Josh H

EGM's cover story is on the 360, and they offer 5 reasons to buy one, and 5 reasons to hold off.

Reasons to buy

1. You're Addicted to X-box Live
2. You're a Graphics Whore (this one is wishy washy as they say their underwhelmed, but it's still better than current gen).
3. It does other things (digital media center)
4. You've got your own style (faceplates)
5. You're a Shopaholic (the marketplace)

Reasons to hold off

1. To avoid the pricey bundle (kind of lame, plenty of ways to get one without a bundle)
2. You're not sure about those day one games (kicker for me, not a single one I'm really interested in)
3. You're not sure about that hard drive. (will it be worthwhile since it's not standard)
4. The graphics aren't advanced enough for ya. (fits with the wishy washy about being a graphics whore above)
5. Is this thing future proof? (or will the PS3 blow it out of the water with it's higher resolutions, faster ethernet port, blu-ray etc.).

flashburn

Pretty stupid reasons IMHO, but I wouldn't expect anything less from EGM.

Josh H

I think most of them are pretty solid, really the avoiding bundles one is the only one I think is non-sensical as you can just not buy at a game store and avoid a bundle.

Some of the reasons to buy are just silly, but I guess that matters to some people (faceplates, marketplace, etc.) or MS wouldn't bother with them. Then again, maybe EGM just had trouble coming up with 5 reasons to buy as they said they were underwhelmed by the graphics and the "launch window" games.

But really I think you just need one reason for each category.

Buy: ...if you're into online gaming, and liked the X-box's game library.

Don't buy: ....if you're not into online gaming and your X-box gathered dust while you played the PS2 and/or GC.

It's clear that the 360 will just be more of the same game line up wise, with better graphics, improved online gaming interface and options and more non-gaming bells and whistles.

I'm always amazed how many articles and what not their are on whether or not to buy a console. It's pretty simple to me, it either has the types of games you want to play or it doesn't. Any extra features are just icing on the cake.


On that note, in their interviews the MS guy they talked with said to expect around 10 games at launch, with 30 or so out in the "launch window" (dec/Jan).

Gromit

I was on the fence about PGR, but after reading Joystiq's preview, I don't think I'll be able to avoid picking this one up.

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000940063180/

Chris_D

Not clear at all to me. At the very least we will see XBox Arcade (an actual outlet for smaller dev teams with limited budgets - seems a little like steam) and a stack of MMOGS (not a single one on xbox, while the ps2 did have at least one). I expect to see stronger support across all other genres in general, compared to xbox (well maybe not fps ).

flashburn

Yeah, I mean we already have at least one (or is it two) Japanese RPG's coming out, that is a pretty good start.

flashburn

Here is a rather long article from a forum member at Gamespot about the show Microsoft put on the other day.
http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_...ic_id=23856490

They go into pretty good detail of each game.

Sounds like NBA Live and NFS: Most Wanted will be the games to avoid at launch, they sounded pretty awful.

Josh H

We'll see. There is potential, but nothing they've shown so far has given me much hope that the 360 library will be any more inline with my interests (mainly platformers, Zelda-type games, 2d games and quirky innovative stuff) that the X-box. And I'm a seeing is believing type. Hopefully they'll prove me wrong down the road.

DJ_Longfellow

YEah, EA seems to be rushing their titles for launch. I think NBA does NOT even have a franchise mode...just a ONE year season. That is truly unacceptable. I know Madden will have franchise, but features are limited on that. I'm a little more ok with that, because I don't get into the create-a-player-and-pimp-him-out mode, I just like Franchise in my football games.

I'm sure the 07 series will be much better, once they fully understand the 360 hardware

brkhrt7

Dead or Alive 4 Halo character revealed:http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGuLurNdHN10131611

edstein

Just saw that in my issue of Game Informer. Cool. Does the sparten get an energy sword?

DJ_Longfellow

I think DoA Halo character is kinda lame....I guess it's always nice to have more characters to use. I'd rather have some more jiggly though

I'll pass on this game though....never a BIG fan of the series.

ylomnstr

So are all preorders sold out already?

Michael Corvin

Yes. Pre-orders everywhere at every store in every city are gone. Sorry about your luck.

Flay

Online preorders are sold out, but you may have luck at a b&m store. I was in Gamestop a few days ago and they still had 1st shipment 360's available. Granted it was a fairly new store, but you may have some luck.

In any case, you will be able to walk into a large retailer on the 22nd, midnight if you prefer, and pick up a 360. Preordering is not crucial to getting a console.

lotsofdvds

Normally I agree... but Black Friday has become a weeklong event, and I really think the lines are going to be long this year for XBOX 360s at B&M stores.

Gallant Pig

I dunno about that. Black Friday is a Friday thing. That's when the madness happens. Tuesday is a long ways from Friday.

DJ_Longfellow

Yeah, I think you will have to be a midnight or opening at Best Buy for a 360 for a B&M store. I have a feeling that they will go quicker than expected, especially with X-Mas right around the corner. Lots of kids get what they want for XMAS.

Glad I have mine pre-ordered at GameRush

Flay

I think it's a matter of advertising. If retailers decide to offer 360 console or bundles for discounted prices on Black Friday, the people that partake in the deal-scavenging will want to wait until Friday, hence leaving plenty of consoles for the rest of us on Tues and Wed.

kakihara1

I just called my Local EB Games within a minute ago and asked what he knew. The guy basically told me that they are taking pre-orders but it's not for certain wether or not preorders made right now will get a system on launch, and they have no Idea about production numbers for second rollout units. He also told me that they ran out of actual launch day preorders OVER a month ago and he said he gets TONS of calls for launch day preorders, and that's in Fort Wayne Indiana where people are poor. So I'm thinking these things are going to sell out quick at the B&M stores, I for one will be waiting in line.

Michael Corvin

Word on the street is that MS struck a deal with one of the big companies, i.e. they are getting a lot higher percentage of the supply than the others. So much so that there should be no shortage at that particular chain, and problems of running out at the others.

I will be at that store.

kakihara1

LMAO!!! so ummmm do you think you could shoot me an e-mail or something I don't live in Louisville

DJ_Longfellow

The rumor is BEST BUY.....

kakihara1

I was actually mostly kidding about the e-mail cause I assumed it was BB, who else could it be. I just have to decide which one to stand in line at. So is it about time to start the "What FPS will you be buying" poll? I want to make sure I don't buy something no one else is going to be playing......you know I want to be a follower.

Maybe I will go down to Louisville just so I can nab the last one right before Corvin and make him cry. lol j/k

Michael Corvin

That didn't last long. They supposedly will be doing a midnight sale, although they aren't promoting it yet. The number I heard was 60% of all the initial batch of manufactured 360's are going to BB.

As for me. My wife works that night(3rd shift) and I have a 16 month old baby, so, slim chance I will be standing in line in the cold with her at 12 AM. What kind of parent would do that? Not that I didn't give it a thought. I will have to find it another day.