My Xbox 360 First Impressions

[Ruslan74]

Day 1 & 2

So finally got it on Saturday after waiting for it for 4 weeks. Got my pre-order from Prophecy during their release special.

Get it out of the somewhat standard sized box, console, cables, controller, manual, handsfree headset, power supply.

Plug-in to TV via HDTV cables, connect optical cable to adapter. Switch on. Expected a louder fan rumbling noise but so far not as loud as my PC. Screen pops out and setup HDTV settings for 480p ( aka 848x480 ) and off we go to register online @ LIVE.

5 mins later i am registered with my nick as i had connected the X360 via crossover to my PC and implemented an ICS connection.

Insert Oblivion and game springs up, loading time for the first section of the game was around 30-40 secs but gameplay smooth after that with no pauses except when you WANT TO MANUALLY SAVE the game. A first in my console experience! :)

Wandered in the dungeons for a while before going out and leaving the console downloading demo's from the LIVE Marketplace, over 1GB which is only the FIFA RTWC and Fight Night Round 3 demos.

Overall the graphical quality has surprised me, specially of the demos at the measly resolution of 848x480 on 4xAA. No hiccups, no slowdown, smooth as silk. 5.1 digital sound throughout all the games and the wireless controller is a godsend as it eliminates wires running from sofa to TV. No heating issues, but one must take into consideration the current coldish weather too. :p

Still to do :

- play online with SA players who are registered in my Friends list.
- subscribe to a yearly sub to the GOLD LIVE service to keep accessing demos, game updates and traliers. Currently on 1 month trial.
- get another controller for the sports/racing games to come.

[doobiwan]

Nice one dude, I'm very jealous. What other games do you have on order?

[Ruslan74]

currently downloading demos to see whats best, but i have Test Drive Unlimited on pre-order.

thinking of getting PGR3 for some online racing too and Fight Night Round 3 since the demo impressed me. :)

[doobiwan]

I know you may not be keen to get multiple copies of the same game on various platforms, but what about BF2 modern combat, it looks awesome.

I played PGR for a bit, it's good, but as is my criticism of a lot of the launch titles, there ain't much to differentiate it from the likes of Gran Tourismo etc, it's JUST a racer. Something like burnout revenge appeals to me more.

Also check out "the outfit" I read a few reviews and it looks pretty interesting.

Do you order from CD-Wow?

[Ruslan74]

no, i dont order from CD-WoW although i have seen a lot of guys who do. last night downloaded the Test Drive Unlimited demo from the marketplace and tonight will download Lost Planet which looks nice (http://forums.prophecy.co.za/showthread.php?t=22670).

my interest with PGR3 is the multiplayer component as there are quite a few local people who have it and play online. ;)

there is a FLURRY of E3 demo's this week, i just hope i get the time to get it all downloaded in time! :banana:

[RotoRouterZA]

I cant wait until i get mine. For now i will carry on playing on the xbox1.

My fiance want to buy one for my birthday, so i have to wait until august :(

[Ruslan74]

note that pre-orders are usually fulfilled within 3-4 weeks due to customs as usual... but heck, worth every penny if you ask me! :wohoo:

[Super Chocolate Bear]

We have an HDTV and I was wondering if you maybe had a chance yet to check it out at 1080i/720p?

I also know you get a VGA cable for it so you can run it on a normal Computer screen at lotsa different resolutions, up to 1280x720 iirc.

OK I am thinking about getting an XBOX360 but the price is damn high, over R6k. Is there a way of getting it for cheaper and if so where and how?

How much are the games and are they region coded?

Is it really worth it? I wouldnt get it for R6k but do you think its worth it if you can get it for a lot cheaper?

[sss]

sum1 on this forum was talking about getting them at about R3500 somehow once

[doobiwan]

Courtesy of Roto, it's Prophecy that has them: (http://www.prophecy.co.za/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.browse&category_id=221&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=6)

for R3499 and 3999 respectively including delivery and a 1 year swap out warranty! I think it's a really fair price. The only thing stopping me is near and certain death by the missus if I do :(

EDIT: On the other price issue of games, I'd recommend www.cd-wow.com - about 40 quid each (R440-480) including international delivery.

[Ruslan74]

just collected Project Gotham Racing 3 today... dang... it has got to be the sweetest looking driving sim on ANY console at the moment... simply amazing... and those high specced cars are a beauty to behold!

Roto, if you are in the JHB area on the 2nd of June you GOT to pass by and check it ou! :D

[Ruslan74]

A bit of online info after playing PGR3 (http://www.bizarreonline.net/page.php?p=screenshots&f=pgr3) on LIVE... smooth as a doorbell with vaseline... got into a few races with a local chap with VOIP enabled at the same time.

Previously also popped the BF2:MC demo as it can only be played online and wasnt too laggy either. No way to check the ping rate but gameplay was smooth although the maps and some of the game kits are different.

Seems like its worth getting the GOLD membership to LIVE afterall... :)

[doobiwan]

. . . Personally I have no idea what to expect from a doorbell with vaseline, and frankly would like to keep it that way . . .

[stoke]

. . . Personally I have no idea what to expect from a doorbell with vaseline, and frankly would like to keep it that way . . .Officially nominated for post of the blerry month ... sigh.

[Ruslan74]

:rofl:

so adding senseless lines into a paragraph does get noted around here! :D

[doobiwan]

;)

What else would you read forums for?

[FeralBanana]

:rofl:

April Fools, 2006: about 7 people in Camps Bay got Round doors ones Vaselined, buttons taped in and generally annoyed.

Darn, I love april fools ;)

[Ruslan74]

got meself a VGA HD Cable for the X360 today so i could connect it to the 19" LCD of my PC... works like a beauty and now my wife can watch TV without me hassling her all the time!

the good thing is the VGA connects via RGB and my PC via DVI... so with a flick of the meny i can switch between the two without playing with cables... :D

:slide:

[doobiwan]

Heh heh, my telly supports Picture in picture, my evil plan (number 452.7) to take over the world . . . . .

[Ruslan74]

sorry to burst your bubble Doobi... but PiP will only work if the signal is the same as in the main window. ie. 480p and DSTV wont work as PiP since they will be running at different resolutions.

i tried that too a while back. :sad:

[doobiwan]

Well if the wife want's to watch telly on the big screen, I'm not goign to notice non-HD-Wii pics in PiP. :)

[Ruslan74]

/me just imagines Doobi playing Zelda's swordfights in PiP while wife tries to watch a movie

:rofl:

[doobiwan]

:D Imagine tennis while the wifes watching, well, tennis . . .