Thinking about buying an Xbox 360

[Racer]

I'm thinking about braving the Black Friday crowd and buying an Xbox 360. Here are the two deals that caught my eye. I found out about these deals off one of the black Friday website.

1. Circuit City: Xbox 360 Pro System w/ Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Forza Motorsport 2, and 2nd FREE Wireless Controller. - $350

Getting a 2nd wireless controller for free would be pretty sweet and Marvel Ultimate Alliance seems like it would be a fun game to play although not a game I would likely buy if it wasn't included. From the ign review, it seems Forza is similar to Gran Turismo. Is that the case? Gran Turismo 3 is a game I bought that I was never able to get into. Also, besides Mario Kart, I've never found racing games that fun. I guess I could always trade this game in at my local gamestop.


2. Best Buy: Xbox 360 Premium System w/ Free Guitar Hero 2 Game & Guitar Hero 2 Guitar - $350

I've played Guitar Hero a few times before. While it is a very fun game, my wrists always start to hurt after about 15-20 minutes. For anyone else who has ever played this before, is this something that goes away if you play it often enough? Also, are most Xbox 360 systems in the store at this point the new ones with the 65-nm CPUs? I'm a bit worried I could end up with a system that doesn't include the 65-nm CPU if I go were to go this route.


If I knew I was definitely getting a system with the 65-nm CPU and the wrist problem is something that goes away if you play it enough, I'd lean towards choosing choice number 2. However, if there's any doubt, I'd definitely choose choice number 1.

[MrBug708]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=61713

Good info here

[Tigercat]

If you don't mind the rebates FYE has the 2 game 360 for the usual price(350) and if you buy 2 games from a list (a list of good games, not a crap list) you get a 50 dollar rebate. So a 360 + 4 games for 419 after rebate deal.

[rjolley]

Racer: I'm have the same dilema. I'm leaning towards the Best Buy deal because I don't have to go out early to get it. I think it's good from Thursday to Saturday or Sunday.

[Racer]

Well I checked in with my local gamestop. Forza 2's trade-in value is only about $8. :(

[Logan]

I'd imagine you could get a decent amount for the guitar package if you sold it.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Well I checked in with my local gamestop. Forza 2's trade-in value is only about $8. :(

eBay is a much better option for any game sales.

[Racer]

Racer: I'm have the same dilema. I'm leaning towards the Best Buy deal because I don't have to go out early to get it. I think it's good from Thursday to Saturday or Sunday.

They both are apparently Friday-Saturday specials (maybe Sunday too). You don't have to wake up early to get either deal.

[Racer]

I'm holding out a little hope that I can actually buy the Arcade version off of Amazon for $99 since I voted for it and it appears that every system is being sold at the winning price (which is weird because earlier today it listed the sale price at $199 which isn't all that great since I want the 20 BG HDD and component cables.)

[JonInMiddleGA]

I noticed this thread with significant interest, as my son has pretty much said "well, other than the 360, there really isn't anything else I want". And the truth is, he's not really kidding. Pretty much anything that interests him enough to be a Christmas present he's already got, with the exception of new titles that are mostly still available for PS2.

But I'm still wrestling with this a whole bunch because (after re-reading the other thread referenced earlier):

1) I don't anticipate any of his consoles being hooked to a HDTV any time soon. Hell, we don't even have one yet for just TV viewing, not likely at all that even if one appears here that it'll be used for his gaming.

2) I have serious price point reluctance on PS3 and 360. Add the higher cost of the games X number of titles per year, and I'm even more reluctant.

3) RROD concerns make me even more hesitant.

4) In case it matters, he's mostly a sports gamer with a few FPS thrown in, along with all the GH's. And I've already discussed what I think about the price point for RockBand, so we don't even need to go down that road again.

This is major suckitude situation as a parent.

edit to add: Oh crap, I forgot to ask what I actually wanted to know. Could someone explain to me about the different hard disk sizes with the 360s? I know (?) that there's like a 20GB version (Pro/Premium) and a 120GB version for about $100 more. What I don't know is how the hell much storage space someone actually needs, nor what determines how you figure that out? (number of games? number of saves? something else?)

[spleen1015]

I noticed this thread with significant interest, as my son has pretty much said "well, other than the 360, there really isn't anything else I want". And the truth is, he's not really kidding. Pretty much anything that interests him enough to be a Christmas present he's already got, with the exception of new titles that are mostly still available for PS2.

But I'm still wrestling with this a whole bunch because (after re-reading the other thread referenced earlier):

1) I don't anticipate any of his consoles being hooked to a HDTV any time soon. Hell, we don't even have one yet for just TV viewing, not likely at all that even if one appears here that it'll be used for his gaming.

2) I have serious price point reluctance on PS3 and 360. Add the higher cost of the games X number of titles per year, and I'm even more reluctant.

3) RROD concerns make me even more hesitant.

4) In case it matters, he's mostly a sports gamer with a few FPS thrown in, along with all the GH's. And I've already discussed what I think about the price point for RockBand, so we don't even need to go down that road again.

This is major suckitude situation as a parent.

edit to add: Oh crap, I forgot to ask what I actually wanted to know. Could someone explain to me about the different hard disk sizes with the 360s? I know (?) that there's like a 20GB version (Pro/Premium) and a 120GB version for about $100 more. What I don't know is how the hell much storage space someone actually needs, nor what determines how you figure that out? (number of games? number of saves? something else?)

I've had the 20GB HDD since launch and never have come close to filling.

[Calis]

I've had the 20GB HDD since launch and never have come close to filling.

Yeah, there's absolute no need for more than 20 gig of storage space for someone gaming on it. If you plan on using it as a media center as well then I'd consider the bigger HD, but I've always used the 20 gig.

[Eaglesfan27]

I'll third the 20 GB as more than sufficient. The only reason that you might want to get the model with the bigger harddrive is that IPTV (DVR type function) will be available with the fall update which is likely being released in early December. However, unless you want him to be able to use it as a DVR type device, you don't need more than the 20 GB model. Also, the 20 GB model for 349 comes with 2 games which at least makes it a bit more palpitable from a pricing standpoint. Also, I played mine on a SDTV for about 9 months and it didn't decrease my enjoyment at all. The sports games are still going to play differently (and better in the case of games like College Hoops and NBA 2k8) than the PS2/Xbox versions.

[dawgfan]

I'll reiterate that hard drive space is a non-issue on the 360 if you have no interest in using it as a DVR - the 20 GB version is plenty sufficient for games.

As for the RROD issue, most of the supply of hardware in the retail channels now should be updated hardware that addresses this issue. And while it would certainly suck if you did encounter RROD, MS does have the 3-year warranty for RROD issues.

For sports and FPS games, the 360 is a great system to have - certainly the best one at this point, and likely for the foreseeable future.

[dawgfan]

Dola - if you get one, make sure you keep it in a well-ventilated location and away from major heat sources. You want that sucker to be able to cool itself off without having to fight other heat sources.

[Racer]

I ended up getting the Holiday bundle off of buy.com for $340 ($10 off for new users, free shipping, and no sales tax). The Best Buy bundle was with the consoles that don't have the new chips and the Circuit City I went to was sold out. Circuitcity.com is also out of stock.

[wade moore]

I ended up getting the Holiday bundle off of buy.com for $340 ($10 off for new users, free shipping, and no sales tax). The Best Buy bundle was with the consoles that don't have the new chips and the Circuit City I went to was sold out. Circuitcity.com is also out of stock.
Circuit City allows me to add it to the cart..

How do I know if it is the old chips or the new chips?

[Racer]

Circuit City allows me to add it to the cart..

How do I know if it is the old chips or the new chips?

Circuit City allowed me to add it to the cart yesterday but got an error while I was trying to checkout and then said they were out of stock. Here is a link to an article that ign.com wrote about it which basically says that any system built after August 24th, 2007 should have the new chips. I guess it is impossible to know for sure if you order it online but I imagine the new holiday bundles would have been built after that time.

http://gear.ign.com/articles/824/824183p1.html


Here is what wikipedia says


The Xbox 360, commonly called the Premium or Pro, priced at US$349.99, includes all the features of the Xbox 360 Core, but includes a hybrid composite and component cable with optional optical out instead of a composite cable. The Xbox 360 also includes a detachable 20 GB Hard Disc Drive to store Xbox Live Arcade games, game demos, Xbox LIVE Marketplace TV and Movies, provide compatibility with original Xbox games and store game data. The included hard drive comes preloaded with game demos, video clips and a free Live Arcade game, Hexic HD. In July 2007, this version of the Xbox 360 began appearing with the Zephyr motherboard (the motherboard used in the Elite) which features HDMI 1.2 output and an improved GPU heatsink. The Premium package, which does include the HDMI 1.2 output, does not come with the HDMI 1.2 cables.[21] The console's packaging displays the HDMI logo to reflect this addition.[22] Starting at the end of September, the newest systems were shipped with the new 65-nm CPUs, making them quieter and cooler than the older systems.[23] Holiday 2007 consoles, with packaging labeled "Go Pro", are bundled with Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Forza Motorsport 2.


The sales person I asked at each Best Buy store said the consoles being bundled didn't have HDMI output or the new motherboard so that means they couldn't have included the new chip since that design change came after those two design changes.

[samifan24]

Wal-Mart is offering the following bundle (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8086958) for $399 online tomorrow:

- X-Box 360 Pro
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance
- Forza 2
- 2nd Wireless Controller
- Messenger Bag
- Game of your Choice (includes Halo 3, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, more)

[TazFTW]

Wal-Mart is offering the following bundle (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8086958) for $399 online tomorrow:

- X-Box 360 Pro
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance
- Forza 2
- 2nd Wireless Controller
- Messenger Bag
- Game of your Choice (includes Halo 3, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, more)

Urge to buy growing.......

[Neuqua]

Wow, that is quite the offer. If I did not already get one at a great price, I would be all over it.

[wade moore]

Wal-Mart is offering the following bundle (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=8086958) for $399 online tomorrow:

- X-Box 360 Pro
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance
- Forza 2
- 2nd Wireless Controller
- Messenger Bag
- Game of your Choice (includes Halo 3, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed, more)

I ended up going to Circuit City while in Knoxville for Thanksgiving and got the Pro w/ a 2nd controller for $349.. just checked and I'm 100% certain it is the Falcon and not the Zephyr, so I'm happy with it.. really, it's basically the same as the deal above except with the deal above you get a messenger bag (nice, but not a necessity - although knowing me I'll want a bag of some kind) since the value of a game is $60.. plus, no way to guarantee it's a Falcon or even check for it...

[rjolley]

Man, I bought a 360 at Best Buy yesterday and would return it to get that pack. A wireless controller and a game for $50 more than what I paid.

[rjolley]

Hmmmm, called Best Buy and they said they'd price match if the deal is available. Just checked Walmart's site and they're out of stock. Since I have to go to BestBuy anyway, I may try to see if they'll match it. If not, I'll wait a bit to see if another deal comes along that would be a good match. Or, maybe I'll just play the damn thing. Who knows...