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starman · Oct 27, 2005, 05:43 PM

In a word - drool.

This thing is absolutely gorgeous. My local Gamestop had one on a Samsung HDTV and it's by far the most beautiful video I've seen out of a console (read: that doesn't mean best art - that goes to FF X).

The controller isn't much different from the last S controller. Very easy to manage, but since I'm tall I had to crouch a bit to get to the level it was at on the kiosk.

I was able to play Kameo. Beautiful game, and easy to pick up. I think my kids and I are going to like going through this game.

Videos - Project Gotham Racing 2 and Perfect Dark Zero. I was disappointed that they weren't playable. PGR2 in NYC was spot-on. They did a great job recreating NYC.

Add-ons - The iPod and PSP hookups (yes, you heard me right, PSP) are going to kick ass. No longer do I have to rip CDs to my hard drive, now I can hook up my iPod and the game will pull the songs directly from it. Wicked cool. No idea what the PSP connection will have for me, but the person I spoke to said that the 360 will recognize it.

I'm itching for this thing. Sony has a LOT of tough competition on their hands.

Mike

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 28, 2005, 12:44 PM

Can't wait till the 22nd. Got my pre-order ticket!

I'll get PGR, Kamio and Perfect dark on launch.

mdc · Oct 28, 2005, 12:49 PM

nice one. maybe i'll go down to my local gamestop tomorrow and see if they have one there.

i'll probably get one for fifa 2006. i saw some gameplay footage of that and it looks *amazing.*

question, are most of the games going to be $59.99 or what? that seems a bit steep.

rickey939 · Oct 28, 2005, 12:56 PM

I want one, but cannot afford it.

Eug Wanker · Oct 28, 2005, 01:07 PM

Add-ons - The iPod and PSP hookups (yes, you heard me right, PSP) are going to kick ass. No longer do I have to rip CDs to my hard drive, now I can hook up my iPod and the game will pull the songs directly from it. Wicked cool. No idea what the PSP connection will have for me, but the person I spoke to said that the 360 will recognize it.

Please elucidate. Sounds interesting.

What do you mean "game will pull the songs directly from it"? Do you mean that if you have an iPod with non-DRM'd AAC/MP3 files, it will automatically pull them to the hard drive for playback later? If so, do the songs have to be stored as visible data files and not under the hidden iPod music directories?

P.S. I wonder what the yields are for this 3.2 GHz triple core chip. My guess is pretty good, but that's because they reduced it from the originally hoped for 3.5+ GHz.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Oct 28, 2005, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Please elucidate. Sounds interesting.

What do you mean "game will pull the songs directly from it"? Do you mean that if you have an iPod with non-DRM'd AAC/MP3 files, it will automatically pull them to the hard drive for playback later? If so, do the songs have to be stored as visible data files and not under the hidden iPod music directories?

Sorta, it WILL play songs RIGHT off the iPod itself. So you can plug in the iPod through the USB connection and go through the songs on the Xbox to play though the TV/Stereo. You can also use the iPod songs for background music in games.

No the song files do not have to be unhidden.

bad_quote · Oct 28, 2005, 01:29 PM

What's PGR?

Mrjinglesusa · Oct 28, 2005, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by bad_quote

What's PGR?

Project Gotham Racing 3

Dark Helmet · Nov 8, 2005, 12:26 PM

Rather surprising.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/9694/P...ation-of-2005/

goMac · Nov 8, 2005, 01:43 PM

I've thought about getting one. Maybe in January (after the Christmas rush). I'm not sure there are enough XBox/XBox 360 games to hook me though.

Dark Helmet · Nov 8, 2005, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

I've thought about getting one. Maybe in January (after the Christmas rush). I'm not sure there are enough XBox/XBox 360 games to hook me though.

The don't get one and wait for the revolution.

goMac · Nov 8, 2005, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

The don't get one and wait for the revolution.

Looks like a nice system. I'd buy one for Halo 3, Gears of War, and Starcraft Ghost (why are they bothering with Ghost for XBox 1?). But Halo 3 and Starcraft Ghost aren't out yet.

Halo 1... meh... have that for Mac... Halo 2 was kinda a wash.

JoshuaZ · Nov 8, 2005, 07:44 PM

Xbox 360 is nice. Having played Rise of the Dead a month or so ago, I must say, that I`m tempted to buy one. You know, to put next to my Dreamcast.

OwlBoy · Nov 8, 2005, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Xbox 360 is nice. Having played Rise of the Dead a month or so ago, I must say, that I`m tempted to buy one. You know, to put next to my Dreamcast.

lol

Dark Helmet · Nov 9, 2005, 09:00 PM

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory....=h2anniversary

"To clarify, the "new" version of Halo or Halo 2 is simply the disk you have already. Pop it into your 360 and it'll load up just like before. You will have to log into Xbox Live to enable Halo 2's online functions, but both games will work immediately.
But here's another bonus – the hardware in the 360 can do a lot of nifty stuff, and specifically in the cases of Halo and Halo 2, it can display the graphics in wide screen, at 720p, with full scene anti-aliasing. And it doesn't look kludgy, artifacty or smeary like an upscanning DVD player. The best way to describe it is that both games look like they're running on a PC at those resolutions"

starman · Nov 9, 2005, 10:25 PM

Picked up Kameo this evening.

Dark Helmet · Nov 9, 2005, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Picked up Kameo this evening.

That's sorta torture isn't it?

Adam Betts · Nov 9, 2005, 11:29 PM

Already ordered: Call of Duty 2 and PJ's King Kong

and depending on reviews: Perfect Dark Zero, Quake 4 and Condemned

Dark Helmet · Nov 9, 2005, 11:37 PM

Kamio is a for sure but I am waiting on the early reviews to decide on perfect dark and PGR.

SShoot3r · Nov 10, 2005, 12:32 AM

GOSH THE 360 IS SO CLOSE!!! I can't wait. Im gonna go pick one up in the morning of 22.

SuvsareRetarded · Nov 10, 2005, 12:58 AM

I think the PS3 is going to smack the 360 pretty hard. Have fun with your dreamcast 2.0s.

goMac · Nov 10, 2005, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

I think the PS3 is going to smack the 360 pretty hard. Have fun with your dreamcast 2.0s.

Hate to break it to you, but there isn't a PS3 to smach down the XBox 360 right now, and it seems a lot of people are picking up the 360.

loki74 · Nov 10, 2005, 02:28 AM

You know what I don't get is why people are so touchy-feely these days about their consoles. I mean, I LOVE both the Xbox and PS2, and im sure I'll also love the Xbox360 and PS3. They each have their strengths and weaknesses, and they each have a place. For me, PlayStation is for RPGs, and Xbox is for everything else I might play.

I'll be getting both consoles, actually. Once I get the $. But from what I'm hearing, the 360 is coming out well before the PS3, so obviously that will be my first purchase.

PS on a side note, and this is me b!tching just becuase I can: They NEED to make a KOTOR 3 on the 360 just to make up for how much KOTOR 2 sucked and fell short of the expectations KOTOR 1 built. ARRGGHH!!!

*whew* Okay, I'm good now.

torsoboy · Nov 10, 2005, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

Rather surprising.

http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/9694/P...ation-of-2005/

"The 360 is the first Media Center extender that receives and plays back HDTV from Media Center PCs, and it comes with a free lifetime subscription to the Xbox Live online service."

That's a really nice feature if it is true... it seems like a lifetime subscription xbox live would cost you more than the 360 in just a short amount of time.

starman · Nov 10, 2005, 07:23 AM

720p Halo OUT OF THE BOX on the 360

"But here's another bonus – the hardware in the 360 can do a lot of nifty stuff, and specifically in the cases of Halo and Halo 2, it can display the graphics in wide screen, at 720p, with full scene anti-aliasing"

http://www.bungie.net/News/TopStory....&p=5312619

Dark Helmet · Nov 10, 2005, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by torsoboy

"The 360 is the first Media Center extender that receives and plays back HDTV from Media Center PCs, and it comes with a free lifetime subscription to the Xbox Live online service."

That's a really nice feature if it is true... it seems like a lifetime subscription xbox live would cost you more than the 360 in just a short amount of time.

As far as the free online I think it is just for weekends.

ort888 · Nov 10, 2005, 12:02 PM

I played the 360 kiosk for the first time the other day, and to be perfectly honest... I was not really impressed at all. It just doesn't feel next gen. The games look like PC games running on a system with a good graphics card.

I'm going to wait on the reviews before I make up my mind to buy one or not.

Adam Betts · Nov 10, 2005, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

I played the 360 kiosk for the first time the other day, and to be perfectly honest... I was not really impressed at all. It just doesn't feel next gen. The games look like PC games running on a system with a good graphics card.

Keep in mind current game lineup are barely first generation games. They were developed on first developer kit (1/3 the full power of final kit) then later switched to final kit with few months left to console release.

In few months we'll start seeing true first generation games.

SuvsareRetarded · Nov 10, 2005, 12:20 PM

Also keep in mind the PS3 is going to have what... THREE TIMES the power of the Xbox 360?

Dark Helmet · Nov 10, 2005, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Also keep in mind the PS3 is going to have what... THREE TIMES the power of the Xbox 360?

Actually at the end of the day they will be about equal, with a slight edge on the PS3.

Just look at the current systems. The PS2 is the weakest in hardware yet has the best looking 1080i HD support out of all the systems.

goMac · Nov 10, 2005, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Also keep in mind the PS3 is going to have what... THREE TIMES the power of the Xbox 360?

: sigh :

If anybody can figure out how to use it. So far developers have only been able to use 1/3 the power of the 360. Programmer for multiple cores ain't easy.

residentEvil · Nov 10, 2005, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

I played the 360 kiosk for the first time the other day, and to be perfectly honest... I was not really impressed at all. It just doesn't feel next gen. The games look like PC games running on a system with a good graphics card.

I'm going to wait on the reviews before I make up my mind to buy one or not.

Mine might be an impulse buy too. I was saving some pennies for a new toy for my home theater (an HD dvd player, of any format

, but that seems to be pushed back another few months again) so I might play around with one in a store after that mad thanksgiving shopping rush.

residentEvil · Nov 10, 2005, 12:40 PM

DP goodness.

Randman · Nov 10, 2005, 12:44 PM

As soon as I can get a modded one...

residentEvil · Nov 10, 2005, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

As soon as I can get a modded one...

Ooooh, modded to do what? Anything cool?

ort888 · Nov 10, 2005, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Also keep in mind the PS3 is going to have what... THREE TIMES the power of the Xbox 360?

Just like the PS2 was going to be able to generate 80 bazzillion polygons, have Toy Story graphics, be used by terrorists to guide missiles and cure cancer.

Sony is the master of hype. Don't buy into it.

ort888 · Nov 10, 2005, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Adam Betts

Keep in mind current game lineup are barely first generation games. They were developed on first developer kit (1/3 the full power of final kit) then later switched to final kit with few months left to console release.

In few months we'll start seeing true first generation games.

Then I might wait a few months. What I am saying is that as of right now, I don't see a lot of compelling reasons to get a 360.

That's the logical side of me talking. The illogical side is saying, NEW CONSOLE! BUY BUY BUY!

Randman · Nov 10, 2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by residentEvil

Ooooh, modded to do what? Anything cool?

Well, to play games from any region. For my XBoX non-360, I have games from the US, Asia and Australia.

residentEvil · Nov 10, 2005, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Randman

Well, to play games from any region. For my XBoX non-360, I have games from the US, Asia and Australia.

Ah, gotcha. Region free hacks

Randman · Nov 10, 2005, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

Also keep in mind the PS3 is going to have what... THREE TIMES the power of the Xbox 360?

Not to pick on Rob, but I'm firmly in the camp that it's the titles that makes a console as much as the processor. Can't have 1 without the other.

residentEvil · Nov 10, 2005, 01:04 PM

As long as I can play my namco classics...wait, crap got them on the GameCube (and had them on the PlayStation). Guess I don't need a new gen console to play Ms. PacMan!

Dark Helmet · Nov 11, 2005, 11:51 PM

200 titles backwards compatible on launch with 100% planned in the future. Free updates and downloads. All games will be upconverted to 720p. Amazing.

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000190067686/

siflippant · Nov 13, 2005, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

I think the PS3 is going to smack the 360 pretty hard. Have fun with your dreamcast 2.0s.

Having seen the xbox360 up close now, the games are good... but TRUE next gen? Mmmmm, maybe... but I am sure the PS3 will rape the 360...

Big Mac · Nov 13, 2005, 05:13 AM

more Mac users feeding the beast. . .

Adam Betts · Nov 13, 2005, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by siflippant

Having seen the xbox360 up close now, the games are good... but TRUE next gen? Mmmmm, maybe... but I am sure the PS3 will rape the 360...

Actually Xbox 360 and PS3 have pretty similar specs. They both have strengths/weakness.

Wait for few months to see what Xbox 360 engine can really deliver

starman · Nov 13, 2005, 10:47 AM

I think the online community of the 360 will be a huge benfit to the platform. Sony said that they'll have NO nline community. Bad move.

The PS3 will continue to have the FF and GT games. However, I'm wondering if it'll be enough. We're already seeing FF XI for the 360, and Square has jumped ship before.

Mike

Mediaman_12 · Nov 13, 2005, 04:20 PM

It seams like the HD is an option on the 360, is this correct?
All the people I know who bought an 'Original' Xbox did so basically because what you could do because it had a HD so that could use it as a 'digital entertainment hub' They would load up the HD with ripped (divx) movies, MAME ROM's and the like. this was the reason why they chose a Xbox over a PS2. Also if the HD is an option how are the 'updates' and other downloadable 'features' going to work, is it a case of the Non-HD version is a some way 'crippled' version? Also if the HD isn't a guaranteed feature of the entire user-base, developers aren't likely to make it a 'key' feature in the games (it may add stuff and it will decrease load times as huge chunks of data can be cashed), but no-body is going to chose to eliminate a chunk of the userbase bay making a HD only title.
If the HD 'Upgrade' sells well then MS will be the first console manufacture to make a success of an expensive upgrade (past history is littered with examples of failure, from the PS2 HD back)

Dark Helmet · Nov 13, 2005, 04:32 PM

The hard drive does not come with the core system but the sales of those unites is expected to be less than 20%.

At any rate developers will be planning on a hard drive on being in there so it will cashe when necessary.

SuvsareRetarded · Nov 13, 2005, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by starman

I think the online community of the 360 will be a huge benfit to the platform. Sony said that they'll have NO nline community. Bad move.

The PS3 isn't going to be online? Are you serious? No multiplayer Gran Turismo or GTA?! What a bunch of phooey! Sony can stink like rotten tomatoes for all I really care.

Dark Helmet · Nov 13, 2005, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by SuvsareRetarded

The PS3 isn't going to be online? Are you serious? No multiplayer Gran Turismo or GTA?! What a bunch of phooey! Sony can stink like rotten tomatoes for all I really care.

No there will still be online games just not a central hub like Xbox uses/charges.