As a tri-console owner, meaning that I own an Xbox 360, PS3, and a Wii, I feel like I’m getting the best of every world. For those that haven’t picked up a “next-gen” console or “current-gen” for all of you “gen” snobs, you may want to know what the heck you’re getting yourself into.
So, here I am to save the day. Click the jump to learn everything you’ll ever need to know about being an Xbox 360 owner. Check back next week so I can prepare you for your Sony and Nintendo Experiences.
Enjoy!
So you have an HDTV and are ready to take the plunge into hi-definition gaming. You’ve narrowed down the market and have decided on an Xbox 360. Yay for you. To be sure, here’s a few things to expect in the coming months.
- Xbox Live – So much has been said about this service, good and bad. Here’s the quick and dirty. Easy access to online friends to do whatever you want, from killing people in Call of Duty 4, to flashing your naughty bits in a friendly game of UNO. Oh, like I’m the only one. Expect your online experience to vary from teeming quiet to screeching toddlers calling you every four letter word they know, and they only know one word. Believe me.
- Games, games, games – Here’s something good, there’s a crapton of really, really good games out for the system. Here’s something bad, there’s a crapton of turds as well. Choose wisely and remember, Gamefly is your friend.
- Demos – Expect demos for 9 out of 10 games released on the Xbox. The good news, you’ll get a chance to check out the game to see if you want to buy it. The bad news, the chances are that you’ll be playing the very best part of that game and if you don’t choose wisely (see above) you’ll be wasting a ton of money. Damn you Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting!!!
- Your Xbox will break. It will happen. In my opinion, 8 out of 10 of the people on my friends list has had problems with the Red Ring of Death, a broken disc drive or something that causes them to be unable to use their 360.
- You will come to know what a “coffin” is. That’s for you to inevitably find out.
- You will learn to live without your Xbox. For a time. Don’t even bother complaining because 360’s break so often, no one gives a crap anymore. An Xbox breaking is what we 360 owners call “Monday.”
- When you finally get your Xbox back, it will break again. Both disc drives on two different Xbox machines that I’ve owned have died on me. Good luck!
- When you’ve finally got your machine back, Microsoft will announce the Xbox 720… Sorry suckers!
Well, there you have it. The life and death cycle that we, as Xbox owners have come to terms with. The question is, will you? Stick around for my Sony Experience editorial on Monday.
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Gotta say I agree 110% about the console not being reliable. I’ve had 4 Xbox since launch day, it really is just something you get used to.
Well, as harsh as it sounds, it’s very true. Hardware reliability isn’t the mainstay of MS. Of course, they aren’t a hardware company.
Hopefully they learned from their mistakes this gen and the new Xbox will be worth buying for the launch price. This one was not.
Having said that, there are a plethora (that’s right I said it) of really good games for it. But if you are like me, you like to come home from work and sit down and unwind to some great gaming. Not come back to anticipate on whether or not your cardboard coffin has arrived today.
Buy at least the PS3 as well if you are gonna own a 360. I did, and to be honest, it was the 360 breaking that caused me to buy one as early as I did, and it was the 360 breaking for the 3rd time that actually got me hooked on the PS3’s title selection and used to the PSN and XMB. I prefer PS3 now for that reason. Reliability.
Let’s not forget about the Microsoft points. I was introduced to that concept this generation and it’s a whole new world. Streaming multimedia capabilites were also noticeable omitted here. Come on Lono!
That’ll hook ‘em.
Also, remember to mention costly accessories.
X360 can only use accessories designed by Microsoft FOR the Xbox360 (for the most part). Unlike my PS3 which will take anything with a usb cable.
My Xbox 360 is approaching two years old this Christmas and it’s still alive and kicking. I feel lucky…
Sorry V3NOM but you just jinxed yourself
What I find unbelievable about the 360 is that even though practically everyone knows that the system is very unstable and prone to breaking, people still plunk down $400 everytime the console breaks.
This actually gives MS more of an incentive to NOT fix the problem at the source and create a more stable system. Why fix the problem when people will continue to support a broken product by stupidly purchasing it again and again?
I don’t know anyone who has paid for a replacement system. With the extended warranty of 3 years for RROD there is no need unless something else dies, although from what I have seen most of the other issues happen in the 1 year warranty period. People bash the Best Buy PRP but it is the only one I know of where for $60 you can swap your system an unlimited number of times throughout the manufacture’s warranty(1yr) before you have to buy it again.