[360] Would you buy if...

[cyclone84]

...you were in my situation?

I've got a Wii, and I love it. However, the 360 is looking more and more appealing for games like F.E.A.R., Gears, and Lost Planet. XBOX Live in also looking better and better. I've got the money for a premium console and a couple of games, but I don't have an HDTV to maximize the experience. Also, I've heard rumbling of an update to the hardware with 65nm chips that will run cooler and more efficiently.

The one catch is: I've got about 150 bucks in store credit to a local game shop that expires soon...Any thoughts on whether I should pull the trigger or would you wait for the console to update?


Thanks,

Cyclone

[2nyRiggz]

Get it....the 360 might not be updated until the end of this year and do you really want to wait that long?

Get it....its fun.




Bless

[kjr39]

The Wii and the 360 are really two different gaming experiences. I have both and enjoy them equally.

Yes, I would buy it if I were you.

[Haoshiro]

Yeah, I would recommend it as well.

Not having an HDTV it will still look good, just not as good as it could (far less noticable).

You could also buy the VGA cable for the 360 and get HD resolutions from a standard monitor. Might be worth a look.

Funny, top of my 360 list is Worms HD... should be out soon!

[iKwick7]

...you were in my situation?

I've got a Wii, and I love it. However, the 360 is looking more and more appealing for games like F.E.A.R., Gears, and Lost Planet. XBOX Live in also looking better and better. I've got the money for a premium console and a couple of games, but I don't have an HDTV to maximize the experience. Also, I've heard rumbling of an update to the hardware with 65nm chips that will run cooler and more efficiently.

The one catch is: I've got about 150 bucks in store credit to a local game shop that expires soon...Any thoughts on whether I should pull the trigger or would you wait for the console to update?


Thanks,

Cyclone

Which game shop? Many store are offering a free game and warranty with a 360 purchase. I personally highly recommend the 360- I absolutely love mine. Love my Wii as well.


Funny, top of my 360 list is Worms HD... should be out soon!

Mine too! I absolutely love worms! Armaggedon was one of my all time faves!

[MacRumorUser]

Yep if the store credit is going to expire - go for it. :)

[ericsthename]

Hmm, things to consider:

How badly "must" you play these 360 titles?

Will your store credit expire before fall 2007?

If your store credit isn't going to expire before October of this year, and you don't really really need to buy, waiting might have dividends.

That being said, the 360 is great fun of a more traditionalist sense than the Wii, and to boot this 360.v.1 might not even come out. AND if it does, who knows just how much it will benefit you personally.

Think about it this way - if by buying now you can use 150 dollars of store credit, you can buy one now... play it until this new version comes out (or rumors cease and desist) and then sell your 360 and buy the new one. The $150 of store credit will buffer the loss you entail from resale.

Haha, I'm just rationalizing spending someone elses $400 thats all...

[Dagless]

Definitely get it, then when the new 360's are out PRAY for your system to break. Win win.

Of course if it hasn't got the games you want then don't bother with it.

[gavd]

I have both and have different sorts of games for both so I'd recommend getting one. As for whether you should hold out or not, I'd say depends on how long you have the store credit for.

[cyclone84]

Thanks for all of the responses. To answer your question about the credit, the store credit expires in February and it's at a store call Gamers that is, as far as I know, only in Iowa and possibly Nebraska. I considered spending it on a few Wii titles, but there aren't any out right now that I'm that excited for. I've already got Zelda, Madden, and Wii Sports.

As for the 360, there are multiple games I'd like to play now and some that are coming out soon *cough Assassin's Creed cough* that look too good to pass up.

Decisions, decisions.......

[erickkoch]

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but can you buy gift cards with your credit? Here in CA gift cards do not have an expiration date. If this store sells them then you could extend the time so you can wait longer to get the system you want.

[saunders45]

Go for it. I have a 360 and love it. Wouldn't trade it for any other system out. That said, I will hopefully be getting a Wii as a wedding gift when my fiance and I tie the know in March.

[stagecustom]

DUDE, GO for the 360. i have recently got GOW, madden 07 and NHL 07, right there is the best combination for games in my mind. i also have project gotham and grand theft auto san andreas. ooh and who can forget,*Bankshot Billiards, i love playing that, well worth it.. once again, go for the 360. i play on my 19" widescreen HD Computer monitor, and i have it hooked up to my 2.1 computer speakers... i love it and wouldn't trade it for a ps-ANYTHING.

hope you get one.:D

[Sayer]

Buy some games. Wait for the 360 update.

The newer 360 should have an HDMI option which the current console totally lacks (and I believe currently it maxes out at 720p).

Xbox Live is another purchase, MS Points to get additional content costs more money. You'd have to get many games.

If you only have $150 in store credit, get some games (or another controller) and enjoy the Wii.

[risc]

The newer 360 should have an HDMI option which the current console totally lacks (and I believe currently it maxes out at 720p).


The current 360 can do 1080p.

[Dagless]

^ Thats a good plan. Buy some games now and wait for the update. That's sorta what I'm doing. I've got myself a lovely set of 360 controllers, registered my Live silver account (keeping that name safe :) ). Eagerly awaiting Xbox360 v2.

[stagecustom]

Buy some games. Wait for the 360 update.
The newer 360 should have an HDMI option which the current console totally lacks (and I believe currently it maxes out at 720p)

don't rag on something when you don't know for sure!:rolleyes:

[MacRumorUser]

don't rag on something when you don't know for sure!:rolleyes:


Added to the fact that the rumors that spilt this guff all seem to point to a holiday 07 release if any. Want to wait 12 months just in case ?

And like others have said the 360 is 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p and not 720p only :rolleyes:

[Markleshark]

And like others have said the 360 is 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p and not 720p only :rolleyes:

LOL. I must learn what all that means you know, now we have a HDTV anyway. It's just all total bollox to me, all that 1080p and stuff. :confused:

[adiosk8]

Added to the fact that the rumors that spilt this guff all seem to point to a holiday 07 release if any. Want to wait 12 months just in case ?

And like others have said the 360 is 1080p / 1080i / 720p / 480p and not 720p only :rolleyes:

actually its more then that, im playing at 1280 x 1024 right now...which really isnt any of those

but if I were you I would buy the 360, I just bought mine last week sunday thinking about this same stuff, but its not like games arent going to work with your system, you dont have an HDTV so hdmi isnt really in issue, plus theres the VGA cable which is the same thing without the audio directly in the same line. GO FOR IT

[Dagless]

LOL. I must learn what all that means you know, now we have a HDTV anyway. It's just all total bollox to me, all that 1080p and stuff. :confused:

the number just refers to the number of vertical lines. 1900*1080 is 1080 (IIRC). i is interlaced, where the screen alternates its refreshing and p is progressive, a smoother picture where the image is drawn fully. If anything I've just notice that reduce flicker and people move smoother (I have 576p TV).

640*480 (NTSC)
640*576 (PAL)
13xx*720
1900*1080
I think the resolutions are.

Simply put it would have been much better if there was a single standard instead of these needlessly staggered options. Throw into the fray that UK shops bindly list everything above 480 as "HD" and Sony trying to confuse consumers even more with "TrueHD", you have no idea what you're buying if you don't look closely.

[pgc6000]

Buy. I love it. Best game selection at this point, and that store credit sounds nice for an extra controller and game.

[MacRumorUser]

640*480 (NTSC)
640*576 (PAL)
13xx*720
1900*1080
I think the resolutions are.


Its 1280x720

Its 1920x1080

Simply put it would have been much better if there was a single standard instead of these needlessly staggered options

They are not needlesly staggered. Basically you have to think of three

720p/1080i/1080p any of those is HD
480/576p is not HD period.

It's not hard or complicated. If the TV has HD Ready symbol - then it will be HD.

http://www.hdready.org.uk/

If you still find it complicated, you need locking in a little white padded cell and administered dimazapan 3x daily. ;)

[iW00t]

Spend every last cent of your money on %non sony% product.

Microsoft might be evil but Sony is worse.

Go for it!

[Dagless]

If you still find it complicated, you need locking in a little white padded cell and administered dimazapan 3x daily. ;)

I'm not looking at it from my point of view. I look at things through a consumers PoV. My folks, or 90% of the people I know don't have a clue. There are even people on my design course that don't know about resolutions or the hardware they're using (so long as it runs Director, Photoshop, Logic etc).
of course anyone on this forum knows about resolutions. We're on a friggin internet forum.

And the staggered res's are not good, or should be absolutely labeled clearly and without crappy different names from different companies (recalls my dad asking... "WTF is i.Link?"). HD and True HD. Across the board. HD will run in low HD 720, True HD will be in full 1080.
My mate who only works in little ol' Co-op says they get so many questions about HDTV's because the public really haven't a clue about them and their numerous, confusing standards. Of course this is just one supermarket, but there are a majority out there of people who simply just don't get it.

heh, just to throw it in there... I'm the guy people around here ring when they're out buying something electronic. "which is better, 6mp or 8mp in a camera? What's bluetooth?" and "which is better, the 8gb nano or the 30gb iPod for video watching?". these are people in quite high end jobs too! The ol' general public.

[Haoshiro]

I'm not looking at it from my point of view. I look at things through a consumers PoV. My folks, or 90% of the people I know don't have a clue. There are even people on my design course that don't know about resolutions or the hardware they're using (so long as it runs Director, Photoshop, Logic etc).
of course anyone on this forum knows about resolutions. We're on a friggin internet forum.

And the staggered res's are not good, or should be absolutely labeled clearly and without crappy different names from different companies (recalls my dad asking... "WTF is i.Link?"). HD and True HD. Across the board. HD will run in low HD 720, True HD will be in full 1080.
My mate who only works in little ol' Co-op says they get so many questions about HDTV's because the public really haven't a clue about them and their numerous, confusing standards. Of course this is just one supermarket, but there are a majority out there of people who simply just don't get it.

heh, just to throw it in there... I'm the guy people around here ring when they're out buying something electronic. "which is better, 6mp or 8mp in a camera? What's bluetooth?" and "which is better, the 8gb nano or the 30gb iPod for video watching?". these are people in quite high end jobs too! The ol' general public.

But you bring up a good example, Cameras. People have gotten used to digital cameras a least some, they might not know what "megapixels" are or wven what a "pixel" is, but they can fairly easily tell a 6mp camera is better then 2mp.

Of course, with Cameras I think it's actually worse, as they are describing, you guessed it, a resolution the camera takes pictures at. And in the end that really doesn't translate to quality, the average consumer doesn't know a cheap 6mp camera can actually be worse then a nice 4mp camera.

But I think it's the same idea with 480p/720p/1080p, you don't want to list a full resolution because that's harder to compare as it is multiple numbers. Consumers who have no technical knowledge can still easily tell which number is higher. I think that's the point.

Sony pulling this "TrueHD" stuff is annoying though, and they did it because it's more marketable as a "clear advantage" of "plain/false HD". It just sounds better then just being "higher then 720p". Good marketing I guess, though. What will they do if we go about 1080p? Call it UltraHD? **sigh**

[MacRumorUser]

I'm not looking at it from my point of view. I look at things through a consumers PoV.

As someone around here as already stated (I think it was Markelshark) They work for Dixons or some such and posted that the first question out of peoples mouths is - is it HD Ready ?

And 80+% of all the tv's sold were HD Ready

So as long as the HD Ready sticker is on the TV - there is still no problem ;)

Not saying you dont get some gits in electronic shops who know feck all, becuase you do. But as long as the consumer knows to look and ask for HD Ready - they will be safe. :)

But regardless .... were taking the thread Off Topic.



To the OP.... if there's games you want to play NOW on the 360 and none for the wii you paticulary want to buy - go for it. You buy a games system for its games. Your credit note expires feburary. So you have enough time to get yourself a 360 & a copy of crackdown with the Halo3 beta ;) :D

[zelmo]

If you're hemming over getting the 360 because of the potential of an upgrade later on, why not pick up a DS with your store credit?

[Haoshiro]

And I wouldn't worry myself over a potential 360 update.

It's doubtful it'll add all that much, and for all we know it could end up a 3rd model tailored towards IPTV (and be more expensive).

That's completely up in the air right now, so I wouldn't let it affect your decision.

[Dagless]

As someone around here as already stated (I think it was Markelshark) They work for Dixons or some such and posted that the first question out of peoples mouths is - is it HD Ready ?

And 80+% of all the tv's sold were HD Ready

So as long as the HD Ready sticker is on the TV - there is still no problem ;)

Not saying you dont get some gits in electronic shops who know feck all, becuase you do. But as long as the consumer knows to look and ask for HD Ready - they will be safe. :)

But regardless .... were taking the thread Off Topic.



To the OP.... if there's games you want to play NOW on the 360 and none for the wii you paticulary want to buy - go for it. You buy a games system for its games. Your credit note expires feburary. So you have enough time to get yourself a 360 & a copy of crackdown with the Halo3 beta ;) :D

Well yea. But that sticker covers a multitude of potential specifications. Like putting a sticker over a PC saying "PC ready". Whats the specs? What does it have? what doesn't it have?
All I'm saying is there should be 2 grouped specifications. A sticker saying HD-Ready only refers to the resolution that can be anywhere between 720i to 1080p.
IIRC even MS has started to label things as "Full Vista ready" or "home vista ready" in reference to what the system will be most compatible with.

[MacRumorUser]

And maybe all stores should have a nursemaid to breast feed the customers as they come in to the store ;)

[Dagless]

Come on, you of all people should know about the public and sillyness. Remember the outcry from early HD adopters over their TV's not having the HD standard?
Consumers are silly. Look at how small the Mac OS marketshare is for one :p

[MacRumorUser]

Come on, you of all people should know about the public and sillyness. Remember the outcry from early HD adopters over their TV's not having the HD standard?
Consumers are silly. Look at how small the Mac OS marketshare is for one :p

True - but sometimes its best to not pander to the ignorant - otherwise you make them into celebrities like Jade Goodey :D

[cyclone84]

If you're hemming over getting the 360 because of the potential of an upgrade later on, why not pick up a DS with your store credit?

I just sold my DS Lite + games. How do you think I got *some of* the store credit? ;)


All this HD talk is making my head hurt. The salesman at the game shop was a playstation fanboy and tried talking me into a PS3. I quickly told him I had no intention of buying a Sony product, and we moved onto the 360. While he wasn't impressed with its lack of Square Enix games, I asked him about the HD capabilities and he seemed certain that the current 360, with its lack of HDMI output, will not and cannot display 1080i or 1080P. The reason why this frustrates me is because I plan on getting a DLP 1080P TV in the near future. (read: summer)

Can someone who owns a 360 or has intimate knowledge with its capabilities tell me just what the 360, right now, can display? No need to put it in laymans terms (I am not one of your "general public" consumers), but the info on the topic is so widespread it is hard to get a grasp on the specifics.

Thanks y'all

[Dagless]

The 360 outputs the same resolutions that the PS3 does. That's all you need to know. It was updated in a system update to allow the largest HD res of them all; 1080p.


Silly shop people for saying otherwise.

[kjr39]

The guy you spoke with is an idiot. I am using the component inputs on a plasma with my 360 and it is displaying 1080i just fine.

I really don't care about 1080p as you can't see a difference between i & p with anything 50" and under.

[Haoshiro]

The person you spoke with sounds clueless. Computers have been outputting resolutions above 1280x720 (720p) for many years over VGA just fine. Sure DVI has some better clarity (and HDMI is just DVI+Audio), but it's not enabling these "HD" resolutions, we could always do that.

The Xbox 360 can do all modes (from 480i to 1080p) but there are some factors that effect this.

There are some rules for video content that only allow DVDs to be upscaled to 1080p over VGA or DVI/HDMI, or HD-DVDs only over Component, VGA, or DVI/HDMI.

So if getting 1080p DVD output concerns you you'll need the VGA cables and a display that has a VGA connector. If it doesn't, Component should allow 1080p in every other situation.

Microsoft has made it clear that all games on 360 will be targetting 720p and no higher. Some support 1080i, and maybe we will see a game that "supports" 1080p but the target spec for 360 software is going to stay at 720p, according to MS.

Regardless of what mode the game supports, though, the 360 hardware can "upscale" the output image to 1080i/1080p depending on what you have set the system and display resolution to. IIRC, that'll work even over the Component cables (included in the Premium bundle), but best quality is still over VGA.

[cyclone84]

It's starting to become more clear, thanks for all the quick responses.

Also, I currently have an Analog TV with a component video input. Will it display the 360 video in 480p?

[Haoshiro]

It's starting to become more clear, thanks for all the quick responses.

Also, I currently have an Analog TV with a component video input. Will it display the 360 video in 480p?

That all depends on what your TV can handle. Most SDTVs can't do any progressive scan, so no 480p. The TVs that I've seen that could do 480p but nothing higher were early "HD" sets and were marked as such, even though all they did was 480p.

So chances are that you're TV can only do 480i, but you could always check your manual. :)

[Dagless]

Though even if it is just 480i always get the best cable the console and TV both support. It will make the colours more rich, sharper etc.

[cyclone84]

I gave it the weekend to think about buying the 360....and I just picked it up this morning. I also got Gears. Thanks again for the input.

[stagecustom]

I gave it the weekend to think about buying the 360....and I just picked it up this morning. I also got Gears. Thanks again for the input.

cool. GET XBOX LIVE! possibly ebay it. i picked it up in a trade on here for some cables and a memory card. they are usually worth about 30-40 on ebay for the 1 year subscription code, no credit card or anything required. or u can get it new for what 60 plus tax.

Enjoy my friend. :apple:

[MacRumorUser]

Congrats. Enjoy your console.



and be careful what you do with that chainsaw ;)

[zero2dash]

Glad to see you decided to get a 360.
FWIW - the rumored updates have not been admitted to and nothing has been planned. People assume there will be updates but nothing is set in stone.

Do I think there will (eventually) be a 90nm->65nm cpu revision? Yes.
Do I think there will be an HDMI/larger HD revision? No.

The HDMI box reported on Engadget has already been confirmed from the mouth of MS as being a development prototype only with no plans on public release.

The larger HD is more of a wish/dream of some people; IME/IMO no one has filled their HD yet unless they've spent tons of money on HD movie downloads, and MS has already stated that the IPTV feature will stream content rather than use the HD for it (either for full storage or for cache/temp storage). As it is right now - there is no need for a larger HD.

Enjoy your 360; I love mine. :D

[Haoshiro]

New GoW maps were recently added and you can get them via Live Marketplace. Can't complain about free content even if it is just 2 maps. :)

[kjr39]

Congrats!

Gears is cool and I'm starting to like the online play better.

Definately get Live! Watch the retail stores if you are not in a hurry. I was able to get it from Circuit City for $40 for a 12+1 subscription.

[zero2dash]

New GoW maps were recently added and you can get them via Live Marketplace. Can't complain about free content even if it is just 2 maps. :)

Free dashboard themes too...one for Emergence Day (dunno if this one's available anymore, or if it was just a game release day event) and one for the maps being released.

Yep...free content sure is great. :D