Should You Buy an Xbox 360?

[AaronGF]

GamesFirst.com has an article called, “Pretty Colors and Lens Flare: Why Graphics Matter (http://www.gamesfirst.com/?id=503)” that questions whether or not you should buy an Xbox 360. The article discusses the similarities between this generation’s launch and that of the PS2, referencing everything from E3 conversations leading to the launch of the PS2 to PGR3’s latest 3D screenshot and studies that show FPS players have more detailed visual acuity than non-gamers.

It boils down to this:

If a major title for the current generation takes an average of 3 years to develop, is it really time to move beyond the Xbox after it’s been on the market less than 4 years? That means we’re hanging the hat on the Xbox only months into what should be the highlight of the system, the first generation of games birthed concept-to-finish for this specific console. Instead of being the highlight, we’re moving on.

Are we really ready for the next generation?

[Atorak]

Are you KIDDING? Have you SEEN THE SCREENSHOTS?!?

*dodges a wooden shoe*

Erm......yeah, I'm ready. Oblivion for GOTY 2005!

[Twigz'N'Berries]

I thought about that too. Xbox was just starting to get games that graphically pushed the system. If the Next Gen wasn't around the corner, I would have expected amazing things.
Doesn't matter if we are ready for it, the console will be here in less than 2 months. I'm getting it day one like I always do. I do think the X1 will die a premature death. I've already stopped buying games for it.

[agentgray]

Heck no, drink yourself one....

http://www.every10minutes.com

[bapenguin]

Hardware is moving too fast, software is moving to slow. There needs to be a medium. If you want to be on the bleeding edge of PC gaming you have to upgrade at least every 18 months. There was a point where video cards were a 6 month cycle in PCs (now it's about a year). At least consoles are on a 4-6 year cycle.

Graphics may not make a game, but they do MAKE games. Take Splinter Cell for example. This game would not have been possible in previous generations. It took that genre to the next level and began to spawn clones. In Splinter Cell...graphics are very much part of the gameplay. So who knows what the next generation could bring with beefier graphical abilities.

[Nath5000]

See this is where im not following the mainstream "boo-hoo my xbox is old news very soon" group. Why? I have an HDTV. I think many of the people who wholeheartedly want the 360 that HAVE an HDTV want it for the HDTV. Sure graphics are still good on the original xbox on a old tube tv. But ive been playing games like NHL 2k and halo2 on a tv that not only seemingly sharpens up the aliasing while still seeming blurry, but also blows that crap-tasticness to 50-inch widescreen which is often stretched! Im stick of playing racing games and trying to make out whats ahead by focusing on the blatantly jaggy small fuzzy turns and objects in the horizon of my race car. Im getting tired of watching hockey games and attempting to read the jersey numbers but not being able to make them out of the 10 giant fuzzy jaggy pixels of the zoomed out players on the ice. Hell give me an xbox 1.5 that has the same graphical quality but upps the resolution and Id buy it. Its not that im tired of the xbox and its not that the xbox is limited in its creative ability to deliver immersive games, its the fact that ive had it for 4 years since launch, got WAY more than my moneys worth out of it, bought an hdtv in the process which is the direction the market is going, and now the aliasing is bothering me. I dont even care about doomy graphics or shader light glows and shadow mapping that makes a button on the characters shirt seemingly stick out when a flashlight goes over it. From a graphical standpoint im just tired of watching games in low rez.
I think its a fine time to release a new system, everyone wins, its up to date with the top of the line tvs. Whether we're in the next generation truly or not is not the issue here for me and probably many people (not including you, guy who is going to say "i dont have an HDTV i dont care") are ready for this next step and the fact that its a powerhouse and has better live and interfaces between games is just really really good icing on the cake.

Nintendo is touting that they are innovative and some people think that they might be innovating more towards a next generation. but if its not HD, then everyone loses out big time whether its the people who have hdtvs now, or the people who will most likely get one in the next 5-10 years as Standard definition tvs are eliminated from the low end of the tv market.

As a side note, many hardcore gamers will abandon the oroginal xbox, but i bet that the mainstream will probably still be buying original xbox gaems after the 360 comes out because the fact is that more people have the old xbox and thats more potential consumers than launch games for the 360. I for one have stopped actively pursuing games to buy for xbox or looking for games that are going to come out because im getting the 360, however certain games jumped out at me like "indigo prophecy" from the latest OXM demos, and Im definetly going to make that purchase, although even thought the graphics are not next gen per-se id rather buy it on the 360 with upped resolution in HD even if its not "next gen" standards.

[Justin_McElroy]

I'm still waiting on the $150 Xbox 90. (http://www.getthesugar.com/wp/?p=27)

[disc]

The question is, are the developers who just last (or this) year finished their 2-3 year titles ready for the Xbox 360 ?

[Heretic Machine]

I think the question is, "Should I make another topic about whether or not to buy a 360?"

[Mooninaut]

Nath5000, you want a box that plays games but with higher resolution graphics than the Xbox? You have one. It's called a PC. My old 15" monitor displays games at higher resolution than your 50" HDTV ever will, and I can do anything I want with my PC, not just what Microsoft wants me to.

What do you need an Xbox 360 for?

[Chagrinful]

The simple answer is NO.

Also those talking about revolution not having HD might forget some of the craziness that ppl are saying revolution might have, like the thing about the picture is the same no matter what distance you are from the tv set, I dunno IGN posted it as a patent nintendo filed, might mean nothing but who knows?

[Kyle Jones]

I definitely think they are moving a bit to fast with the new consoles, but thats because I'm poor.

[bapenguin]

Nath5000, you want a box that plays games but with higher resolution graphics than the Xbox? You have one. It's called a PC. My old 15" monitor displays games at higher resolution than your 50" HDTV ever will, and I can do anything I want with my PC, not just what Microsoft wants me to.

What do you need an Xbox 360 for?

Your 15" monitor displays 1920x1080? That's highly doubtful.

[bean19]

Okay. . . this is sort of like saying, well the Brittish and Japanese have really come into their own in making gas-powered vehicles fuel efficient, should we really move to hydrogen and electric power?

The answer is YES. The point being that the new technology is better than the "best" of the old technology. The worst-looking games on the X360 are more than likely to be much better looking than the best-looking games on the X-Box.

This seems like a silly premise for an article. . . also, I'd say that Halo utilized the assets of the X-Box very well and it was made early in the hardware's life-cycle. Just because some developers show up late won't mean that others do not show up early.

[fitbabits]

Question: Should You Buy an Xbox 360?

Answer: Hell, yes!

[Nath5000]

Nath5000, you want a box that plays games but with higher resolution graphics than the Xbox? You have one. It's called a PC. My old 15" monitor displays games at higher resolution than your 50" HDTV ever will, and I can do anything I want with my PC, not just what Microsoft wants me to.

What do you need an Xbox 360 for?

Uhh the fact isnt whether your PC can already do it. I dont even care if your 15 inch monitor has enough pixels to blur the lines between reality and displayed image fooling the naked eye. Its about the console experience finally upgrading from fuzzy aliased blur to a better resolution that lives up to the already present and up and coming HDTV standard. I along with many people who have a different opinion than you (yes its possible) think that not having to f--k around with expensive PC components and sit at a desk with a measily little speaker system and a screen the size of a textbook no matter the resolution and instead sit in a home theater with a giant immersive high resolution possibly 1920x1080HDTV with a sound system that could crush any pc speaker setup and sit on a couch and play the game on a universal easy wireless controller.
Lets not turn this into a PC vs console debate, because yes PCs can do more, and yes there ARE pc screens that can display more pixels, and yes there are graphics cards that are going to come out on PC that are going to be better and sound that will be better than its is now, but console gaming is simple, its streamlined and it allows you to get benefits like a xbox live community where most people have headsets and everyone is easily found for multiplayer in a universal game environment that even your friends who are not "in the know" enough or literally wealthy enough to put together a Killer PC that would rather play a game like FEAR, if possible, on a console like 360 in all of its glory than play it on their bundle pc where it looks no better than a dreamcast game.

You fail to see these console benefits because you are an anti-mainstream kinda person who wants to feel special and individualistic and not feel like your being manipulated by marketing and a company such as microsoft. But the fact of the matter is that while the PC has good and bad advantages the console also has advantages and disadvantages over the pc it all depends what matters to you. Id rather be playing against all my friends on a streamlined platform like the 360 where i get everything I could ever want then build an expensive pc for the 4 hot games that come out that year only to have to upgrade again all the while not being able to play against or with people i know who either dont know how to build a pc or cant afford it.

[Hellstorm]

I think the question is, "Should I make another topic about whether or not to buy a 360?"

Until we know the launch dates of the other two systems, what else can we post redundantly on?

[Mr.Green]

blah blah blah and more blah blah blah

Should I get a 360. Yup. Why? Because I can. Drown me.

[Phades]

The Xbox360 is coming out. Whether or not I feel it is too early, it's coming. That means that games are drying up for the Xbox. Since there's not much else other than Zelda coming out on either of the other systems, I'll be in line.

[thecrazyd]

Eh, all of the 360 games I am interested in are coming out for the PC as well. It is the same reason I never purchased an XBox.

[Zanzibar]

Heck no, drink yourself one....

http://www.every10minutes.com

My brother won an X360 at that website a few days ago. Lucky fucker. Big question is whether they're gonna get the Core system or the HDD version.

The more I see, the more I really think that Microsoft made a business decision to release before the PS3, and therefore the release date of the X360 was made for them when they saw Sony's timeline.

MS can't go head-to-head with Sony the same way they did with Nintendo and the Gamecube. By releasing early, they get 6 months or more of 'next-gen console' exclusivity. Plus, as the developers learn more about the hardware, better-looking games will start showing up JUST at the time that the PS3 releases. I really think that even if the PS3 hardware is better than the X360, the games will look significantly better on the X360.

During the Holiday 2007 season - which is when the PS3 will come out, not before - the parents will be choosing between the X360 (with a solid library and several kick-ass-looking games including Halo 3, and quite probably a price drop to $250/$350) or a PS3 (with only a handful of titles that may or may not be graphically awe-inspiring, with almost certainly a $400+ price tag).

That time will be CRUCIAL to Microsoft. If they can hold their ground and
steal some of Sony's thunder during their launch period, then they'd have quite a bit of momentum.

[Dirty Harry]

I think the ps2 is ready for its next gen but not the xbox or the gamecube but hey what do i know.

[netcraazzy]

Nath5000, you want a box that plays games but with higher resolution graphics than the Xbox? You have one. It's called a PC. My old 15" monitor displays games at higher resolution than your 50" HDTV ever will, and I can do anything I want with my PC, not just what Microsoft wants me to.

What do you need an Xbox 360 for?

I take it you are not running windows then? :)

[Evil Avatar]

I think the ps2 is ready for its next gen but not the xbox or the gamecube but hey what do i know.

I do kind of agree, but the Xbox 360 is coming out and if you aren't springing only for the budget version it still plays most of your Xbox titles (which is a good thing since my Xbox is getting a little on the worn out side).

[InstaPete]

Heck no, drink yourself one....

http://www.every10minutes.com

i'm planning on winning one of those tonight! I know I'm going to be buying a bunch of mountain dew because of this. so much for getting rid of high fructose corn syrup in my diet.

[roboflavinoid]

If you like the games that are on it, and you have the money, and you WANT it, go for it. If not, don't.

Why should any of us have to justify the things we spend our money on to anybody? What's the problem?

[Kelegacy]

Eh, all of the 360 games I am interested in are coming out for the PC as well. It is the same reason I never purchased an XBox.

That's why I held off so long in buying one. Mine is only about 8 months old. And guess what? I could have done without it, as most of the games I've played are on PC, for Chrissake!

Question: Should You Buy an Xbox 360?

Answer: Hell, yes!

Fitty, I agree with you. However, I personally would answer the question with, "Hell yes, but not for another year or so!"

[AaronGF]

Someone mentioned Halo as making good use of the system early on. First off, Halo was originally developed to be a part of the Marathon series on the Macintosh, then adapted to the Xbox when Microsoft bought out Bungie.

Second, it didn't really utilize the features, because it was pre-Xbox Live, and as a consequence didn't utilize a great deal of the system features. It took a second generation of games and Halo 2 before those features really showed up. In fact, it took a number of months after the launch of Xbox Live before we really started seeing titles that included support for it on a regular basis, and that was just a modular change in game design, not a shift to an entirely new piece of hardware.

There's a delay between the release of hardware and the release of games that really make good use of the system. That development time for a big name game now days is about 3 years. Even companies developing with advanced knowledge don't have everything down perfect; that's why it's common for the first round of release titles for a new system at launch to be less than perfect. If you think about the Xbox, PS2, and GameCube, very few of the best games on the system came out in the first six months. Most come out after the system has been around for a bit.

[Tia]

I'm still waiting on the $150 Xbox 90. (http://www.getthesugar.com/wp/?p=27)

Was that an attempt at what you mortal call humor?

It was about as funny as a hurricane.

[Kelegacy]

I do kind of agree, but the Xbox 360 is coming out and if you aren't springing only for the budget version it still plays most of your Xbox titles (which is a good thing since my Xbox is getting a little on the worn out side).

Xbox Super 420 (or whatever they call it to match the PS4's title) will be launching in November 2006, so that they get a super jump start on Sony once again. Why own a poopy PS3 when you can have a Xbox Super 420??

This is true, I heard it from a friend who never lies.

[Atorak]

Meh, I'm just going to wait for the XBox 720. I mean, THOSE graphics will be sweet! I even hear the new XBox 720 will be able to display full HD on 128 simultaneous HDTVs! Imagine the possibilities, I'm saving up for those TV's now! There will even be a new physics chip that adapts to the type of flooring your ass is sitting on in your living room!

*dodges another wooden shoe*

Hey! Quit throwing shoes!

[Edwin]

I think it is too soon. It should be every 5-7 years a new console comes out just so we can truly see what can be done. Like mentioned, the software hasn't even caught up with the hardware.

[Mooninaut]

First up, I admit I was wrong about the 15" monitor. I assumed 1080 referred to horizontal resolution, since monitor res is always quoted as horizontal x vertical. HDTV resolution is quoted as vertical only, which is dumb. On the other hand, 720p (720x1280), likely what the majority of games will support, is only somewhere between a 15" and 17" monitor. Then there's 1080i (1920x1280), but it only runs at 30fps which is honestly pathetic in comparison to standard monitor speeds.

Secondly, Nath, you're not making any sense. You can afford an Xbox 360 with controllers and accessories, a 50" HDTV and a "sound system that could crush any pc speaker setup" but you can't afford a decent PC? You don't need to drop $3000 on a PC to run the latest games, dude. And there's nothing stopping you from hooking up that very same sound system to your PC. Where's the advantage? Certainly not in terms of cost. If you spent the kind of cash you've spent on your uber home theater on a PC, you'd get far better graphics than Xbox 360 will produce.

Calling me anti-console without knowing anything about me is silly. I have a doubtful stance on the Xbox 360, true. But I'm as much into consoles as anybody, just consoles that have games that I can't play better on the PC. I'm firmly in Nintendo's camp because they have cheaper hardware and better games. The DS alone is the best thing to happen to console gaming in years.

To whoever asked whether I'm running Windows on my PC? Yes, I am. Dual-boot Windows 98SE and Debian Linux. I'm not shelling out for any more OS "upgrades" from MS, and if that means I have to turn to Linux+Wine to run newer titles that have dropped 98SE support, so be it.

[Dirty Harry]

I do kind of agree, but the Xbox 360 is coming out and if you aren't springing only for the budget version it still plays most of your Xbox titles (which is a good thing since my Xbox is getting a little on the worn out side).
While i can completely agree that the x360 is coming even if i want it or not. I feel as if this gens xbox and gamecube owners are getting cheated. Its usually around this timespan of a consoles life time that the really good titles start showing up. You know the must have hits, gta-esque.

Anyone seen the new Bad day in LA screen shots?

[Gel214th]

What do you need an Xbox 360 for?

Ease of use.
Stable hardware platform for more than 3 years.
Reliability.

These are the areas where the Xbox has the PC beat.
These are the areas that count with the casual, mainstream folk.

When playing a PC game optimally is as easy as dropping the cd into the CD-Rom drive, and closing the drive, let me know.

(I play games on my Athlon 64 based PC, own an Xbox, And a PS2)

[Arphahat]

I'm pumped about the Xbox 360 release. No, I'm not going to get one, but I am hoping for a good drop in the price of current Xbox games. :)

[Zulu107]

I'm my own critic and don't need anyone to tell me if I like something, if something comes out thats better I'll just buy it. Its like this, I have a plasma TV that is made by Phillips and I'm told that there is a even better one out now...and I will just go get another when I'm ready. Technology moves fast and if you don't stop to enjoy it, you just might miss it! :D

[Hellstorm]

gamecube owners are getting cheated.

Anyone seen the new Bad day in LA screen shots?

How exactly are they getting cheat? Rev isn't going to happen this year, that's for sure.

[thecrazyd]

I'm pumped about the Xbox 360 release. No, I'm not going to get one, but I am hoping for a good drop in the price of current Xbox games. :)
Thats true. If I could pick up a XBox for around $30 bucks, I'll get one. $30 is the magic number, as I refuse to pay more for an XBox then I did for my Dreamcast.

[Dirty Harry]

How exactly are they getting cheat? Rev isn't going to happen this year, that's for sure.
Because already, its not even what? two years before its launched in the states and games are already starting to dwindle to a forgetable release line up. Secondly i think Gamecube owners have been cheated as it is, in my opinion, nintendo was the weakest for games released this generation.


Too add to the xbox is better than pc arguement, i will just say this,


There are two main types of gamers, set it and forget it gamers

and the gamers that like tweaking and messing around with what they purchased.


Its pretty obvious which crowd these two main groups of gamers represent.

(set forget = console, tweakers = pc gamers)

[Demo_Boy]

I just wanna play the Killzone 2 movie over and over and over again. Impress the heck out of my friends.

Which console will let me do that?

[thecrazyd]

I just wanna play the Killzone 2 movie over and over and over again. Impress the heck out of my friends.

Which console will let me do that?
The PC. Or the DVD Player.

[Demo_Boy]

No silly, the one they played at E3! Didnt playing that movie require a PS3?

[thecrazyd]

Just download it and burn it to DVD. The PS3 is not nesecary.

[critch]

Heck no, drink yourself one....

http://www.every10minutes.com

I did! Mine is gonna get here a week before release! :D :D :D

[Evak]

heh the Killzone movie was just rendered in 3d with maya to what Sony predicted the final PS3 spec would be. Basicaly at that point they could make any prediction they wanted, so don't count on it, your probably better off downloading and watching it :)

Reason to not get an Xbox 360....

Microsoft have held off implementing a HD DVD format into the system because unfortunately neihter HD formats have been established as an industry standard, Toshibe missed its last self imposed deadline and no one has a clue whether the next standard will be HD DVD or Blue ray. At this point it would be foolish for Xbox360 to not pick the industry leader and lose all the potential sales of Xbox360 as a cheap player for next gen DVD.

If you can hold off untill a standard is established, you can bet on 360 getting a hardware upgrade as soon as your local blockbuster starts renting out movies on the new disks :)

[mister_slim]

I like the bit where the columnist dismissed the graphical change from the previous to current generation, making his point irrelevant.

[demonlord]

Originally Posted by Zanzibar
My brother won an X360 at that website a few days ago. Lucky fucker. Big question is whether they're gonna get the Core system or the HDD version.

I belive that the xbox they are giving out is the HDD version because on the offical rules of the site it states that the total retail value of the pacage you get is $580 so i figured it like this

$400 - HDD system
$80 - Game
$60 - 5 T-Shirts and hats
$40 - Shipping and Handling
---------------------------------
$580

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Win the xbox 360 like I did at Every 10 minutes (http://www.every10minutes.com/) hosted by mountain dew and yahoo!

[RMan]

I think it's definitely too early, it's totally about MS wanting bigger market share this time around. However, that’s really not the point as to whether or not you should buy it, if that’s where the games are and you want it more than you want to keep your money, then you should buy it. Even if the graphics aren’t enough to get you riled up about the system, if that’s where the cool new games are then the rest is academic. The fact that MS is making this move in their interest rather than yours isn’t really anything new (for any company like that).

[Vjornaxx]

Your 15" monitor displays 1920x1080? That's highly doubtful.

No HDTV on the market displays 1920x1080, that's 1080p. 1080i is the cap right now.

[Nath5000]

No HDTV on the market displays 1920x1080, that's 1080p. 1080i is the cap right now.


uh wrong. Samsung has DLP tvs that accept 1920x1080 at 30hz and displays it in full 1920x1080 resolution without interlacing thanks to the latest 6th generation DLP chip from texas instruments. the 30hz thing seems to give people the idea that its interlaced which in the case of a tv that displays half of 1080p and then flips between 2 interlaced images at a high rate, but thats not the case, in the case of the 1080p HDTVs its just getting the slower 30hz signal yet its recieving it and displaying it at full 1920x1080 resolution all pixels on screen at any given time just a slower rate than lets say a 60hz 720p signal. but its still capable of getting the signal at that rate and displaying it progressivly without any interlacing. 1080p tvs can only improve by allowing 60hz at 1920x1080, either way its still 1080 and its still not interlaced. half the data in the same signal as a 60hz refresh rate, but still full 1920x1080 resolution without interlacing...

[Vjornaxx]

That's pretty impressive. That must be relatively new. Still, I don't think the Xbox 360 actually supports 1080p.

[snubber]

My HDTV just blew up :( Had a 40" Toshiba RPTV that just turned off by itself last night, and then the front red LED started blinking. Every time I plug it in it just does that -- no picture and no sound.

Like I have the money to fix the POS right now (which my research shows could be like $500). Bah, bad luck lately for me.

[bapenguin]

No HDTV on the market displays 1920x1080, that's 1080p. 1080i is the cap right now.

1080i is still 1920x1080. Also..there ARE some 1080p displays on the market.

[RicoSuave77]

I along with many people who have a different opinion than you (yes its possible) think that not having to f--k around with expensive PC components and sit at a desk with a measily little speaker system and a screen the size of a textbook no matter the resolution
Hmm... my 24" Dell 2405FPW with Logitech Z-680 THX 5.1 speaker setup would have to disagree with your generalization. And it's certainly no more expensive than your supposedly "killer" setup.

[DoubleUranium]

Hmm... my 24" Dell 2405FPW with Logitech Z-680 THX 5.1 speaker setup would have to disagree with your generalization. And it's certainly no more expensive than your supposedly "killer" setup.

Not to be a dick, but you really are kidding yourself if you think a higher res 24 inch monitor is an improvement over a marginally lower rez 50+ inch screen. Subwoofers aside, the biggest speaker cone in your setup is 2-3 inches across, a far cry from a real stereo speaker.

[Tennistoad]

Not to be a dick, Subwoofers aside, the biggest speaker cone in your setup is 2-3 inches across, a far cry from a real stereo speaker.


Mr. Bose would like to have a word with you.

[Nath5000]

1080i is still 1920x1080. Also..there ARE some 1080p displays on the market.

1080i displays, especially the tube one, only have to have half the resolution vertically i think where the interlace lines go so its more like 1920x540 except that the tv flicks between the 2 interlace images really fast to display an artificial 1920x1080 image. Just like how a 640x480 analog tv (480i) differs from 480p. To my knowledge, a 1080i tv does not have a full 1920x1080 pixels in the hardware, the effect is through software.

[Chris_D]

If you can hold off untill a standard is established, you can bet on 360 getting a hardware upgrade as soon as your local blockbuster starts renting out movies on the new disks :)

No it won't.

[roboflavinoid]

1080i displays, especially the tube one, only have to have half the resolution vertically i think where the interlace lines go so its more like 1920x540 except that the tv flicks between the 2 interlace images really fast to display an artificial 1920x1080 image. Just like how a 640x480 analog tv (480i) differs from 480p. To my knowledge, a 1080i tv does not have a full 1920x1080 pixels in the hardware, the effect is through software.

technically, yeah, that is true. but that's not what your eye sees, so it is purely academic. your eye sees 1920x1080 (with a slight flicker, which tvs since the advent of tv have also possessed), and that is all that matters.

[Nath5000]

technically, yeah, that is true. but that's not what your eye sees, so it is purely academic. your eye sees 1920x1080 (with a slight flicker, which tvs since the advent of tv have also possessed), and that is all that matters.


Yeah I guess, but many people can tell the difference between a 480i and 480p image on a television screen that supports it...