The official I Love Games XBOX 360 and XBOX LIVE thread!

to clarify, this is safe and fine and M$ has confirmed you won't be banned for doing it but you can't access live while using it (unless you got into the early beta obv)

Hmm. Well, I've installed this, primarily cos I fancied a play with the avatars...and they aren't working yet. Hey ho. At least it's let me install Fable 2 to my hard drive, which is pretty cool. Inter-level load times do feel a fair bit faster, and the fact the disc isn't spinning noisily all the time makes a pretty big difference too.

oh shit, sorry jim, yes you can't do avatars on it bcs tht stuff requires a live connection for access

similarly you can't watch .AVIs or other media codecs for the same reason

everyone is reporting that the noise is massively decreased which is a big plus for me

I'm moving to France next summer from the US. I'd like to bring my 360 with me. Does anyone here know if I can just switch the cord to the wall that plugs into the gigantic power brick, from US to European? Or do I have to get a new power brick?

You need a step down converter, which will drop the 240V power supply down to 110V. Should cost you about, ooh, 30-40 euros?

Or else yeah, a replacement power supply for the 360. Not sure what those are meant to cost, but we sell them for £60 and they go like hot cakes. So I'd guess the price M$ charge is higher than that.

You might still have issues with the TV signal, depending on what kind of cable you're planning to use, and what kind of tv.

Meanwhile...I really didn't think I'd mind being off Live for a couple of weeks, but man, I REALLY want to try the Mirror's Edge demo. And living without divx->tv is hurting too. Ah well. Only 10 more days.

GOW2 is hellof cheap. i saw it for Au$74, new games are usually $100-110 in aus.

I paid more for Dead Space, which seemed weird.

Thanks, Jim! So it's not just the cord, but the power brick, or else a converter. Oh, well. I'll just have to save my pennies for this.

my 360 red ringed on me, today.

And living without divx->tv is hurting too.

ooh, what is dis? i may have to sync my laptop up with the xbox now...

stevie, assuming you're on a pc (they might actually have it for mac, too, i forget) there's a program called tversity. as i remember, it's easy to set up, then you are playing all of your computer fules on your tv through your xbox, and it looks a lot better than plugging your laptop directly into the tv (generally speaking, at least).

thank you sir... as the tv ads have it, i AM pc...

Dear Xbox Thread,

I just got a cash award at work, and I'm thinking of spending some of it on a 360. My questions are many:

1) Which version should I buy? Can I get away with the version with the 256 MB card or should I step it up to the hard drive? How much space does saved data take up? Xbox Live arcade games?

2) What is the deal with Xbox live? What is some cool stuff you can do with it? Is it worth however much it costs?

I haven't really played video games since I boxed up my PS2 in mid-2006. All I want the Xbox for is some sports games and maybe a couple of shooters. I don't care about playing people online, MAY care about downloadable games/content (as long as it's not a pain in the ass), and am just generally intimidated by how crazy consoles have gotten since I was last paying attention.

Xbox thread, your thoughts would be appreciated.

You will want a hard drive if you intend to go online (not even to play games, but just to, you know, go online) due to the autumn update. The 256mb card seriously won't cut it. I think they only reason they released that SKU is to say that technically you can get an xbox for that price point. But get it with the hard drive, or else you'll be kicking yourself later when you realize you have to shell out $100 on a separate one.

Plus you HAVE to buy some of the downloadable $10 games because they are WAY WAY WAY beter than most of the $60 boxed games. Some of those are >256mb each.

What Will said. If you intend to buy downloadable games, and as those are some of the best things you can get on the 360 you should, you really need a hard drive for the space. It's really nice to have a selection of games on there that you can play at any time. Also with the firmware update coming out for the 360 next week you'll be able to install retail games onto the hard drive, which would cut down on the excessive noise produced when playing a game off disc (now I'm bummed I only have a 20 gig). Live is fifty usd a year (not sure about other currencies). You need to have it to play online games. If you don't have it, you won't be able to play the online component of any game, co-op or competitive. You also get access to demos a week earlier than people who don't have a gold account. If you don't care about playing people online, you probably don't need it (though online games can be a lot of fun, see Call of Duty 4). Anyhow, if/when you get a 360, I believe it comes with a one month free trail of gold, so you can try it out and see if it makes any sense for you. Downloading games isn't a pain in the ass at all - as easy as buying stuff from any standard online retailer.

This is what I would suggest buying to a new US xbox user as an all-purpose starter kit; all this is available at amazong with free delivery:

1) Core system w/60gig HD + Indy Lego - $300
2) Extra controller + rechargeable battery pack with two batteries - $72
3) 1 year gold membership - $39
4) Xbox wireless adapter - $83 (ridiculous price, but absolutely necessary and works like a charm)
5) Text message adapter (surprisingly useful) - $23
6) 4000 xbla points - $45 (you'll need these to buy online games, which really are the best thing about the system)
7) Two new games (I'd suggest Fallout 3 with one other) - roughly $100

Throw in a trip to your local gamestore to buy a bunch of $10 and $20 and $30 games that you missed when they were hot and you've got a total of about $800 and should keep you taken care of more or less for a year.

It's at roughly this point that the phrase "credit crunch" should start rolling around your head.

Or "cash award", whichever works for you.

Thanks guys. You're confirming what my Xbox-playing friend said which is that the 256 MB version is useless. I'm curious why you'd say the wireless adapter is necessary--is there any reason other than not having to run a network cable? Only asking because all that stuff is in v. close proximity at my place.

If I go to the store today I'm hoping to come out with no more than the system and one game. Other stuff I can fill in over time and when the holidays hit, and I want to do one or two other things with the cash I got. We shall see I guess.

you don't really need the wireless network adapter if you have 1. a laptop, 2. a wireless network, 3. an ethernet cable, and 4. some savvy; I use my macbook as a wireless bridge to connect my xbox to the internet bcs I refuse to pay M$' ridic price for the wireless doofer and my router is nowhere near my xbox

oh, sorry, got ahead of myself, yeah, if you can run a cable easy enough then just run the cable

You can just plug your ethernet cable into the back - in fact, that's the best way to go.

What game are you thinking of picking up?

Re: Forks's spending guide:

1) Core system's key, for Indy I'd play the demo first before buying (unless it's in a bundle and is mad cheap because, then, why not)
2) this is only important if A) you play two-player games, B) whoever you play with can't bring their own controller, C) you're sitting far enough away form the screen to not just buy a wired controller.
3) gold membership is only really needed to play games online. good discussion on this above!
4) if you have a computer with an internet connection (with Vista it's dead easy, with XP it's a bit harder but doable, Mac I've not looked into), you can plug it in directly to your Xbox's ethernet port then bridge the connections so that the computer acts as a giant adapter! alternatively, if you can get an ethernet cord from your router to your Xbox it also doesn't matter!
5) Any USB keyboard can be plugged into the USB ports on the Xbox, and any place where there is a text input can be controlled by the keyboard, so if you have a keyboard lying around, you cna skip this one for sure!
6) XBLA points are important, 4000 is probably good, because that's five average-priced XBLA games, and there are at least 5 that we'll tell you that you should have.
7) I didn't buy a single retail game for a month or two after I bought my machine, because I was so busy playing XBLA games, your mileage may vary.

Aww, cozwn beat me to it. :D

My roommate sorted out how to do the wireless bridge thing last night, and he's an absolute dummy when it comes to computers, so it must be easy!

OK, yeah, this is starting to come together. I wouldn't go in for the gold membership unless I started playing some shooter-type game and decided to play it online. Initially I kind of want to get an NBA game since I haven't played one in the 2000s and that's what got this whole thought cycle going. And if I do buy the system I will def be hitting this place up for XBLA recommendations.

7) I didn't buy a single retail game for a month or two after I bought my machine, because I was so busy playing XBLA games, your mileage may vary.

^^^ this true for me as well, although Mirrors Edge will break the run this week (and the only game i've bought on the first day this year...)

Yeah, obviously if you're right near a cable connection, that'll work too. My TV is nowhere near my computer, so it wasn't even a possibility.

The core system w/60gig is currently shipping with Indy Lego and that Kung Fu Panda thing in a holiday bundle. Two free games and a 60gig drive for the same price that I paid for a 20gig/no game system four months ago seems like a good deal.

That said, I did kinda go top shelf when I set up and I have my own specific issues (I like having two joysticks, hate buying batteries for ecoreasons, don't want to scurry up for a keyboard, like having a sizable game library, etc); ymmv o'course.

Yeah I loathe buying batteries so that's one move I will definitely make.

My router is very close to where my 360 is, so I just plug it directly into the router. That has been very fast and nice.

I am of the opinion that you don't need to get a big hard drive unless you think you'll download a lot of xbox originals, or intend to download a million Rock Band songs. The fact that you can re-download stuff for free is very nice and helpful.

I have the 10 gig hard drive, fwiw

Many xps, but wrt divx on the 360, I don't use any proprietary software or anything. I just share a folder full of avis on my network, and then tell the 360 where it is, and it reads and plays them directly...

I'm curious. What's the list of Arcade games the ILG collective has decided are worth buying? Castle Crashers, Braid, obviously. What are the 3 others?

for me: rez, geometry wars (but you might as well pick up 2), ikaruga, swos

1. Ikaruga
2. Geometry Wars
3. N+
4. Rez
5. Space Giraffe

also Bionic Commando Rearmed and Mega Man 9

Portal should be on that list if you haven't played it on Orange Box, but then again I would say just get the Orange Box.

Absolutely right; the price of dl portal vs. the value of orange box is a joke.

And honestly, the only games I bought from XBLA thus far are Crashers, Braid and Zuma (accidentally, but I really have played the hell outta it). I just love the demos and stuff and am really hyped about watching my Netflix on it in a week.

I'm tempted to buy Portal anyway though because it has a bunch of new levels.

apparently the new levels are the same ones in the PC version? which were free?

yeah - it's the remade flash game stuff (from what I understand, though maybe not all of the levels? as I read the 360 version has 14 new levels, while the pc map pack had 40). You can get the pc version here http://portalmaps.wecreatestuff.com/

from what I remember the levels are similar to the advanced stuff in the original game - rather challenging. Actually I got stuck / distracted and gave up, but maybe I should go back to 'em.

got into the NXE beta; booting up now, pretty exciting

cool. I'm very very excited about that, almost entirely just for the netflix element.

still no web browser in there, right? It looks like it will be slicker, but I'm still not keen on the avatar thing. I don't have netflix.

I'm re-signing up for Netflix just for this. I'm going to go on the 1 DVD plan because I don't watch DVDs very much.

no web browser but it's so much slicker and responsive; the party system is cool, and the mini guide (inc. quick launch) is a neat throw-back (it's essentially a cleaned-up vn. of the old blades)

I really like it

me, bitches

http://avatar.xboxlive.com/avatar/cozeny/avatar-body.png

is there any way to switch off avatars?

lol

the netflix thing is going to push me over to buying a gold membership, and will finally get me to stop bitching about the lack of mac support for netflix streaming to anyone who will still listen to me.

OI NETFLIX HURRY UP AND LAUNCH IN THE UK YOU FUCKERS

Didn't Mac support finally come in last month for Netflix?