So I bought a 360

So after a lot of umming and arring I finally went out on Saturday and bought a 360 from the lovely people at Gamestation. I got a good deal to. Premium pack + extra controller + PGR3 + TDU for £300. (with an option to swap TDU for PES6 on release day!)

My decision was mainly based on the fact that I must play Pro Evo, I cant justify the cost of a PS3, and its still about 6 months away + the inevitable launch stock scrum.

Borrowed Table Tennis, Condemed & GRAW from a mate, plugged into my 19" Widescreen monitor (HDTV is on the Xmas list) and I was away!

my thoughts so far.

The Good.

Oh Live how I missed you. Last night I was playing co-op GRAW with a friend (who I have been playing it with split screen round his flat.) The fact that I can start a chat with him while he is in another game and keep it going while he changes games and joins me simply astounded me. Its little things like this that really impress. The online game itself was flawless, and just served to remind me of how important Live is for the 360. Same for Table Tennis which I also played.

Music integration is excellent, and the fact that again it continues no matter what you are doing.

The console looks nice, and the controllers are lovely.

HD Graphics and Sound are great. (although I dont get the full benefits from my monitor, I know how good it can look and am looking forward to that once I get a new TV.)

The bad.

THE NOISE. OMFG in dashboard its not to bad but once you put a game in it sounds like a fucking jet engine. and this is a recent console (manufactured August 06) Not good.

The power BRICK. means we no longer have a spare room*

The Media integration. Spending an hour or so messing about with Media Centre and transcode360 only suceeded in showing me why I wont be dumping the xbox and XBMC just yet. XBMC it so much better its actually not funny, just quite sad, and a testemant to the homebrew scene.

The fact that I will probably cry when:
a - The price drops £100 in March
b - MGS gets released and is jaw dropping
c - The Wii is as amazing as predicted
d - It hits home that I only got a month free on Gold

The ugly.

my TV. (32inch CRT) First I put the 360 upstairs with PC, and thought, ok it looks nice, but no 5.1 up here and I have to have my PC on to use online. So I moved it downstairs, and then I realised that the Advanced HD lead they give you is only composhite, and not RGB. So It actually looked worse that my xbox1 picture. (and the wife noticed). So it went back upstairs straight away. new.telly.get.



All in all though, im really happy with it, and looking forward to PES, Rainbow six, Gears etc.

Thats all, I just wanted to share my hapiness! My gamertag is motek360. You can see my gamercard on the right.




*not really but fuck me its big isnt it.