a few questions about the 360

[kennytomson]

-why can you not download rosters yet if there is a hd?
-are there any problems yet to look for, i.e. 'disc read error'?
-outside of cable, wireless control, and hd, is the core basically the same machine?
-are there any problems with the wireless control, battery life etc.?

was holding out for a ps3, but it didn't wow me at e3 outside of the price tag.

[Dondadda]

Re: a few questions about the 360

A few more questions:

- when you buy a Live subscription, does it allow you to play online with both XBOX and XBOX 360, or do you have to pay twice, once for each console's ability to get online?

- do backward compatible games on the 360 play online on Live?

- Does MS maintain its own servers for Live, meaning that it's not the publisher's decision as to when to "turn online off" for an older game (like EA does with its sports games on PS2)?

- How long do you think the original XBOX will receive Live support?

One of the reasons I ask these questions is because I'm a huge NFL 2K5 fan, and since there probably isn't going to be a next-gen 2K football game, I may actually buy both a 360 and an XBOX (or just a 360 if BC games can get on Live on the 360).

Thanks for any answers you can give.

[ODogg]

Re: a few questions about the 360

-why can you not download rosters yet if there is a hd?

You can download rosters on the 360.

-are there any problems yet to look for, i.e. 'disc read error'?

I've not seen disc read errors, the only problem is if you get a bad Xbox 360 but from what I've read the people that have had that have been able to get their system exchanged fairly fast.

-outside of cable, wireless control, and hd, is the core basically the same machine?

I think the only other thing is the premium has the platinum type faceplate which is not really that big a deal IMO.

-are there any problems with the wireless control, battery life etc.?

I've never had any problem at all with mine. I just keep mine charging from my PC USB when i'm not playing it so the thing is always charged anytime I play.

was holding out for a ps3, but it didn't wow me at e3 outside of the price tag.

I can't blame you. I was going to buy a PS3 as well because of a few games but now i may hold off until it goes down in price somewhere down the road.

[ODogg]

Re: a few questions about the 360

A few more questions:

- when you buy a Live subscription, does it allow you to play online with both XBOX and XBOX 360, or do you have to pay twice, once for each console's ability to get online?

No your subscription works for both systems just fine.

- do backward compatible games on the 360 play online on Live?

Yep, they do.

- Does MS maintain its own servers for Live, meaning that it's not the publisher's decision as to when to "turn online off" for an older game (like EA does with its sports games on PS2)?

Yes MS has all it's own servers for Live. So although the 360 hasnt' been around long enough I can't see any games that get older ever ceasing to work in the method you speak of for current gen systems.

- How long do you think the original XBOX will receive Live support?

I'd say this shouldn't be a big issue as it's probably going to be a long time since MS has xbox and xbox 360 both working just fine with the same servers.

One of the reasons I ask these questions is because I'm a huge NFL 2K5 fan, and since there probably isn't going to be a next-gen 2K football game, I may actually buy both a 360 and an XBOX (or just a 360 if BC games can get on Live on the 360).

I don't think NFL2K5 is backwards compatible but not sure, may want to ask in the NFL2K5 forum. However if it is then you can play it on Xbox Live no problem. Also, just because it's not now doesn't mean it can't be backwards compatible in the future as MS releases updates periodically.

[MachoMyers]

Re: a few questions about the 360

Buddy I just went and bought a 360 10 minutes ago. They had the deal of a lifetime at EB Games in Toronto where they are giving you $100 for the original XBox as long as it is towards a 360 or 360 games.

I used my eb card (which had a $100 on it already) and traded in 5 PS2 games (which gave me an extra $20 with the trade in deal they are having, I even managed to sell 3 other PS2 fighting games to a kid outside the store for $40) and ended up only paying $300 CDN for the 360 Premium and GRAW.

Its good to have it, now I just have to help the inlaws move....Yikes.

PS. Can the 360 stand horizontially or vertically or both? I'm all worried about setting it up the wrong way.

[ODogg]

Re: a few questions about the 360

Buddy I just went and bought a 360 10 minutes ago. They had the deal of a lifetime at EB Games in Toronto where they are giving you $100 for the original XBox as long as it is towards a 360 or 360 games.

I used my eb card (which had a $100 on it already) and traded in 5 PS2 games (which gave me an extra $20 with the trade in deal they are having, I even managed to sell 3 other PS2 fighting games to a kid outside the store for $40) and ended up only paying $300 CDN for the 360 Premium and GRAW.

Its good to have it, now I just have to help the inlaws move....Yikes.

PS. Can the 360 stand horizontially or vertically or both? I'm all worried about setting it up the wrong way.

both

[Rback21]

Re: a few questions about the 360

both

Just don't move the system while it's on...

[Kashanova]

Re: a few questions about the 360

Buddy I just went and bought a 360 10 minutes ago. They had the deal of a lifetime at EB Games in Toronto where they are giving you $100 for the original XBox as long as it is towards a 360 or 360 games.

I used my eb card (which had a $100 on it already) and traded in 5 PS2 games (which gave me an extra $20 with the trade in deal they are having, I even managed to sell 3 other PS2 fighting games to a kid outside the store for $40) and ended up only paying $300 CDN for the 360 Premium and GRAW.

Its good to have it, now I just have to help the inlaws move....Yikes.

PS. Can the 360 stand horizontially or vertically or both? I'm all worried about setting it up the wrong way.

nice deal welcome to the 360 side

[kennytomson]

Re: a few questions about the 360

i'm thinking if i get the wireless controls, where does this go, and could someone post a picture of what it looks like when attached?

http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802125

[dubplate]

Re: a few questions about the 360

i'm thinking if i get the wireless controls, where does this go, and could someone post a picture of what it looks like when attached?

http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802125

It plugs into a USB port. I just got some rechargeable batteries at Radio Shackv instead of that. I love my 360 so far. I'm not a huge RPG fan but Oblivion has me blown away.

[Fiddy]

Re: a few questions about the 360

PS. Can the 360 stand horizontially or vertically or both? I'm all worried about setting it up the wrong way.

well the first 3 360's i had were faulty and i always had it standing verticaly, but when i got my 4th 360 and layed it horizontially i have yet to have a problem. maybe it was just luck or something lol but i feel more comfortable with it laying down.

[Dondadda]

Re: a few questions about the 360

Thanks, ODogg.


Those answers just seriously slanted me more towards the 360. I would like to continue to play NFL 2K5 online, and this seems like the way to do it (once it's BC, which I don't think it is just yet . . . supposedly it's in the works, though).

[CaptainZombie]

Re: a few questions about the 360

-why can you not download rosters yet if there is a hd?

-Yes, you can download rosters for 360 games that have been officially released by the developer of that game. There is an option within each online enabled game where you login to their servers and then depending on how the game is setup, you can download the latest rosters to use online + save to your HDD for offline play.

Also, Datel has released the Transfer Kit which costs $15 + you need to buy a $40 memory card which will allow you to download customized rosters off of the net from sites like OS where we have a thriving community that loves to create roster files for games. This will allow you to transfer files to the PC, onto the memory card, and then onto the 360.

-are there any problems yet to look for, i.e. 'disc read error'?

Nope. The first batch of systems during the launch window and even going into January some people had problems with systems overheating and the red lights of death issue. Other than that no new reports of people having problems have creeped up. I also recommend buying a 2 yr warranty from MS or the game store that you are going to buy this from.

-outside of cable, wireless control, and hd, is the core basically the same machine?

The “Core” and the “Premium” are the same machines, except for $100 more you are getting a bargain. With the “Premium” you are getting the,
-HDD ($100)
-Component Cables (HDTV) ($40)
-Headset ($20)
-Wireless Controller ($10)

Technically if you were to buy the “Core” and add this stuff on you would be spending $170. By spending $400, you are saving $70 in the long run. IMO, the "Premium" system is the way to go. You will never look back.

are there any problems with the wireless control, battery life etc.?

I never had a problem with this at all. The wireless controllers are great and you will never want to go back to wired controllers. Logitech perfected the wireless controllers for gaming and Nintendo took it one step further with the “Wavebird” which helked launch this wireless controller revolution.

was holding out for a ps3, but it didn't wow me at e3 outside of the price tag.

I feel the same way, it’s too much money.

A few more questions:

- when you buy a Live subscription, does it allow you to play online with both XBOX and XBOX 360, or do you have to pay twice, once for each console's ability to get online?

There is a way to recover your gamertag on the XBOX and ViceVersa. I haven’t tried it yet on my XBOX, but it works. You will love XBOX Live for the 360.

- do backward compatible games on the 360 play online on Live?

Yes they do.

- Does MS maintain its own servers for Live, meaning that it's not the publisher's decision as to when to "turn online off" for an older game (like EA does with its sports games on PS2)?

Yes, MS has their own servers that’s why were being charged the $50 a yr subscription so they could put the money towards the infrastructure and to fill their pockets.

- How long do you think the original XBOX will receive Live support?
One of the reasons I ask these questions is because I'm a huge NFL 2K5 fan, and since there probably isn't going to be a next-gen 2K football game, I may actually buy both a 360 and an XBOX (or just a 360 if BC games can get on Live on the 360).

I think that the XBOX will receive LIVE support for a few more years until the 360 can get completely off the ground. BC is kind of stagnant right now on the 360 because it runs off of software emulation and not hardware emulation. That is one reason as to why it’s best to hold on to the XBOX1 or buy another one if you have the funds.

I'm still playing the hell out of my XBOX + picking up older games I never had the chance to play before for cheap.

Good choice if you go with the 360 for both you guys.

[Heelfan71]

Re: a few questions about the 360

I prefer the play and charge kit over the batteries. You can plug it up to your 360 with the usb to charge or even plug it up to your usb port on your compouter. I have 2 controllers and have one charging all the time while I am using the other one. They last a long time too. Seems like mine lasts a week or two on a charge.

[kennytomson]

Re: a few questions about the 360

what does the disc trey look like when ejected? does the disc simply lay down like the first ps2? ps2 had the disc read error because no 'lock into place', and didn't xbox have some issues with this as well? i'm wondering if this can happen with the 360.