Topic: The Xbox 360 Thread

o.o You should invest in wireless controllers then xD

I'm learning all kinds of new terms today....reflow, reball.....all RROD terms! So after researching, mine has the E08 error/ 0020 secondary error, which means unless I have enough uber hax to re-solder a connection with lead, I'm screwed!

That's ok though, one of my friends bought the Halo Reach 360-S when it came out, and he's letting me borrow his old one for now. ^^ Only bad thing is, even an installed game sounds like it isn't....I miss the quietness.

Both of my 360s [my first 360 had the RROD years ago] are always freaking noisy, but strangely my Wii and PS3 are always quiet.

So anyway, I managed to complete Super Meat Boy's Dark World and Light World version of the Cotton Alley about a week ago. That game was hard but awesome.

Out of curiosity, is anyone else going to buy the Dreamcast Collection? I bought it, and I thought it was a pretty sweet deal since you are only paying $30 for four Dreancast games.

I would...if I didn't already own all the games on said collection.

I'm a little disappointed in the Dreamcast collection personally. Only four games, and two of them suffer from emulation issues supposedly. I'd honestly prefer a Saturn collection, since many of those games can be trickier to find.

Hopefully they'll do a Volume two with better games.

Guess what I have guys~

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4581/recapture006.jpg

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1300/recapture007.jpg

Virtual On: Force! The import has some English subtitles in it but only about 15% as far as I can tell...the game plays good although due to the confusion of menus due to 90% of Japanese text it's hard to naviagate the game properly.

Virtual On is still kicking? Neat! Is it true to its arcade roots?

Pretty much, there is even a mission mode! I'm trying to find a lobby online but it's near non-existent.

Yeah, I can imagine finding enough Japanese 360 players (plus whatever number of people that may have imported it) is going to be pretty rough. Here's hoping for a western release!

I doubt it'll have a western release if they half arsed the English in this game in case people did import it but it'd help if it was more active online...I did connect once but the host's connection was very low and everyone exited before I could even tell what's going on...taking a random stab at menu options isn't exactly a great idea...the back box has dual languages but the rest of the game only has Japanese with one or two important words being English, like "FIGHT!" (obvious) and VS...it's sad to see it has no online despite it being out for only three months.

Let's say you have 60 bucks worth of Microsoft points, and you have to get anyone of these games to stay in the 60 buck limit, which one's would it be? RE5,COD 4, BBC2 Vietnam, Halo Reach Defiant Map Pack, MW2, Hard Corps uprising, SSFIV DLCs, Red Dead, Halo 3,Borderlands, Fallout 3,Gears 2,Splinter Cell Conviction, Marvel vs Capcom 2, AC2, Dead Space,Scott Pilgrim,Bayonetta, Devil May Cry 4,Bioshock 1 and 2,or GTAIV

Since I already have Bioshock 1 & 2, Devil May Cry 4, Bayonetta, Gears of War 2, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Dead Space, Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, RE5, and MW2, I'd get Borderlands, Scott Pilgrim, and Hard Corps Uprising.

If I didn't have those games, I'd get Bioshock, Bayonetta, and if I have enough left over, Scott Pilgrim.

If you like FPS's get - BBBC
If you like RPG's get Fallout 3
If you like action/Fighting games get Bayonetta
finally if you like open world get GTA IV
Simples

I would get Red Dead Redemption immediately (assuming you are talking about the full game). I don`t know how much it costs in MS points, but if I had enough left over I would go with either AC2, Bioshock, or B:BC2 Vietnam.

http://360.mmgn.com/Articles/Microsoft-and-Casual-Gamers

Hey guys, you know I'm no fan of system rants or anything, but I found a really interesting article I wanted to put in here to get your take on it. It's a well written piece, and the writer makes some really good points about the industry, Microsoft and the future of gaming in general, but all centered around this current shift Microsoft has rapidly taken with the system. I'm really interested in what your take is on this subject. I've been following this for quite some time, as I love the gaming industry in general, and I'm not sure what to think myself.

It's also no secret that the PS3 just gained the largest install base worldwide in the next-gen market, and I do think that Microsoft is shaping up to withdraw from the "hardcore" gaming market is a possibility. I think they might be going to to a complete XBOX Live Marketplace/Kinect focused company in the future, but it's just an idea in my head. I honestly don't wish it, but it almost seems that way, and I think E3 will really be a telltale.

The market is really unstable at the moment. There is just too many game flooding the market, and so many great titles to boot. That may seem great, but in actuality it just means less sales per game and Microsoft hasn't been in the massive exclusive titles list in a longtime.

What are your opinions on this?

@Slapshot
That was indeed an interesting article. I think it was a bit knee jerk about Microsoft's intentions towards the system, but I have to admit that 2011 hasn't seen as much energy from Microsoft. Yet, anyway. I did notice the article made a number of statements and proceeded to back them up with nothing. While Microsoft is excited about the Kinect, I'm going to say they still remember which side their toast is buttered on.

I will say that Sony gaining the largest install base worldwide has mostly to do with one thing: Japan. They're a bit xenophobic when it comes to consoles meaning the 360 can't get a handhold in there. The system holds its own in NA and Europe. Both systems are better than a box full of puppies, though, so I'm not trying to start some fanboy thing here.

I personally think Microsoft is best as an online service anyway...XBLA has been a huge success from them and if they ever did retreat from the market like SEGA did, I want them to at least team up with Sony and make the PSN service very XBLA like....I really don't like the PSN service currently (not hating on it, but it does lack something which XBLA seems to have), so if they could use the XBLA template on PSN, then the Sony Online team can actually make games on the platform that maybe as big as Blizzard's WoW.

Anyways, although Microsoft have got some good games from their limited first party stuff...they seem to only really buy support from the developers.

Also, they could educate Sony into making online massive in Japan and even include ports of popular Japanese Arcade games within the Playstation...I think a partnership would be much better then the two competing...as the two current consoles are neck and neck retail wise but Sony have better exclusives whilst Microsoft have better online intergration...teaming up is a no-brainer.

@Fox... oh, you are definitely correct on the PS3 install base mostly being in Japan. The 360 reigns supreme in the US and UK, and probably will stay that way for a longtime. Kinect has proven to be extremely limited, and I'm willing to bet a controller interface is fixing to be brought into the mix. Kinect as it stands now isn't suitable for core gaming.

@Starlight... PSN is missing Limbo! In all honesty though, competition is what runs the markets. If Microsoft were to pull out of the home console market for core gamers, then what would drive Sony to constantly better themselves, or vice-versa?

I understand that there'd be a lack of competitors in the market if that were to happen, but we seemed ok when SEGA bailed out as I am guessing MS was waiting for an oppurtunity to get in there.

Although we don't need more then 2/3 creating hardware at any one time....if Microsoft teamed up with Sony, I could see Apple perhaps taking a stab at the games industry and seeing where it goes.