New XBox Elite

[erickoegle]

MAS, I was just referring to the HDD Accessory that will be available for purchase

Just like this one:

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360harddrive/default.htm

I don't want to start an arguement here, but I wouldn't expect M$ to sell much 120gig HDDs.

[mas]

I don't have a desire to argue with anyone, except to acknowledge the real nature of the market in a radically changing landscape.

I really don't think their goal is to sell many 120 GB HDs (nor that many upgrades). I think they simply 'had' to offer the option as many of the early adopters will be crying if they don't. My only point is that if you are an early adopter, you 'get what you get'. Be happy and don't complain. If you want a different configuration, wait.

Personally I agree with you. I know I wouldn't be ordering one myself. (But I haven't bought a console either for many of the above reasons!)

Oh, and evidently the mod includes more than simply "pushing a button"! It includes having the drive 'locked down' in accordance with their DRM schema as well! And if simply clicking a mouse 32 times (on a Windows box to approve all of the 'protections'(sic)) costs $50 [], then I am surprised installing hardware is not in the $500+ range! Even for a USB key! [][:S]

Just one more reason to do it yourself or not to do it at all via the 'official' way if that aspect is an issue for you.

I think they will expect most folks to buy the new evolutionary model, and there is certainly economic sense to do so at the real expected street prices (target: $399) - and I would also expect that they will continue to upgrade the unit as the market dictates in ways that makes sense to them in a competitive market...(or may, as they are not obliged to upgrade it nor to offer upgrades either!)

It is just one more reason for folks to evaluate if what is currently offered is really what they want a year or two from now, and to make choices intelligently in a rapidly evolving market. If it is, buy!

But if not, I would suggest that folks look to other short term alternatives in the meantime. And there are many caveats to investing right now unless you simply have to have one format or the other now and are prepared to have a product that most likely will have changed in the relatively near term and which may even be orphaned. Just do it with your eyes wide open!

And I don't know about everyone else, but I continue to see many more PS2 commercials than PS3 commercials. Anyone else find that odd?

Oh, and a question for all who have the XBox and the XBox360 or the PS2 and the PS3. Would buying an XBox or PS2 not be a good investment now as the prices have dropped and the games are available at substantially discounted prices now? Wouldn't that be a best buy in this evolving market? I am curious as I have not purchased any of the consoles, as I have used a computer to play a few games.

[el jopez]

^

YES YES and YES

To heck with the evolving market and other crud, you are denying yourself the right to play some of the greatest of games of our time!

On the MS platform, all the Splinter Cell games, Halo series, Riddick, Psychonauts, Call of Cthula, X-Men Legends, and so many more.

PS, you have Final Fantasy. Metal Gear Solid, Shadows of the Colossus, Kingdom of Hearts, GTA, Tekken, Virtua Fighter, God of War, and SO MANY MORE!

Once you truly get past all the tech specs, and the politics of the bussiness, down deep at the core are some great games that I fear with the next gen of gamin, many many kids will never experience because they are looking for to much polish and little substance.

Pong is nothing compared to what has been listed above. I havent yet begun to scratch the surface. Add to the great games out for the new Gen, time is fleeting. Start now where you can.

P.S. Be wary of RPG's, they don't like restrictive schedules.

[mas]

[:|]

Thanks, but I wasn't really looking for a fanboy endorsement of 'buy everything as its the greatest thing in the world' response. [][] (I'ze funnin' with you!)(If you guys have these and love them, I am happy for you! Really! But I am being selfish in this post as I am curious if there is anything that might fit my 'needs' - or should I say, my 'wants'...)

...As I am not going to run out and buy either the XBox360 nor the PS3.

And many of the games you listed are available for PC, if I wanted them.

What I am curious about is what the PS2 or XBox offer as far as UNIQUE games (ones without close equivalents, that someone can't play on a real computer) and how they fare compared to the larger units.

In a game I really don't care if you can see realistic backgrounds or if you can see the pores in someone's skin or not. And I am only interested in 'first person shooters'. I am not going online nor am I into role-playing. (Besides, if you are that into role-playing, it seems like you should spend more time finding the right partner for real world play, and leave the computer alone!) Local team/multi-user participation is fine.

All I care about is accurate physics and an good game with reasonable options and control. In fact, I am quite content with Doom and Quake - except that I can run through them in my sleep. But I will admit that newer more realistic (in terms of options and physics) military sims are actually more fun but only for he ability to actually involve oneself from a thinking and strategy point of view rather than simply conforming to absurd game physics. And unfortunately. too many game 'advances' seem to be more in the realm of more detailed graphics made possible by enhanced GPUs and RAM. Whoopee.

I don't know if this makes any sense, but then maybe you can see why I am not intrigued by most of the games out there.

So I was simply curious if there were any compelling reasons to pick up one of the older less expensive platforms with cheap games for any uniquely good games that you cannot play (or that do not have close equivalents) on PC.

So, I am curious, are there any games that hold up to those criterion that would justify buying a cheaper platform?

{Besides, its much more fun to laugh at all the early adopters crying that a new version has come out and that they have been ripped off by an uncaring faceless mega-corporate monster (sounds like a game doesn't it?), than to buy one and become a frustrated early adopter. ...Just like I am not spending $39.95 for an HD movie that I might watch 1-2 times and which may or may not be viable in 2-5 years time. A wide aspect 720p DVD is fine for me in the video world. ...Besides, except for nature subjects, I have yet to find a movie where the experience is enhanced by the ability to see skin pores or nose hairs!. And even if some one were to mention something silly like porn, I would not be watching for that!}

[]

[erickoegle]

[:|]

Thanks, but I wasn't really looking for a fanboy endorsement of 'buy everything as its the greatest thing in the world' response. [][] (I'ze funnin' with you!)(If you guys have these and love them, I am happy for you! Really! But I am being selfish in this post as I am curious if there is anything that might fit my 'needs' - or should I say, my 'wants'...)

...As I am not going to run out and buy either the XBox360 nor the PS3.

And many of the games you listed are available for PC, if I wanted them.

What I am curious about is what the PS2 or XBox offer as far as UNIQUE games (ones without close equivalents, that someone can't play on a real computer) and how they fare compared to the larger units.

In a game I really don't care if you can see realistic backgrounds or if you can see the pores in someone's skin or not. And I am only interested in 'first person shooters'. I am not going online nor am I into role-playing. (Besides, if you are that into role-playing, it seems like you should spend more time finding the right partner for real world play, and leave the computer alone!) Local team/multi-user participation is fine.

All I care about is accurate physics and an good game with reasonable options and control. In fact, I am quite content with Doom and Quake - except that I can run through them in my sleep. But I will admit that newer more realistic (in terms of options and physics) military sims are actually more fun but only for he ability to actually involve oneself from a thinking and strategy point of view rather than simply conforming to absurd game physics. And unfortunately. too many game 'advances' seem to be more in the realm of more detailed graphics made possible by enhanced GPUs and RAM. Whoopee.

I don't know if this makes any sense, but then maybe you can see why I am not intrigued by most of the games out there.

So I was simply curious if there were any compelling reasons to pick up one of the older less expensive platforms with cheap games for any uniquely good games that you cannot play (or that do not have close equivalents) on PC.

So, I am curious, are there any games that hold up to those criterion that would justify buying a cheaper platform?

Guitar Hero is insanely fun to play. However, I used to be just like you. When everyone was out buying their Xbox360s and PS3s, I was content with my PC games. Until that got boring, counterstrike got old, did not feel like replaying all my other pc games, did not want to attempt WoW. So I purchased a 360. It's fun for me, plus my girlfriend loves playing the arcade games on it. So it works out.

{Besides, its much more fun to laugh at all the early adopters crying that a new version has come out and that they have been ripped off by an uncaring faceless mega-corporate monster (sounds like a game doesn't it?), than to buy one and become a frustrated early adopter. ...Just like I am not spending $39.95 for an HD movie (I don't think anyone pays full price on movies.) that I might watch 1-2 times and which may or may not be viable in 2-5 years time. A wide aspect 720p DVD is fine for me in the video world. ...Besides, except for nature subjects, I have yet to find a movie where the experience is enhanced by the ability to see skin pores or nose hairs!. And even if some one were to mention something silly like porn, I would not be watching for that!}

I could only find one post complaining that a new version has came out. There were also posts complaining about the pricing of a few ad-ons and some wanting an HDMI. Which is what sucks in the non-elite form. The video comes out analog on the regular 360's, so it would be impossible for M$ to create DVI or HDMI connections.

[]

[el jopez]

I could only find one post complaining that a new version has came out. There were also posts complaining about the pricing of a few ad-ons and some wanting an HDMI. Which is what sucks in the non-elite form. The video comes out analog on the regular 360's, so it would be impossible for M$ to create DVI or HDMI connections.

O really?

[el jopez]

Mas, as far as your comments, its easy.

The games I mentioned, and a few more that I haven't have all been done before. A shooter is a shooter. And RPG is an RPG. What sets them apart from other games is of course presentation. Why do you like Klipsch speakers? There are other speakers out there, but the presentation this brand delivers is more to your and my liking over others.

For example, Halo. Its a shooter that did not redefine any aspect of the first person shooter genre at all, however its a smash hit with the sequel being a runaway multi million dollar sensation. Hard core FPS players such as Counterstrike disregard it as childish. Why does everyone else like it? Its simple, easy to pick up and Bungie proved to the world that a first person shooter is not only possible but playable and fun on a console. The rest is history; it is of course the cash cow for the Xbox gaming division. My friends and I joke that the Xbox is actually the Halo to TV adapter. []

As for picking up a previous gen console, its easy. Exclusives. True, some games I mentioned are available on the PC, but most are not due to exclusivity, especially on the PS platform. With some Xbox games, there were a few PC releases, however very very very few PC releases of PS 2 games. The previous consoles were about the games, and the types you wanted. The new/current gen of gaming is a different story since MS has wise'ned up and Sony has lost traction where exclusivity is no longer serious issue. Sony has lost quite a few titles to the 360 and could see quite a few more titles slip from its belt.

Not sure if that helped, but eh I tried.

[erickoegle]

I could only find one post complaining that a new version has came out. There were also posts complaining about the pricing of a few ad-ons and some wanting an HDMI. Which is what sucks in the non-elite form. The video comes out analog on the regular 360's, so it would be impossible for M$ to create DVI or HDMI connections.

O really?

Yea, there is no digital video pin there just digital audio. All video is in an analog form. Unless they plan on using some of the unused pins, but I think that would require an overhaul to the motherboard.

I was going off this guide:

http://dwl.xbox-scene.com/tutorial/Xbox_360-HandC-V1_4.pdf

[]

[el jopez]

FYI, bad news about the Elite 360 now.

Xbox 360 Elite supports HDMI 1.2 profile. For audio, you can select DD,
DTS (at 1.5 Mbps), and WMA-Pro (Microsoft high fidelity multi-channel
codec supported in some AVRs such as Pioneer). Since it is not based on
1.3, it will not support output of DD+ or TrueHD (even if it did,
mixing would have been turned off).

PCM output is available but only for 2-channels (not 5.1). Please,
please, dont say you dont like this. There is nothing you are going
to say which we dont know .
Our goal was to provide a digital connection for video which people
wanted for some of their TVs. And of course, single cable A/V
connection. So if having analog video bothered you before, you can now
use digital. If you lacked component/VGA on your TV, you are in
business with Xbox 360 Elite.

Source

Additional News

Personally, I'm mad. The Elite is looking less and less desirable and only adds a new color, a bigger HD and another way to watch your image on your tv. Off to purchase a dedicated player now.