Should I get an XBOX360 Elite or should I spend my cash on something else?

[GameRGeeK]

Hello everyone.

I have been with Sony ever since PS1, i kinda skipped PS2 since I started getting into the pc gaming genre and just last year my girlfriend got me a PS3 for xmas and a PSP for my birthday.

I have been always curious about the Xbox 360 and I am interested in some of their games yet since I already have 3 other gaming platforms I feel that I should just skip 360 altogether until microsoft comes out with a better system.

I have the cash to get the 360 along with 3-4 games and some controllers to start up, but i was taking a look at the Elite version since it has more features and stuff than the regular 360.

Can anyone help me decide if I should buy the 360 elite or just spend my money elsewhere since I already have other gaming machines??

thanks in advance!:thumbsup:

 

[AstroManLuca]

The only difference between the Elite and the other versions is the amount of storage space, the case color, and the included cables. It's $100 more than the Pro/Premium version, which buys you an HDMI cable and an extra 100 GB of storage.

Unless you know you'll need all that extra space, I'd say stick with the Pro. The Arcade is the same as the Pro but it only has a 256 MB memory card and no hard drive. $70 cheaper though. I guess if you can find someone selling a 20 GB hard drive for less than $70 it might make sense to buy an Arcade.

Since you already have other consoles and you seem to be happy with them, it might make more sense to wait for a price drop on the 360. Rumor has it there's one right around the corner.

 

[BladeVenom]

Have you already played all the decent games on the PC and the PS3? I don't see the point in getting another console, but some people may just like collecting consoles.

 

[mugs]

Like AstroManLuca said, you're not getting much value for the extra $100. And with the rumored price drop that could affect the 20 GB model only, the Elite could look like an even worse value. I haven't heard anything new on this lately, so someone correct me if more information has come out... there is a leaked ad that shows the 20 GB model selling for $299. There are two likely scenarios:
1. All 3 models get a price drop
2. 20 GB gets a price drop and is discontinued; 60 GB model introduced at $349

Either way, unless you care about the black case the Elite looks like it would NOT be the way to go.

Couple of questions -
1. Do you need wifi? If so, it costs more. You have less expensive options, like setting up a wireless bridge. The official adapter goes for ~$80 street last I checked.
2. Do you plan on using HDMI video and optical audio? The Elite comes with a set of cables that allows that; the A/V cable that comes with the other models blocks the HDMI port. Bad design. You can either buy MS's $50 cable set (boo-urns), or you can use the easy instructions you can find online to remove the plastic casing from around the A/V cable (I believe it's metal underneath). If you get a non-Elite, get the HDMI cable from Monoprice.
3. Are you willing to accept that you may be without your Xbox 360 for several weeks if/when you get the RRoD? You probably will. Maybe more than once. With your 3 other gaming systems, you could probably survive for a few weeks. But it'll be tough.
4. Are you interested in online gaming, and are you willing to pay $40/year for it?

Beyond that, it's a fantastic system. Great selection of games. You really ought to go to Gamerankings and pull the list of the top 200 Xbox 360 games (it's pretty close to 200 games over 70% there now) and see what interests you. It has a reputation for being FPS-heavy, which might not interest you since you have a gaming PC. But there are a ton of other great games. The decision really comes down to the games.

 

[Queasy]

Wait until the MS presser for E3 next Monday to see what is going on with price and models. $50 price drop is all but confirmed officially for the standard 360. Who knows what will happen with the Elite.

If you're concerned about reliability, wait until this fall when the new chipset comes out. The current chipset is running about a 10% failure rate according to some reports.

Beyond that, the only reason you would need an elite is if you are into downloading Movie and TV Shows heavily and/or you like to collect demos. The 20GB should suffice for straight gaming.

 

[Gunslinger08]

No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

 

[Dacalo]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

That's my opinion as well, but I guess if one does not have a decent gaming PC, that could be a problem.

Enjoyed Mass Effect on PC, although inventory system is really terrible. WTH was Bioware thinking? This is 2008, not 1988.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: Dacalo

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

That's my opinion as well, but I guess if one does not have a decent gaming PC, that could be a problem.

Enjoyed Mass Effect on PC, although inventory system is really terrible. WTH was Bioware thinking? This is 2008, not 1988.

And the PC got the improved inventory system.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

Statistically incorrect. I took the top 100 360 games according to metacritic and did a quick comparison. I didn't count the Oblivion expansion packs.

42 360 games are currently out for the PC as well.
2 current 360 games will be out on the PC this year.
56 360 games are not out for the PC.


For comparison's sake, I did the top 100 PS3 games too.
36 PS3 games are currently out for the PC as well.
1 current PS3 games will be out on the PC this year.
64 PS3 games are not out for the PC.

There are currently 421 360 games and 180 PS3 games.

 

[R Nilla]

It depends. How many of these games are you dying to play? That's a list of currently 360-exclusive (including PC) games--no idea how up to date that list is, though. Also, Gears of War 2 will undoubtedly make its way to PC.

If you're serious about it, it's possible that you may enjoy the Xbox Live experience, achievements, the controller, or some other aspect a great deal and prefer to play titles on your 360. Although the PS3 seems to be slowly catching up to these offerings (XMB, trophies).

Otherwise, unless you are really dying to play games like Forza 2, Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, Ninja Gaiden II, etc., most of the other great games can be had via PS3 or PC (assuming your gaming PC is up to snuff).

There are a lot of upcoming games this fall/holiday season, I'm not sure which are 360-exclusive off the top of my head, but some are likely to make it to PC eventually.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: R Nilla
It depends. How many of these games are you dying to play? That's a list of currently 360-exclusive (including PC) games--no idea how up to date that list is, though. Also, Gears of War 2 will undoubtedly make its way to PC.

The problem with only looking at exclusives is that there are a lot of games that have been developed for the Xbox 360 and then ported to the PS3 and/or PC; those ports often aren't as good as the original. So I wouldn't consider only the games on that list.

OP, have you ever used the Xbox 360 controller? Do you like it?

 

[R Nilla]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: R Nilla
It depends. How many of these games are you dying to play? That's a list of currently 360-exclusive (including PC) games--no idea how up to date that list is, though. Also, Gears of War 2 will undoubtedly make its way to PC.

The problem with only looking at exclusives is that there are a lot of games that have been developed for the Xbox 360 and then ported to the PS3 and/or PC; those ports often aren't as good as the original. So I wouldn't consider only the games on that list.

True, assuming he's interested in some of those games and hasn't already purchased/played them, and that the PC or PS3 ports are horrible enough to warrant the purchase of an entirely new system (spending several hundred dollars) just to play them, rather than using one he already owns.

 

[KaOTiK]

I'd suggest looking at the 360's library and upcoming library of games and see how many are exclusive to it that you want to play. If the number is high enough buy it, if not just wait, more games will come out and it will be cheaper.

Sure some multiplatform games may run a bit better on the 360 but I serioulsy doubt it would be anything worth the cost of purchasing the system over.

I own all the consoles and a gaming PC and I gotta say I haven't really touched my 360 much at all in over the pass year besides like 2 games. Most the games it has I can either get on my PC or I can pick up on my PS3 (PS3 is in living room on my nicest tv so I lean to it first for multiplatform titles unless there is a big issue, but I haven't even bought a multiplatform title in over a year lol, Soul Calibur 4 will be the first in a long while and I was gonna get it for the PS3 anyways due to the D pad (I dont want to buy a arcade stick due to space issues))

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

Statistically incorrect. I took the top 100 360 games according to metacritic and did a quick comparison. I didn't count the Oblivion expansion packs.

42 360 games are currently out for the PC as well.
2 current 360 games will be out on the PC this year.
56 360 games are not out for the PC.


For comparison's sake, I did the top 100 PS3 games too.
36 PS3 games are currently out for the PC as well.
1 current PS3 games will be out on the PC this year.
64 PS3 games are not out for the PC.

There are currently 421 360 games and 180 PS3 games.

Are you also considering the 360 games that are also available on the PS3? I was assuming that everyone disregarded cross-platform games since he already owns a PS3.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

Statistically incorrect. I took the top 100 360 games according to metacritic and did a quick comparison. I didn't count the Oblivion expansion packs.

42 360 games are currently out for the PC as well.
2 current 360 games will be out on the PC this year.
56 360 games are not out for the PC.


For comparison's sake, I did the top 100 PS3 games too.
36 PS3 games are currently out for the PC as well.
1 current PS3 games will be out on the PC this year.
64 PS3 games are not out for the PC.

There are currently 421 360 games and 180 PS3 games.

Are you also considering the 360 games that are also available on the PS3? I was assuming that everyone disregarded cross-platform games since he already owns a PS3.

Your statement was "Most 360 games are ported to the PC anyway." Not "Most 360 games are on the PC and PS3 anyway."

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: Queasy

Originally posted by: joshsquall
No. Most good 360 games are ported to the PC anyway.

Statistically incorrect. I took the top 100 360 games according to metacritic and did a quick comparison. I didn't count the Oblivion expansion packs.

42 360 games are currently out for the PC as well.
2 current 360 games will be out on the PC this year.
56 360 games are not out for the PC.


For comparison's sake, I did the top 100 PS3 games too.
36 PS3 games are currently out for the PC as well.
1 current PS3 games will be out on the PC this year.
64 PS3 games are not out for the PC.

There are currently 421 360 games and 180 PS3 games.

Are you also considering the 360 games that are also available on the PS3? I was assuming that everyone disregarded cross-platform games since he already owns a PS3.

Your statement was "Most 360 games are ported to the PC anyway." Not "Most 360 games are on the PC and PS3 anyway."

 

[oznerol]

If you are dying to spend the cash, and there's nothing else you're interested in buying, go for it. Though I would suggest not getting the Elite, waiting a week or so to see if the Pro drops $50 as rumored, and get that. Some games to look into are Crackdown, Dead Rising, and Halo 3 (among others).

But generally, I would say not to buy one. Even though I personally find it to be the best of the three consoles out, I don't think it's so good as to merit spending the extra $400+ on the console/games/live when you already own a PS3. Especially not if you're an avid PC gamer.

 

[GameRGeeK]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Have you already played all the decent games on the PC and the PS3? I don't see the point in getting another console, but some people may just like collecting consoles.

well actually I have played most of the popular games for PC and PS3 but not all since some popular out there don't really interest me, one reason for looking into a 360. and I guess I just like the fact that I have another console to add to my collection yet if their aren't enough games to merit the 360, I would pass on it.

Originally posted by: mugs
Either way, unless you care about the black case the Elite looks like it would NOT be the way to go.

1. Do you need wifi? If so, it costs more. You have less expensive options, like setting up a wireless bridge. The official adapter goes for ~$80 street last I checked.
2. Do you plan on using HDMI video and optical audio? The Elite comes with a set of cables that allows that; the A/V cable that comes with the other models blocks the HDMI port. Bad design. You can either buy MS's $50 cable set (boo-urns), or you can use the easy instructions you can find online to remove the plastic casing from around the A/V cable (I believe it's metal underneath). If you get a non-Elite, get the HDMI cable from Monoprice.
3. Are you willing to accept that you may be without your Xbox 360 for several weeks if/when you get the RRoD? You probably will. Maybe more than once. With your 3 other gaming systems, you could probably survive for a few weeks. But it'll be tough.
4. Are you interested in online gaming, and are you willing to pay $40/year for it?

well having another black console to add to my group of black platforms, btw my pc gaming rig as also fully black, having a black 360 would be nice, and yet I see a cheaper alternative based one what everyone is saying so far

1)nah, im sticking with the good old fashioned cables.
2)yea will have it run through HDMI, what have nice visuals for my LCD TV
3)well if the chance has it where I experience the infamous RROD, then its OK, i guess depending of course, but in general its ok since I have my other platforms to play with
4)I am so into online gaming and I guess spending that much a year is ok.

Originally posted by: R nilla
(assuming your gaming PC is up to snuff)

well all I could say is my pc gaming rig could handle Crysis on all very-high settings with 4xAA enabled with almost zero lag, except for fighting the last boss, where I could notice some lag, all on a 1900x1200 screen.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

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