Xbox 360. Who's gonna get one?

[obxhead]

Only 22 days away.

Since I'm already posting, how old is too old, to be playing video games?

[MADem]

1. Ok, I have young ones who might like one, tell me why they are so great

...and tell me how much they cost, while you are at it!

I'm an old fart, and I like the odd game, but the ones that require a lot of hand-eye coordination kind of leave me in the dust. We all enjoy the karaoke with the cartoon characters too...give everyone a few drinks, and they will gladly make asses of themselves!

[obxhead]

3. They cost so much because they can.

It's the whole what the market will bear kind of thing.

I don't want to sound like a Microsoft advertiser, but I think they will be the best thing since sliced bread so to speak. Without getting into the jargon, MS seems to have the best gaming platform specs to ever come about. To build a PC with the power that the Xbox 360 will have would be at least a $1000 and that would be a do it yourself PC with all the components shopped to the best of your ability. With that in mind the 360 pricing doesn't seem out of line to me.

Now let me say I HATE the first release of any game system. I bought a 1st release Xbox and it was fried in 6 months, my second went a year and I sold my 3rd after its first few hiccups. But graphics and load time was far superior to my P2's and The P2's I had didn't prove to be any more reliable than my 3 Xbox consoles.

Will the Xbox 360 be better than the P3? That I can't really answer for sure, but as far as raw hardware specs go I'm gonna go with the 360.

Now game producers and developers and which system they choose to release their games on is a whole 'nother ball o' wax so to speak.

[MADem]

5. How much are they? Is the 360 number something to do with the price?

That would be kinda cold of them, but hey...!

[Systematic Chaos]

7. No. The 360 is an alliteration to a full circle.

The price should be either $400 or $500 depending on whether you want the 20gb (that's all they could put in there?) hard drive or not.

[MADem]

8. Owch--that is a bit of cash

I'll bet when the price hits 360, they will start flying off the shelves!

But it does sound nice!

[obxhead]

9. $299 for the base model, $399 for all the bells and whistles

I'm gonna blow the extra $100 myself. You get some options I would end up wanting to have and upgrades would cost much more in the end.

I think the games are going to run $60 or so a piece.

If this is going to be an xmas thing you need to think fast. The first Xbox sold out nation wide very quickly (3 days where I lived) and I expect this one to do much the same. The release date is Nov 22nd.

[Sandpiper]

2. I'll wait for a year or so

When they cost half as much.

[obxhead]

4. I hear ya, but I don't know if I can wait to play the new Oblivion

and my PC can't run it. It also took the Xbox more than a year to drop a third of it's price. Call me whatever, I've wasted a $100 on much less. I think I want it now.

[DainBramaged]

20. Sandpiper, why deprive yourself hoping they'll drop 50%?

This isn't a PIII embedded system with NVidia GTS video engine from 2002, this is a full bore P4 gaming computer without the monitor. What makes you think the price will go down 50% in a year? Has anything with legs in the gaming industry gone down 50% in a year? Has the PS2? Nintendo? Didn't they take like 3 years to drop $50 dollars?

I love optimists. :toast:

[Systematic Chaos]

6. Waiting for the PS3.

I have played the XBox a little bit and it's okay, but I'm a PlayStation loyalist from back in 1997 when I got my first original PlayStation.

As for the XBox 360 being as good as a $1000 computer, remember that in 3 years a $1000 computer will be at least 4 times more powerful than an XBox 360. With computers you upgrade and evolve. With consoles you're stuck until the next generation launches.

[obxhead]

10. As a gamer I would debate that.

One thing all gaming systems (TV based) have going for them is that they are dedicated to that purpose specifically. I've worked with and built PC's as a hobby for years and have seen some really cool and tricked out systems. One thing about those systems is that they had operators that knew what they were doing. TV systems are turn on and go.

Go to your local game store now and read the requirements for a great number of games now. P4 2.5Gig+ chip & 512 RAM minimums. Now PS2 and Xbox still release new games everyday and they're 3+ years old.

[GirlinContempt]

48. Computer games have always been on the

cutting edge. Yeah consoles are releasing new games still, but quality vs. quantity, or, rather, fresh vs stale. If thats something that a persons concerned about.
Personally, I stick with my pre-SNES systems.

[Born Free]

15. I am also waiting for the PS3

Over the years, I never did buy into the Microsoft hype, much like Rove they use tricky and deceptive ways to get people to think their ideas are best and when that doesn't work they use less than honorable ways to capture market share. The Sony PS3 will be a new and exciting product, not just hype.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Um.. Shifts Nervously. Checks for wife over shoulder.

Heh Heh.

Doesn't this belong in the lounge?

But..... hell yeah, that thing looks cool as all get-out.

How old? Well, I remember Watergate, and I'm not too old.

[obxhead]

13. I wanted to see what GD had to say as well.

Oblivion.... That's what I'm waiting for.

[personman]

17. Me too

I will probably get it for PC, but I've been mentioning Oblivion to everyone who seems interested in the 360.

http://www.elderscrolls.com/

[moggie]

12. How old is too old?

How old is too old to be watching TV? Meaningless question, isn't it? A video game is just another form of entertainment. Provided you don't take it too seriously, I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy the odd game at any age. Playing Katamari Damacy or Ico for half an hour can't be worse than slumping in front of the latest TV papcast.

[obxhead]

14. at least with video games you have to press buttons,

wiggle a direction pad, and make some decisions. TV only encourages a slack jaw and popcorn eating.

[MADem]

58. Well, from eight to eighty something, we all enjoy the karaoke X box game

where you have to sing along appropriately to win. The funny thing is, sometimes the worst singers are the most successful, and the ones who jazz it up are left in the dust!

The more interactive, the better, with our bunch. We like anything that tests our minds, or allows us to make asses of ourselves in a social setting--we treat them like the board games of yore!

[baron j]

16. If I had the cash, I'd go with a PS3, because it will play Blu-Ray discs,

which are 40 gigs. I think the 360 will only utilize the smaller capacity HD-dvd's. I predict the public will choose Blu-Ray.

[MetaTrope]

18. Console controllers leave my hands cramped, scraped and blistered

My XBox has been collecting dust for two years. I'll stick with my tricked-out PC, thanks.

[Mike Daniels]

19. Already pre-ordered my X360 & I'll probably get the PS3 when it comes out

One advantage to being a DINK houselhold is the ability to occasionally throw away money on gizmos.

I pre-ordered the 360 a month on two back but probably won't be on the "receive" list on launch day. Pretty much guaranteed to have it by Christmas though which is a plus because by that time there will be enough feedback on the system and games that are out during launch.

[obxhead]

21. Xbox 360. Who's gonna get one?

Only 22 days away.

Since I'm already posting, how old is too old, to be playing video games?

[WindRavenX]

22. you're never too old to love video games

I am a Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy fanatic- and am 20 :hi:

It's a great way to relax.

[obxhead]

24. I fell in love with Morrowind on the xbox

The next one in the series is a 360 release title so I think I'm gonna have to get it.

I was also a huge FF freak myself. I still have an old Nintendo 8 bit and FF1, but the battery in the cartridge is dead.

[realisticphish]

38. OMG

Morrowind is... words fail me. It consumes you, yet you consume it too.


In short, I NEED the new morrowind. Like a junkie.

[obxhead]

39. I'm sure you've seen it but here's one of many links

http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/oblivion_overview.htm

I hear that in this next one you can see the trees and grass swaying with the wind.....

Is it 11/22/05 yet and if not can I just sleep until then?

and no I'm not a paid mouthpiece, but I would be if I knew where to sign up.

[realisticphish]

40. *sob*

why did you show me this?

now microsoft is laughing as the draw me into buying a 400 fucking dollar game system for one game....

[obxhead]

42. It's the only reason the 360 has me hyped.

My PC won't even run Morrowind well, so I've gotta go with the 360 as it's cheaper than the upgrades my desktop needs.

[realisticphish]

43. yeah

but i'll wait a while, let the price go down. i just got my damn xbox last christmas, and im hard put to justify spending that much when my xbox is fine

[Mike Daniels]

44. Oblivion has already been bumped off the launch schedule

I'm looking forward to this game as well and it's one of the primary reasons I want the 360.

However, the game has now been bumped to 2nd quarter due to some AI issues. One major issue in this area was that a NPC that was supposed to guard a quest objective was killing off the objective instead.

The delay is disappointing but I'd rather them be late in getting the game out and get it right vs. releasing something inherently flawed just to meet launch.

[democracyindanger]

23. There will soon come a day

when retirement homes will have video games--and I'd bet my generation will be the first to have 'em.

[obxhead]

25. klink

:toast:

[Omphaloskepsis]

26. I don't really play video games...

I don't like them.. Starcraft is the last one I bought.. And I play it on a G3 iMac running OS 9.

[obxhead]

27. Ever try Civilization?

I'm not sure if they have a Mac version, but I've played every version of it since the OE release. It's not real time like Starcraft, but Every game you play is different than the last.

[Omphaloskepsis]

30. Tried it ...

It barely worked with OS X 10.1 . I like those types of games. I just don't miss them. I did play SimCity 2000 for weeks on end.

[obxhead]

33. The Sim series games never got me excited.

Civ seemed so much better because it had some aspects of Sim city as far as the nation building went, but it also had the war aspect to get you thinking about allies and enemies.

I'm sorry it didn't run well for you, it truly is a great game.

[BulletproofLandshark]

28. No age is too old for video games

I'm 29 and I've been playing video games since I was 3, if you can believe that. I don't plan on EVER stopping.

But to answer your first question, my XBox is only 2 years old, so they're not going to get me to upgrade just yet. I think I'm getting the PS3 first.

[obxhead]

29. Same boat here.

Going on "29 and holding" myself and been a gamer ever since I can remember. From the specs I've read though The 360 is gonna smoke the P3, but Sony does get a lot of great titles that Microsoft hasn't.

[BlueWolf]

31. The average age of a gamer is 29

I learned that at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. They have an exhibit on the history of video games. I found it surprising, because I expected the age to be younger. I'm a 30 something gamer, and have been playing since I was a kid. As far as X-Box 360 goes, I haven't decided yet. I like the way it sounds, and if it wasn't so pricey, I'd definitely go get one.

[obxhead]

34. Hi Bluewolf

welcome to DU :toast:

I think I'm going for it. The clincher was the release Oblivion being a release title. Morrowind was one of my "best ever" games.

That 29 year old average shocks me as well.

[BlueWolf]

51. Thanks for the welcome!

I'm glad to be here. :toast: Yeah, now that you mention it, Oblivion does look really cool. The screen shots are awesome. Hmm... Now the price of the 360 seems less significant.

[Doc Sardonic]

35. I'm one of the ones skewing.......

the average. Been gaming since Pong and don't intend to quit.

[obxhead]

36. Hi Doc Sardonic

:toast: Welcome to DU!

[BlueWolf]

53. Keep going!

Welcome to DU by the way! I'm a newbie myself. DU is a really cool place. Pong was awesome. I think us older gamers have a lot of valuable gaming experience, because we've seen so many different genres. I kind of equate us older gamers to the old time movie buffs who lived through the golden age of movie making, and none of the new stuff compares to the classics. I kind of feel that way about video games- a lot of the new games are flashy with great graphics, but aren't quite as fun as the old, classic games. I think the older games had to rely more on fun factor to sell the game compared to todays games which can sell on graphics alone. Of course, there are still alot of great games being made.

[Buddyblazon]

32. I'm 33 and still play....

not as much as I'd like. But I actually have to work.

We were the first ones in my town to get an Atari 2600. I was maybe 6 at the time.

And all the guys at Gamestop are saying that Sony is going to take back the console lead with the PS3. However, that's another half year.

[obxhead]

37. I had a 2600 too.

I've read about so many games I had that have recently sold for big $$$ too. I sold my 7800 upgrade (you could play the old 2600 games on the new system too, but the 7800 games had the 5200 graphics) along with 30 cartridges for $25 in a garage sale. ET, Smurfs, Frogger, Pitfall....

I doubt Gamestop with their P3 doublespeak. I would have to site the recent lawsuit with Sony paying radio stations to play their titles/artists. Xbox has more power for the buck as far as I can tell. Sony does get a lot of games the box doesn't though.

[skoppa]

41. Probably wont have to money to get one,

but luckily a few of my friends will.

:D :D

[Kellanved]

45. nah. My good old plain XBOX does everything I want.

It is my streaming audio/video server, my webradio client, it acts occasionally as ftp server and stuff like that.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

46. I got mine pre-ordered.

I'm 25 and do not intend to stop playing any time soon.

[DS1]

47. I'd get one, but the only types of games I like for consoles

are racing games. First Person Shooters are just completely incompatible with D-Pad controllers, for me anyway.

So, no, I won't get one. If I did have the money to spend, I'd get a PS3, because they have the Gran Turismo series.

[Divameow77]

49. My husband is 31 and still loves to play

mostly sports games. He has a PS2, when does PS3 come out?

Who can recommend a good game for me to get him for Christmas? He mostly likes sports, but he does like other games as well. I remember right after we got married we played Silent Hill 2 for like 3 days straight.

[Greyhound]

50. No way! Never support M$. I'm getting a PS 3 when they're ready

better processor, better graphics, better OS, just better. :freak:

[StaggerLee]

52. I'm a 37 year old (going on 38 real soon) PC gamer

As long as the industry puts out quality games I don't intend on ever quitting.

I'll try out the 360 eventually and see what my heart tells me.

:hi:

[Fox Mulder]

54. I was going to get one, but I'm not paying $399 for it.

Hell, I refuse to pay $299 for the crappier version (without the hardrive, wireless controls). Christ, for $399, I can almost get a decent, new computer.

I'll just wait until PS3 comes out. Who knows...if XBox decides to lower the price at that time, I may reconsider.

[cfield]

56. the PS3s won't be much cheaper

if they're any cheaper at all. My husband (who's 21) has done TONS of research on the two systems. He's been a huge PS fan but he's going xbox this time. That's all he's talked about for months, and all he's asking for for birthday and Christmas. Thank goodness his family does good around holidays, he'll have enough in b-day money to get the system and a game, and I'm springing for a second controller for him.

He just sold his PS2, and I know he won't care to invest in any games I can play on the 360. He'll have football and maybe basketball. Me? I loved Bust-a-move on the PS2.
Ah, well, I guess it's not my toy.

[Fox Mulder]

57. Oh I know PS3s won't be much cheaper...

I'm just hoping the XBox 360 will get its price lowered by the time the PS3 comes out.

[Initech]

55. I dont even have a regular Xbox...

And I rarely play my PS2 anymore. So probably not.