Help me buy an XBox.

[prog]

OK youze guys, after hearing about Microsoft's GDC keynote and its plans for XNA, I'm hot to buy an XBox. I mean, I kinda have been for two years, but I can more or less afford it now, and my justifications have never been more solid.

I understand (with Wikipedia's help) that it currently comes in three sizes, and that (correct me if I'm wrong) I want the middle-weight "Premium" one, versus the "Arcade" or "Elite" ones. (Sigh.)

What on-disc games that are available right now should I get? (Fritter me not with your talk of pre-orders.) What downloadable games should I get? Assume that Portal and Rez are already in my imaginary cart.

Any other things I need? Extra controllers? Who what?

I'm just going to play it on my old crappo TV for now. Yeah, I know.

Comments

[dougo.livejournal.com]

I was serious about selling you my TV, by the way. Name your price.

[(Anonymous)]

I still have to buy one too. XNA is a perfect opportunity for game design, and I still have a copy of Visual Studio 2005 in case its required for some reason.

The Orange Box (which has Portal) and Rez HD are must-haves. Maybe you should consider getting Ikaruga and Geometry Wars also; those games are addictive as well. If you're into diverse RPGs, then Mass Effect is a good buy too; made by the same people who made NeverWinter Nights.

You're better off with the premium; the arcade version has no hard drive and the elite is just too expensive. I plan on getting mine after my college work term if I can manage my budget wisely.

360

[(Anonymous)]

I've a middle 360 which I purchased exclusively for Halo3..... apparently. I haven't used it since.
It's effectively brand new.

I'm wondering if I should sell it on eBay or let the retail games pawn shop gouge me for it.
....If I was concerned with XNA, I'd keep it for development, but I'm using Unity on a Mac which goes the other direction (Wii support).... also, I lack a television at the moment. =s

.....Ask Robert.

[lediva.livejournal.com]

Yes, you want the Premium (although if your TV does HDMI, get the Elite). Despite what MS says about the hard drive not being required, I think it's actually required for XNA games.

Disc-based games:
* Mass Effect
* BioShock
* Dead Rising
* Teh Haloez & Gears of War, if you dig the whole FPS thing

Also check the Xbox backwards compat list for any games on there that you may want.

Downloadable games:
* Carcassone
* Catan
* Bomberman Live
* Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
* Lumines

Accessories:
* Play-n-Charge (lets you charge your wireless controllers from any powered USB port), I keep mine plugged into the Wii's USB ports. I have 2 PnC's for four controllers and it works out fine.
* If you can find the deluxe Vision camera package, get it. Frankly, even if you don't use the camera much, the year of XBL and free XBLA games are worth it.

Also, when you get Orange Box, we should totally play some TF2! :) My gamertag = LJ name.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Multiplayer FPSes just confuse or sadden me, usually. The screenshots of TF2 sure are pretty, but when I'm watching a friend actually play it I'm just "Huh? Wha?" I have no idea what's going on.

I am one of the cranky people who feels he solved single-player FPSes permanently when he finished "Marathon 2". (Though I have played and enjoyed some newer ones, since then.)

[lediva.livejournal.com]

Multiplayer FPSes just confuse or sadden me, usually.

I feel the same way. This is why TF2 completely blew me away. They got it right.

Granted, I still pretty much only play with friends. But all the different classes really do pander to pretty much any style of play.