The State of the Xbox 360: Is it still a must-buy?

Danja - 350 days 23 hours ago

well for ppl who are looking for a great selection of games and willing to pay 4 good online play then i'd say yes it's a must buy..

overall it's a great console....so why not buy it ?

lol @ dis-agrees..

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thor - 350 days 23 hours ago

I disagree that all the good games have been on PC. I also disagree with your statement that LBP's only real selling point is its user generated content; as far as I am concerned it's a great game simply because it's a blast to play with friends - one of the most fun couch-sharing games I've ever played.

But I agree with your overall point. Consoles have become proprietry PCs with their own exclusive games to get you to buy them. It's like having another video format (no, not blu-ray, a standard-def one) that has films not available on DVD; your DVD player would be perfectly capable of playing the films in the right format, but you need to buy another device to play them instead. "Convergence of technology" doesn't mean we're going to have one device that does it all; it means we're going to have hundreds of devices that ALL do almost everything, but we need each one to play a certain type of game or film etc.

Consoles nowadays have ALL the drawbacks of PCs. The only difference, as far as I can see, is that of standard controllers for games. But there are plenty of wireless controllers available; you can even use your 360 controller, and then attach your PC up to your TV.

You are absolutely right that it's about control. If you've got a small laptop you can type your work out on, and you've got a console you can play games on, do you need a gaming PC? Then you've lost complete control over the system you game on. You HAVE to buy games for that system, and they can implement whatever they like such as pay-by-the-hour as you mention. You lose all control over your system; you can't change parts yourself, or upgrade yourself, or fix problems yourself, write software for it yourself, or download freely available software for it.

I would be a lot happier if consoles went away and then I could play ALL my games on my PC.

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N4360G - 350 days 23 hours ago

Short answer,no.

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CrazzyMan - 350 days 22 hours ago

Or 10%(every 10th), or whatever, even 5%(that`s still every 20th console).

Nothing personal, x360 has some good(for some people - GREAT) games, but a must buy.. come on.

EDIT: yeah, RROD does not exist. Even on this site, just write in search RROD or Red Ring and you will get over 50 articles about it.
STOP defending faulty hardware. Even 5-10% is A LOT.

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SaberEdge - 350 days 21 hours ago

Nothing game related is a "must-buy", but if you enjoy HD gaming I would say the 360 is an excellent choice (so is the PS3). Great lineup of games and fantastic online service make it a truly stellar console that any fan of games would enjoy.

If you can't afford both consoles, you're just going to have to ask yourself which features and games are most important to you and make your decision from there.

Edit: Where are you coming up with this 33% to 50%. Even the 33% was just an estimation by journalists based on one repair center's numbers and that was only for the first batch of consoles. So, even the 33% was never confirmed. It was just a number thrown out there and people ran with it. Now you are trying to push that to 50%? Why so dishonest and fanatical?

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thebudgetgamer - 350 days 21 hours ago

because i want a 360 in my collection of consoles?
or because i need the denero first?
i love video games allways will and the 360 has a huge library of budget priced titles that i want. i am still weary of the tech issues it has but as a gamer i owe it to myself to put a 360 alongside my ps3 on my main tv.

:)

and some will say you can get those games on pc. dont have a pc dont plan on getting one (i love my mac)

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kevoncox - 350 days 21 hours ago

The 360 is a must buy. You are missing out of tons of great games if you don't have one. Honestly, my Ps3 feels a bit too much like my ps2.
I play it but online is no exsistant. The best games on the system don't have excellent online options.

I think the best game this gen has been on the 360. Mass Effect. Anyone that missed on on this game is doing themselves a huge dis-service. It is an awesome game. I also think that Too human was slept on. When i first picked it up I thought it was terrible, however after the 2nd play thru on the demo, I realized what everyone was so hyped about. I just haven't had anything like this on the ps3. I loved MGS4 but everything else fails to stand out. I got board of R&C halfway thru it. Sony needs to bring out the big guns.

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callahan09 - 350 days 21 hours ago

"Honestly, my Ps3 feels a bit too much like my ps2.
I play it but online is no exsistant. The best games on the system don't have excellent online options."

Ridiculous. Have you even attempted to play Warhawk or Resistance 2? Play Call of Duty 4 online on your 360 then on your PS3. What you'll notice is that the experience is identical. Only you can do it without paying a premium on PS3. PS3 feels too much like PS2, that's the funniest thing I've read all week.

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 20 hours ago

Kevon, every time you type something my brain begins to ache.

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caladbolg777 - 350 days 20 hours ago

PS3 for your console experience.
PC for the MUST-HAVE XBOX360 ports and Multiplayer experience.

Win.

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kevoncox - 350 days 19 hours ago

The reason I said the Ps2 feels a bit to much like the ps2 is because of the lack of actual communication during the game. There are too many people without mics. So yes, Playing only with the ps3 seems like a detacted gaming experience. There are some ass holes online with the 360 but atleast people can communicate. What fun is COD4 when no one is using any tactics at all. That's the issue.

I guess if you don't have a 360 and that is all you have, it may feel like a complete experience but I stress to you that the community that the 360 provides is missing on the ps3.

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 16 hours ago

"I guess if you don't have a 360 and that is all you have, it may feel like a complete experience but I stress to you that the community that the 360 provides is missing on the ps3."

I find those who game on the PS3 are more solitary people than those of Xbox Live I play on both and I rarely use my mic to communicate, I just don't feel the need to, especially when you hear some of those most trivial and asinine sputtering online it doesn't really encourage me to help endure the stupidity.

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caladbolg777 - 350 days 12 hours ago

I've never felt that the 360 was a must-buy.

When the XBOX360 was first released, I thought long and hard about purchasing one. Ultimately, I decided that my PS2 was console-enough for the time being.
As "GOTTA HAVE" titles started turning up left and right on the 360, I'll admit that, again, I contemplated purchasing the console. Again, though, ultimately I decided against purchasing the 360 and instead opted to upgrade my PC to play both the MUST-HAVE 360 titles in addition to the MUST-HAVE PC titles.
Then, about five months ago, I decided that it was finally time to make the switch to "next gen". When weighing the options, PS3 vs 360, it really was a no-brainer. I already had a powerful-enough gaming PC to enjoy all of the 360-to-PC ports. The only experiences I was lacking was those exclusive to the PS3. I purchased a 60gig PS3 w/Emotion Engine off of E-bay in August 08'.

The ability to watch Blu-Ray moves has certainly been a perk.

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SL1M DADDY - 350 days 11 hours ago

And that is the gamer. The folks that want to play games, not consoles. If you can afford it, buy the consoles to play the games and if you are like me, you want to play all games despite what console they are on so yeah, if you are a gamer you should consider buying the 360. It still has some great games to be played and some good looking titles coming out in the next year or so.

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caladbolg777 - 350 days 6 hours ago

I don't agree, SL1M. You can find many of the "great" 360 titles on PC, which pretty much trumps the argument of "do eett 4 teh gamez!!1 lolz."

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Shadow Flare - 350 days 4 hours ago

In 2009, i must buy an xbox 360 for.........um....for.....hell , someone help me here

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bomboclaat_gamer - 351 days ago

ur not missed

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kewlkat007 - 351 days ago

My console works great and never had issues..an Elite BTW. The 360 has a great Library of games the last 2 years and the best Online features currently, if you wanna pay to play.

If you wanna jump in there is plenty of reason to. Especially with the new Jasper ones, for those, that let rrod strike fear in their little hearts...lol.

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MaximusPrime - 351 days ago

i'd rather wait 4 - 6 months after Jasper release and see what happen.

edit: i doubt i will return. i have been happy with my PS3 since it released in UK March 2007. Still functioning brilliantly.

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hippo24 - 351 days ago

Am i the only person in the world who bought the protection plan for my xbox?

You see i did this magic thing where i asked a best buy store clerk if they offered protection plans and guess what they said...yes

so I dropped $27.98 on a protection plan for my new $400 xbox and years later when my xbox broke, I took it to the store and they exchanged it (for a new one) in a matter of seconds...are people really this dense.

buy a stupid protection or service plan, and if you don't, don't cry to everyone because your to dense to think ahead.

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mcgrawgamer - 351 days ago

you stated in your previous post you'd never consider going back. waiting to see what happens is a consideration in today's day and age. if your not gonna get value out of a system don't support it. If you are already looking at the situation in a negative light something bad will happen to your console because your looking for something bad to happen. enjoy your ps3 and game care free, and as the other guy said above I doubt your missed. No offense.

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 23 hours ago

"The 360 has a great Library of games the last 2 years"

Yup, LAST 2 years is about dead on.

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rogimusprime - 350 days 23 hours ago

a protection plan is supposed to supplement consumer protection in the event of a mishap.

It sounds a little condescending to say "this magical thing" of getting a protection plan when a lot of consumers just aren't that savvy. Let's face it...people are stupid, but others get the system as a gift and had no say in the matter.

It's great that best buy wants to take your money, but wouldn't it be better if MS stood behind the quality of their product from the launch of the system instead of having to get sued into offering a warranty?

I won't even discuss the scratched disc fiasco.

I bought my xbox refurbed from overstock, so I didn't get the option of a protection plan. On the other hand, my 56inch DLP from Circuit City is covered with a protection plan because $1500 is a lot of money to waste for accidentally messing up a TV, but I didn't buy it because the TV might not turn on one day and flash blinking lights at me.

A console with a 30% failure rate should be protected by the manufacturer....no matter what. If it was sony, who launched a year ahead to beat it's competitors and put out a faulty product, people would be crying for the head of Japanese execs...hell, they would have had to commit sappuku already.

The XBOX 360 is where most of my time is spent, but once it goes....I'll only buy games for my PS3

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JOLLY1 - 350 days 23 hours ago

Is it completely covered for 3 years. No other hardware manufacturer period has done that. So, what is the new excuse?

To the little guy b(e)low me, You quoted my question then never gave an answer....clever?

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 23 hours ago

"No other hardware manufacturer period has done that. So, what is the new excuse?"

There wouldn't be that problem if Microsoft didn't throw money at the FCC. 33-35% rate of failure for product model 1 (1st) gen of the Xbox 360? HOW DOES THAT PASS.

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SmokingMonkey - 350 days 23 hours ago

at gamestop there is only one item in the whole store that they cannot sell a warranty for...the 360.

or if you want to get technical

the arcade sku
the pro sku
the elite sku
the refurbished 360 sku

everything else is fine

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JOLLY1 - 350 days 23 hours ago

Once Microsoft gave out the 3 year rrod warranty, gamestop reinstated their warranty for the 360.

*edit* Yeah I was right. I just called gamestop amd they said that yes they do offer the extended warranty for all of the 360's. Any other ideas you have?

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hippo24 - 350 days 23 hours ago

@MaximusPrime

Why the protection plan is a "add-on" and a good majority of gift givers don't know the details, im assuming most of the people reading this are fairly knowledgeable on the details of a console purchase, and are not going to simply not know about what a warranty/protection plan is.

On the flip side if you are given a gift, or buying a used console, you loose the ground to complain because the reason your getting a free or cheaper console, is because your loosing control over certain factors in favor of a price downgrade.

You actually make a great point, but your statement is geared toward the technologically ignorant, rather then an enthusiastic gamer, who is posting on a gaming site. So a person who is knowledgeable and enthusiastic about games should insure their product, even if it means returning an xbox to buy a warranty, or paying a little more for new over used

In closing you make a very valid point its just the people on this site ARE the exception to the rule

-xbox does have a limited warranty

-xbox's do not scratch discs unless put on an unstable surface or move

If you really hate warranties, go with a ps3, so far I've only heard a few horror stories from them, and my ps3 has yet to exhibit them.

So unless that's a HUGE concern, then buy a protection plan for your xbox and you'll be a-ok.

(my pc has broken down more often then my XBOX but thats not saying much)

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El Zorro Rojo - 350 days 22 hours ago

Well, that your choice, Maximus Prime.

All I know is that I have a PS3 and a 360 and there is no way in hell that I would be satisfied only playing on my PS3. I would miss out on too many good games and would miss out on my Xbox LIVE friends and the gaming and community that it offers.

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SmokingMonkey - 350 days 22 hours ago

funny thing...i happen to work for gamestop

so yeah...no warranties on the 360 in SW america

also we are going to stop buying back xbox1 games on feb 8 fact check that sh!t

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JOLLY1 - 350 days 19 hours ago

I called this gamestop 360-757-2745. I asked them if they do extended warranties for XBOX 360's. He said yes. Anyone can call a gamestop, they all say yes. Congrats for trying to lie though. Fail! On a side note, what one do you work at? this can help the people of n4g not buy crap from a gamestop that is cheating customers.

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SmokingMonkey - 350 days 16 hours ago

sorry, but it's sad but true i do work at a gamestop and we do not sell warranties on 360's in my whole district, i won't tell you which one exactly but we are one of the top ranked regions.

I also worked at a gamestop on the East Coast (that's the East Coast of the United States, for the slower N4G members) and they also did not sell warranties on 360's

don't believe me? i don't care. But it is a fact in my district.

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Jazz4108 - 350 days 2 hours ago

I would like to know what Sonys actual failure rate is. I have never lost a 360 yet but my PS3 is locked up and will not load, and I checked with other sites to see if they could help and I am finding that there is indeed a worth mentioning failure rate. Sorry if I offended anyone but I am just speaking about what happened to my Ps3.

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bomboclaat_gamer - 350 days 1 hour ago

stop wasting time on N4G and go back to school. so u dont have to work at gamestop anymore. how much do they pay..........like 9 dollars an hour?

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hippo24 - 350 days 23 hours ago

I agree, I think halo 3 isn't such a driving factor anymore. While i think most xboxs, that are purchased, will have halo at some point and time

I do think the price cut might be a more legitimate claim, but who really cares anyway.

maybe ODST will surprise us though...

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Foliage - 350 days 22 hours ago

the year of the 360

...I'm kidding, the 360 never has and will never have "a year". Even when the PS3 and Wii were not around the PS2 was still making an embarrassment out of the 360.

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El Zorro Rojo - 350 days 22 hours ago

Speak for yourself, but there are tons of games on the 360 that I would miss out on playing if I didn't have an Xbox 360.

Gears of War 1 & 2, Fable 2, Tales of Vesperia, Tenchu Z, Halo 3, Mass Effect, Dead Rising, etc.

I don't doubt for a second that the 360 will have a decent lineup this year. Even if it does end up being slightly inferior to the PS3's lineup, so what? The 360 could come back in 2010 and have a lineup that is better than the PS3's. Everything is constantly in flux. As long as there continue to be games I want to play on the console, I will keep playing it.

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Foliage - 350 days 22 hours ago

I've got a PC, the 360 was never a "MUST" buy for me. Although I did give it a try for awhile until the PS3 came out. That's when I lost interest in the 360 and sold it before the RROD could hit it.

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GWAVE - 350 days 20 hours ago

As I said Zorro Rojo, unless you're a fan of very specific franchises, the 360 doesn't offer much. Take out Gears, Halo, and Fable and what are you left with? Not much.

And remember, it's not as though those are the only games in their genre worth playing. That's why I said "IF you're a fan of a specific franchise". FPS fans have Resistance 1 and 2 and Killzone 2 on the PS3. 3rd-person fans have MGS4 on the PS3. As such, gamers should be looking at what is coming soon to each system, and the 360 is sorely lacking.

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soxfan2005 - 350 days 18 hours ago

Take out Gran Turismo 5, God of War, Killzone 2, and MGS4 and what is PS3 left with? That arguement can go both ways.

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Rhoic - 344 days 14 hours ago

What is the 360 left with? Uhh.. Full support from one of the best developing teams in the world Valve. Also Remedy. Mass Effect, the largest selection of RPGs available. And I swear to God if you say they suck because you read a review you would be a freaking hypocrite.

Oh, and Resistance 1 and 2 are so damn mediocre. Played the demo of 1 and played 2.. missing these games isn't missing much. Killzone 2 though looks pretty darn good. Already have it on reserve.

As Soxfan already said.. that was a horrible attempt to say the 360 has no games rofl.. "Take away all the good games and you're left with bad games!" Really? I had no idea! I thought that if you go by logic.. taking away the good games means you would get even better games!

Fail.

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BLaZiN PRopHeT - 350 days 23 hours ago

LOL i smell fear. I think you should just enjoy the game because i doubt believe itll sell over 8 million copies.

To be a halo killer you have to sell more and review higher. i dont see that happening.

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 23 hours ago

Sell Higher? Only Xbox Fanboy's think sales equal quality. Too bad it didn't stop Gears of War 2 from being glitchy and having an almost unplayable online.

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Obama - 350 days 23 hours ago

Actually to be a halo killer it just have to reach the consensus that it is a better game. Halo3, just like gta4, is overated.

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GiantEnemyLobster - 350 days 22 hours ago

You sure have been losing bubbles fast. Only 1 more left to go until you are down to 1 with your idol of jealousy, pp.

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Max Power - 350 days 22 hours ago

so why won't you support a Sony product again?

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Obama - 350 days 22 hours ago

since he is a racist dipshit?

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 20 hours ago

There's a cure alright, it's called eradication however it isn't a very approachable method.

In the kind words of Bill Hicks "HITLER HAD THE RIIGHT IDEEA, HE WAS JUST AN UNDER ACHIEVER."

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 16 hours ago

F.y.i. Bill Hicks was an late eighties, early nineties comedian, often ending his hitler comment with "I'm also available for children's birthday parties".

It's just a joke.

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AngryTypingGuy - 350 days 14 hours ago

Graphics Whore, you are one dumb tw@t. You have such a short memory. There were plenty of people last gen on the Sony side who had the sales = quality mentality, when the PS2 was selling unseen amounts of consoles. But now that the PS3 is playing catch up in hardware and software sales, it's a different story. But it is very true that sales don't equal quality.

Halo 3 is an awesome game, with a very high score, and sales that no PS3 game will ever reach. I definitely don't think sales = quality, but I do agree with Prophet that in order to be a "killer" of something, you have to trounce it in terms of both quality and sales. Fallout 3 could be a better game than Halo. The graphics are amazing, that's for sure, so now it all comes down to the actual gameplay. However, will it kill Halo in sales? We both know the answer to that question.

Is the 360 a must buy? Depends on your gaming preferences. I know that for me, Halo and especially Gears of War would be awful tough to pass up. Now that Resident Evil can be played on the 360, the 360 is definitely a must have for me.

The 360 and PS3 really aren't that different, to tell the truth. The PS3 can play Blu Ray, which is a big deal if you care about that. I don't really care. Otherwise, the main difference is in the exclusives. Whichever console most of your friends have makes a big difference too. Virtually all of my friends have a 360, so switching to PS3 would be tough since I would only get to play with two of my friends. Not to mention, those two friends I have that have a PS3, also have a 360.

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Graphics Whore - 350 days 13 hours ago

So with everything you had to say, was it necessary to call me a tw@t? Nope. It didn't stop me from reading your comment, however with no-to-low amount of games to play how well do you think Halo would have really done? Other than the 93-94 Metacritic rating.

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Max Power - 350 days 22 hours ago

i enjoy the ps3 more that makes me an anime freak?

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