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Solis · Local time: Mar 10, 2006, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by speculative

I saw a bundle for $480 at Costco. PGR, extra wireless controller, Premium pack, media remote, etc. It actually seemed like a really good deal. Until I realized I paid $200 for a brand new PS2 and $150 for a brand-new Gamecube...

Except when you add in the price of memory cards, an extra controller, an online adaptor, and a game to those consoles, they start getting close to the price of the Xbox 360 bundle. Or you're free to buy the Xbox 360 core for $300.

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Solis · 07:19 AM

Solis · Local time: Sep 20, 2006, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Slayer X

Actually it won't. They are updating the system to output 1080p, but the games still won't be a native 1080p so while you'll be able to output it, it will look better when set on 720p. The PS3 on the other hand will be a native 1080p, so when you hook up your 1080p component, or HDMI it is a TRUE 1080p, not a converted 720p to 1080p.

P.S.
If they do make the future games to run in a native 1080p, the performance of the games will take a hit, unlike the PS3 that is designed to run in 1080p and therefore it will run in the resolution without having to devert power from other resources just to output 1080p like the 360 will be doing.

Uhh, no, the PS3 takes a HUGE performance hit from 1080p, just like the Xbox 360 does/would. The PS3 is not "designed" to run at 1080p at all, it's simply an option for lesser graphically demanding games. That's why virtually all major PS3 games are 720p, with only a few like GT4 HD and Virtua Tennis able to run at 1080p. The system is most certainly not 1080p "native", and that's not something it will be able to accomplish very often in games.

If future Xbox 360 games get the option to output at 1080p, it will be in the same boat as the PS3. Especially since few games on either platform could run at that resolution.

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

Solis · Local time: Dec 21, 2006, 11:14 AM

For those interested, it looks like Virtua Fighter 5 will be heading to the Xbox 360 in summer 2007:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134814

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Solis · Local time: Jan 7, 2007, 02:54 AM

Originally Posted by Devoxycontin

Why doesn't MS just shit on their early consumers more? (Assuming that is true.)

How exactly does this shit on their earlier customers? It doesn't affect the people that already bought a console in any way. You make it sound like an Xbox 360 revision somehow causes the earlier console to become less capable.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Solis · Local time: Jan 7, 2007, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by StarmanDX

My point being, however, that while the changes made to the DS Lite were purely aesthetic, there's actually better hardware in the Zephyr. It's not that much better from what we've seen so far, but it's still a bit of a slap in the face to anyone who payed $400-$500 for a slightly inferior 360 barely more than a year ago. Had the slim PS2 been released hardly longer than a year after the launch of the PS2, you can bet a lot more people would have been unhappy about it.

Actually the PS2 did have quite a few upgrades only a year or two after it's release. In addition to a more efficient and cooler processor (like the Zephyr) it gained progressive scan output for the DVD player and included the online adaptor as well as fixes for issues with PS1 games. Also, the additional brightness settings on the DS Lite allowed you to play under lighting conditions that would've been impossible on the original DS. I think those changes were somewhat more substantial than what we're seeing on the Zephyr.

Regardless, I still don't see how this is really a slap in the face when it doesn't impare current Xbox 360 owners from doing anything with their console (i.e. no games or features would require something that doesn't come with the original consoles). Functionality-wise, the only thing that it allows for that isn't on the Xbox 360 is the HDMI port, but they never had any plans for that on the original model to begin with...in fact it might have been impossible for HDMI to be added to the original Xbox 360 since I'm not sure if the A/V out supports a digital signal.

And since when is this releasing "barely a year" after the Xbox 360 came out? There isn't even any confirmation of this, let alone date of release...I doubt we'll see it within the next month or two. In fact they recently reported that the CPU for the 65nm Xbox 360 wouldn't start to be manufactured until the middle of this year: http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/12/28/65nm_xbox360_cpu/

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Solis · Local time: Jan 7, 2007, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by StarmanDX

Like I said in my first post on the subject, it all depends on the 120GB HD being available to older 360's. Even if it is, early adopters have probably already overpaid for the 20GB HD; now they'll need to pay more if they want a decent sized one (not to mention they'll also probably have to buy a memory card to transfer saves). I bet a helluva lot more people would have waited longer if they knew this was coming so soon.

Again, I ask, how does this affect CURRENT owners of the console in a negative way? The people that bought an Xbox 360 KNEW it came with a 20GB harddrive, so why does it matter that one with a larger harddrive is being released later? Would you really prefer that they DON'T offer upgraded features as soon as they can be made available and instead wait a year or two to somehow appease earlier console owners...despite the fact that releasing it later rather than sooner benefits noone? But I don't see how the 20GB drive isn't "decent sized", what in the world would require you to have 120GB of space?

The only thing that would have been better is if they had informed people earlier that they're going to be releasing an upgraded Xbox 360 in the near future, but since we have no idea when this is going to be released, I think it's a little early to say that they haven't given us advanced warning or that they're releasing it too soon.

Quote:

Um, there's no lighting conditions under which it is impossible to play the DS, be it broad daylight or pitch black. Unless maybe you're shining a headlight on the screen/in your face, but I doubt the Lite would help in that regard.

Anytime I try to play outside or in a vehicle during the day when there's a decent amount of sunlight shining on the screen, it's virtually impossible to see. And the brighter screen brings out more details and a clearer overall image, which is something that will always affect your experience every time you play. On the other hand, none of these apparantly Xbox 360 upgrades will have much of an affect on the games themselves.

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Solis · 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Slayer X

Also if there is more content like the Ghost Recon AW expansion pack which was around 1.2 Gigs for future games your 12Gigs (because you don't get access to 8Gigs) will run out fast. Also Final Fantasy 11 takes something like 3 or 4 Gigs itself too. However the whole HDD thing was a scam from the get go when they advertised that you get a 20Gig HDD but don't tell you that you really only get to use 12Gigs. Heck for the price of a 12Gig HDD for my 360 I could get a 120Gig HDD for my PS3, MS isn't being too competitive now are they?

14 gigs available, actually. I hardly think not being able to use a PC harddrive for a console suddenly makes it "not competitive". More storage space isn't something which is either a selling point (at least it shouldn't be) or requirement for games. And I hardly think it's a "scam" to advertise 20GB when the extra space is taken up by data caches that are required for games. Same way a typical PC advertises a "100GB" harddrive but then has 2GB taken up from the binary conversion, 2GB taken up by Windows, 1GB taken up by virtual memory, 5GB taken up by a recovery sector, etc.

Originally Posted by StarmanDX

As if Microsoft didn't know about this well before launch, although it was obviously in their best business interest not to mention it. But hey, if you think paying $100 for a 20... no, wait, apparently 12... gig hard drive, and then having to pay even more for a bigger one not more than a few years later because your first one filled up far more quickly than it should have is a good deal, then that's your opinion.

Now, if the 120GB HD ends up actually costing ~$600, then there's a different problem here entirely. But somehow, I doubt that will be the case.

Anyways, it's not so much the people who bought one at launch I feel sorry for - it's obviously risky to get a launch console these days, and they've had more time with it. It the loads of people who only recently got one for Gears of War or for Christmas that should be angered by this. I think it's a safe bet that they wouldn't have sold nearly as well last holiday season if this had been known then.

I still don't see how you're "required" to get a new harddrive as soon as you fill up the old one. Everything that takes up space on the harddrive aside from gamesaves and soundtracks can be redownloaded from the marketplace, so it isn't absolutely vital to be a packrat with the harddrive. If you were required to install data to the harddrive to play games, then it would be a much bigger issue, but the only game that requires that is Final Fantasy XI and every other game just uses the space that's already set aside on the harddrive for that purpose.

Yes, obviously the harddrive is a ripoff. Console (and handheld) storage formats are always going to be horrible for the price. $35 for 8MB PS2 cards, $25 for 512k Gamecube cards (then $30 for 2MB cards a year later, then $35 for 8MB cards another year later), $80 for 2GB PSP memory sticks, etc. At least the current Xbox 360 harddrive is large enough that most people won't have a problem with NEEDING to get another one as soon as they fill up, which I really can't say the same for about other consoles (the 20GB PS3 should be fine though as long as you're willing to delete the install data for games).

But like you said, it's more of a pissing match with Sony. 95% of Xbox 360 owners probably aren't even using up half the harddrive, but being able to slap a "120GB" on the box makes it look more impressive sitting next to a 60GB PS3 that costs $200 more. It isn't something that's supposed to attract educated consumers as much as it's supposed to sway people that are debating between the two consoles and look at which has the bigger numbers. Compared to a price drop (which was probably the only other option they were considering), it doesn't really screw over current owners any more than the alternative. And weren't a lot of people expecting a price drop soon anyway? I figured they'd have one within a few months after the holidays were over.

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Solis · Local time: Jan 13, 2007, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by Spike

Gotcha, mo0. Anyone using a wireless adapter to connect with their 360? If so, can you recommend a good one or should I simply go with the Microsoft one even if it is overpriced.

The only wireless USB adaptor that works with the Xbox 360 is the official first-party one. Otherwise you'll need a wireless bridge that connects through the ethernet port. Pretty much any of those will work I believe, even the original Xbox one.

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Solis · Local time: Nov 13, 2007, 05:54 PM

Well, after leeching off of my friend's Xbox 360 for so long I've finally purchased one for myself, so it looks like I'll be putting much more time into playing it (and finally be going online on my own account). Quick question though: with the 1 month Gold trial, do you have to activate it when you first create the account on the system, or can you choose to start it later after you've already created the account?

Originally Posted by Colonel Skills

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

The Arcade pack isn't actually that bad of a deal really. It at least comes with the ability to save games and the wireless controller, so for the "casual" crowd I can see it being a fairly attractive option. Also, a used harddrive is only around $60, so there really isn't much of a price difference between getting an Arcade pack and a harddrive rather than a Pro. In fact if you wanted a memory card anyway it would be cheaper to get the Arcade bundle and a harddrive instead of the Pro and a memory card, oddly enough. Although you do lose out on the component cables/headset and only get 5 crappy Live Arcade games instead of Forza 2/MUA.

A standard Core (not the Arcade bundle) is a total waste though.

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Solis · Local time: Dec 4, 2007, 01:06 PM

Wow, that update sure sped up the UI. It's no longer choppy when you bring up the Guide panel in a game. Overall the new interface seems pretty nice so far. It's streamlined enough that it makes things faster without sacrificing options.

Divx support seems pretty good although I'm noticing that the image quality isn't quite as good as the actual Divx codec for the PC (or maybe it was something else I installed that affected that). Some scenes can have more compression artifacts and other general defects in video quality. Still a nice option though, I'm really glad they added support for it.

Oh, and the Xbox Originals take anywhere from 1GB to 4GB of space. Fuzion Frenzy is around 1GB while others like Psychonaughts and I think Fable reach around 4GB. Although why does it look like it's the original version of Fable? Why not The Lost Chapters?

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