not on carpet.
- Transport: I've toted it up and down stairs multiple times (can't while powered, no media was harmed) and I've yet to see a problem. It looks so fragile but you'd be surprised.
- Locked up: 2 times
- 1 - Call of Duty 2: Possibly software but the DVD-ROM was making a whirring-click noise. As if it was searching for a spot on the DVD but couldn't read it. This happened in a loop and I had to power down the console using the power button (control was unresponsive)
- 2 - PGR3: Clearly a software issue. The game just locked up. I could use the controller and load again so it was a small foul.
- I consider #1 a serious problem if the software can cause such a loop. The OS was built from the ground up for the hardware, not using XP. I can see a reasoning for doing so, but there may be unplugged holes. Luckily dashboard can be updated (and probably could track it).
- Loudness:
- No game/DVD: Almost silent. There's a fan inside the box but it's barely noticable with normal ambient sound. I play demos when I'm in bed and with a fan on I don't notice a difference.
- DVD: It's a 12x DVD-ROM. Fast is an understatement and I doubt it's any quieter in a computer. I expect this to sound like a small jet/high powered vacuum/high rpm lawn mower/dragster
Despite what I've experienced, what I have is still a stable platform. The Dashboard (OS/UI) makes changing console settings easy plus the "escape to Dashboard without saving" feature lets me get out of a game if I want to be anal and load a save before I got beat down during single player matches.
Conclusion
Was this a sound investment? Personally, the game choice hasn't reached "enough" for me but I'm extremely picky. The fact that 90% of my library works on the new system (though I only spent $150 on the Xbox) means the bulk of what I'm getting is the updated software and hardware. As far as the hardware goes, it's definately worth it. I could have waited but I'm glad I don't have to focus on paying it off immediately.
If I had a chance to do it all over again my only wish would be to inspect the box before hand at a local retailer. Things came a little banged up though everything seems to work just fine. Kameo and PGR3's boxes were either cut or crushed. The console box was a little bent on a corner suggesting things took a tumble. They were packed using air bags, not anything more secure, so it's highly likely the console bounced around and took out the games. Am I crying over it? Not unless 2 years down the road I can't get anything hypothetically caused now fixed and have to repurchase the console.
These are the games I've played so far to date in order of freshness:
Fight Night Round 3
- Single Player
- Quite possibly the game that makes the purchase "worth it"
- The graphics are amazing as hell and while unrealistic (linear blood spurts) screams "potential" for upcoming titles
- Tekken 5 was the first game that made me say "Holy ... I'm playing a cutscene" in the arcade when I first saw it.
- I don't even have HD and the graphics are definately better than Tekken 5. "Holy ... I'm playing Final Fantasy: Spirits Within"
- As with most EA games, I make a guy that looks like me. A non-or-slightly-non-obese person who seems to be at a decent ideal weight and looks relatively like me.
- This means perfectionist single player until I get over the OCD.
- There were big changes from the Demo to Retail as far as gameplay goes
- The get up "2 sticks" option is incredibly hard after 5 knockdowns. It begins to become like a magnet when you try to put like poles together.
- A HUD is good for a beginner like me initially. No HDTV makes trying to use visible fatigue difficult.
- Some say the game is "slow" but compared to the demo everything is noticably faster but not Ninja Gaiden quickness. Say this with me: it's okay that it "feels" slow
- Multiplayer
- I've yet to play it but the options seem perfect for this type of game
- Lag would be annoying and an excuse for beat downs
- I expect to get schooled often
Call of Duty 2
- Single Player Veteran
- Enemy AI has shot me through the ground or what perceived to be complete cover
- It looks like there are spots where the enemy comes out in an unspecified number of people until you reach a certain point
- There are ways to make it feel less "cheap" but it seems more obvious you're playing against a computer. Yeah I believe WWII was a death trap but it feels very unrealistic, like they can see something you can't see.
- Multiplayer
- Lag is an understatement on some levels
- The first user has 0 ping, which leads me to suggest the first person in a Lobby "hosts" the game
- Once a game is done, you're kicked out forced to join another lobby (to my knowledge)
- Playing games with friends is challenging (not that I have any)
- There's an upcoming patch hopefully covering all of this.
- I love it online with a squad that talks and works together. I'm a gung ho, retarded, shoot people in the face kind of person and it's nice to know someone has my back if I can speak reasonable
Tony Hawk: American Wasteland
- Single Player
- Same old Tony Hawk: Underground with slightly spiffier graphics and a Matt Hoffman BMX kind of gameplay added
- Luckily I rented it. Online makes keeping it nice but the achievements and rest of the gameplay make me possibly want to buy it when it becomes $30 or whatever "greatest hits" is
- Multiplayer
- There seems to be active games in sperts. At most I've seen 3 possible games, the least being 1
- Seems confusing at first but cool once you understand it
- You seem to have to unlock the levels before accessing them. I know they have to be unlocked to host the map, not sure about playing
Final Fantasy XI (Beta)
- I understand the concept but I only know one person to play this type of game and normally I don't have x/month to spend on one service.
- Chat without a keyboard is "interesting"
- Xbox Live headset does work which would make chatting easier. If it only dictated or used voice commands we'd be set
- I'd love to play the beta until it's no longer free but with no one I know, I'm lost. I can't decypher the single player type text from people peddling crap.
- I'd love playing if I had a guide. I don't really like MMO from what I see but I like the concept of having one person and building them up (it's what I do in single and multiplayer matches for as long as I've owned a console or game)
Project Gotham Racing 3
- Single Player
- Usual PGR single player. PGR2 got repetitive and cone challenges were "controller thrower" moments. Good to know that has returned
- I've intentionally raced a small amount of races because of cone challenge but I'm no longer stuck on needing the highest medal on a race before moving on
- I hated the normal cars and are glad they're gone. I hate simulations that use them
- Multiplayer
- I first raced only having the initial amount of money and I bought a car that cost all of it
- Most people finish while I'm way behind. We share a laugh as I run into walls to try and finish on time
- Different cars are definately better. I had to come back after a good couple of single player matches to finish easier.
Madden NFL '06
- Single Player
- I play the Falcons because of 2 reasons: I've lived in Atlanta all my life and it's the team I've consistently used since the NY Giants had Lawrence Taylor. We're talking Madden '91-ish
- I go for practically every 4th down. Some games I can go all 4 quarters without being stomped but the computer catches on quick
- Michael Vick seems cheap. You can run the hell out of the ball into any pocket and get a decent first down every time
- Running game seems like the computer "knows" every play I'm gonna make, except for the sneak
- Multiplayer
- Haven't played online. Because of my team choice, I feel like everyone and their mom plays Michael Vick
- I know no other decent team that wouldn't be played out and I don't feel I should have to give up my home team
- Football isn't my sport so I'd most likely get beat down quickly with the technicality
Kameo: Elements of Power
- Single Player
- Honestly my type of game even
- I love hovering. I've had a dream where I've flown like this so it's kind of cool to be able to do it in a game
- Definately a good double digit hour experience. It appears kidsy but would definately be over their head (as evident here )
- I'll get back to playing this when I can't get online
- I too would feel like a puddinghead for not owning this after playing it. It's the best game of the initial line up (with no patches)
- Multiplayer
- Looks interesting but I don't know anyone on Live or have anyone to play with locally
Games I'm looking forward to are Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Saint's Row, Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Frame City Killer and Mass Effect when it eventually comes out. It'll be a while before I'll have all of those games but I think I can last.