The Energon Pub

Just wondering if someone could give me some info on the Xbox. I don't have an HD TV, but I do have a pretty decent Philips TV with S-video hookup. Also, I know that Xbox's can come with different amounts of memory—any recommendations on which one to get; or any other recommendations about the 360 or things I need to know? Thanks.

I got an Xbox 360 about a month ago and didn't look back.

For the longest time I was considering a PS3 and only a PS3, but the PS3 didn't really offer enough. If you're not concerned about BluRay (which the PS3 has), then I'd go with the Xbox 360.

The only thing you have to worry about is the Ring of Death, and that's rarer in the 360 than the regular one. The small writing (as in not having an HDTV) is annoying, but I've got probably the smallest of TVs that's still in regular use nowadays and I cope. Don't know about a Phillips TV, though.

I'd suggest getting the 60 gig one. You don't want the arcade one (which is the cheapest one) because that has no HD, only a 256 meg memory chip. And I asked the guy at the game store about getting the 120 gig one and he said don't bother. Unless you're a hardcore gamer or you're planning on putting a lot of media on it, the 60 gig one is fine.

Not that I'm an expert on these matters. This is actually the first system I've bought and the first one I've owned since the PS2 (I inherited that one, so I didn't have to think much about it). But this is what I've learned.

I opened a thread about this not long ago. I'll see if I can dig up a link. It has some more info for you.

Edit: And here it is. viewtopic.php?f=28&t=48097

This is my advice: get an Xbox 360 Elite (the black one). You will pay more up front $400 (USA) but the Red Ring of Death (or RRoD) is said almost non-existant in this model. You also get the 120 GB hard disk if you plan to join XBLE believe me you will need the space there is a lot of great stuff on XBLE if you join you get the software to play 360 games off of the HD (but you need about 5-7 gigs per game so you see why getting 120 Gig HD is worth it) and HDMI port.

Cyberstrike, all of the newest 360's are shipping with Jasper chipsets. The Elite is no longer less prone to 3RLOD. Also, NXE is mandatory in my opinion, but 60 GB is more than enough space for installing games. Also, all 360's now include an HDMI port.

Go with the premium.

Thanks for the info d00ds! Looks like I've got a little bit of research to do since the 360 has a few differnt options.

Hope it's OK with the mods that I bumped my old thread. Decided over the weekend it was time for me to get into the next generation of gaming (yes, I know I'm late). And so after some research and a few tips from you guys, I picked up an Xbox 360 today. Just got the 60GB one; also picked up the new ROTF game—so I'm pumped for this weekend!

Anyway, since I am a little late getting a new platform, any games or advice on Xbox Live you guys recommend is appreciated. I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up the new Ghostbusters game as well as Batman Arkham Asylum.

If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead. If you like FPS and RPG games then get Fallout 3.

devil prime wrote:If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead. If you like FPS and RPG games then get Fallout 3.

I've been hearing a lot of people talking about Fallout in the Game Progress thread. I do like RPGs so I'll definitely look into it. Thanks!

8 bit wrote:Hope it's OK with the mods that I bumped my old thread.

I never saw a problem with using an old thread. I've seen people being chided for necro-bumping (is that the word?) when they genuinely had something to add, which makes no sense when we also chide people for opening a thread when we're also encouraged to use the search function to find out if one exists. Damned if you, damned if you don't.

Anyway, advice on games? Here are some do's (my taste, but, hey... you asked ). Most of these are oldies, so you can find them in bargain bins, but they're goodies. Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Rock Band (I'm told to buy the Rock Band 2 set and get the Rock Band 1 disc rather than the other way around--sturdier instruments), Dead Rising, The Orange Box (mainly for Portal). Also, Dead Space looks good, but I haven't tried it yet. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is good, but a little repetitive.

Some don'ts: Vampire Rain, Brute Force. Just... just stay away. Lost: Via Domus is okay, but really very mediocre. It's been done better, but if you watch the show, then... hey... a story is a story even if you have to play it yourself. Also Guitar Hero. I say this not because it's a bad game (it's really quite good), but you get the whole package with Rock Band (ignoring Guitar Hero: World Tour, which I haven't been able to play yet).

Me, Grimlock! wrote:The Orange Box (mainly for Portal)

devil prime wrote:If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead.

No, for any of Valve's games, go PC. With Valve, the console version is essentially a port, the PC version is the real one. For example, the 360 version of TF2 still hasn't gotten the class updates.

Shadowman wrote:

Me, Grimlock! wrote:The Orange Box (mainly for Portal)

devil prime wrote:If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead.

No, for any of Valve's games, go PC. With Valve, the console version is essentially a port, the PC version is the real one. For example, the 360 version of TF2 still hasn't gotten the class updates.

Well I can't afford a good gaming pc, so I have to buy their games for the Xbox 360.

devil prime wrote:

Shadowman wrote:

Me, Grimlock! wrote:The Orange Box (mainly for Portal)

devil prime wrote:If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead.

No, for any of Valve's games, go PC. With Valve, the console version is essentially a port, the PC version is the real one. For example, the 360 version of TF2 still hasn't gotten the class updates.

Well I can't afford a good gaming pc, so I have to buy their games for the Xbox 360.

What do you need a gaming PC for? This is Valve we're talking about here. Almost anyone can run their minimum requirements.

8 bit wrote:

devil prime wrote:If you like to play co-op games online then get Left 4 Dead. If you like FPS and RPG games then get Fallout 3.

I've been hearing a lot of people talking about Fallout in the Game Progress thread. I do like RPGs so I'll definitely look into it. Thanks!

If you can I would wait on fallout I think there is a goty edition comming out in the fall with all the dlc in it like oblivion did.

Unless you feel like replacing your console every year get a PS3. Ive gone through 3 360s in less then 3 years. Each red ringed. Friend has gone through 2 in 2 years and another 4 in 3. I could go on. And i find the new update is real glitchy. If you can afford it get a PS3, Much better console, bluray, and Metal Gear Solid 4. if your hellbent to get a 360 get an elite with a 120gb HDD. Make sure you get the extended warranty. Also theres a PS3 slim coming out soon so that means price drop. So if you can wait get that.

Me, Grimlock! wrote:Anyway, advice on games? Here are some do's (my taste, but, hey... you asked ). Most of these are oldies, so you can find them in bargain bins, but they're goodies. Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Rock Band (I'm told to buy the Rock Band 2 set and get the Rock Band 1 disc rather than the other way around--sturdier instruments), Dead Rising, The Orange Box (mainly for Portal).

Dead Rising and Left 4 Dead are the two zombie games I'm looking forward to trying. I'm also pretty pumped about the Arcade downloads like the new Turtles in Time.

Symbiote Spiderman14 wrote:If you can I would wait on fallout I think there is a goty edition comming out in the fall with all the dlc in it like oblivion did.

I'd have to wait on this anyway since it's an RPG title. Now that I've been thinking about it a little, I probably won't have a lot of time on my hands to dive into a complex game—I'll just have an hour or two here and there during study breaks as I'm still in college.

Megatron Wolf wrote:Unless you feel like replacing your console every year get a PS3. Ive gone through 3 360s in less then 3 years. Each red ringed. Friend has gone through 2 in 2 years and another 4 in 3. I could go on. And i find the new update is real glitchy.

I've heard a lot about the red ring and it honestly scares me a little. Is it something that still happens a lot? Do I really need to have extended warranty while owning an Xbox? I usually don't worry about warranties because I take good care of my stuff. Heck, I've had my SNES since '92 and it still works like a charm.

So it's the randomness of the red ring has me a little worried—sounds like it happens irregardless of whether or not you take good care of your Xbox.

In the earlier releases of the console that was true. The units would at random give you the three red light error. However as the life of the console has gone on and Microsoft have started using better chipsets, the error has all but disappeared. The new Jasper chips they're using have a failure rate of somewhere in the .08 range. Which is quite impressive. Not to mention Microsoft has a 3 year extended warranty on all of their consoles for the 3 Red Light and E74 errors. It's not as if they're leaving you out in the cold if your system dies.

Regardless, I say skip the first Left 4 Dead as the new one is coming out at the end of the year. Same with Dead Rising 2. For multiplayer I would suggest Call of Duty 4 and to a lesser extent, World at War. That is if you're getting Live Gold. If you or if you don't, send me a friend request anyway to TheIVIuffin. That's a capital i, capital v and another capital i.

I had my 360 since 06 and it finally red ringed on me last month but it was still under the 3 year warranty for it. Since I have it back it runs quieter than it has ever had.

TheMuffin wrote:Regardless, I say skip the first Left 4 Dead as the new one is coming out at the end of the year. Same with Dead Rising 2.

Left 4 Dead is coming out with a new edition? What's being added? I heard that the game isn't great for single-player.

As for Dead Rising 2, it'll take a long time to skip until the second version since the first is coming out in 2010.

Me, Grimlock! wrote:Left 4 Dead is coming out with a new edition? What's being added? I heard that the game isn't great for single-player.

New campaigns, new weapons, new characters, new infected, changes to gameplay mechanics (Specifically the Director). It's not a new edition, it's a full-on sequel.

Me, Grimlock! wrote:

TheMuffin wrote:Regardless, I say skip the first Left 4 Dead as the new one is coming out at the end of the year. Same with Dead Rising 2.

Left 4 Dead is coming out with a new edition? What's being added? I heard that the game isn't great for single-player.

As for Dead Rising 2, it'll take a long time to skip until the second version since the first is coming out in 2010.

The new L4D is coming out at the end of the year. 4 new survivors and it's set in New Orleans. New ammo types are included, infected can be killed in many different ways as the procedural damage has been upped (you can now blow chunks off them), day stages and the inclusion of melee weapons like an axe and frying pan.

I'm not sure what you mean about Dead Rising 2 being a long way off since the first isn't releasing till next year... The first Dead Rising came out all the way back in 2006.

TheMuffin wrote:In the earlier releases of the console that was true. The units would at random give you the three red light error. However as the life of the console has gone on and Microsoft have started using better chipsets, the error has all but disappeared. The new Jasper chips they're using have a failure rate of somewhere in the .08 range. Which is quite impressive. Not to mention Microsoft has a 3 year extended warranty on all of their consoles for the 3 Red Light and E74 errors. It's not as if they're leaving you out in the cold if your system dies.

Good to know!

TheMuffin wrote:If you or if you don't, send me a friend request anyway to TheIVIuffin. That's a capital i, capital v and another capital i.

Thanks! I'll do that once I my Xbox Live account set up and all that. I was hoping to get that accomplished this weekend, but I think I'm gonna order my Xbox wireless internet adaptor online at a cheaper cost instead of paying $100 at Best Buy.

I did get my account set up at Xbox.com: my user is Combusticon (my HMW team name). I'll post this in the Xbox/PS3 Username thread when I finally get online if anyone else is interested in linking up.

BTW, is there a big difference between Gold and Silver memberships?

TheMuffin wrote:I'm not sure what you mean about Dead Rising 2 being a long way off since the first isn't releasing till next year... The first Dead Rising came out all the way back in 2006.

I misunderstood your post. I get it now in hindsight. What I meant by the first coming out next year is the first edition of Dead Rising 2, not the first Dead Rising. If what I said here and in my earlier post doesn't particularly make sense, that's because I was confusing myself earlier.

I have to reccomend you get Bioshock, the Orange Box, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed and Grand Theft Auto 4. Those are all amazing games. I suggest doing some research on each before you buy them though.

Halo 3 is also very cool, But its not for everyone. Same Goes for the Gears of War series.

If you like 8-bit games I know they remade Bionic Commando. I never played it though.

8 bit wrote:

TheMuffin wrote:In the earlier releases of the console that was true. The units would at random give you the three red light error. However as the life of the console has gone on and Microsoft have started using better chipsets, the error has all but disappeared. The new Jasper chips they're using have a failure rate of somewhere in the .08 range. Which is quite impressive. Not to mention Microsoft has a 3 year extended warranty on all of their consoles for the 3 Red Light and E74 errors. It's not as if they're leaving you out in the cold if your system dies.

Good to know!

TheMuffin wrote:If you or if you don't, send me a friend request anyway to TheIVIuffin. That's a capital i, capital v and another capital i.

Thanks! I'll do that once I my Xbox Live account set up and all that. I was hoping to get that accomplished this weekend, but I think I'm gonna order my Xbox wireless internet adaptor online at a cheaper cost instead of paying $100 at Best Buy.

I did get my account set up at Xbox.com: my user is Combusticon (my HMW team name). I'll post this in the Xbox/PS3 Username thread when I finally get online if anyone else is interested in linking up.

BTW, is there a big difference between Gold and Silver memberships?

Gold allows you to play your games online with the 10 million or so other people. It also nets you demo's earlier than silver members. Also allows cross gaming chat with your friends. Oh and Gold members don't have to pay for the MMO version of 1 vs 100 while silver members will have to pay credits to enjoy the game. Netflix/LastFM and possibly Facebook will require it as well for you to pull information. And considering you can now get a year of it for $35, it's kinda hard to pass up.