I believe most people would agree, in varying order, that Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, and Mario 64 are the best. All are excellent in their own ways, which is why some prefer one over the others. I'd say Super Mario World, but someone else on this page already claimed Yoshi's Island, while Mario 64 set the bar for all 3D platformers.
The XBOX 360, while mative 720p, will also convert the video signal to 1080i, so even those with tvs that don't support 720p can still play in High Definition. FYI.
Agreed. When I realized that Halo 2 came out a year ago yesterday, it hit me pretty hard that I've been going an system linking at a friend's house, once or twice a week, for a year, and it's still never gotten old. And before the whiney bitches come in and say crap about Halo being overrated or sucking, it's fun, and it's not the only thing to play on the Xbox. Rainbow Six (not Lockdown), Farcry Instincts, Ghost Recon 2 are just some examples of other good FPS titles on the Xbox as well. To say Halo is the only one worth playing is a little close-minded, IMO.
But only in Halo can you perform what seem like miracles of gameplay, wherein you're behind in the count, you jack someone out of in incoming Banshee (while under fire and on foot), turn around and kill them with their own ride, then fly full speed across a map dodging a couple locked on rockets, and incoming tank fire, jump out in mid-air, pull out a sniper rifle, zoom in and get a headshot on someone while falling, and land on top of the same tank that was shooting at you, beat on the hatch, toss in a grenade right as the other guy jumps out of it, as you switch to a shotgun and put one firmly in his ear. Sure, it hardly ever works out that way, but it can, and it has, and it's pure gameplay bliss.
There's a lot of strategy in Halo as well. A lot of people don't realize it, but it's not just about the best weapons, or the best vehicles, but it really is about controlling the map, knowing who has what weapons, playing as a team, covering eachother, and actually thinking about how to best approach a particular situation. Sure, the other team might have a rocket launcher, two tanks, and a guy flying around in a banshee, but if coordinated well enough, and timed properly, there is a way to overcome it.
I hope that ATi regains the upper hand in the next round because things are looking grim for them. nVidia is a bigger company with bigger coffers and better marketing skills so they can withstand bad times more easily than ATi. They handled the whole 5700/5800/5900 debacle very well considering ATi's offerings ate them alive back then. God forbid ATi should go bankrupt and we end up with a defacto nVidia monopoly!
Except ATI is providing chips for console manufacturers, and probably will make plenty of money off that. Plus, while NVidia may be the ultimate top of the line right now, doesn't mean that everyone cares about that. Most just care about a decently priced card that works pretty well, which is a department ATI it still doing fine in. Plus they're still in the top two either way. Does anyone buy cards not made/designed by ATI or Nvidia anymore?
Yup, he's right. Sony's attempt to sort-of copy the Nintendo D-pad comes up pretty short, especially in the fighting game arena. Try doing a Dragon-punch (forward, down, downforward) on a SNES controller, vs a Playstation controller, and the Nintendo style D-pad wins hands-down. Not that it's Sony's fault, or anyone elses' for that matter. They all know what the best design is. They just can't use it.
Wow, what an ignorant statement. First of all, Microsoft didn't 'admit' to anything. The ATI chip has a built-in 10 MB buffer for anti-aliasing and HD resolutions without taxing the GPU. Secondly, the reason you haven't read any reviews yet is not because Microsoft is stopping people form writing them (sure, there's the occasional 'review' embargo), but because the games AREN'T FREAKING FINISHED yet. Don't tell me you're one of those people that picks up a Gamepro magazine and believes that any of the reviews in there are actually from the final build of the game?
I'm not saying it's not innovative, but it's definitely not doing anything to help the public conception that video games are not cool. There's no question about that, but you've already stated that Nintendo isn't competing on coolness, so we're in agreement about that one. I'm also not saying that it won't appeal to the 'casual' gamer (although I hate both 'casual' and 'hardcore' as terms), which it obviously will, based on my previous "bobbing and weaving" statement. Agreed, movement seems more natural in a video game when it mimics that which you would do in real life. Do I want to try it, and would I even maybe buy a Revolution (or whatever it's going to be called) just to experience it? Maybe. I'm not saying I won't, if it truly has great applications in particular games. Do I think it's a step closer to the ultimate gaming vision of total virtual reality? Yes, I certainly do. I'm just saying that it's not for me, and that if I wanted excersize, I'd do what I do anyway, and go for a run or to the gym.
Then there's a group of people, like me, that think the idea of waving your arms around like a madman just to play a game (have you seen that controller video?) is the stupidest idea ever. I still laugh whenever I see someone bobbing and weaving their head and body while controlling a character in Halo. Now Nintendo want's me to do exactly that? I'd be making less of a fool of myself if I stood up in a meeting at work and started doing jumping jacks.
That may be true, but it's all based on opinion. I, for one, would buy the system alone for PGR3, although I'll readily accept that many don't even care about it. Heck, I pretty much bought a Dreamcast just to play Soul Calibur. A 'killer app' is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose is my point.
Sadly, though, I can see why they are doing it. I firmly believe that a user with a keyboard and mouse will have an unfair advantage over the controller user with the auto-aiming. And it isn't like it would be hard for Microsoft to do something about it. How about different lounges in the games based on what you were using to control the game? Seriously, you let me use a mouse/keyboard combo, and I will sign up for your Live service.
You're right about that, because it's been done before with Quake 3 on the Dreamcast. I don't recall completely whether it was that you could use a KB/M on the Dreamcast (which you could), or whether PC players could gt in the mix as well, but the end result was simple: if you used a controller, you got TOTALLY OWNED. There simply wasn't even a button combination that would even allow you to move, zoom, and shoot at the same time that was even close to workable on the controller, which thankfully, the dual analog sticks on the PS2 and Xbox controllers have taken care of. But back then, the concept of a headshot while moving just plain didn't work.
That being said, your idea isn't so bad. Determine which people are using a KB/M, and don't let them play with the controller folks. Don't even make it an option, because aside from maybe Halo 2 or Ghost Recon, both of which move fairly slowly and have some sort of sticky auto-aim, the mouse folks would rock the controller folks' world. If that ever happens where these two groups can play together again on a console, I guarantee you I won't even consider buying that game. Some of us like sitting back on the couch, feet up, with a controller in hand, as opposed to messing around with a keyboard and mouse, which would require all sorts of complication, some sort of lap contraption, or sitting at a desk. That's what PCs are for, and why I'd rather not play games on one.
Or does Tomonobu Itagaki think he's some sort of God? I mean, the guy is so full of himself it's not even funny. I mean sure, his team pops out a good game every now and then (Ninja Gaiden), but the man is no Miyamoto, even though he seems to think he is.
Yeah, it's not that hard to catch, since there's a selection of flags on the tree which don't include, for example, the US one. I went through the contest anyway, and got the questions right, which brought me to a form, which I couldn't fill out all the way, because United States isn't an option.
Entrants must be residents of the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal or Greece and aged 18 or over. Winners may be required to provide proof of age and address.
Yeah, whatever. If you just look at the fact that this is a high-definition console, compared to the previous one where is was possible, but not standard (although almost all games were 480p) then the price should be even more. Standard DirecTV/Tivo unit? 100 bucks (free with rebate). HD-Tivo? Five hundred dollars at it's current price. And EDTV 42 inch Samsung plasma screen? 2200. The same thing, but the HD model? 3000 dollars.
The same thing is going to happen with HD-DVD players too. Is everyone going to complain when they cost more than current gen DVD players, or are they going to rationally explain the fact that standard DVD players cost a lot at the time they were introduced?
Not to mention the fact that with the 360, at least, you get things included in the premium version that you would have had to buy seperately with the original Xbox. Just add up the current price of Component Cables, A headset, and the remote, and it easily comes close to that 100 dollar price difference alone. Really, I don't even care how much the damn thing costs. Most early adopters realize they're paying more for getting things first. Heck, that HD-Tivo I mentioned above was 1000 dollars less than a year ago when it was introduced, and they were sold out for a long time.
So, you copied the full text of the content that's fully posted on Slashdot... to the comments section on Slashdot... in case of a Slashdotting.... of Slashdot?
Whether completely intentional or not, that does indeed totally deserve to be modded 'Funny'. Or redundant. Or Both.
I see what Nintendo is trying to do here, I really do. Firstly, they're trying to move video gaming one step closer to its ultimate goal of virtual realities and worlds. You'll get no argument from me against the idea that actually swinging something is more like swinging something than moving an analog stick. No question at all. For that, I applaud them. This truly is innovative, and does push gaming towards it's ultimate goal of accurately simulating reality.
Secondly, it does indeed present a controller that's accessible to people who've never even picked up a controller before. No more "which button to I hit to swing the bat?" questions, for the most part, and despite some tech demos, none of us know how it will actually be used in a real game. We've all seen the total newbie who's holding a controller and playing anything from Mario Brothers to Halo where they actually move their body, ducking and weaving, in accordance to what they're trying to do with their hands, and Nintendo's gone and made an controller that actually takes that into account, all of it. Heck, I know a guy who's pretty good at Halo 2 that still stands up and bobs back and forth every time he gets in a sticky situation with a Banshee.
That being said, my reaction has been consistent ever since I caught a glimpse of this yesterday, and even moreso after I read the articles (almost all of them) and watched the teaser video: Nintendo, you've got to be fucking kidding me. I'm a pretty active guy. I run several miles every other day, I go to the gym and lift weights on the days in-between. And I'll tell you, the last freaking thing I want in the world, when I finally sit down at the end of the day in front of the television is to madly wave my arms like a madman to control a character in a video game. I leave the house for excersize. I sit on my couch to relax while playing a game.
Nonetheless, I do look forward to trying it at least once, blinds closed and doors locked so nobody sees me looking like a complete damn idiot like every single one of those people in that teaser video. This might make gaming more accessible, but it's definitely not making it any cooler.
The last thing I'll add it that analog stick on that extension part looks just like the one on the N64 controller, which not only broke easily, but was made in the same mushroom shape, of the same slick plastic and not rubber, and totally sucks compared to the sticks on either the Dual Shock or Xbox controller (which has the best analog sticks IMO). I'm surprised that it looks like they're using that same stick design again.
I'm not 100% sure, but I thought that the Xbox 360 used water cooling. Given that they're using some varient of a PowerPC chip, of which the latest versions run to hot to make it into a laptop, and have the clock speed cranked up as well, I wouldn't be surprised if they were using a water cooling system. Can anyone verify this?
I've read about water cooling too, but early OurColony.net images had two fans on a motherboard, and it's been said a few times that both chips and fans would power up and down based on what the console is doing. Playing a game? Three dual core chips and two/three fans. Watching a movie? One chip, one fan. So, I can't answer that one too well.
DVDs can be played even if you don't have the remote control, unlike Xbox 1.
I'm guessing that this is the reason for the increased price in the controllers. According to the price lists on the major sites, wireless controllers were $50, and wired were $40. I'm guessing that price hike is mostly due to royalty fees necessary to include DVD functionality since MS doesn't hold the patent. That's why the Xbox couldn't play DVDs out of the box. It looks like they've given the controllers the necessary functionality to play DVDs as well, driving up the cost slightly. I'm wondering if it wouldn't have just been better to build the technology into the console though? Maybe I'm off the mark on this one and MS is just raising prices to make more money.
They're raising prices to make more money, I think. The reason you had to buy the remote for DVD playback on the first Xbox is that the cost of paying royalties was included in the remote cost and not the cost of the Xbox. Back then Microsoft wasn't a member of the DVD Consortium (or whatever it's called), but now they are, so they can include DVD playback for free.
I'd like to know if third party wireless network adapters will be able to work. Right now I've got my Xbox on the wireless network in my apartment. I could probably just use the current setup and run a cord from ethernet jack to the wireless adapter, but it can get a little laggy at times, especially with the poor internet service. But at $99, the adapter from MS seems a little expensive.
As far as the existing ethernet devices go, yes, you can use them just fine and that's been confirmed. Don't know about USB devices. My guess is probably not.
Woah, that is cool. I wonder if that extends as far as button configurations and sensitivity settings as well. Maybe I always like my E-brake on the 'A' button, and always like my sensitivity set around 5, which it slightly above average (using the Halo scale anyway). I wonder, would that carry over to other games as well...
Um, you press the pause button. Just because you pause doesn't mean everyone else has to. You can pause in Halo 2 (while still getting killed) and change your settings, check your friends list, send messages, etc. without a problem. The ideal situation is to simply find a halfway safe corner, and be really quick about it.
Same thing happens in most other games as well, like Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, and even in racing games. For example in ToCA Race Driver, pausing the games relinquishes control of your car to the AI, who continues to drive the track for you, albeit at a greatly reduced speed. Some people would actually use this method as a trick to get through sticky turns where you'd be going at slow speed anyway.
No, you simply buy a twelve month subscription card for 49.99 or 59.99 (those prices aren't 'official' yet). The headest is already included with the 399 Xbox 360 package, so unless you really want and extra one, you're just wasting money.
Can we stop with all the 'Xbox 360 is expensive, but that's okay by me' articles? So what. The bundles are ridiculous. Big deal. Don't buy 'em. The premium/non-core system costs 100 dollars more than the original Xbox, which didn't come with Component cables, a remote, a wireless controller, or a headset. Big deal.
Walk into a Gamestop and preorder an Xbox 360 without any bundling or having to preorder any games if you don't like the online bundles. It's really easy, I promise. I did it on Saturday without a problem. Don't want to put 50 bucks down upfront? Wait until release day and go into Target around 10am.
I don't get why we have to keep pointing out that EB and Gamestop create bundles since they make their money off selling games. They've been creating these lame bundles for years.
You do realize that this is EB Games creating the bundle, and not Microsoft, right? Wait until launch day, come in a little late to work, and stop by a Best Buy or Target first thing in the morning. Cost to you: 399 plus tax. Seriously, nobody ever goes into Target the first day to buy game systems. When PSPs were hard to come by at game stores the first couple weeks, Target was overloaded with them. Best Buy will sell out pretty quickly, but they always do a preorder card months before, which will be for the system only.
True dat. Those annoyances are why I refuse to play anything other than custom games (thank god for the friends list) in Halo 2, and my ranking stays at a whopping zero.
Yup, he's right about that. Especially once you start racing on Nurburgring, where you can't rely on barricades to keep you on the track. Try touching a tire on the grass while driving an Enzo at 180 miles an hour and see how far it gets you.
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That cable has been on that site since before the 360 even came out. It's preorder based on speculation.
I believe most people would agree, in varying order, that Super Mario Bros 3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, and Mario 64 are the best. All are excellent in their own ways, which is why some prefer one over the others. I'd say Super Mario World, but someone else on this page already claimed Yoshi's Island, while Mario 64 set the bar for all 3D platformers.
Except the fact you won't be able to play games on it without importing them as well. Region coding.
The XBOX 360, while mative 720p, will also convert the video signal to 1080i, so even those with tvs that don't support 720p can still play in High Definition. FYI.
Agreed. When I realized that Halo 2 came out a year ago yesterday, it hit me pretty hard that I've been going an system linking at a friend's house, once or twice a week, for a year, and it's still never gotten old. And before the whiney bitches come in and say crap about Halo being overrated or sucking, it's fun, and it's not the only thing to play on the Xbox. Rainbow Six (not Lockdown), Farcry Instincts, Ghost Recon 2 are just some examples of other good FPS titles on the Xbox as well. To say Halo is the only one worth playing is a little close-minded, IMO.
But only in Halo can you perform what seem like miracles of gameplay, wherein you're behind in the count, you jack someone out of in incoming Banshee (while under fire and on foot), turn around and kill them with their own ride, then fly full speed across a map dodging a couple locked on rockets, and incoming tank fire, jump out in mid-air, pull out a sniper rifle, zoom in and get a headshot on someone while falling, and land on top of the same tank that was shooting at you, beat on the hatch, toss in a grenade right as the other guy jumps out of it, as you switch to a shotgun and put one firmly in his ear. Sure, it hardly ever works out that way, but it can, and it has, and it's pure gameplay bliss.
There's a lot of strategy in Halo as well. A lot of people don't realize it, but it's not just about the best weapons, or the best vehicles, but it really is about controlling the map, knowing who has what weapons, playing as a team, covering eachother, and actually thinking about how to best approach a particular situation. Sure, the other team might have a rocket launcher, two tanks, and a guy flying around in a banshee, but if coordinated well enough, and timed properly, there is a way to overcome it.
Except ATI is providing chips for console manufacturers, and probably will make plenty of money off that. Plus, while NVidia may be the ultimate top of the line right now, doesn't mean that everyone cares about that. Most just care about a decently priced card that works pretty well, which is a department ATI it still doing fine in. Plus they're still in the top two either way. Does anyone buy cards not made/designed by ATI or Nvidia anymore?
Yup, he's right. Sony's attempt to sort-of copy the Nintendo D-pad comes up pretty short, especially in the fighting game arena. Try doing a Dragon-punch (forward, down, downforward) on a SNES controller, vs a Playstation controller, and the Nintendo style D-pad wins hands-down. Not that it's Sony's fault, or anyone elses' for that matter. They all know what the best design is. They just can't use it.
Wow, what an ignorant statement. First of all, Microsoft didn't 'admit' to anything. The ATI chip has a built-in 10 MB buffer for anti-aliasing and HD resolutions without taxing the GPU. Secondly, the reason you haven't read any reviews yet is not because Microsoft is stopping people form writing them (sure, there's the occasional 'review' embargo), but because the games AREN'T FREAKING FINISHED yet. Don't tell me you're one of those people that picks up a Gamepro magazine and believes that any of the reviews in there are actually from the final build of the game?
I'm not saying it's not innovative, but it's definitely not doing anything to help the public conception that video games are not cool. There's no question about that, but you've already stated that Nintendo isn't competing on coolness, so we're in agreement about that one. I'm also not saying that it won't appeal to the 'casual' gamer (although I hate both 'casual' and 'hardcore' as terms), which it obviously will, based on my previous "bobbing and weaving" statement. Agreed, movement seems more natural in a video game when it mimics that which you would do in real life. Do I want to try it, and would I even maybe buy a Revolution (or whatever it's going to be called) just to experience it? Maybe. I'm not saying I won't, if it truly has great applications in particular games. Do I think it's a step closer to the ultimate gaming vision of total virtual reality? Yes, I certainly do. I'm just saying that it's not for me, and that if I wanted excersize, I'd do what I do anyway, and go for a run or to the gym.
Then there's a group of people, like me, that think the idea of waving your arms around like a madman just to play a game (have you seen that controller video?) is the stupidest idea ever. I still laugh whenever I see someone bobbing and weaving their head and body while controlling a character in Halo. Now Nintendo want's me to do exactly that? I'd be making less of a fool of myself if I stood up in a meeting at work and started doing jumping jacks.
That may be true, but it's all based on opinion. I, for one, would buy the system alone for PGR3, although I'll readily accept that many don't even care about it. Heck, I pretty much bought a Dreamcast just to play Soul Calibur. A 'killer app' is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose is my point.
You're right about that, because it's been done before with Quake 3 on the Dreamcast. I don't recall completely whether it was that you could use a KB/M on the Dreamcast (which you could), or whether PC players could gt in the mix as well, but the end result was simple: if you used a controller, you got TOTALLY OWNED. There simply wasn't even a button combination that would even allow you to move, zoom, and shoot at the same time that was even close to workable on the controller, which thankfully, the dual analog sticks on the PS2 and Xbox controllers have taken care of. But back then, the concept of a headshot while moving just plain didn't work.
That being said, your idea isn't so bad. Determine which people are using a KB/M, and don't let them play with the controller folks. Don't even make it an option, because aside from maybe Halo 2 or Ghost Recon, both of which move fairly slowly and have some sort of sticky auto-aim, the mouse folks would rock the controller folks' world. If that ever happens where these two groups can play together again on a console, I guarantee you I won't even consider buying that game. Some of us like sitting back on the couch, feet up, with a controller in hand, as opposed to messing around with a keyboard and mouse, which would require all sorts of complication, some sort of lap contraption, or sitting at a desk. That's what PCs are for, and why I'd rather not play games on one.
Or does Tomonobu Itagaki think he's some sort of God? I mean, the guy is so full of himself it's not even funny. I mean sure, his team pops out a good game every now and then (Ninja Gaiden), but the man is no Miyamoto, even though he seems to think he is.
Entrants must be residents of the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal or Greece and aged 18 or over. Winners may be required to provide proof of age and address.
Yeah, whatever. If you just look at the fact that this is a high-definition console, compared to the previous one where is was possible, but not standard (although almost all games were 480p) then the price should be even more. Standard DirecTV/Tivo unit? 100 bucks (free with rebate). HD-Tivo? Five hundred dollars at it's current price. And EDTV 42 inch Samsung plasma screen? 2200. The same thing, but the HD model? 3000 dollars.
The same thing is going to happen with HD-DVD players too. Is everyone going to complain when they cost more than current gen DVD players, or are they going to rationally explain the fact that standard DVD players cost a lot at the time they were introduced?
Not to mention the fact that with the 360, at least, you get things included in the premium version that you would have had to buy seperately with the original Xbox. Just add up the current price of Component Cables, A headset, and the remote, and it easily comes close to that 100 dollar price difference alone. Really, I don't even care how much the damn thing costs. Most early adopters realize they're paying more for getting things first. Heck, that HD-Tivo I mentioned above was 1000 dollars less than a year ago when it was introduced, and they were sold out for a long time.
So, you copied the full text of the content that's fully posted on Slashdot... to the comments section on Slashdot... in case of a Slashdotting.... of Slashdot?
Whether completely intentional or not, that does indeed totally deserve to be modded 'Funny'. Or redundant. Or Both.
I see what Nintendo is trying to do here, I really do. Firstly, they're trying to move video gaming one step closer to its ultimate goal of virtual realities and worlds. You'll get no argument from me against the idea that actually swinging something is more like swinging something than moving an analog stick. No question at all. For that, I applaud them. This truly is innovative, and does push gaming towards it's ultimate goal of accurately simulating reality.
Secondly, it does indeed present a controller that's accessible to people who've never even picked up a controller before. No more "which button to I hit to swing the bat?" questions, for the most part, and despite some tech demos, none of us know how it will actually be used in a real game. We've all seen the total newbie who's holding a controller and playing anything from Mario Brothers to Halo where they actually move their body, ducking and weaving, in accordance to what they're trying to do with their hands, and Nintendo's gone and made an controller that actually takes that into account, all of it. Heck, I know a guy who's pretty good at Halo 2 that still stands up and bobs back and forth every time he gets in a sticky situation with a Banshee.
That being said, my reaction has been consistent ever since I caught a glimpse of this yesterday, and even moreso after I read the articles (almost all of them) and watched the teaser video: Nintendo, you've got to be fucking kidding me. I'm a pretty active guy. I run several miles every other day, I go to the gym and lift weights on the days in-between. And I'll tell you, the last freaking thing I want in the world, when I finally sit down at the end of the day in front of the television is to madly wave my arms like a madman to control a character in a video game. I leave the house for excersize. I sit on my couch to relax while playing a game.
Nonetheless, I do look forward to trying it at least once, blinds closed and doors locked so nobody sees me looking like a complete damn idiot like every single one of those people in that teaser video. This might make gaming more accessible, but it's definitely not making it any cooler.
The last thing I'll add it that analog stick on that extension part looks just like the one on the N64 controller, which not only broke easily, but was made in the same mushroom shape, of the same slick plastic and not rubber, and totally sucks compared to the sticks on either the Dual Shock or Xbox controller (which has the best analog sticks IMO). I'm surprised that it looks like they're using that same stick design again.
I'm not 100% sure, but I thought that the Xbox 360 used water cooling. Given that they're using some varient of a PowerPC chip, of which the latest versions run to hot to make it into a laptop, and have the clock speed cranked up as well, I wouldn't be surprised if they were using a water cooling system. Can anyone verify this?
I've read about water cooling too, but early OurColony.net images had two fans on a motherboard, and it's been said a few times that both chips and fans would power up and down based on what the console is doing. Playing a game? Three dual core chips and two/three fans. Watching a movie? One chip, one fan. So, I can't answer that one too well.
DVDs can be played even if you don't have the remote control, unlike Xbox 1.
I'm guessing that this is the reason for the increased price in the controllers. According to the price lists on the major sites, wireless controllers were $50, and wired were $40. I'm guessing that price hike is mostly due to royalty fees necessary to include DVD functionality since MS doesn't hold the patent. That's why the Xbox couldn't play DVDs out of the box. It looks like they've given the controllers the necessary functionality to play DVDs as well, driving up the cost slightly. I'm wondering if it wouldn't have just been better to build the technology into the console though? Maybe I'm off the mark on this one and MS is just raising prices to make more money.
They're raising prices to make more money, I think. The reason you had to buy the remote for DVD playback on the first Xbox is that the cost of paying royalties was included in the remote cost and not the cost of the Xbox. Back then Microsoft wasn't a member of the DVD Consortium (or whatever it's called), but now they are, so they can include DVD playback for free.
I'd like to know if third party wireless network adapters will be able to work. Right now I've got my Xbox on the wireless network in my apartment. I could probably just use the current setup and run a cord from ethernet jack to the wireless adapter, but it can get a little laggy at times, especially with the poor internet service. But at $99, the adapter from MS seems a little expensive.
As far as the existing ethernet devices go, yes, you can use them just fine and that's been confirmed. Don't know about USB devices. My guess is probably not.
Woah, that is cool. I wonder if that extends as far as button configurations and sensitivity settings as well. Maybe I always like my E-brake on the 'A' button, and always like my sensitivity set around 5, which it slightly above average (using the Halo scale anyway). I wonder, would that carry over to other games as well...
Um, you press the pause button. Just because you pause doesn't mean everyone else has to. You can pause in Halo 2 (while still getting killed) and change your settings, check your friends list, send messages, etc. without a problem. The ideal situation is to simply find a halfway safe corner, and be really quick about it.
Same thing happens in most other games as well, like Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, and even in racing games. For example in ToCA Race Driver, pausing the games relinquishes control of your car to the AI, who continues to drive the track for you, albeit at a greatly reduced speed. Some people would actually use this method as a trick to get through sticky turns where you'd be going at slow speed anyway.
No, you simply buy a twelve month subscription card for 49.99 or 59.99 (those prices aren't 'official' yet). The headest is already included with the 399 Xbox 360 package, so unless you really want and extra one, you're just wasting money.
Can we stop with all the 'Xbox 360 is expensive, but that's okay by me' articles? So what. The bundles are ridiculous. Big deal. Don't buy 'em. The premium/non-core system costs 100 dollars more than the original Xbox, which didn't come with Component cables, a remote, a wireless controller, or a headset. Big deal.
Walk into a Gamestop and preorder an Xbox 360 without any bundling or having to preorder any games if you don't like the online bundles. It's really easy, I promise. I did it on Saturday without a problem. Don't want to put 50 bucks down upfront? Wait until release day and go into Target around 10am.
I don't get why we have to keep pointing out that EB and Gamestop create bundles since they make their money off selling games. They've been creating these lame bundles for years.
You do realize that this is EB Games creating the bundle, and not Microsoft, right? Wait until launch day, come in a little late to work, and stop by a Best Buy or Target first thing in the morning. Cost to you: 399 plus tax. Seriously, nobody ever goes into Target the first day to buy game systems. When PSPs were hard to come by at game stores the first couple weeks, Target was overloaded with them. Best Buy will sell out pretty quickly, but they always do a preorder card months before, which will be for the system only.
True dat. Those annoyances are why I refuse to play anything other than custom games (thank god for the friends list) in Halo 2, and my ranking stays at a whopping zero.
Yup, he's right about that. Especially once you start racing on Nurburgring, where you can't rely on barricades to keep you on the track. Try touching a tire on the grass while driving an Enzo at 180 miles an hour and see how far it gets you.