I'm a gamer and I love all types of technology. Going to University next year to study Computer Game...
I'm a gamer and I love all types of technology. Going to University next year to study Computer Games Technology!
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XBOX 360
Gaming for everyone is here
A review for the Xbox 360, or any game console for that matter, can never act as a substitute for your own personal tastes in gaming. The video game industry is constantly changing, and there are so many different aspects to each console, that a lot of us just can't decide which one to purchase. I hope that with my review, I can at least inform you about the world surrounding the Xbox 360 and how it could be the console for you.
History
The Xbox 360 was revealed to the world on May 12th 2005 on MTV and was released on November 22nd 2005. It is the second video game console from Microsoft and acts as one of the three consoles that are competing within the seventh generation of video game consoles. It was the first to launch of the next generation, ahead of the Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3, allowing Microsoft to try and obtain some of the vital market that had been dominated by the Playstation 2. The launch was considered to be one of the greatest in history, with games such as Project Gotham Racing 3, Call of Duty 2 and Perfect Dark Zero accompanying the console on the first day of release. A revamped Xbox Live service was created, as well as an improved Xbox Live Arcade that was integrated in to the dashboard.
Xbox 360 Technical Specifications
This information has been taken from xbox.com
Memory
512 MB of 700 MHz GDDR3 RAM Unified memory architecture
Storage
Detachable and upgradeable 20-GB hard drive 12x dual-layer DVD-ROM Memory Unit support starting at 64 MB
I/O
Support for up to four wireless game controllers Three USB 2.0 ports Two memory unit slots
Optimized for Online
Instant, out-of-the-box access to Xbox Live features with broadband service, including Xbox Live Marketplace for downloadable content, gamer profile for digital identity, and voice chat to talk to friends while playing games, watching movies, or listening to music Built-in Ethernet port Wi-Fi ready: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g Video camera–ready
Support for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD Ability to stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras, and Windows XP-based PCs Ability to rip music to the Xbox 360 Hard Drive Custom playlists in every game Built-in Media Center Extender for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 Interactive, full-screen 3-D visualizers
High-Definition Game Support
All games supported at 16:9, 720p, 1080i and 1080p, with anti-aliasing Standard-definition and high-definition video output supported
There are more technical specifications provided by xbox.com, but I felt that these were the most important ones for consumers to be aware of.
Xbox 360 Games
It is widely considered that one of the reasons why the console has been so successful is because of
it's vast game library. There are currently hundreds of vidoe games available for the Xbox 360, with Microsoft promising over 1000 by the end of the year.
A select list of exclusives/console exclusives currently available:
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Dead Or Alive 4 Viva Pinata Halo 3 Crackdown Lips Gears of War Fable 2 Ninja Gaiden 2 Forza Motorsport 2 Halo Wars Blue Dragon Mass Effect
Xbox 360 top ten sellers:
Halo 3 Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare Grand Theft Auto IV Gears of War Call of Duty World at War Gears of War 2 Assassins Creed Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Forza Motorsport 2 Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
A select list of future exclusives/console exclusives:
Mass Effect 2 Halo 3: ODST Alan Wake Splinter Cell Conviction Halo Reach Crackdown 2 Fable 3
My personal favourite game on the Xbox 360 is Mass Effect. The proficient graphics and sound combined with a fantastic story not only make it one of the best games on the system, but truly one of the greatest RPGs to grace the industry. Another favourite of mine is Halo 3. The conclusion wrapped up the story arc perfectly, and it sent chills up my spine every time I heard the classic soundtrack. In my opinion, Halo 3 also has one of the best online experiences the console has to offer. There are various gametypes that allow players to experiment with the game, offering a different experience every time. I currently own over 50 games for my Xbox 360. I believe that the console offers games that are suitable for everyone, with most games allowing suitablity for younger children, as well as enough depth for hardcore players. The best example is Viva Pinata. On the surface, the game appears to cater just for younger consumers, but as I spent time with the game, I found that the depth included is staggering. The world you inhabit is beautiful, allowing players to become truly involved with the pinatas you have to look after. The video games available on the console are dominated by hardcore titles, but over the past couple of years, Microsoft has attempted to appeal to both casual and hardcore audiences.
Xbox Live
This is another factor that many people believe has helped shaped Microsoft's success within the video game industry. The service has transformed tremendously over the years, offering consumers with an opportunity to connect with their friends and millions of people across the world. The service now boasts over 20 million members thats spans over 27 countries. Xbox Live was recently awarded with a Guinness World Record for bceoming 'The Most Popular Online Console Gaming Service'.There are two different subscriptions, Xbox Live Gold, and Xbox Live Silver. The Xbox Live Silver subscription is free and is given to everyone who connect their Xbox 360 to the Internet. However, the free service does have limited features. Xbox Live Gold on the other hand, is a paid for subscription. There are three different pricing subscriptions:
1 month - £4.99
3 months - £14.99
12 months - £39.99
Xbox Live Gold allows users to play online with friends and others across the world. Other features which have been annoucned for the future will be exclusive to Gold members.A select list of current features of Xbox Live:
Achievements - awarded to players when a certain goal has been achieved within a game. A total score is shown on the player's gamercard.
Friends List - a list that shows the user's friends and what they are playing.
Windows Live Messenger - allows users to chat to their friends that are signed in to Windows Live Messenger.
Xbox Live Marketplace - demos, game content (add-ons, maps, costumes etc), movies.
Voice/Video chat
Multiplayer Gaming
Inside Xbox - an integrated section that provides up to date news, tips, and interviews surrounding the world of Xbox 360.
Avatar Marketplace - clothes and accessories and be purchased for your avatar.
Games on Demand - a select amount of Xbox 360 games that be purchased and downloaded over Xbox Live. Games such as Assassins Creed and Bioshock are available.
A select list of future features for Xbox Live:
Sky TV - will allow users to access the service via the Xbox 360 to view live tv.
Facebook/Twitter - these two social networking sites will be integrated in to the console's dashboard, allowing users to access their profiles and navigate the site just like they would on a PC.
Instanst 1080p movies - users will be able to stream movies without downloading them, at High Definition quality.
Last.fm - users will be able to stream music and radio to the Xbox 360.
The service also offers a Parental Control feature, so if you're thinking of purchasing an Xbox 360 for your children and you are worried about them meeting certain people on Xbox Live, you are able to restrict their behaviour and who they can talk to.
In my opinion, I think that the service is well worth the money, as the service is improving constantly, allowing me to be connected to a world of gamers who just want to enjoy games and have fun. In comparison, both the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii offer free online services. While they aren't bad services, I do believe they are weak when compared to Xbox Live. The integrated features and the reliablity of the service ensures that it is the best online service available. If you are anxious about spending money on a service that you have never tried, but you are eager to try it, then fear not, as all new customers who purchase an Xbox 360 and connect it to the Internet are given one month free to try out Xbox Live Gold.
Xbox Live Arcade
This feature is something that Mircosoft must be truly proud of. The service offers users with over 200 games that are smaller in size and price to full retail games. However, they are by no means less fun. Many are re-released classics, such as Sonic, Street Figher etc. The majority of them however, are orignal games that have shown what Indie developers are capable of. I have purchased around 15 XBLA titles and I feel that some of them are even better than full retail games! My most recent purchase from the service, Shadow Complex, is a truly wondeful game. The graphics are powered by the same engine that was used for Gears of War, and the visual quality compares to some blockbuster games priced three times as much. The gameplay clearly takes inspiration from classic games such as Metorid. If you do decided to invest in an Xbox 360, then I would recommened checking out XBLA as there are some real gems. If you're a fan of old classic games, then you'll be in nostalgia heaven!
Xbox 360 Design
The design of the console is vastly different to that of the original Xbox console. The Xbox 360 looks sleek, sophisticated and fresh. The curved shape of the console implies the Xbox 360 is more 'human' than other consoles, allowing the stereotypical view of gamers to be broken. In fact, I think that the Xbox 360 started the trend that stopped consoles looking so similiar in design, again breaking the barrier between the casual and the hardcore audiences. The console itself can be positioned either vertically or horizontally. I think that it looks much better when vertical, as it's shape and design can be apprieciated much more. However, the console has known to have problems when placed vertically, which I will explain later.
The controller is also very sleek and looks great when placed next to the console. The original Xbox controller was large and clunky, which turned many people away from the console. The Xbox 360 controller on the other hand is small, smooth and easy to hold. While there are many buttons on the controller, which at times can be confusing, they are all well placed and stand out against the white controller. Many designers have criticised the controller for having too many buttons, with one claiming it looked like "an alien space ship". I disagree, but the controller wouldn't have benefited from having any more.
Xbox 360 Accessories
There are many different accessories for the console, some which will be vital for your gaming experience.
Play and Charge Kit - the controller can be charged up while you are still using it. There is a cable that is attached to your controller and is plugged into a USB port. I find this very useful as you can carry on playing and it takes hardly any time for the controller to charge.
Quick Charge Kit - recharges up to two rechargeable battery packs.
Messenger Kit - a small keypad that is attached to the controller. I use this mainly for sending messages to my friends, as using the controller takes a long time to select letters and numbers.
Media Remote - used to control DVD menus, the dashboard etc.
HD DVD Player - irrelevant now as Blu Ray won the format war. However, these can be picked up for little money, as well as HD DVDs. But I wouldn't recommend you buying one.
Steering wheel - allows control over cars in video games. They can be used with more or less every game, but they were'nt designed for every purpose. I have used mine with Project Gotham Racing 4, Forza Motorsport 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. The wheel is very responsive but I would only recommend you buy one if you are a fan of racing games, as they can be expensive, unless you buy a used one.
Headset - used for talking to people over Xbox Live. They come with every Xbox 360 so you can talk to people straight away. The headset has been used for some games as well, such as Tom Clancy's End War. You can give commands and your army moves across the map, as it recognises your voice.
Prices
There are three different versions of the Xbox 360 to choose from:
* Xbox 360 Arcade - £129.99 - This is essentially the best value for money you will find for any console. However, the console does not come with a hard drive, but is shipped with a 256 MB Memory card. This will eventually lose space rapidly, especially if you're interested in downloading games and movies.
* Xbox 360 Pro - £169.99 - A 60GB hard drive is included.
* Xbox 360 Elite - £229.99 - A 120GB hard drive is included. The console also has a black colour, which does look very cool. The package also comes with a premium HDMi cable.
It has been rumoured that the Pro version will eventually be discontinued, and that the Xbox 360 Elite will take it's place with the Pro's price tag.
Xbox 360 Faults
I think if you're a gamer, then you're probably aware of the Xbox 360's technical faults. If you're not, then let me fill you in. The console has been plagued with various technical problems, but the biggest of them has been the RROD, which stands for 'Red Ring of Death'. This is a fault that is caused by overheating, and that the console will no longer operate unless it is fixed. Another problem that has become widespread is the E74 error, which is similiar to the RROD. While the problems have been vast amongst many people, the number of reported errors have decreased. I can only imagine that many of you are hesitant to buy an Xbox 360 manily due to these problems. This is where the customer support comes in.
Customer Support
Microsoft have only themselves to blame for the faults that the Xbox 360 has been plagued with. They rushed the console to market so they could be the first console in the seventh generation. However, as it became apparent that the problems were severe, Microsoft decided to act. They extended the warranty by three years and from April 14th 2009, the E74 errors are also covered by the warranty. This ensures that if you're console did get a fault, it would be fixed for free, and rightly so. However, it is the older consoles that are more likely to get problems. Microsoft have stated that a console purchased now would be unlikely to get any problems as they have new chipsets/models etc. I have unfortuantely met the RROD error before, back in October 2008. I purchased the console in June 2007. UPS collected my Xbox 360, it was transported to Germany, and I got it back within a week with a free month of Xbox Live Gold. The service was very quick and I was pleased to see that Microsoft was handling the situation well.
The Future
The Xbox 360 has an extremely bright future ahead. Announced at E3 2009, Project Natal, as it has been named, looks to change gaming as we know it. It is a camera that can detect 3D movements, recognises voices and faces and tracks 48 points of a human body. The previews that were shown of the camera revealed that the player does not have to hold any controller at all, but just has to use their body as the controller. While motion technology has been around for years, especially made popular by the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft hope to finally eradicate the stereotypical view of gamers to break the fear of holding a controller. A few games have been shown, such as 'Ricochet', where players have to deflect bouncing balls of their body. When they player moves, the body onscreen moves perfectly, allowing for precise hits. While some people are concerned that Microsoft are going to abandon their hardcore audience, they were quick to state they are going to release both casual and hardcore titles for Project Natal. It is expected to be released in 2010.
Conclusion
What makes a true gaming console? I believe that not only should it have a blockbuster library of video games and a seemless online experience, it should also be an 'all-in-one' device that acts as a media hub allowing us to connect to our friends, family and people all over the world. The Xbox 360 can do these things. While it has had various problems over the years, Microsoft have been quick to look after their customers and to provide them with replacement models as soon as possible. With the lowest price of the next generation consoles, I believe that the Xbox 360 is the true definition of gaming. If you haven't got one yet, what are you waiting for?
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) i don't think their is one unless you wanna save on the electricity bill a tiny percentage. (-) There's really not much point to it. but i still love playstation!
Really good review :) I've not got the XBOX 360 - I love PlayStation 3 but I have had a go on XBOX 360s and have to say they're worthy of your five stars. x
jesi 12.09.2009 01:47
Welcome to CiaoUK! I almost marked you down to H due to the number of lists distracting from your opinion itself
. . . ♥ jes ♥
kevin121 28.08.2009 19:35
Would have to agree, a very good review, although I skimmed over the spec list :)
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with high definition graphics, the 360 Premium Model technical specification makes the Xbox 360 sound as if it is the perfect console station. The Xbox 360 Premium ...
Advantages: Sleek design, intuitive controls. Superb graphics, even on a normal telly. Disadvantages: Will only run certain X-Box 1 games, online play must be paid for.
DoctorNemesis 01.07.2006 (01.07.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Microsoft Xbox 360
Advantages: Potentially good graphics, nice wireless controller Disadvantages: faults with hardware which cause crashing etc, paying to play games online!
adam3112 25.06.2007 (25.06.2007)
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Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Microsoft Xbox 360
Advantages: Brilliant graphics, HDMI Output, Excellent Games Library, Xbox Live Disadvantages: Expensive Games, Xbox Live Fee, Lack of Blu-Ray, Hardware Errors
Advantages: Looks good/Good storage/Great games/Great graphics/can play films and videos/music/lots lots more. Disadvantages: Very expensive accesories, especially the wireless adaptor
Aug 24th, 2009
very helpful by (85%):
helpful by (15%):
