Microsoft Xbox 360 Core White Console
- HDTV Compatibility: HDTV Movie support
- Processor: 3.2 GHz
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Console Type: Home Console
- Gaming Type: Optional Online Gaming Multiplayer Gaming
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Microsoft XBox ... more microsoft crap? or is it?
Pros
Most Powerful Game Console other than a true PC. Broadband. Hard Drive inside.
Cons
Size, Price, Case Design, Weight, no progressive scan DVD, need other accessories
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Currently the most powerful game console... but what is a console without good games. The XBox does have a promising future overall but only time will tell
The XBox is now out to the mass market... it is the greatest gaming console to ever bless the face of the earth. Nothing... absolutely nothing... and I mean nothing can ever beat the XBox gaming abilities.
Well, that is... until the next generation of gaming consoles come out, you buy a PC with a few trimming, or see the awesome games developed for the PS2 and Gamecube.
Don't believe the hype...
Truth of the matter is that the XBox is the most powerful gaming console of the ones currently available (PS2, GameCube, and I'll even add the Dreamcast). I don't think there is any real dispute about that. Unlike my other reviews, I will not be going through the specifications of the unit... just a brief overview.
Specification Overview
Intel 733 Celeron Processor with Coppermine core and 128KB cache (i.e. this is the same as a Celeron 733 in current laptops!)
GeForce 2 or 3 or better chipset (various reports... all I know is that the graphics chip is extremely powerful)
64MB memory total (shared by all parts of the XBox)(I believe it is DDR)
8 Gig Hard Drive
8 lbs unit before tacking on your accessories
Look at the Offical XBox site for more specifications or look at
http://www.icrontic.com/index.php?page=public/articles&articleId=105
one of the better articles out there on the hardware and what can be modified and how to modify your XBox (heh!)
Back to the XBox XP
First, lets talk about how the unit looks. Personally, I think the XBox is fairly ugly looking. It is a huge unit... much bigger than the PlayStation 2 and much heavier to boot. As I said, 8 lbs! The case is black (one of the few things right about this unit) but there is a big X design on top with the bright neon green XBox label. You get a single controller, a power cable, and a XBox A/V cable. The unit has a small power button on the front center of the unit with a large lighted eject button above it. The DVD drive open to the front left side of the unit (you're looking straight at the front of the unit). On the front bottom of the unit are the 4 ports for your controllers and peripherals. The back has a plug for the power cable, a port for the A/V cable, and a ethernet port to link other XBox to your unit or for broadband connections. The A/V cable supplied allows for a basic setup out components (Video, Left Audio, Right Audio). You have to pony up more money to but more advanced A/V cables to plug into your XBox. I spent another $20 to get the Advanced A/V kit that allowed for S-VHS output and a audio optical output for my Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500 Digital setup. As I said, the overall style of the unit left much to be desired IMHO.
You do need to buy a game in addition to buying your XBox system if you want to play with your XBox. That adds about $50 to your spendings. You can only run DVDs if you buy the DVD playback kit so don't forget to buy that as well (unless you have a DVD player already). That's about another $30-35 there. This is getting expensive... isn't it.
I've already written an indepth review of the XBox controller here... so please read it for more info.
http://www.epinions.com/content_48717532804
The overview of the controller is that the controller is bigger than the PS2 or GameCube controllers, but shows some deficiencies for some games (Dead or Alive 3, Project Gotham Racing) yet excels at games like Halo and NFL Fever 2002 and Madden 2002. The long 6 foot cable with the easy disconnect is a very nice consideration by Microsoft for users. It's a user's preference however on the controller.
Here are my links to the DVD playback kit.
http://www.epinions.com/content_48622833284
Originally, I thought the XBox didn't have all the hardware to play back DVDs... but several internet articles show otherwise. However, the point is moot anyways since the playback kit is necessary to unlock the DVD playback feature. Another thing, the system is listed as progressive scan compliant... however, it is not a progressive scan DVD player. The progressive scan abilities are for XBox games supporting such features. I know, I know... it doesn't make a lot of sense.
The 8 Gigabyte Hard Drive is used to save games, rip music files (in Windows Media Format), create space for fast loading of games, and a few other things as well. There isn't much use for a memory card so far. Here's my review of the XBox memory card...
http://www.epinions.com/content_48623685252
The system and games
If there is anything about this system that you'll notice is the graphics. The XBox is far and away the most powerful console when it comes to graphics and effects. Dead or Alive 3 is the pinnacle of that. There is no other game for any other system that displays the breathtaking graphics of Dead or Alive 3. IF YOU SEE DEAD OR ALIVE 3 on a HDTV AT 480 LINES OF RESOLUTION, YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY. NFL Fever 2002, Project Gotham Racing, and even Oddworld also show spectacular graphics.
The current launch titles are decent with a few hit titles. Halo is definitely the best of the bunch and a definite system seller. Dead or Alive 3 should have been but seems lacking overall... however it is still the best game to show off the graphic capabilities of the XBox. NFL Fever 2002 is another graphical masterpiece with solid gameplay. No overall complaints about the launch titles... the graphics of the first generation of XBox software is superior to other systems although many of the games don't show any great advances over games on other systems with a few exceptions.
In the games department, this is what will make or break any system. The PS2 launch last year had lackluster titles overall. The XBox launch displayed some solid games for a console launch. Bravo for Microsoft! However, it still remains to be seen on what other software is released for the XBox. I do have high hopes for the system and many future titles have me excited... like Soul Calibur 2, Shenmue 2, Obi Wan. Metal Gear Solid might come to the XBox soon(although it may not make a difference since 1 and 2 are out on the PS2). The XBox will lack many large franchises like Final Fantasy, Mario, Zelda, Gran Turismo, and currently Metal Gear Solid. Overall, like the PS2 one year ago, the potential for the system is very great... far outstripping the PS2. As long as Microsoft supports the system, I think we will see excellent games for the XBox that will rip up the competition not too far into the future.
Links to my Halo review
http://www.epinions.com/content_47044988548
and Dead or Alive review
http://www.epinions.com/content_47211449988
Conclusions
The XBox is a powerful system... if you're looking to what system to buy though... It's still a complicated choice. The games that you want to play must be the priority. For me, it doesn't matter since I own both a PlayStation 2 and a XBox. I also have a high powered PC, the original Playstation, and a Sega Saturn too. In my case, I have room to play around with in game selection. If you're looking to buy only one game console, you have to know what kind of games you want to play. If you play sports games, it will not matter if you buy a PS2, XBox, or GameCube. They will all have Electronic Arts Sports titles on them. Madden is universal. If you want Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X now... then you're going for a Playstation. Like 2D fighters, go with the Playstation 2. Like Mario or Zelda, you're buying a GameCube. Like first person shooters, buy the XBox and Halo. If you have a wide variety... then I hope you have a lot of cash to buy several consoles like I did.
The XBox is a great game console but you have to know what games you want to play first. That's going to make your decision... not the power of the game console. Still... the XBox has a bright future in front of it. I guess Microsoft can do a few things right other than MS Office.
Well, that is... until the next generation of gaming consoles come out, you buy a PC with a few trimming, or see the awesome games developed for the PS2 and Gamecube.
Don't believe the hype...
Truth of the matter is that the XBox is the most powerful gaming console of the ones currently available (PS2, GameCube, and I'll even add the Dreamcast). I don't think there is any real dispute about that. Unlike my other reviews, I will not be going through the specifications of the unit... just a brief overview.
Specification Overview
Intel 733 Celeron Processor with Coppermine core and 128KB cache (i.e. this is the same as a Celeron 733 in current laptops!)
GeForce 2 or 3 or better chipset (various reports... all I know is that the graphics chip is extremely powerful)
64MB memory total (shared by all parts of the XBox)(I believe it is DDR)
8 Gig Hard Drive
8 lbs unit before tacking on your accessories
Look at the Offical XBox site for more specifications or look at
http://www.icrontic.com/index.php?page=public/articles&articleId=105
one of the better articles out there on the hardware and what can be modified and how to modify your XBox (heh!)
Back to the XBox XP
First, lets talk about how the unit looks. Personally, I think the XBox is fairly ugly looking. It is a huge unit... much bigger than the PlayStation 2 and much heavier to boot. As I said, 8 lbs! The case is black (one of the few things right about this unit) but there is a big X design on top with the bright neon green XBox label. You get a single controller, a power cable, and a XBox A/V cable. The unit has a small power button on the front center of the unit with a large lighted eject button above it. The DVD drive open to the front left side of the unit (you're looking straight at the front of the unit). On the front bottom of the unit are the 4 ports for your controllers and peripherals. The back has a plug for the power cable, a port for the A/V cable, and a ethernet port to link other XBox to your unit or for broadband connections. The A/V cable supplied allows for a basic setup out components (Video, Left Audio, Right Audio). You have to pony up more money to but more advanced A/V cables to plug into your XBox. I spent another $20 to get the Advanced A/V kit that allowed for S-VHS output and a audio optical output for my Cambridge Soundworks DTT3500 Digital setup. As I said, the overall style of the unit left much to be desired IMHO.
You do need to buy a game in addition to buying your XBox system if you want to play with your XBox. That adds about $50 to your spendings. You can only run DVDs if you buy the DVD playback kit so don't forget to buy that as well (unless you have a DVD player already). That's about another $30-35 there. This is getting expensive... isn't it.
I've already written an indepth review of the XBox controller here... so please read it for more info.
http://www.epinions.com/content_48717532804
The overview of the controller is that the controller is bigger than the PS2 or GameCube controllers, but shows some deficiencies for some games (Dead or Alive 3, Project Gotham Racing) yet excels at games like Halo and NFL Fever 2002 and Madden 2002. The long 6 foot cable with the easy disconnect is a very nice consideration by Microsoft for users. It's a user's preference however on the controller.
Here are my links to the DVD playback kit.
http://www.epinions.com/content_48622833284
Originally, I thought the XBox didn't have all the hardware to play back DVDs... but several internet articles show otherwise. However, the point is moot anyways since the playback kit is necessary to unlock the DVD playback feature. Another thing, the system is listed as progressive scan compliant... however, it is not a progressive scan DVD player. The progressive scan abilities are for XBox games supporting such features. I know, I know... it doesn't make a lot of sense.
The 8 Gigabyte Hard Drive is used to save games, rip music files (in Windows Media Format), create space for fast loading of games, and a few other things as well. There isn't much use for a memory card so far. Here's my review of the XBox memory card...
http://www.epinions.com/content_48623685252
The system and games
If there is anything about this system that you'll notice is the graphics. The XBox is far and away the most powerful console when it comes to graphics and effects. Dead or Alive 3 is the pinnacle of that. There is no other game for any other system that displays the breathtaking graphics of Dead or Alive 3. IF YOU SEE DEAD OR ALIVE 3 on a HDTV AT 480 LINES OF RESOLUTION, YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY. NFL Fever 2002, Project Gotham Racing, and even Oddworld also show spectacular graphics.
The current launch titles are decent with a few hit titles. Halo is definitely the best of the bunch and a definite system seller. Dead or Alive 3 should have been but seems lacking overall... however it is still the best game to show off the graphic capabilities of the XBox. NFL Fever 2002 is another graphical masterpiece with solid gameplay. No overall complaints about the launch titles... the graphics of the first generation of XBox software is superior to other systems although many of the games don't show any great advances over games on other systems with a few exceptions.
In the games department, this is what will make or break any system. The PS2 launch last year had lackluster titles overall. The XBox launch displayed some solid games for a console launch. Bravo for Microsoft! However, it still remains to be seen on what other software is released for the XBox. I do have high hopes for the system and many future titles have me excited... like Soul Calibur 2, Shenmue 2, Obi Wan. Metal Gear Solid might come to the XBox soon(although it may not make a difference since 1 and 2 are out on the PS2). The XBox will lack many large franchises like Final Fantasy, Mario, Zelda, Gran Turismo, and currently Metal Gear Solid. Overall, like the PS2 one year ago, the potential for the system is very great... far outstripping the PS2. As long as Microsoft supports the system, I think we will see excellent games for the XBox that will rip up the competition not too far into the future.
Links to my Halo review
http://www.epinions.com/content_47044988548
and Dead or Alive review
http://www.epinions.com/content_47211449988
Conclusions
The XBox is a powerful system... if you're looking to what system to buy though... It's still a complicated choice. The games that you want to play must be the priority. For me, it doesn't matter since I own both a PlayStation 2 and a XBox. I also have a high powered PC, the original Playstation, and a Sega Saturn too. In my case, I have room to play around with in game selection. If you're looking to buy only one game console, you have to know what kind of games you want to play. If you play sports games, it will not matter if you buy a PS2, XBox, or GameCube. They will all have Electronic Arts Sports titles on them. Madden is universal. If you want Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X now... then you're going for a Playstation. Like 2D fighters, go with the Playstation 2. Like Mario or Zelda, you're buying a GameCube. Like first person shooters, buy the XBox and Halo. If you have a wide variety... then I hope you have a lot of cash to buy several consoles like I did.
The XBox is a great game console but you have to know what games you want to play first. That's going to make your decision... not the power of the game console. Still... the XBox has a bright future in front of it. I guess Microsoft can do a few things right other than MS Office.
