Late to the Party, Better Late Than Never: Xbox 360

October 11, 2007

Xbox 360

Something just occurred to me during my first 10 minutes as an Xbox 360 owner, holy expletive is there a lot of content available for this thing. Yes I know this stuff is old hat to most of you guys but as someone late to the party (more specifically compared to the PS3) I really wasn’t expecting over a hundred game demos available for download, nor the $20 (used) games I ran across either.

I already have a handful of demo’s queued-up to download ( Kameo, Conan, Blue Dragon and BioShock) as well as a couple of trailers and arcade classics, deep breath and I haven’t even had time to get into the Media Center Extender capabilities. If this thing will let me throw my loud expletive HTPC into another room; without losing any functionality it’ll be worth every red cent. Even if it doesn’t I’m impressed with what I’ve seen so far, this will make a nice addition to my theater.

Flash forward twenty four hours later and I’m even more impressed, I’m also seriously starting to wonder if I would have been better off with a stand-alone Blu-ray player versus the PS3 but thats a different subject altogether. The bottom line is this, we spend a lot on our home theater systems (probably too much in some cases) but without great content what’s the point? Last night I had one of the best times in my theater since the day we finished it and thats saying a lot. Bioshock; with the lights turned out and the sound turned up on a 92″ diagonal screen was an absolute blast, I can’t wait for round two.



Posted by B.Greenway | | Filed Under HTPC, Media Servers


Comments

  • idl3mind

    I purchased an Xbox 360 about three weeks ago, and I love it. I bought a PS3 in November 2006. While impressed by the awesome graphics and being able to watch Blu-ray movies, I wasn’t all that impressed with the XMB menu, nor muddling thru all the free content available in the Playstation Store. The Xbox 360 Marketplace is much more inviting and easy to use. The Xbox 360′s Dashboard is more intuitive, and I’m sure it’s much easier for a 7-8 year old to use than the PS3′s XMB.

  • idl3mind

    I purchased an Xbox 360 about three weeks ago, and I love it. I bought a PC3 in November 2006. While impressed by the awesome graphics and being able to watch Blu-ray movies, I wasn’t all that impressed with the XMB menu, nor muddling thru all the free content available in the Playstation Store. The Xbox 360 Marketplace is much more inviting and easy to use. The Xbox 360′s Dashboard is more intuitive, and I’m sure it’s much easier for a 7-8 year old to use than the PS3′s XMB.

  • Richard

    if you had gotten a standalone player, it would probably be obsolete by the end of this year, so *shrug*.

    welcome to the 360, if you like gaming, you are in the right place now.

  • Richard

    if you had gotten a standalone player, it would probably be obsolete by the end of this year, so *shrug*.

    welcome to the 360, if you like gaming, you are in the right place now.

  • B.Greenway

    idl3mind, spot on there, the 360′s dashboard just feels “right” for lack of a better term. Cheers.

  • B.Greenway

    idl3mind, spot on there, the 360′s dashboard just feels “right” for lack of a better term. Cheers.

  • B.Greenway

    Maybe Richard but I’m not really sure any of them have been obsoleted as much as just improved upon. I mean my XA2 doesn’t do 1080p or bit-stream audio but I’m in no hurry to replace it, not yet anyway.

  • B.Greenway

    Maybe Richard but I’m not really sure any of them have been obsoleted as much as just improved upon. I mean my XA2 doesn’t do 1080p or bit-stream audio but I’m in no hurry to replace it, not yet anyway.

  • Jesse J.

    Buy Bioshock now! One of the greatest games ever and proof positive that a videogame can be high art.

  • Jesse J.

    Buy Bioshock now! One of the greatest games ever and proof positive that a videogame can be high art.

  • Sharerware

    I picked up an Elite in time for Halo 3. I love the Xbox360. It’s an amazing machine, and the content is top notch. I’ll never have enough time to play with everything it can do. Too much of a good thing is a good thing. ;)

  • Sharerware

    I picked up an Elite in time for Halo 3. I love the Xbox360. It’s an amazing machine, and the content is top notch. I’ll never have enough time to play with everything it can do. Too much of a good thing is a good thing. ;)

  • eudaimo

    I own both systems. Today the 360 offers more bang in quality games and downloadable content.

    But:

    1. Interface: I prefer the PS3′s.

    Fast queuing – PS3 takes fewer clicks, and less load times.

    Easier cost assessments – 360 buries its free content. With the ps3 everything you highlight automatically gives you the price, including if it’s free. Much preferred.

    Maturity – I find the XMB to be much more adult looking. The 360 looks more “like a toy” than a media center device.

    2. Back library: The 360 has some backwards compatibility with Xbox games, but if you got one of the older PS3s, you have full b.c. with the entire massive ps 1&2 library. When I’m not playing Halo 3 on my 360, I’m playing God of War on the ps3.

    3. Give it time: There was a time when you could consume everything on the XBL Marketplace in a night. The 360 has been out a year longer, so give the ps3 some time. I think that Sony is saving a massive flood for their launch of Home. Full length HD movies are sure to come.

    In the meanwhile, here is how I recommend deriving value from a PS3:

    a. Get a wireless keyboard/mouse. Great for web browsing and communication. Cheap if you avoid bluetooth.

    b. Install Linux. Use it as a MCPC.

    c. Play ps2 games (See above).

    d. Wait for Sony’s impressive 2008 lineup, including the launch of Home.

  • eudaimo

    I own both systems. Today the 360 offers more bang in quality games and downloadable content.

    But:

    1. Interface: I prefer the PS3′s.

    Fast queuing – PS3 takes fewer clicks, and less load times.

    Easier cost assessments – 360 buries its free content. With the ps3 everything you highlight automatically gives you the price, including if it’s free. Much preferred.

    Maturity – I find the XMB to be much more adult looking. The 360 looks more “like a toy” than a media center device.

    2. Back library: The 360 has some backwards compatibility with Xbox games, but if you got one of the older PS3s, you have full b.c. with the entire massive ps 1&2 library. When I’m not playing Halo 3 on my 360, I’m playing God of War on the ps3.

    3. Give it time: There was a time when you could consume everything on the XBL Marketplace in a night. The 360 has been out a year longer, so give the ps3 some time. I think that Sony is saving a massive flood for their launch of Home. Full length HD movies are sure to come.

    In the meanwhile, here is how I recommend deriving value from a PS3:

    a. Get a wireless keyboard/mouse. Great for web browsing and communication. Cheap if you avoid bluetooth.

    b. Install Linux. Use it as a MCPC.

    c. Play ps2 games (See above).

    d. Wait for Sony’s impressive 2008 lineup, including the launch of Home.

  • Sphinx

    wow, PS3 fanboy much, how many times did he say to wait for the ‘impressive’ 2008 that is at this point non-existent. As with any technology you can spend all your time waiting for the next big thing or you can enjoy what you have now. I have both as well, and end up using my 360 more.

  • Sphinx

    wow, PS3 fanboy much, how many times did he say to wait for the ‘impressive’ 2008 that is at this point non-existent. As with any technology you can spend all your time waiting for the next big thing or you can enjoy what you have now. I have both as well, and end up using my 360 more.