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