[Jawbone54]

It's been a long, patient (somewhat) wait, but I've finally made my decision.

The Playstation 3 is completely out of the question. $600 for the version I want is just a little bit too much incredibly wow-what-the-crap-were-they-thinking expensive for me. I don't care if the graphics pop out of the screen and slap me on the buttocks, I'm not spending that much on a system...not to mention that I'm not fond of buttocks-slapping.

It's come down to the Wii and the XBox 360...

The Wii is very interesting. I love Nintendo and their fresh, innovative look. But I'm too worried about the system. I don't know if I even want all of the genres to be motion-controlled. I don't particularly want to "throw" the ball in Madden. Sometimes I'm not going to want to flop around my living room and pantomine my way through 60 minutes of football. I've said before that graphics are not the most important thing, and they're not, but I'm still goint to want to see some next-gen out of my money, and I'm afraid the Wii just isn't going to help there. Like I said, I love Nintendo. I love their characters, and I love the risk they put into some of their ideas.

However, I'm becoming more and more impressed with the 360. I'm not going to go into extensive detail, but it has gradually been winning me over. I've had a complete change of heart in the last few months concerning our overheating friend. The graphics are great, the controller is nearly perfect IMHO, the sports games are making progress, and *cough*...Halo 3. So the decision is made, which leads me to the point of this thread...

What is your advice on buying either the premium or core package?

I'm not getting my HDTV until January/February. I need regular AV cables. Will they come with the premium package, or is it just component HD-AV cables?

In short, is the extra $100 spent worth it? I'm leaning strongly towards the premium package, but I wanted to hear everyone else opinions first.

I know this might turn into another debate thread, but my intention was solely to discuss XBox 360 related matters, such as the possible price drop and the value of the premium package. I can't control what is said in this thread, but please keep it as 360-oriented as possible.

[dcp325]

I first wanted to go for the core package but then found out that if I wanted to save games I had to buy a memory card or a hard disk. To download demos from xbox live you need to have a hard disk to store them on.
The premium package includes a wireless controller as the core package includes one with a cable.
In the end I went for the premium package and am very happy with it.

The regular AV cables are included in the premium package.

[Andy8]

I am keeping my original Xbox until they release Halo 3 for the 360, then by that time the price may drop even more.

[screamingFit]

Go with the premium pack.

Having the hard drive for demos and saves (plus, you need it if you plan on running original XBOX games), the wireless controller and the component A/V cable for when you're ready will actually save you money in the long run.

You will need to buy the standard A/V cable at first ($30, I think) if you go premium. Sell it on eBay when you get your HD TV. Another idea, but kinda stinky, is to go to someplace like Target that has really lax return policies, buy it there and return it in a couple of months.

I would also hold off on making a decision on the Wii for awhile until you can experience it in person and they get a decent library released.

[cSurfr]

Originally Posted by screamingFit

Go with the premium pack.

Having the hard drive for demos and saves (plus, you need it if you plan on running original XBOX games), the wireless controller and the component A/V cable for when you're ready will actually save you money in the long run.

You will need to buy the standard A/V cable at first ($30, I think) if you go premium. Sell it on eBay when you get your HD TV. Another idea, but kinda stinky, is to go to someplace like Target that has really lax return policies, buy it there and return it in a couple of months.

I would also hold off on making a decision on the Wii for awhile until you can experience it in person and they get a decent library released.

Incorrect. The 360 Premium system comes with an AV Cable which includes standard AV and Component Video. As well as standard RCA Audio Cables, and a spot to plug in an Optical Cable for digital audio. There is also a switch on it that allows you to select HD or Standard TV resolutions. That said, the Premium is well worth the extra 100.00 you spend on it. Coming with the HDD, Wireless controller, and Headset (if you want to talk on XBL). All of those things would cost you almost 175.00 alone if bought separately.

As far as asthetics go, you get the chrome dvd door as well. Not really a big deal, but I think it looks nicer than the core system.

[Adam Betts]

GO BUY THIS NOW! (expires this 17th)

Xbox 360 Premium with Dead Rising, Saint's Row and Test Drive Unlimited for $450

Original price is $560

Fry's Outpost.com
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/5017865

[cSurfr]

I've not played Dead Rising, or Saints Row yet. . . I've heard that DR is great, but what about the other?

[Adam Betts]

Originally Posted by cSurfr

I've not played Dead Rising, or Saints Row yet. . . I've heard that DR is great, but what about the other?

From all reviews I've read, Sain't Row is basically a 100% clone of GTA series but with lot of improvements to most areas.

Dunno about Test Drive Unlimited, I'm not usually a driving fan but it's basically free so why not.

[Peter]

Originally Posted by Adam Betts

GO BUY THIS NOW! (expires this 17th)

Xbox 360 Premium with Dead Rising, Saint's Row and Test Drive Unlimited for $450

Original price is $560

Fry's Outpost.com
FRYS.com | XBOX 360 Bundle

only one of those games is any good (Dead Rising).

[ort888]

DO NOT BUY THE CORE PACK! It's a huge rip off. Premium is the way to go.

You need to buy a Memory Card for the Core, so it costs you $340.

The extra $60 you pay for the premium gets you....

A 20 gig hard drive
Cords to hook it to an HDTV
An Xbox Live Headset
Wireless controller

[screamingFit]

Originally Posted by cSurfr

Incorrect. The 360 Premium system comes with an AV Cable which includes standard AV and Component Video. As well as standard RCA Audio Cables, and a spot to plug in an Optical Cable for digital audio. There is also a switch on it that allows you to select HD or Standard TV resolutions. That said, the Premium is well worth the extra 100.00 you spend on it. Coming with the HDD, Wireless controller, and Headset (if you want to talk on XBL). All of those things would cost you almost 175.00 alone if bought separately.

As far as asthetics go, you get the chrome dvd door as well. Not really a big deal, but I think it looks nicer than the core system.

I need to NOT post whilst hung-over!

[cSurfr]

haha. I was feeling a little out of it myself. Celebrated the Cardinals victory last night a little too much.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Andy8

I am keeping my original Xbox until they release Halo 3 for the 360, then by that time the price may drop even more.

Well that is your choice just ask yourself is waiting 1 YEAR worth saving at most $100?

You can have the best next gen system today and it will only cost you $8 more a month than waiting a year.

Anywho, back to Jawbone54.

DO NOT get the core system. It isn't worth it by any means. Fist you get wired controller, no hard drive. So you gotta buy a memcard. You will quickly want to add those things and the total comes out to more than buying the good system to begin with.

On the core you can't download demo's, updates (big ones) and it doesn't use the HD for cache.

The 360 is an amazing system and you will be happy with it for sure.

[Adam Betts]

Originally Posted by Peter

only one of those games is any good (Dead Rising).

I got the bundle for the same reason (DR) but you could always trade the other two to any store if they're still wrapped or ebay them.

[Jawbone54]

Thanks, guys. The responses were exactly what I was hoping for.

I actually traded in my old PS2 and some other stuff earlier today. My brand new, shiny 360 and NCAA Football '07 came out to around $75 total. NCAA isn't the best game ever, but I'm a die-hard LSU TIger fan, and I have to have my college football gaming fix, especially on Saturdays.

Which leads me to my next question: what should be my second game? I'm leaning towards Call of Duty 2. Thoughts?

[mdc]

Call of Duty 2 is really fun. I'm busy playing through it. I am not sure of a release date for Call of Duty 3 but it looks amazing. The graphics look really good.
If you can hold out maybe wait for 3.

[cSurfr]

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, without a doubt. NHL '07 is great too.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by cSurfr

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, without a doubt. NHL '07 is great too.

I've heard a lot of good things about Oblivion. It's more of an PC-style action/RPG, am I right?

[rickey939]

Why is the original Nintendo not being considered? Double Dribble is mad cool.

[cSurfr]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I've heard a lot of good things about Oblivion. It's more of an PC-style action/RPG, am I right?

Yes, it's an open RPG. You can do just about anything you want in that game.

[cSurfr]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Why is the original Nintendo not being considered? Double Dribble is mad cool.

Blades of Steel.

[Adam Betts]

Originally Posted by rickey939

Why is the original Nintendo not being considered? Double Dribble is mad cool.

Bleh we'll get it through Wii's Virtual Console

[ajprice]

Get the Premium. I haven't got far into the games yet, but Dead Rising is good fun, Oblivion is great so far. Most of the other games I have are driving games, so I have Test Drive Unlimited, PGR3 and Burnout Revenge. If you ever want to compare games from PS2 to 360, play Burnout in HD resolution. Thinking of what the PS2 graphics were like for the same game, it was a whole world full of fuzz compared to the 360 graphics. I like TDU, but while you are starting you might want to turn off the online cars in the options, I had it on for a while while I was finding my way around (the island and the game) and had no end of turkeys crashing into me on purpose, not fun. PGR is also good, but its been out a while now so you might get more for your money if you get that second hand and get a newer game bundled with the system.

[icruise]

If you like Grand Theft Auto, get Saints Row. It's not perfect, but it's mostly very good -- better than you would expect from a "GTA clone." The graphics are great.

Dead Rising is also very good (and on sale at Best Buy this week for $39.99), but keep in mind that its save system can be frustrating.

Burnout Revenge is also great if you like racing and blowing things up.

And of course, Oblivion is a fantastic sprawling RPG that you could probably play for months (only played this one on the PC, but it's supposed to be very good on the 360 as well).

[Peter]

Just Cause > Saints Row (IMO)
The dead rising save system is just weird, but not bad.
My housemate and I bought totally hated it when we first got the game, now we adore it. It simply isn't viable to save after you've done every mission/scoop/boss -- making you really really not want to die. and thus making it harder.
I adore it now though, starting the game from level 25 much more fun.

[Adam Betts]

Wondering if anyone have tried GRAW yet? Lot of positive reviews for it and I'm thinking about buying it but I can't stand Rainbow Six 1 and 2 because of the whole pre-planning, I hate that.

Rainbow Six: Vegas is a definite buy from what I see in trailers, they're simplifying the game a bit and improving the fun factor which is good.

[Big Mac]

A console should cost no more than $300.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

A console should cost no more than $300.

The end.

[Big Mac]

Yes, the end. That's my price point, and I'm not budging.

[Rumor]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I don't care if the graphics pop out of the screen and slap me on the buttocks, I'm not spending that much on a system...not to mention that I'm not fond of buttocks-slapping.

Isn't that the new interactive Jenna game?

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

A console should cost no more than $300.

Old skool

(not that I blame you)

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

A console should cost no more than $300.

[ort888]

Wait a year or two and it will be $300. Problem solved.

Or you can wait 3 or 4 years for the PS3 to get to $300.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Yes, the end. That's my price point, and I'm not budging.

Enjoy your Wii then. (I'm not being a smart-ass, either.)

The thing is that people expect more from the next-gen machines. HD support. Hard drives. The only next-gen console that doesn't have these is, no surprise, also the cheapest one. Prices will eventually come down. They always do. But for the moment, if you want features like this, you have to pay for them.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

What is your advice on buying either the premium or core package?

.

Gotta have the harddrive. No question.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by finboy

Gotta have the harddrive. No question.

This is what sold me on the premium package, along with the wireless controller (I hate coiled wires, which my wife sees as the only solution). The headset was nice too, but not essential. The hard drive is an absolute jewel, and something I think the PS2 could've really used from the beginning.

[Big Mac]

Originally Posted by ort888

Wait a year or two and it will be $300. Problem solved.

Or you can wait 3 or 4 years for the PS3 to get to $300.

Yeah, that's the basic strategy. I only got a PS2 a few months ago.

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

A console should cost no more than $300.

From HERE

Adjusted for inflation, the price of several popular consoles...

$364.60 - NES
$306.15 - Genesis
$393.91 - Playstation
$348.08 - Playstation 2
$338.45 - XBox

Now I would agree that it should be no more than $300, but it always dips below that after the suckers like me already have their's.

[Dark Helmet]

Remember what you are getting for those older $300 systems. Just a game system with no internal storage. That's it.

I'd rather pay $400 and get 10x more.

[ort888]

I think there are a lot of people willing to fork over $300 for a console, but most people won't.

It's not so much what the system is worth, as much as what it's worth to you. Most people would agree that $400 or $600 is way to much to spend on a gaming console. Hell, most people think $300 is way to much to spend on a gaming console.

That's why the $129 PS2 is still selling like gangbusters. People want budget systems and budget games.

[Dark Helmet]

$600 is too much for a game system.

$600 for a game system, wireless media server, and high def - Blu-ray player is a steal.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Yeah, that's the basic strategy. I only got a PS2 a few months ago.

If you don't mind being significantly behind the curve in terms of technology, this isn't a bad strategy, and you can get some really good deals on games as well, now that retailers are clearing space for the next-gen systems.

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

$600 is too much for a game system.

$600 for a game system, wireless media server, and high def - Blu-ray player is a steal.

I pretty much agree with you, but the fact is that most people probably don't need those things yet (most people still don't even have HDTV). We're getting to the point where home consoles are going to be out of the reach of many people. It may be that the PS2 will be around for quite a while yet to serve as an entry-level console (the 100% backwards compatibility of the PS3 will help this, since publishers will be able to keep putting out PS2 games knowing that PS3 owners can play them). Portable systems (mostly the DS) will also be filling the gap.

[fhoubi]

I own a PS1, PSOne/LCD, PS2 (besides a GC, GBA, GBASP, DSL) just because of the Gran Turismo Series (2, 3, 3+ 4-, 4). I love them to death. But I will have a 360 + a Wii before that PS3 crap. Go Figure.

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by fhoubi 

But I will have a 360 + a Wii before that PS3 crap. Go Figure.

What makes it crap? The price?

[Rumor]

The PS3 reminds me of Vista.

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet 

What makes it crap? The price?

Probably. What does it have over the 360? Blu-ray?

[Dark Helmet]

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

Probably. What does it have over the 360? Blu-ray?

Yep, that and wireless, tilt sensor and free online play.

Xbox: $400
Xbox Live: $70
Xbox HD-DVD: $200.
Xbox Wireless adapter: $100

Hmmmm..that is quite the total.

[Dakar²]

Why do I need $100 wireless adaptor? Why do I need HD-DVD?

And I'd rather have rumble than a tilt-sesnor.

[Peter]

even though you've never used tilt before.

[Dakar²]

Originally Posted by Peter 

even though you've never used tilt before.

True, but since I can't have both, I'd rather feel my controller vibe when I dunk. (and other various tactile feedback events I've grown accustomed to)