[360] Xbox 360 Discussion. Thermal paste, the delicious and nutricious snack of the future.

Originally Posted by Majin yami

See, I don't think mine's that loud.

Agreed. It's loud at times, but not overly so. I can happily play games or watch movies on it without being aware of the noise the 360 is producing. My new console even seems quieter than the previous one, which is nice. And if there's no disc in, or it's not accessing the disc, it's perfectly quiet.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Rez on XBLA. Sweet.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Macksis

I'm thinking of picking up a 360 in the near future. (Made the mistake of playing Geometry Wars and now I'm an addict.)

Given that Geometry Wars: Galaxies is on the way (coming to a Wii and DS near you), then the 360 is very much not your only choice. If the other games on the 360 don't interest you then I'd say hold out for that to appear.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Colonel Skills

Why do people keep trying to rationalize the stupidity of buying a Core?

Well it's the Arcade version rather than the Core, but same issues. I can see how it might be useful for people who really don't have the money, but that being the case you're also not going to be able to afford most of the accessories you'll probably need as much as want, let alone the games.

As much as you may think you don't need a hard-drive, you will use it, and probably a lot. Save games, XBLA, downloadable content for games you own, game videos, game demos, all of it goes on the hard-drive, and all of it main painless by having that there. Yes, you could survive on the 512Mb memory pack, probably, but you'd constantly be juggling resources and not being able to take advantage of large parts of the Xbox experience.

To my mind, for the relatively small difference in prices, getting the Premium or Elite is completely worth it.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

This isn't quite an XBLA thing, so I'll stick it here.

Anyways, seems MS will be offering up some original Xbox titles for download via Xbox Live, at 1200 MSpoints a piece, once the autumn update rolls around on the 4th December.

Quote:

Microsoft reportedly confirmed the news to the Official Xbox Magazine, and revealed its biggest new feature as a service to let you download original Xbox titles like Halo.

Eventually it will make as much of its back catalogue available as possible, but for now the line-up includes Halo, Fable, Fahrenheit, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex and Burnout 3.

Each game will cost 1200 Microsoft Points (GBP 10.20 / EUR 13.96).

[ source ]

I was speaking idiomatically.

It sounds like MS have more or less made ISOs of the game discs that can load from memory rather than a disc. Which is a bit shit if that's the case. Scrap that, it's a lot shit if that's the case.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by The Dutchman

that sort of thing didn't require a penis to be good at.

Case in point: Skills has a penis and he's not good at anything.

How ya doing, buddy?

I can understand some people's reservations about having to fork out money to get Gold membership, but as Shin says, it is worth it in the end. From my limited experience of using the PSN (the PlayStation 3's online network) it doesn't hold a candle to Xbox Live. It took me seven hours to complete a large update for GT5:Prologue last night. Seven fucking hours, because the download was not only slow - I have a pretty good connection - and it kept randomly failing for no good reason (it didn't help that it didn't cache its progress so I had to keep starting the download over each time).

Of all the gigs of demos, videos, updates and everything else I've downloaded over Live I've never once had any issues.

Live has it's moments of being rubbish, but Microsoft are generally quite good at trying to fix it, and when they really balls up they do attempt some form of compensation (though admitedly, last time, that was the crappy XBLA title Undertow).

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

There's a rumoured list of Xbox Live tweaks from an expected spring update that have appeared online. Most are fairly small changes, but there's some interesting ones in there. Here's the full list:

Spoiler:

Xbox LIVE
1. Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status).
2. Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings.
3. Disallow Child Accounts (over 18) to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title.
4. Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements.
5. Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat.
6. Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only).
7. Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text.
8. More fields present in Personal Profile - recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section.
9. Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up).
10. Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete.
11. Option to remove payment information from gamertag.
12. New payment methods for international users.
13. Download History on Account Management better organized - games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous.
14. Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick.
15. Better organization of free content on Marketplace.
16. Option to 'ping' when testing connection.
17. Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on.
18. New strip colors available to developers, staff gamercards.
19. New corner icon available to ambassadors.
20. Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only.
21. Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages).
22. Increase character limit for text messages between friends only.
23. Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players.
24. Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos).
25. Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads.
26. Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals).
27. Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed.
28. Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades.
29. New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features - uses Storage Device memory.
30. Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID.
31. Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits).
32. Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE.
33. Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period).
34. Option to see 'snippet' of text message in notification.
35. Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision.
36. Web feeds integration - text, images, audio. Includes support for specific item codes on Marketplace.
37. Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger.
38. Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger.
39. Support for limited 'winks' that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable 'winks' and 'nudges' added.
40. Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications.
41. Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.

Games
1. Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
2. Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) - sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
3. Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
4. Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
5. Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
6. Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device.
7. Option to delete game updates, removed 'cheat code' as no longer needed.
8. Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
9. Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
10. Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
11. Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
12. Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.

Media
1. Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
2. Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
3. Option to rip music CD at different quality.
4. Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
5. Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
6. Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
7. Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.

Dashboard/Miscellaneous
1. Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
2. New blade trim styles added.
3. Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
4. New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
5. Calibration options for display/sound.
6. Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
7. New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
8. Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent 'hanging'.
9. Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
10. Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
11. Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from Memory.
12. Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
13. Indicate 'charging' status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
14. Option to change text colors on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
16. Language improvements.
18. Word censor updated for fields.
19. Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
20. Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts).

[ source ]

The things that caught my eye are:
- Group voice chat
- Donate MS points to another Live account
- Support for voice chat to Messenger contacts
- Ability to delete 0 point games from gamercard (about fucking time if it happens)
- Voice and picture messages accessible from Xbox.com (for Gold members)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

The MS point exchange thing has me curious. Something tells me you'd be limited to gifting people in your region, because I pay more for my MS points than you fuckers in the States, so it'd be easy for me to get you guys to gift me points via Paypal and all that jazz, which would royally screw up their rip-off Europe plans. Something tells me that if it happens it'll be bollocksed up.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

You can always turn down invitations to games. People would understand. Just saying.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Are there new controllers with improved d-pads coming soon? Apparently so:

Quote:

Microsoft is set to release a new Xbox 360 controller with an upgraded d-pad, a third-party publisher has told Eurogamer at Games Convention.

The controller, which looks exactly the same as the old one, will be able to register 32 directions through the directional pad, we were told.

[ source ]

About bloody time too. That said, the article linked includes photos which don't look all that different to me. I really hope they sort it out as the d-pads on the 360 controller are terrible.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Shin

Yeah, a 32 direction d-pad seems entirely pointless when there's an actual analogue stick sat right next to it. I would have thought a decent, 8-directional microswitched effort would be an infinitely better idea.

Whilst this is true, a greater ability to detect direction should mean that it can intelligently work out which direction you're trying to go in on those that use the 8-directional set up, like Street Fighter for example. At the moment, it's so annoying hitting the d-pad to the right and because you don't get it perfectly to the right, you have a smidge of 'up' in there too, it decides to register it as a jump, or right and jump.

Like I say, it could be just as bad, but fingers crossed that they've managed to improve.

I was speaking idiomatically.

OK, so there's not really a proper new controller on the way, unfortunately:

Quote:

Microsoft advised that its tweaked Xbox 360 controller is not yet destined for mass distribution. While confirming an October 24 release date with Eurogamer, the publisher noted that the new controller, sporting an "optimized" and not-entirely-awful d-pad, will be released as a Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 tie-in product. As such, it will be "a limited edition promotional item that is only available in Europe, Asia and Latin America while supplies last."

It's also a revolting green.

[ source ]

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I swapped a headset at Christmas for ProEvo 08 and from the little I've played of it, not all that impressed. Not much improved over 06, which is fairly average and lacking in features, and has some pretty terrible frame-rate issues at times.

If the D-Pad is better though I might consider trying to grab one of these controllers.

Edit: Eurogamer now have a video preview of it up (here) and it doesn't look good. In fact, it sounds pretty useless, and is clearly based on the same underlying mechanic as the current one, which is why it's shit. Oh well.

FELIPE NO

News on the new dashboard for Live:

Quote:

Microsoft's just gone on the record with RPG-TV and said the Fall Xbox 360 Dashboard Update will be hitting in November, which technically is still a part of Fall.

[ source ]

Slightly disappointing, but not at all unexpected. To be honest I wouldn't be surprised to see this slipping further, possibly into 2009.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Massive rumour time on the New Xbox Experience launch:

Quote:

VGChartz is running a megaton rumor about the launch of the new Xbox 360 dashboard. It has our curiosity piqued because of its creativity and sheer audacity. The story goes that Microsoft will have a five-hour televised countdown beginning September 25 at 7PM Eastern leading to the New Xbox Experience and the software-based relaunch of the console at midnight.

...

Sending this whole thing into overdrive, the source claims Microsoft will announce 12 new titles "exclusive or first" on the 360, including Assassin's Creed 2, Mass Effect 2, a new Conker game and two new Halo titles. Also, six free original Xbox games will be available to download, with Halo being one of them.

[ source ]

Not sure I believe all of that, especially since the last thing mentioned put the release of the new dashboard in November sometime, but if it hits at the end of this month that'd be ace.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Pew pew pew

The worst part about all this is joystiq running it gives the crack addled retard who makes this shit up just the sort of recognition he wants. "Toned it down", the source says. Yeah, sure there buddy. These "news" blogs get worse every fucking day.

Oh I know, it's most likely complete bullshit made up by someone who has misread or misheard something or other. But you know every now and then these crackpot rumours, or part thereof, turn out to be true (if by luck rather than judgement in some cases).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'm down for this too (though would need to grab the Legendary pack).

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Shin

You not got the Legendary maps? I could have sworn I played with you on them...

I've got the Heroic map pack, I imagine that was what we played on. I've not paid for a Halo 3 map pack yet.

Additional Spam:
Xbox Live will be going down for 24 hours o n the 29th:

Quote:

Xbox LIVE is having a scheduled downtime on Monday, September 29 starting at 12:01am Pacific Time. It will be down for 24 hours as we prepare for the cool new stuff coming your way in the new Xbox experience.

[ source ]

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

If it's under a year old you can take it back to the store you got it from, you're well within your rights to do so in the UK (and the retailer has to exchange it). If it's over a year old you're going to have to go through MS's repair policy. I did have a page somewhere where someone had compiled useful information, let me see if I can find it...

Edit: Success, here you go - http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=479165

I was speaking idiomatically.

Play are a retailer just like anyone else, and they will have a returns policy. If in doubt hunt down a phone number for them and give them a ring. I very much doubt you'll be the first person to have bought a 360 from them that has red-ringed.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Maazer

achievements give me a reason to stay for the next level. I guess it just motivates me. My Wii is sadly collecting dust

And the prize for "Thinly related, but ultimately pointless, post out of nowhere" goes to...

Anyways, on a 360 RRoD related note, I did spoke to a friend of mine who had bought from Play.com and got the dreaded red-ring, but he ended up taking it back to a highstreet store on a friend's receipt and getting it directly swapped over. It's appalling the number of people I know with 360s who have had at least one die on them, but more shocking that quite a few have had multiple die on them.

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Originally Posted by russ

I've had two die on me. It isn't the end of the world, since Microsoft fixed them both quickly, and for free.

No, it isn't the end of the world, but it is incredibly annoying and really shit. I've on my third one these days, I think. My dad's on his third. I know two people on their forth machines, a bunch of people on second machines. Not the end of the world, no, but really very poor.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

New Xbox Experience (i.e. the new dashboard update) is arriving on November 19th. So just over a month to go then. [ source ]

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