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Wii, XBOX 360 or
PS3 Video Game
Console?
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guide VIDEO
GAME
CONSOLES and
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FOR!
continued from page 2
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platforms, but hard-core PC gamers tend to be,
well, hard-core PC gamers and eschew
mainstream console games, while committed
console gamers can sometimes be heard
bashing PC gamers as elitist nerds. While
there's nothing wrong with drawing your own
distinction, what’s clear--at least for the moment,
anyway--is that Microsoft's Xbox 360makes the
line between PC and console gaming a lot
fuzzier. Yes, this is a console, with game
controllers and A/V cables that are designed to
interface with your TV--preferably of the HD
variety--but Microsoft has essentially packed a
high-end PC gaming rig into a relatively small
box that fits into any A/V rack or cabinet. That
the Xbox 360 also has a user interface that
rivals TiVo's in terms of slick presentation and
ease of use, plus a host of digital media and
networking features, helps elevate the already-
good Xbox experience to a whole new level.
Naturally, the 360 is not without its flaws. Many
launch titles simply rehashed their PC or
console counterparts, and we're only now
seeing developers shift focus away from the
PlayStation 2 and Xbox 1 and creating truly next-
gen looking games. While Microsoft is finally a
massing good library of games, Sony's
PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Way are also
doing the same. At this point, the $400 Xbox 360
has a major price advantage over the PS3--its
premium package will cost $200 less than
Sony's (the company is planning on selling $600
and $500 models of the system), though the Wii
may boast just as big a price differential in the
opposite direction. Whether either or both will be
better is anybody's guess. All we can say is that
both companies better hurry because the Xbox
360 will be a hard temptation for gamers to
resist for too long. Want to buy an XBOX 360,
Wii, PS3, PSP or PS2 game system? When laid
horizontally, the 8.8-poundXbox 360 is 12.15
inches wide, 3.27inches high, and 10.15 inches
deep and is actually slightly smaller than the
original Xbox, which also weighed in at8.8
pounds. Unlike the original, the Xbox 360 can
also be propped up in a vertical position and, as
you’re probably aware, can be customized with
interchangeable faceplates that cost up to $20.
Neither the original Xbox nor the 360 are terribly
sexy, especially compared to the slimmed-down
PlayStation 2, but at least the 360 is less boxy
than the original, and you can always slap on a
funky faceplate to liven things up. Custom
faceplates aside, it's worth pointing out that the
beige color of the system tends to clash with the
silver and blacks of typical A/V components.
One of the reasons Microsoft was able to keep
down the 360's weight is that instead of building
a standard, desktop-style hard drive into the unit
itself, it's gone with a smaller--and more
expensive--laptop-style hard drive that's
detachable from the main unit. The hard drive
(included with the$399 Xbox 360 premium
bundle, sold separately for the $299 Core
System) is 20GB, but we assume significantly
larger capacities will become available from
Microsoft--or more likely--third-party
manufacturers. As part of the $399 bundle,
you'll also get a wireless controller--the 360 has
built-in wireless capabilities but only for
controllers, not Wi-Fi (more on that faux pas in
the Features section).Each 360 console can
support up to four wireless controllers, and
unlike with third-party wireless controllers for
earlier consoles, you won't have to have to plug
any dongles into any ports. You'll also like that a
green Eldon both the 360 itself and the
controller indicates exactly which controllers (1
through 4) are connected. This is also true if
you are playing with a mixture of wireless and
wired controllers; you know who has which
controller. All in all, we really like the design of
the new controllers. They feel good in hand, and
the shift of the Start and Back buttons to the top
middle of the controller is a good move, as is the
addition of a set of shoulder buttons on top of
the right/left trigger buttons. And no, Xbox1
controllers do not work with the 360.Want to buy
an XBOX 360, Wii, PS3, PSP or PS2 game
system? On the front of the unit, you'll find two
USB ports hidden behind hinged doors in the
faceplate, as well as two memory-card slots that
allow you to take saved games and other
content on the go. Those ports are where you’ll
plug in any wired controllers and other USB
accessories that will become available, as well
as cables to connect a digital camera, MP3
players, or even your iPod or Sony PSP. Many
USB keyboards are compatible, but for the most
part, they are strictly relegated to
communication and data entry functions, not
game play. While Microsoft clearly hopes you'll
go wireless and thereby free up USB ports for
other accessories, we were disappointed there
was only one USB port on the back of the unit--
and that one is meant for Microsoft's optional
wireless networking adapter, which conveniently
clips on to the back of 360. Another small design
gripe: You won’t be able to connect some thumb
drive-style MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod
Shuffle, to the USB port in back. You'll need a
USB extension cable to connect them because
the entryway to the port is too narrow. Want to
buy an XBOX 360, PSP or PS2 game system?
The 360 sports an infrared (IR) port on the front
panel, which lets you use compatible remote
controls without the need for an external dongle.
Furthermore, you can power the console on and
off and open the disc tray with a remote or
controller--another convenient improvement
over the old Xbox. The Xbox 360's on screen
Dashboard interface is truly stellar, and it's clear
that the folks at Microsoft looked less toward
Windows and more toward the vaunted TiVo
interface for their model. Yes, the 360 interface
certainly has some ties to that of Windows Media
Center PCs, but it's slicker and more user-
friendly, with color-coated tabs for the system's
various features, including gaming, media,
system settings, and Xbox Live. To page
through the various activities, you simply move
the directional keypad on your controller (or the
remote) left tonight. With the increased
processing power, windows open quicker than
they do on the original; the system and interface
as a whole just feels zippier. Like the faceplates,
the Dashboard is customizable, with a host of
themes preloaded on the hard drive and many
more available to download. Continuing the Xbox
360's customization kick is the Gamer Card,
which consists of a personal avatar--a picture
chosen from a batch of Microsoft approved
images--as well as a motto 21 characters or less
in length. The centerpiece of the Gamer Card is
the gamer score: a point-total representative of
predetermined goals, known as Achievements,
met in each and every game. It's a nice way to
foster offline competitiveness between gamers,
as even completely single-player games such as
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion include Achievements.
Want to buy an XBOX360, PS3, PSP or PS2
game system? Not to end the Design section on
adown note, but we would remiss not to mention
the Xbox 360's power supply. There’s a reason
they call these things power bricks--this one
truly is the size and weight of a real brick. We're
not kidding. Furthermore, the 360'sexhaust fan
is audibly noisy in a quiet room--not a problem
when gaming, but it could be a factor when
you're using the 360 for media playback. As
mentioned previously, there are two versions of
the Xbox 360 available. The $299 Core System
delivers the bare basics: the console, a single
wired controller, and a standard composite A/V
cable. The $399"premium" bundle
(known officially, and confusingly, as simply the
Xbox 360)includes the console, along with
several key accessories that you’d otherwise
have to purchase separately: a wireless game
controller, a communications headset for Xbox
Live, a component A/V cable, an Ethernet
networking cable, and--most important--a snap-
on 20GB hard drive. Though it's more
Go to Page 4
page 3
platforms, but hard-core PC gamers tend to be,
well, hard-core PC gamers and eschew
mainstream console games, while committed
console gamers can sometimes be heard
bashing PC gamers as elitist nerds. While
there's nothing wrong with drawing your own
distinction, what’s clear--at least for the moment,
anyway--is that Microsoft's Xbox 360makes the
line between PC and console gaming a lot
fuzzier. Yes, this is a console, with game
controllers and A/V cables that are designed to
interface with your TV--preferably of the HD
variety--but Microsoft has essentially packed a
high-end PC gaming rig into a relatively small
box that fits into any A/V rack or cabinet. That
the Xbox 360 also has a user interface that
rivals TiVo's in terms of slick presentation and
ease of use, plus a host of digital media and
networking features, helps elevate the already-
good Xbox experience to a whole new level.
Naturally, the 360 is not without its flaws. Many
launch titles simply rehashed their PC or
console counterparts, and we're only now
seeing developers shift focus away from the
PlayStation 2 and Xbox 1 and creating truly next-
gen looking games. While Microsoft is finally a
massing good library of games, Sony's
PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Way are also
doing the same. At this point, the $400 Xbox 360
has a major price advantage over the PS3--its
premium package will cost $200 less than
Sony's (the company is planning on selling $600
and $500 models of the system), though the Wii
may boast just as big a price differential in the
opposite direction. Whether either or both will be
better is anybody's guess. All we can say is that
both companies better hurry because the Xbox
360 will be a hard temptation for gamers to
resist for too long. Want to buy an XBOX 360,
Wii, PS3, PSP or PS2 game system? When laid
horizontally, the 8.8-poundXbox 360 is 12.15
inches wide, 3.27inches high, and 10.15 inches
deep and is actually slightly smaller than the
original Xbox, which also weighed in at8.8
pounds. Unlike the original, the Xbox 360 can
also be propped up in a vertical position and, as
you’re probably aware, can be customized with
interchangeable faceplates that cost up to $20.
Neither the original Xbox nor the 360 are terribly
sexy, especially compared to the slimmed-down
PlayStation 2, but at least the 360 is less boxy
than the original, and you can always slap on a
funky faceplate to liven things up. Custom
faceplates aside, it's worth pointing out that the
beige color of the system tends to clash with the
silver and blacks of typical A/V components.
One of the reasons Microsoft was able to keep
down the 360's weight is that instead of building
a standard, desktop-style hard drive into the unit
itself, it's gone with a smaller--and more
expensive--laptop-style hard drive that's
detachable from the main unit. The hard drive
(included with the$399 Xbox 360 premium
bundle, sold separately for the $299 Core
System) is 20GB, but we assume significantly
larger capacities will become available from
Microsoft--or more likely--third-party
manufacturers. As part of the $399 bundle,
you'll also get a wireless controller--the 360 has
built-in wireless capabilities but only for
controllers, not Wi-Fi (more on that faux pas in
the Features section).Each 360 console can
support up to four wireless controllers, and
unlike with third-party wireless controllers for
earlier consoles, you won't have to have to plug
any dongles into any ports. You'll also like that a
green Eldon both the 360 itself and the
controller indicates exactly which controllers (1
through 4) are connected. This is also true if
you are playing with a mixture of wireless and
wired controllers; you know who has which
controller. All in all, we really like the design of
the new controllers. They feel good in hand, and
the shift of the Start and Back buttons to the top
middle of the controller is a good move, as is the
addition of a set of shoulder buttons on top of
the right/left trigger buttons. And no, Xbox1
controllers do not work with the 360.Want to buy
an XBOX 360, Wii, PS3, PSP or PS2 game
system? On the front of the unit, you'll find two
USB ports hidden behind hinged doors in the
faceplate, as well as two memory-card slots that
allow you to take saved games and other
content on the go. Those ports are where you’ll
plug in any wired controllers and other USB
accessories that will become available, as well
as cables to connect a digital camera, MP3
players, or even your iPod or Sony PSP. Many
USB keyboards are compatible, but for the most
part, they are strictly relegated to
communication and data entry functions, not
game play. While Microsoft clearly hopes you'll
go wireless and thereby free up USB ports for
other accessories, we were disappointed there
was only one USB port on the back of the unit--
and that one is meant for Microsoft's optional
wireless networking adapter, which conveniently
clips on to the back of 360. Another small design
gripe: You won’t be able to connect some thumb
drive-style MP3 players, such as the Apple iPod
Shuffle, to the USB port in back. You'll need a
USB extension cable to connect them because
the entryway to the port is too narrow. Want to
buy an XBOX 360, PSP or PS2 game system?
The 360 sports an infrared (IR) port on the front
panel, which lets you use compatible remote
controls without the need for an external dongle.
Furthermore, you can power the console on and
off and open the disc tray with a remote or
controller--another convenient improvement
over the old Xbox. The Xbox 360's on screen
Dashboard interface is truly stellar, and it's clear
that the folks at Microsoft looked less toward
Windows and more toward the vaunted TiVo
interface for their model. Yes, the 360 interface
certainly has some ties to that of Windows Media
Center PCs, but it's slicker and more user-
friendly, with color-coated tabs for the system's
various features, including gaming, media,
system settings, and Xbox Live. To page
through the various activities, you simply move
the directional keypad on your controller (or the
remote) left tonight. With the increased
processing power, windows open quicker than
they do on the original; the system and interface
as a whole just feels zippier. Like the faceplates,
the Dashboard is customizable, with a host of
themes preloaded on the hard drive and many
more available to download. Continuing the Xbox
360's customization kick is the Gamer Card,
which consists of a personal avatar--a picture
chosen from a batch of Microsoft approved
images--as well as a motto 21 characters or less
in length. The centerpiece of the Gamer Card is
the gamer score: a point-total representative of
predetermined goals, known as Achievements,
met in each and every game. It's a nice way to
foster offline competitiveness between gamers,
as even completely single-player games such as
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion include Achievements.
Want to buy an XBOX360, PS3, PSP or PS2
game system? Not to end the Design section on
adown note, but we would remiss not to mention
the Xbox 360's power supply. There’s a reason
they call these things power bricks--this one
truly is the size and weight of a real brick. We're
not kidding. Furthermore, the 360'sexhaust fan
is audibly noisy in a quiet room--not a problem
when gaming, but it could be a factor when
you're using the 360 for media playback. As
mentioned previously, there are two versions of
the Xbox 360 available. The $299 Core System
delivers the bare basics: the console, a single
wired controller, and a standard composite A/V
cable. The $399"premium" bundle
(known officially, and confusingly, as simply the
Xbox 360)includes the console, along with
several key accessories that you’d otherwise
have to purchase separately: a wireless game
controller, a communications headset for Xbox
Live, a component A/V cable, an Ethernet
networking cable, and--most important--a snap-
on 20GB hard drive. Though it's more
Go to Page 4
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BUYER Tip! Our
Site is updated
hourly.
Visit us daily to
get the best deals!