Microsoft's slim Xbox

[Bocsius]

Looks like most places around me here aren't getting them until Monday, so that gives me the whole weekend to convince myself that I need one. Let's hope my current 360 doesn't have an "accident" between now and then!

1) Does the current Xbox have issues? No? Step 2.
2) Does the new Xbox do anything better? No? Step 3.
3) Do I need the extra storage? No? Step 4.
4) Do I like black better than white? If I said yes, would that also mean it is OK to like white better than black? That could be deemed insensitive and possibly racist. Step 5.
5) Does the new Xbox solve world hunger? No? Step 6.
6) Does the new Xbox stop the oil spill? No? Step 7.
7) Is Ed "Too Tall" Jones too tall? Yes? Step 8.
8 ) Buy new Xbox.

[chronovore]

Mucky, mah bruddah. That new electronics smell is what modern man uses to replace the thrill of the hunt, or traveling to neighboring villages and stealing their wimmen. Buying a new slimline 360 is a surrogate for fulfilling those primal urges. So if you don't have a neighboring village with lax laws about kidnapping, you'll need to buy the new box.

I'm so on the fence about this. Here's what I've got:
refurbed 360; unsure about which rev
/g/b wifi adapter
120GB HDD

Here is exactly what would improve: HDMI, /n instead of /g wifi, 130GB more storage, and it'd be quiet.

Probably slightly lower power usage, but no-one's giving "eco" discounts for game hardware, only fridges, ovens, and air conditioners.

I could drop 150USD on an Arcade unit to get the HDMI, or 300USD to get the "whole package" but neither option is a substantial improvement over my already well-accessorized 360.

[chronovore]

As MS transitions to a download/online-centered business model, lack of local storage becomes a real impediment to their plans. I wonder what they'll do as well; I suspect something will have to be offered at the 200USD pricepoint to fill the gap left by Arcade and to stay competitive with Wii.

...I feel dirty for even suggesting that the 360 needs to compete with Wii, but then again there's a whole division of Kinect engineers and MS marketers who should feel a lot more dirty than I do.

I think I'll wait for the inevitable slimline/Kinect bundle.

[Bocsius]

The whole point of the Arcade in the first place was that they wouldn't be married to a hard drive so that they could achieve mass market penetration at a lower price point. The side effect is that developers had to not rely on the hard drive being there, particularly as we got deeper into the generation as the late adopters would be more apt to grab the Arcade. To abandon that philosophy now would basically mean they sabotaged their own efforts unnecessarily, as developers would still not be able to count on the hard drive and they wouldn't have that low price entry point. I think the popularity of the Arcade has certainly increased over time, to permanently discontinue it now would be foolish.

[chronovore]

The USB support opens up A LOT of options; non-proprietary form factor lets anyone use just about any-priced item they can find. The "cap" is none to bad either, at 80% of the previous standard amount of storage.

It's also possible they figure anyone buying an Arcade unit for its low price is also unlikely to be paying 50USD a year for ancillary services.

[Smooth Groove]

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/xb360250trade/default.aspx

Is this a good deal?  I was planning to get a 120gb hard drive anyways and that was already $120.

[brawndolicious]

That seems like a decent deal.  You'd have to make sure you remember to transfer your saves over to a USB drive or something though.

[G The Resurrected]

With the gamestop deal you have 7 days to do a HDD transfer and then trade in said HDD to get the credit put towards your purchase of the new 360 Slim.

Also seems like a lot of mistakes are happening and extra credit is being given out for the consoles and hdd's.

Amnintenho if you interested don't even try the bay area is barren till monday.

[Smooth Groove]

How the heck do you do that, G?  The old drives aren't compatible with the Slims. 

[G The Resurrected]

This:http://www.buy.com/prod/xbox-360-data-transfer-cable-kit-for-hard-drive-migration/q/loc/108/215775121.html

Get one of these before you start the trade up process. You can also trade in the transfer kit for $7.50 once your done with it. The way I hear how they reimburse you is once you trade in HDD they give you back the difference you payed in cash by doing a return/re-buy.

The gamestop deal is going on till July 11th plenty of time to get that transfer cable.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

My gamestop didnt have any so I bought a DSiXL instead

[Raban]

My gamestop didnt have any so I bought a DSiXL instead

You were trolling this whole time?

[Eel O'Brian]

well, he is a troll

[Raban]

I just find it kind of amazing how much time he wants to dedicate to it, though.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

im still going to get my xbox 360 slim as soon as they get them in.

[Shurs]

I got one! My first Xbox. I also picked up Crackdown, Dead Rising, Halo 3, Gears of War, Left 4 Dead and Fable 2. I took advantage of the game sale on XBLA and bought Castle Crashers, Trials HD, Shadow Complex and Geometry Wars.

Any game suggestions? I decided to start with some older games and work my way forwards. I'll be getting Mass Effect tomorrow. I heard that installing Halo 3 is a bad idea. Is this true? Are there free TV shows like on PSN? Anything else I should check out?

[Stoney Mason]

I got one! My first Xbox. I also picked up Crackdown, Dead Rising, Halo 3, Gears of War, Left 4 Dead and Fable 2. I took advantage of the game sale on XBLA and bought Castle Crashers, Trials HD, Shadow Complex and Geometry Wars.

Any game suggestions? I decided to start with some older games and work my way forwards. I'll be getting Mass Effect tomorrow. I heard that installing Halo 3 is a bad idea. Is this true? Are there free TV shows like on PSN? Anything else I should check out?

Installing Halo 3 increases the load times. So correct. Don't do it with that game.  I would have picked up Geometry Wars 2 instead of 1 as its pretty much better than the original in every way.

[demi]

There are free episodes of TV shows, you have to look around.

Just download the kajillion demos out there and have fun

[Shurs]

Stoney, I misspoke, it actually was Geometry Wars 2 that I picked up, as that was the one that was on sale. I'm playing Shadow Complex right now. The game feels like its sub-HD. The dashboard looks odd too. The Xbox is outputting a 1080p signal but the dash, especially the pop-ups look oddly low res. I've yet to play any of the disc games I purchased, though I installed them all except for Halo. I love that you can download demos for every game XBLA game.

Has anyone bought any of the Games on Demand titles? Any thoughts on their pricing, performance, etc?

[Stoney Mason]

Has anyone bought any of the Games on Demand titles? Any thoughts on their pricing, performance, etc?

The games on demand work fine as far as performance. Just don't ever buy anything over $19.99 otherwise you are getting screwed. Even all of the $19.99 titles could be found cheaper in used stores but for the ease of not having to get off your ass 20 bones isn't so bad.

[Eel O'Brian]

yeah, they have COD2, a launch game you can find for less than $10 if you look around, listed for $30 on GoD

w

t

f

[Eel O'Brian]

^  and none of the titles are GOTY or special editions with all the DLC included, btw

[Eel O'Brian]

WTF, didn't you just buy a PSP?

obviously lying

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Any game suggestions?

Tales of Vesperia
Earth Defense Force 2017
Mass Effect 1 & 2 - this is a must
Gears 2 (Gears 2 is so much fucking better than the first)
PGR4

[ferrarimanf355]

Has anyone bought any of the Games on Demand titles? Any thoughts on their pricing, performance, etc?

I got the GoD version of Burnout Revenge. It performs fine.

[Smooth Groove]

Tried to do the upgrade deal at Gamestop today but they were sold out already and no store within 30 miles had any.  Combined with all the sales on old models, looks like it'll be a huge month for the 360. 

[CajoleJuice]

Somehow I'm still on my first 360 from August 2007.

*knocks wood*

[Third]

It begins.

[Raban]

Off to a great start, MS.

Also, the shiny plastic is

[Third]

So I guess the "slim" X360 warns you of the RROD by advising you to shut down the console?

You can take the X360 out of the bad engineering, but you can never take the bad engineering out of the X360.

[maxy]

Overheating is not RROD,put your PS3 into closed space and block vents,Third...and then report back

RROD cause=YLOD cause

[CajoleJuice]

Still don't get how that is a slim.

[Third]

Oops, totally forgot about that. The millions dead X360's were also "user errors".

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[maxy]

Oops, totally forgot about that. The hundred of thousands (millions?) of dead X360's were also "user errors".

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

This is just the console protecting itself from melting...PS3 does the same

RROD=broken GPU-board connection...hardware fucked,warning messages are not possible

His hardware can still be broken,but no console can give warning "RROD(YLOD) incoming"

[Eel O'Brian]

Still don't get how that is a slim.

the only people calling it that are messageboarders and news blogs

[Eel O'Brian]

also, ^ looks like self-inflicted fud, to be honest, and i am no fan of microsoft's first shitty iterations

[Smooth Groove]

You can take the X360 out of the bad engineering, but you can never take the bad engineering out of the X360.

Yet the same games run better on the 360 than on the PS3 99% of the time. 

[Brehvolution]

I saw a new one at Best Buy today. Probably just going to pick up a 250gb HD for $130 and it comes with a transfer kit.

[Third]

Well, the Ps3 lets you play the games, not russian roulette.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

WTF, didn't you just buy a PSP?

obviously lying

no I bought both i've been depressed lately and im a shopaholic

[CajoleJuice]

Still don't get how that is a slim.

the only people calling it that are messageboarders and news blogs

ah i see

[maxy]

Still don't get how that is a slim.

the only people calling it that are messageboarders and news blogs

ah i see

It's called Xbox 360 S.

[naff]

(Image removed from quote.)

Man, that is ugly. Looked ok in the promo pics but irl it's one ugly beast. Still worth it for big harddrive, quiet operation wireless etc.

[chronovore]

Well, actually, a tight shot with a flash, from a cheap camera will make anything look ugly. Hence: "celebs without makeup" blogs.

\
It's called Xbox 360 S.

The "S" is for "SEXY."

[naff]

Yeah, better pictures are better... Designs still off though imo. Don't care too much though, it's bout what's on the inside after all and this things packin.

[maxy]

Xbox 360 Sexy

[TripleA]

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

It begins.

 

[TripleA]

(Image removed from quote.)

Yeah, better pictures are better... Designs still off though imo. Don't care too much though, it's bout what's on the inside after all and this things packin.

Yes, an internal hard drive and Wi-fi set this apart from the competition.

[Beezy]

Yes, an internal hard drive and Wi-fi set this apart from the competition.

Yeah, the Wii needs to step it's game up.

[TripleA]

Yes, an internal hard drive and Wi-fi set this apart from the competition.

Yeah, the Wii needs to step it's game up.

[Don Flamenco]

this thing is so ugly.  microsoft is pretty much screwed between this version that still overheats and Kinect being stupid expensive and laggy.  Will buy a cheap arcade console when they eventually release Microsoft-ga-ga-ga to make fun of themselves for failing so hard.

[maxy]

In Canada, they only give you 75$ for the whole thing towards an upgrade
 

Canada?
Where is that?

 

Not that Europe will have anything better

[Smooth Groove]

this thing is so ugly.  microsoft is pretty much screwed between this version that still overheats and Kinect being stupid expensive and laggy.  Will buy a cheap arcade console when they eventually release Microsoft-ga-ga-ga to make fun of themselves for failing so hard.

Your posts have been disgusting ever since you turned in your Xbot badge. 

[Shurs]

I may have went a bit overboard in my return to Gamestop today. In addition to the 6 games I bought along with the console, plus the XBLA games I purchased,  I just picked up:

Mass Effect 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Gears of War 2
Hitman: Blood Money
Forza 3
Deadly Premonition
Dyack's Folly
Kameo
Perfect Dark Zero

I guess I should start playing some games.

[Smooth Groove]

I may have went a bit overboard in my return to Gamestop today. In addition to the 6 games I bought along with the console, plus the XBLA games I purchased,  I just picked up:

Mass Effect 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Gears of War 2
Hitman: Blood Money
Forza 3
Deadly Premonition
Dyack's Folly
Kameo
Perfect Dark Zero

I guess I should start playing some games.

Used games sale?  How much total?

[demi]

They have a B2G1 sale this weekend.

[Shurs]

I may have went a bit overboard in my return to Gamestop today. In addition to the 6 games I bought along with the console, plus the XBLA games I purchased,  I just picked up:

Mass Effect 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Gears of War 2
Hitman: Blood Money
Forza 3
Deadly Premonition
Dyack's Folly
Kameo
Perfect Dark Zero

I guess I should start playing some games.

Used games sale?  How much total?

With my Edge card, the total was $122.06, but I traded in $38.60 worth of games, plus I had $15 put down on games that I had received review copies of, so I put that towards the total as well. Out of pocket I paid $68.46.

Edit: I know I shouldn't install Halo 3, does this apply to any of the games I bought today?

[demi]

No

I would install Halo 3 anyway. The luxury of not having to use the drive outweighs any increased load time - supposed load time, anyway

[Smooth Groove]

I may have went a bit overboard in my return to Gamestop today. In addition to the 6 games I bought along with the console, plus the XBLA games I purchased,  I just picked up:

Mass Effect 2
Left 4 Dead 2
Gears of War 2
Hitman: Blood Money
Forza 3
Deadly Premonition
Dyack's Folly
Kameo
Perfect Dark Zero

I guess I should start playing some games.

Used games sale?  How much total?

With my Edge card, the total was $122.06, but I traded in $38.60 worth of games, plus I had $15 put down on games that I had received review copies of, so I put that towards the total as well. Out of pocket I paid $68.46.

Edit: I know I shouldn't install Halo 3, does this apply to any of the games I bought today?

Nice pickup.  Sometimes, it does pay to wait. 

[Shurs]

No

I would install Halo 3 anyway. The luxury of not having to use the drive outweighs any increased load time - supposed load time, anyway

Thanks.

I'm really enjoying the 360, but I knew I would. I was waiting WiFi and Valhalla, and now that the machine has that, I knew I couldn't hold off any longer. The social features are great and, as opposed as I am to paying for online play, I will be purchasing a 12 month Gold card before my free month expires. I think Amazon has a deal of a 12 month card for $38, is that a good deal or do you think I can find it cheaper within the next month?

Also, if anyone wants to play anything online, my gamertag is Shur Son.

Nice pickup.  Sometimes, it does pay to wait. 

I'm actually not too proud about buying so many used games, as I mostly buy new. I did buy new copies of Left4Dead 1 , Mass Effect 1 and Crackdown. But so far, that's it aside from XBLA games, all of which (Trials HD, Shadow Complex, Splosion Man, GeoWars2, Castle Crashers) were half price this week.

I'll pick up Splinter Cell: Conviction new. I'm hoping to get a review copy of Crackdown 2, but if I don't I'll definitely pick it up.