Xbox 360 Naughtiness

[slycat]

I've finally given in to the temptation.  I had been monitoring HotUKDeals for a decent Xbox 360 deal daily since I missed pair of good ones (with Woolworths and Boots) and today there was a fairly decent offer.  I know that had I waited, a better one would have most likely appeared, but I decided this was enough to make me want to buy.  Basically, it's the new £299 premium bundle which includes the premium console, PGR3 and a second wireless controller.  Powerplaydirect were selling it for £289.99 which made it worthwhile being £10 cheaper than anywhere else.  If you bought the components of the bundle today seperately, it'd cost around £350 (although I do realise PGR3 will shortly be re-released as a budget 'classic' game).  There was a whopping £1 off coupon to be used for the site bringing it down to £288.99, and I bought Dead Rising with the console as it was the cheapest place on the net to get it anyway (at £37.99 - kinda scary that that price is considered cheap).  So in the end, I spent a whopping £326.98 in one hit.  A lot to be spending, but I know I can cover it fortunately (although I should probably be saving rather than spending spare cash).  I got it via a quidco link too so potentially I'll get a further 4% cashback on that payment which will be good.

My main draw for the 360 has been Xbox Live, and when Microsoft took payment for another year of Live, it's given me an extra incentive to get the console.  It does seem that things are getting interesting for it now with the Live games and pretty decent new and exclusive games.  Despite the PS3's announced price drop (obviously in response to everyone saying how no-one would get one at it's original price), I still don't see myself getting a PS3.  Microsoft seem to have got the 360 done right this time round.

As an Xbox owner, I'll most likely keep my existing Xbox and use it as a media hub using XBMC, and still play the odd "backup" game on it.  Just need to get a remote for it really.  It's a shame the 360 doesn't support more of my old games.  The 360 is crying out for a new Midtown Madness (absolutely fantastic over Xbox Live), the least they could do was make the old one work over it.  Of my existing games, I should be able to continue playing Burnout 3: Takedown, Crimson Skies, Fable, Halo 1 & 2, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Ninja Gaiden & SSX 3.  However, you don't get a new console to play old games, so I'll be playing much PGR3 & Dead Rising and also the Live Arcade games like Geometry Wars.  To be honest, I see myself wasting more time on the Live Arcade games than the full ones... making full use of the hardware :P.

Anyway, it should hopefully be arriving early next week, can't wait to get playing!

Comments

[x-dog.livejournal.com]

Well, I am not one of your more dedicated console players, but I have to say that the 360 is the best I have ever bought. While other consoles (PS2, PSP, XBOX etc) soon got consigned to the cupboard, the 360 'does it for me', and survives to stay in regular use, even replacing my DVD player for watching movies on (though I do wish it was quieter).

I bought some of the £40 each games, but to be honest I found them to be no more absorbing than some of the Live Arcade games. The Ultra-Marble thingy, played on-line is just awesome, and so inexpensive compared to off the shelf games.

One thing I really love about X-Box live is that you can download and play some really good demos of the latest games. I usually know from the demo if I am likely to play the games or not, so it saves a bundle of wasted 'impulse buys'.

You are going to love your 360, they are excellent, really!!
Now you need to get yourself a Windows Media Center Edition PC so that you can get even more benefit from it.

OH! and if you want to connect your 360 to your LAN wirelessly, give me a shout as I have an 802.3a router up for grabs. I found b and g to be next to useless for some reason, and in the end I just ran a cable for it, it's really so much better that way, especially for video streaming (wireless just did not make the grade).

I just got myself 'Xploder' for my 360. Not got it all set up yet, but should allow me to stream my entire PC based music and video collection (yup, even DIV-X etc) through my 360 (it does not do this natively) .... but you do need a Windows MCE :-(

Anyway, have fun. Maybe I'll catch you on Live some time (the name is X-Dog). If you like to win, then it's me you need to be playing against ;)

[slycat.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'm fully aware of what I'm getting myself into. Just had trouble justifing it until now :).

Oh, I tried adding you to my Live friends list but it says x-dog doesn't exist. Should it be xdog without the dash? I'm "wootz" on Live.

[x-dog.livejournal.com]

Yeah, your right. I could not use X-Dog, it would not let me. I am 'XDogs'.

[jdjam001.livejournal.com]

"Microsoft seem to have got the 360 done right this time round."

well, despite the fact they overheat easily... although at was really only a problem with the original batches. The couple of people i know tat have got a 360 recently say it's been fine :)

[jdjam001.livejournal.com]

oh, and those li'l arcade games zap away at your poket money pretty quickly :/

i had to download them for my uncle (he hasn't got the net, so he brought his 360 round here) spent nearly £80 on 'em O.O

[slycat.livejournal.com]

You can play trials of all of the games before buying. I dont see myself buying many. Geometry Wars and maybe Uno are a must tho.