Xbox360 for Newbs

[shinner]

So.....thinking of maybe picking one up nearer to Christmas for my son. Gonna turn the basement into something of a video gamers room. No idea what's what, what with all the various flavas of 360s out.

Someone gimme a layman's view of the 360 line...what to go for, what to avoid. Note, I'm not interested in the PS3 so don't waste a post telling me to buy one of those instead.

Grassy-ass.

[CarolinaSock]

Do you plan on playing games online over Xbox live? If so do you plan on downloading content from xbox live or just playing the games?

If your just going to play games and not download content like extra maps then I'd recommend the xbox 360 arcade. If you want to download extra content for games and other things off Xbox live I'd recommend the xbox 360 pro. The difference between the 2 is the arcade only comes with a 256mb memory card basically for saved games. The pro has a 60gb hard drive for saving all kinds of stuff you can get off xbox live. If your going to go with the pro you'll need to get it soon as it is being phased out and the only model left with a hard drive will be the elite with a 120gb hard drive once the pro is phased out. The elite is $50 more than the pro.

The standard package only comes with 1 controller so you will probably want at least 1 more controller. You'll need a xbox live gold subscription if you want to play online multiplayer. If you have a wireless network and cannot connect the xbox via an ethernet cable to your network you will need the wireless network adapter accessory as well. Of course, this is only if you plan on using the xbox online.

[Carolina Husker]

Unless you plan on storing movies on the hard-drive, get the regular XBOX 360 with 60GB. Don't get the Arcade. You can't do anything with it, including updates, patches or expansion packs because there isn't memory. Hell, you can't even save games after a while.

Other than that, just get an extra wireless controller, an ethernet cable and an HDMI if you have an HDTV and you're set.

Here's a breakdown of all 3 consoles.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/compare101.htm

[Tweeder]

get the elite and just be done with it

[cookinwithgas]

I'd be inclined to agree with Tweeder, progress marches on and they are phasing out the smaller drive.

I've found the XBox USB wireless adapter to be better than the external network wireless game adapters out there.

Have fun

[rodeo]

you'll find yourself eating through the harddrive by installing games onto it. it's much quieter and smoother if you do, and games like madden take up about 4 to 7gb each.

[walt227]

How old is your son? He may enjoy a Wii more. I'm not a huge gamer, but I have both and in terms of a "group sport" the Wii is a lot more fun...

[Scrumtrilescent]

get the elite and just be done with it

Yep. And my converted LINKSYS router works great for it as a wireless adapter, and it's half the cost.

[Fiz]

Assuming you don't have a computer, these are the games worth getting in order of how amazing they are.

RPG

Fallout 3 - Stunningly gorgeous, graphically violent, pure visceral joy. Maybe the best game ever made

Mass Effect - Great story, great graphics, great gameplay, fug the Mako

Bioshock - IS MAN NOT ENTITLED TO THE SWEAT OFF HIS OWN BROW? This game is seriously like playing a work of art.

KOTOR - yes i know it came out on xbox but it plays on 360 and its still amazing.

Sports

Blitz: The League - more fun than Madden and you can play as Ron Mexico

Shooters

Halo - Keep in mind if you buy this you're going to have to spend about 100 dollars before you can play it online. And the game has a really big learning curve online.

All the COD are pretty much the same thing.

Whatever the last GTA was - that's a shooter right?

[Fiz]

actually saints row 2 was better than GTA

i mean seriously you can drive a sanitation truck around dumping poo on people who thought of that

[joemac]

I have a slightly used xbox wireless adapter that i'll sell for like 50 bucks if you need one of those. They are usually about 100 bucks in the store, iirc....

[WildBill559]

Go Elite, it's worth it. Something else to add is the quick charge kit. You just leave it plugged in and it keeps your backup batteries fresh. I love it.

If you're asking about games as well, the ones mentioned before are a good start.

You and your kid might dig some of the (new) old school XBLA games as well. Castle Crashers is like that Ninja Turtles arcade game from the late 80's (with RPG elements added) and Shadow Complex is like Metroid. Good stuff for $15.

[Fiz]

I have a slightly used xbox wireless adapter that i'll sell for like 50 bucks if you need one of those. They are usually about 100 bucks in the store, iirc....

serious?

[Doc Holiday]

As being the biggest console geek here, I say go with the Elite, can't miss with that.