I Guess I'm giving in... (New X-Box 360)

[Bartlebycs]

Well, it finally happened.   I vowed the day would never come, but I am now the owner of an X-Box 360.  Santa is a bastard.

Anyway, my thoughts so far as I play...

1. I have to admit, the graphics are better than the PS3 as far as I can tell.

2. Backwards compatible with the first 2 Halo games.  Win.

3a. I hate wireless controllers like the devil.  I'm just too mindful of battery power to really enjoy it.  I have the same problem with the Wii-Mote.

3b. That being said, I love that the sensors don't require you to point the thing directly at the system.

4. I can at least stick to my vow of never using the Live service.  No pay and play, thanks.

5. I still have nightmares about the RRoD.

So, overall I guess I was wrong.  Microsuck can make a decent system, though I still prefer my PS3 over all else.

Guess I'll have to start building yet another new game library.

[DeadlyAnGeL91792]

better graphics? what game are you playing? anyway from what i heard most multiplats look better on 360 while the ps3 excusives destroy the anything on the 360 in terms of graphics

in reality most multiplats look about the same on each system borderlands,brutal legend, and mw2 all look the same (to me) on each system.

[DuskShark]

Well, it finally happened.   I vowed the day would never come, but I am now the owner of an X-Box 360.  Santa is a bastard.

Anyway, my thoughts so far as I play...

1. I have to admit, the graphics are better than the PS3 as far as I can tell.

2. Backwards compatible with the first 2 Halo games.  Win.

3a. I hate wireless controllers like the devil.  I'm just too mindful of battery power to really enjoy it.  I have the same problem with the Wii-Mote.

3b. That being said, I love that the sensors don't require you to point the thing directly at the system.

4. I can at least stick to my vow of never using the Live service.  No pay and play, thanks.

5. I still have nightmares about the RRoD.

So, overall I guess I was wrong.  Microsuck can make a decent system, though I still prefer my PS3 over all else.

Guess I'll have to start building yet another new game library.

You can have my copy of Tales of Vesperia. I sold mine because there was only one exclusive that I cared about: Halo 3.

BTW, don't play that thing nonstop like I do. Sometimes, it will overheat. I suggest you unplug it when that happens because the thing won't respond to pressing the power button.

[Kogahazan]

3a. I hate wireless controllers like the devil.  I'm just too mindful of battery power to really enjoy it.  I have the same problem with the Wii-Mote.

4. I can at least stick to my vow of never using the Live service.  No pay and play, thanks.

5. I still have nightmares about the RRoD.

3. Get one of those play & charge battery kits. It'll pay for itself if you play a lot, and obviously the sooner you get it the better.
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Play-Charge-Kit/dp/B000B6MLS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1261941930&sr=8-2

4. Don't forget you can still use Silver for free to download games/dlc/etc. For online play, the thing is you're paying for a quality service. I'll let those more knowledgeable about it argue further, but I just know you are getting what you pay for when it comes to online play on consoles. You pay nothing, you get crap barebones service. But more power to you if you can live with it.

5. This is one of those old console launch arguments that should have died out, same with how people say PS3 has no games. People still say it anyway even though neither is as true anymore.
Anyway, you should have gotten one of the newer Jasper units which reportedly have a very low chance of red ringing on you. Also don't be dumb with it and leave it in some place that gets dusty a lot, or block the vents, or leave it on carpet while playing, etc. Also, a lot of people who get red ring'd play it for days on end. I have a friend that plays moderately and still has a functioning launch 360.

in reality most multiplats look about the same on each system borderlands,brutal legend, and mw2 all look the same (to me) on each system.

That's where reviews or other sources that compare multiplatform differences come in. It's true though that most don't see an astonishing difference between the two. That's why things like gametrailers.com's console comparison videos are nice. Gamespot.com also has yearly console comparisons where you can see the difference by rolling over text and having the image change in-frame. Here's the latest one so you can see for yourself.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6242816/index.html

But yeah, in the end most people don't see a difference unless you put them side-to-side and even then it's usually not a huge one. Most of the time you're getting the same experience regardless of which console you play it on. Multiplatform differences are an issue for sure, but still some people are fixated on it to the point it can get in the way of actually friggin playing and enjoying the game.

[Cless]

3. Get one of those play & charge battery kits. It'll pay for itself if you play a lot, and obviously the sooner you get it the better.
http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Play-Charge-Kit/dp/B000B6MLS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1261941930&sr=8-2

I've heard these things are kind of crappy.

I invested in rechargeable NiMH batteries back when I got the Wii near its launch and couldn't be happier with them. Since they're so versatile, I got loads of wireless devices afterward and have saved tons of money in the long run (and less headache with cord messes). If the battery runs out of charge, I simply grab another pair since I've always got freshly-charged ones available and put the dead ones in the charger. I wish my PS3 controller could use them.

4. Don't forget you can still use Silver for free to download games/dlc/etc. For online play, the thing is you're paying for a quality service. I'll let those more knowledgeable about it argue further, but I just know you are getting what you pay for when it comes to online play on consoles. You pay nothing, you get crap barebones service. But more power to you if you can live with it.

Silver member since buying the console and proud! I don't really care about online MP. I DID buy an XBL Gold card at one point when they were on sale to use "just in case" I felt like I wanted to play something online. That never came, and I ended up selling the card a couple months or so before it was set to expire.

I still think it's pretty funny and entirely pointless that Microsoft decided to cut off Silver members from downloading demos for a week. It makes absolutely no sense. I thought the purpose of those things was to advertise new games and get people excited to BUY($$$$!!!) the full versions as soon as possible. I guess I'm wrong on that.

5. Anyway, you should have gotten one of the newer Jasper units which reportedly have a very low chance of red ringing on you. Also don't be dumb with it and leave it in some place that gets dusty a lot, or block the vents, or leave it on carpet while playing, etc. Also, a lot of people who get red ring'd play it for days on end. I have a friend that plays moderately and still has a functioning launch 360.

My system is an old-ass Zephyr and it still works. I actually kind of WANT it to die, though--my RRoD warranty only has about eleven months left. But I don't really play it that often, so I don't know if it's going to happen. The most I played it was when I put over 200 hours into ToV within a short period.

But yeah, in the end most people don't see a difference unless you put them side-to-side and even then it's usually not a huge one. Most of the time you're getting the same experience regardless of which console you play it on. Multiplatform differences are an issue for sure, but still some people are fixated on it to the point it can get in the way of actually friggin playing and enjoying the game.

360 (or PC) is usually the lead development platform for titles intended to be multi-platform, which generally makes them the superior version between both consoles. PC ports to 360 are easier to do since the architectures are so similar. Sony, for some reason, always goes for highly unconventional architectures, making ports more difficult. Some devs perhaps, are pretty good at designing games from the ground up that should work decently well on both platforms (though I sometimes wonder how some of those games might have turned out if they were designed and optimized for one platform. Many of Sony's first-party titles are incredibly good-looking and crush pretty much every multi-platform title out there, at least in terms of tech).

[Bartlebycs]

You can have my copy of Tales of Vesperia. I sold mine because there was only one exclusive that I cared about: Halo 3.

I'm holding off on Vesperia cause I'm still convinced that the PS3 version will be localized.  More content = more fun.

better graphics? what game are you playing? anyway from what i heard most multiplats look better on 360 while the ps3 excusives destroy the anything on the 360 in terms of graphics

So far I've played Left 4 Dead 2, and Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.  I dunno, it just seems to me that the graphics are the same quality that you'd get on the PC.  But you may be right.

BTW, don't play that thing nonstop like I do. Sometimes, it will overheat. I suggest you unplug it when that happens because the thing won't respond to pressing the power button.

5. This is one of those old console launch arguments that should have died out, same with how people say PS3 has no games. People still say it anyway even though neither is as true anymore.
Anyway, you should have gotten one of the newer Jasper units which reportedly have a very low chance of red ringing on you. Also don't be dumb with it and leave it in some place that gets dusty a lot, or block the vents, or leave it on carpet while playing, etc. Also, a lot of people who get red ring'd play it for days on end. I have a friend that plays moderately and still has a functioning launch 360.

Nightmares have now changed from RRoD to Overheating.  Thanks guys

4. Don't forget you can still use Silver for free to download games/dlc/etc. For online play, the thing is you're paying for a quality service. I'll let those more knowledgeable about it argue further, but I just know you are getting what you pay for when it comes to online play on consoles. You pay nothing, you get crap barebones service. But more power to you if you can live with it.

"It's not about money, it's about the message."  Nintendo and Sony are able to let you play for free online.  MicroSoft should have no reason not to be able to do the same. 



I just came back from GameStop with three new titles for my library.  F.E.A.R. 2, Fable 2, and Halo 3.  I'll let ya'll know how it goes...

[Kajitani-Eizan]

from what i've heard, there is indeed a good reason why microsoft makes you pay for gold, and you get what you pay for. you can usually grab a one year gold card for $30-$40, which is nice if you play online multiplayer -- like say, with halo 3. if you're going this route you should probably pick up halo 3 odst ($40 or so and includes odst campaign, odst firefight, and halo 3 multiplayer + all halo 3 DLC maps + 3 more maps) instead of buying the DLC map packs ($20 total) for halo 3 off live marketplace.

[Joseph]

All I know is my Wii or DS can't connect to the internet, because Nintendo's software hates my router's security settings.  

[Empty_sky]

yeah, you need a specific wireless internet security key. i think it has to be WPA or something like that. at least for the DS.

[Cless]

Older DSes only support WEP (can be hacked effortlessly). The DSi supports WPA, but older games designed without the DSi in mind still don't.

[Bartlebycs]

Just borrowed Tales of Vesperia from the library yesterday.  Though I can't seem to get really into it without feeling ripped off.  It's a good game from what I've played even though I'm only like 3 minutes into it, but I just wish I wasn't aware that I'm only playing the "Beta" version   Kinda puts a damper on the whole experience.



Oh and btw, I got the Arcade version of the 360, so apparently I don't even have to worry about online prices as I'm not hooked up :p

[Kogahazan]

Oh and btw, I got the Arcade version of the 360, so apparently I don't even have to worry about online prices as I'm not hooked up :p

Did you think that other versions have a mandatory online fee for just using them? You only get a fee for Xbox Live if you have a Xbox Live Gold membership. You can have a Silver account and still have access to free demos and dlc, and the option to purchase full games and priced dlc. You don't have to pay anything extra other than the cost of your regular internet bill.

Just borrowed Tales of Vesperia from the library yesterday.  Though I can't seem to get really into it without feeling ripped off.  It's a good game from what I've played even though I'm only like 3 minutes into it, but I just wish I wasn't aware that I'm only playing the "Beta" version  Kinda puts a damper on the whole experience.

Don't feel ripped off on Vesperia. Think of it the same way as the Symphonia, albeit that game's "complete" version was hampered by horrible horrible technical issues.

I mean seriously, is the extra content really all that important that it detracts from the main game? The core gameplay is there, the story is there, the basic package is there. Really think, is the extra content all that special? You can pretty much youtube everything, like with Symphonia.

I would compare it to buying a game and buying the collector's edition. The extras are nice and all, but it shouldn't be a problem to not have them. Arguments can be made about how these are things that were supposed to be there in the first place and all that, but you can make the same argument about the nickel and diming going on with the DLC. You get the "complete" game but even still you pay even more if you truly want it to be "complete."

Don't think about what you're "missing out" on. Just play the game, youtube the extras, and be glad you're not paying even more money for the so-called "complete" version.

[Takel]

I'd like to know who started the whole condenscending 'beta' version tag. Anyhow, as someone who forked out $700 AUD to import an XBox to play ToV at least 1.5 years in advance of a local release, I'm satisfied with my investment and I've gotten more than my money's worth in entertainment.

Yeah, the additional content in the PS3 version does get under my skin. Playable Flynn, Patty, the Artes Ball, 2nd Hi-Ougis just to name a few of the features I'd love to muck around with. The artes ball in particular since I would love to have a far greater variety in my combos, but I can't due to the limitations of eight bindable artes when I'm already using four for a standard bread and butter, so having sixteen would be great. On a side note, while playing any caster is always going to be annoying due to a huge pool of useful artes/spells, in ToG it was infuriating only have four burst artes avaliable to be bound, which made attempting to play a hybrid character like Pascal horrid due to a lack of avaliable actions to use.

Namdai saying they won't localise is a kick in the teeth considering they localised Trusty Bell/Eternal Sonata after it got a PS3 upgrade and I have no idea what kind of market power that game has in comparison to the Tales series but I'm secretly crossing my fingers that they're just being trolls.