| I finally gave into the "evils" of Microsoft and invested in | | | | from your PC? That way you don't have to type your |
| their Next Generation console. Why. the delay in ps3 | | | | just browse a list and update as you wish.The limitation |
| coupled with the delay in Ghost Recon on PC. The | | | | of media extender to just music and images is a sadly |
| more reviews I read, the more it convinced me that | | | | lacking. They should provide some way of copying |
| 360 was made up of excellent hardware that was | | | | video to and from the 360.The ability to benchmark |
| finally being used. So I blew up my credit card, pissed | | | | your machine to insure it is running 3 cores etc etc. A |
| off my wife and invested in more computer hardware | | | | simple benchmark app would do the trick.Support for |
| that I may not need. But hell I work at it, so keeping up | | | | more formats like Divx, mpeg4 etc. I Know Microsoft is |
| to date with all technology is my job (or so I keep | | | | saving money by not including these codecs. But |
| telling myself).First impressions: As you install the 360 | | | | imagine using a PC that would only play WMV |
| the first thing that hits you, is the physical weight of the | | | | movies?High Definition:The image quality on a standard |
| machine. Small but weights much the same as a | | | | TV is good, but to make full use you really need a High |
| concrete block.The desktop and configuration of the | | | | Definition television. the 360 has become the "killer app" |
| systems immediately shows you there is so much | | | | for high def tv's; meaning more high def tv's are being |
| more to this machine than simple game play. It feels | | | | sold now, purely to use with the 360. Think 32 "" + |
| like a simplified computer (but in a good way). No | | | | screen on your PC and you get an idea of the |
| messing about with patches and upgrades. You logon | | | | difference it will make (and you can also plug your pc |
| to Xbox live and it tells you when you need to | | | | into one).DVD player:The movie player is very |
| upgrade. Easy to navigate, ability to jump in an out of | | | | impressive player all brands of DVD's without a hitch. |
| games easily.Loading times are also very impressive. I | | | | Easy to manage interface and excellent image/sound |
| expected to be starring at the screen during my first | | | | (this is also a progressive scan unit for improved image |
| run of war fighter and was very pleasantly | | | | quality). Only pity, no multi region support.Tips:Did you |
| surprised.Xbox live is the ace in Microsoft's deck. Their | | | | want to download different Xbox live content? Go to |
| killer app for the machine. Think of it as their internet in | | | | system and change you locale to American and log |
| the internet. It is free to just use. But you have to | | | | out/on to Xbox live and away you go (you also need |
| upgrade to gold (and pay) to play games online and | | | | an email address with mail address in that location) . |
| get hold of some downloads. But ALL games will have | | | | Different demos and trailers.Xbox Live arcade:A |
| an online mode. Meaning you will get more value and a | | | | strange addiction indeed. The ability to play older |
| different experience. Microsoft have also insisted on | | | | arcade games that use little or none of the power of |
| achievement sin all the games.The more you achieve | | | | the worlds most powerful console. But, it works. |
| the better you rating and points (rating can also be | | | | Allowing you to play exact arcade emulations such as |
| improved by visits, friend, helping, messages etc). | | | | joust, gauntlet etc adds another dimension to your 360. |
| Basically they want you to play and get involved and | | | | My four year just loves playing Marble Blast on |
| will reward you for such. Nice ideas. Getting people to | | | | live.Online Play:I have tried many multiplayer games on |
| play more of what they paid for - rather than the | | | | the PC platform and mixed enjoyment has been had. |
| modern obsession of owning more and not actually | | | | Get a good server and all is well. but often or not you |
| using, is a good one.(as these games aren't cheap - 75 | | | | waste time looking and waiting for a "none lagging" |
| euro for war fighter!!!).This page will be updated, the | | | | game. So far I have only tried (briefly) advanced |
| more I get to actually use the system. (oh to have free | | | | warfighter online. A quick half hour game using a |
| time).I will be sticking simple no B.S. reviews here, of the | | | | headset with some blokes from the UK. Was it any |
| games that interest me on the 360 platform. The | | | | good. Amazing! Great game, very little lag, no time |
| physical build is impressive, although the size of the | | | | wasting just simple game selection and a couple of |
| power supply is staggering. Simple little things impress: | | | | minutes wait and away you go. Voice over IP works |
| The size of the wireless controller: perfect. The 360 | | | | well: no silly button presses, just talk.Although a strange |
| button on the controller, brings you back to the | | | | experience allowing everyone hear you shout at |
| "desktop", as well as powering on/off the machine (a | | | | yourself when you get killed (usually swear words in |
| simple feature I know, but works).The more I mess | | | | disgust). But will have to try it again as this single game |
| around with this machine, the more I like it. It seems that | | | | ranked as one of the best gaming experiences I have |
| playing a game now that does effect you score rating | | | | had on any platform.....Wish List:*Give us a browser and |
| or unlock achievements is less of a, well achievement.I | | | | means to copy Favourite bookmarks from PC to the |
| have downloaded a lot of demos such as fight night 3 | | | | 360.*Ability to stream and play Divx (and other |
| and Battlefield modern combat (very impressive, with | | | | supported codecs).*Some way of playing multi region |
| no lag in sight).Updates: A few weeks of usageI signed | | | | DVD's: but why of why does this even still |
| up for xbox live gold: 60.00 for 12 months unlimited use. | | | | exist?*MORE Xbox Live content: trailers, tv programs, |
| The amount of media and the ability to download clips | | | | shorts etc etc. The announcements of future possible |
| and demos, means you really need this to make full | | | | releases are exciting: but need to start happening soon, |
| use of the machine.Also from what I can tell, people | | | | to be imbedded and in place before Ps3 and the Sony |
| are playing games to just build up their game score: | | | | machine gets into motion. Perhaps a nice partnership |
| offline play (even single player) is just the same these | | | | with apple and quick time would do the |
| days if you don't improve your rating as a result.Very | | | | trick.Conclusion:Well how do I feel about the 360 six |
| clever option. Actually, it is quite amazing how much | | | | weeks after purchase? To be honest, very, very |
| time you actually spend browsing, downloading and | | | | impressed. Excellent build quality, fantastic interface. |
| playing with items in Xbox live.Extending the | | | | Wealth of multimedia and gaming options. Xbox live is |
| experience: Media CentreI built a Windows Media | | | | great. Software updates that show they actually listen |
| Centre 2005 (repaired an old fried motherboard). And | | | | to the users (all those features that you wanted in or |
| tested the interface between this the 360. Amazed to | | | | removed appeared in the June update. But what about |
| see you get the full Media centre console on the 360 | | | | the games: what it was built for?Online play with the |
| when you have a machine to connect to (across you | | | | head set is excellent. Easy to jump in and out of |
| network). You can only stream video in WMV format | | | | "friend" games. Achievements and game score is a |
| at present. But you can find an app on the web that | | | | master stroke. Gaming without these feature feels a |
| will allow you to convert divx to wmv on the fly.Tested | | | | little pointless now. I have played games such as |
| streaming video, images and music from one side of | | | | Advanced Warfighter, Table Tennis, Battlefield 2, Top |
| the house to the other. Easy to config and use and | | | | spin 2, Dead or alive 4 and to be fair, have had some |
| impressive interface/image quality.Basically transform | | | | of THE best gaming experiences I have had on any |
| you 360 into much more that a gaming machine. You | | | | system (and I have been playing since the days of |
| can do music and images only connecting to extender | | | | zx-81: yes I'm and old fart).The future releases also |
| on an XP machine. But to make full use you need | | | | look VERY bright. Gears of War, Dead Rising and |
| windows media centre 2005.Combining the power of | | | | Lost World to name a few, all look amazing. Incredible |
| the 360, with Xbox live and the media centre options; | | | | to see how quickly developers and getting these type |
| Sony really have their work cut out for them. As there | | | | of results considering how new this system is. Perhaps |
| is so much more to Microsoft's machine than playing | | | | it is testament to how good a platform it is to develop |
| games.In all, a great "home entertainment system". | | | | for. Also Xbox live anywhere looks very interesting |
| Great for gaming, online play is easy and solid, god | | | | indeed (allow 360 and pc users to play and use Xbox |
| support for music, images and other media (particularly | | | | live together: as well as mobile device options).Without |
| is you own a media centre PC). Only downside: just | | | | Xbox live the 360 is an amazing piece of kit. |
| don't be surprised when you are using your gaming | | | | Combined with the Xbox live option it is indeed the killer |
| console for a lot more than just games.What I would | | | | app of the next generation consoles.My advice?To |
| have liked to see:The biggest omission is the ability to | | | | borrow their own catch phrase. Jump in, you'll have a |
| browse web pages. Granted, doing such with a | | | | ball and hats off to those you developed this machine. I |
| controller or remote with an on screen keyboard | | | | for one am glad you did. THE single most impressive |
| would have been a pain. But considering the | | | | piece of hardware I have EVER purchased.Wrote a |
| experience is dependant on you already owning a PC | | | | full review with images at: manager with Bsc in |
| (to get full potential), why not have the option of a 360 | | | | computing, who writes screenplays and studying Msc. |
| browser and the ability to sync your favourites sites | | | | |