Adam Tyner

The URL is http://www.majornelson.com/ ; the link to the Kameo footage is http://www.gamerandy.com/archives/20...kameo_pa.shtml

Doug Schiller

Most PC games, for compatibility reasons, are made for the lowest common denominator hardware wise, then the screen resolution is bumped up.
Some of the new games have been impressive (Half Life 2, Splinter Cell CT) but for the most part...

I don't want to play the Call of Duty I played 2 years ago on my mid range PC at 1024x768. I want an all new experience. I want something new from a console. I want unscripted events, more realistic terrains (the demo looked like the standard desert level), I want HDR lighting, etc.

The palyable demo of Battle Field II on a PC blew away what I saw of Call of Duty on the X360. It shouldn't come close.

There was very little to compare to Halo on the PC at the time, when the first Xbox was released. And when they did release it on the PC, it ran horribly trying to keep up.

Doug Schiller

Cool. I hope so.

At the kiosk, the official Microsoft wording was... progressive scan DVD playback.

I would think they would shout upconversion from the rooftoops if they had it.

It could be because you need the HD pack to get it, but you need that for progressive anyway.

lotsofdvds

As of Friday, Gamestop.com was still offering launch bundles. Although the only two that were left cost more than $2000. As of today they're all sold out.

http://gamestop.com/gs/360/360_omega.asp

hippochris

A guy I work with who preordered from EB Games 3 weeks ago (he was #52 on their list) in Piscataway, NJ was told by someone at the store that they are receiving 18 units the first day and 35 the following week, which would make him 52 of 53 and just inside the cut for the first 2 shipments. This was a stand alone store (not inside a mall or anything.) Maybe that will give some of you a better idea of where you are.

Gallant Pig

I see where you are coming from. I don't think it's a fair comparison though. COD2 for 360 seems to be a pretty lazy port of the PC version. MS shouldn't have let them put it on the demo disc IMO.

Halo on the other hand was Bungie's baby... hand crafted to show off all of the Xbox's power.

A much fairer comparison will be between Halo and Perfect Dark (when it comes out, not any stills or videos on the Internet).

If there is nothing in the launch batch that is better than current gen PC, I'd say there are a few reasons for this...

1) I think we are seeing the law of diminishing returns for graphics. Until there's some sort of break-thru technology, we won't see any quantum leaps in graphics. Now Sony is trying to pass CEL off as a breakthru technology, but it's really not. Maybe the next iteration of it will be, but the current iteration. PS3 will look slightly better than the 360 I'm guessing, and worse than whatever is out there for the PC.

2) MS aligning itself with ATI over NVideo. Graphics are very 3D card reliant, it's possible ATI's 360 card isn't as revolutionary as Nvideo's Xbox card was.

3) Resolution: the Xbox was still working with 480p. The 360 has bumped up the resolution. They could push more polygons and effects with Halo than PC games at the time because the PC games were designed for a higher resolution. Now they are on a closer level making the graphics similar in comparison.

4) PC gaming market gets more and more competitive each year, and programmers are eeking more and more power out of high end rigs.

Worst case scenario, the 360 is a glorified high end PC rig for $400. If you are a graphics whore, you're better off investing your money in a high end PC next summer.

Flay

LMAO! 2 stoners do the voiceover for the Amped 3 720p trailer. Must have needed these idiots to distract people from the shitty graphics.

http://www.g-freaks.de/Downloads/Amp...20P_Stereo.wmv

Gallant Pig

That does look pretty crappy. Too bad, I enjoyed the 1st 2 of the series. I guess 2K studios is a step down from the MS studio that did it before.

RN2BE

Still no freakin backwards compatibility list, and the system is only 2 weeks away now. I've got a bad feeling that the list is going to be EXTREMELY short.

lotsofdvds

You know, they actually could have diverted people's attention from the shitty graphics with GOOD voiceover work. Hearing those two made me want to hate the game no matter how good or bad it looked.

And why did that footage in the middle look like a G4TV commercial?

Gromit

I'm tired of not being a "select" rewardzone customer. I don't think I've had to pay the annual membership fee for a while but I don't think I'll bother if they ever ask me to pay.

Their 10% off coupons usually arrive the week after the sale weekend anyway.

Michael Corvin

I disagree. I have been checking out the kiosks, and people that are watching are blown away at Call of Duty 2. Two of my friends hadn't even considered picking it up(COD2) at launch and it is now at the top of the list. They are trying to persuade me to get it so we can play on Live. None of us are PC gamers.

Comparing a high end $2500 PC to a $300 console is an unfair comparison, apples to oranges. This is still just a console. PCs will always be more powerful. The question is "does the 360 offer something more/better than previous consoles?"

I am thinking you are right. I was going to sell my x-box on ebay, but just looking at the list of games I still want to play(when the price is right), I want to be able to play them FOR SURE. So I have decided to keep mine a little while longer.

Eric D.

For those who also got the select Reward Zone pre-order...do you know how long it will take for bestbuy.com to ship the systems, since you can't select in store pickup? I only ask because I rather just wait in line and get it right away rather then a week later by mail.

Adam Tyner

Well, you can't select postal delivery or UPS either.

You can't select anything. The pre-order hasn't started. That information is not available. The only people who know how this is going to work aren't talking.

Eric D.

I know it has not started yet, but I'm asking people who did this for the PSP.

DoomsDave

It's always amusing to watch you guys panic.

Anyway, here's a BC rumor that might make you feel better: http://www.xbox365.com/news.cgi?id=GGPGuLPidu11060815

Supposedly, at least all MS 1st party games will be compatible.

Flay

I'm suprised how good Gun is starting to look. The new villians trailer at Gametrailers is really an improvement from some of the movies I've seen. And it's getting good buzz from some early reviews. I may pick it up at launch.

tenaciousdave

I've also read reports about only Halo 1, Halo 2, and Fable being BC out of the box.

My theory on it is if the list was anything to advertise, they would be.

eatntae

I preordered my PSP through the Best Buy reward zone online offer. I didn't elect to pay extra for faster shipping; I think I was charged a couple bucks for standard ground shipping. If I remember correctly, the PSP was released on Thursday 3/24, and mine came in the mail Monday 3/28. I don't know if this helps you, or if the Xbox will be shipped in the same manner, but you asked

DJ_Longfellow

I know Halo 1 & 2 will be BC out of the box for sure. It appeared that all the first party games also (this was some article on gamespot.com also....it listed a few games, not sure where though)

I think only Steel Battilion is NOT BC...thus far. I'm sure 3rd party games will follow, but how soon...who knows.

lotsofdvds

Oh good... NFL Fever will work.

Doug Schiller

I watched the NBA 2K6 trailer and was blown away.
This didn't look like NBA Live 2006 on the PC with pumped up resolution.
This was realistic faces, skin, clothes that moved, etc.
That is an example of what I am looking for in the Next Gen console.
Of course, the game could be horrible, but it looked great.

I also saw that Amped3 and was unimpressed. My God, did they have to steal the notebook graphics from SSX on Tour? At least try like you are doing something original.
It looked like Amped 1 running at 1024x768.

To be fair to Call of Duty, I didn't get to far into it but what I saw looked like SOS to me.

ylomnstr

A girl I work with has a brother who is a GM at Best Buy. I wonder if he'd have any pull to hold one for me. I just called my local Best Buy and they said they're not doing pre-orders, but they'll probably open early that day and start a line. He said they'll know for sure in a few days. I'll keep calling.

Eric D.

No, that helps a bunch! Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate it

DVDGamer

Microsoft targets 3 million consoles in the first 3 months. Thats so much more supply than previous console releases. So I think we'll be able to get these soon enough. It may not be enough during the first days as it seems like it is being setup for Sold Out scenario, artificial or not, but it should be available soon after. I haven't pre-ordered, though, so I'll be one of those in line in some B&M during the first day ; )