Xbox 360 is well worth the wait
Yes, I know. It's been quite a long time since I've written a gaming column. I've played many games over the past year, but I slowed down a bit cause of my new job and also because I hadn't played too many new games because I was planning on getting my hands on an Xbox 360. Not that I want to brag or anything, but I GOT ONE! It's been a long time coming. I could have preordered, but you know, it was a last minute decision to get one. Then when I finally decided to take the plunge, there were none to be found…except for eBay. I wasn't selling my soul to the devil or sell myself on the street to get one. Mind you, the second option could have had double benefits.
Because I just picked mine up last week, I haven't had a chance to play through a lot of the games I have. I picked up Call of Duty 2 because of all the good things I've heard about it. Before I had my system, I had Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 because I got them for free. But I haven't played the games enough to give any reviews, so I'll just give you my impressions on the system itself.
The Xbox 360 is not as big and heavy as I expected but it is a hell of a lot noisier than I had thought. When there's no disc in the system, it's not bad at all, but once it starts running a game, whoo boy! Thank goodness all the games have 5.1 sound in them now because if I didn't have the sound coming from every speaker in my living room, the loudness of the system would definitely bug me.
The new wireless controllers (I got the platinum package with the 20 gig hard drive) are really nice. I've never been wireless on a console before (which is weird considering all the time I'm gaming) and I just love the freedom. Plugging in the headset (which now lays on top of your head instead behind your head) and moving around the room or into the kitchen to get a beer is SOOO awesome. No unplugging, no missing banter or trash talking…just freedom. The controllers are set up nicely but it does take some getting used to because the old buttons on the side of the old Xbox controller are now on the shoulders just like the PS2 pad (but just a little smaller).
Xbox Live is now even better. You can customize your profile to your liking and even hook up your digital camera to the USB ports to import pics. You can also see your gaming experience and rank because each game you play has points that are applied to your profile (after you complete certain objectives) so people can see how hardcore you are.
One of the coolest things about Xbox Live now is how you can actually download trailers for games and movies and even actual playable demos for upcoming games. I immediately downloaded the demos for Madden 06, Condemned (creepy as hell) and Fight Night Round 3. I'm not a boxing person at all, but HOLY SHIT, if this doesn't scream next gen graphics I don't know what does. It's just a marvel to look at and I've used it as a showcase to my friends who are coming over to see what the hell I spent $700 on.
I'll be back in the next few issues to give reviews of all the latest next gen games and let you know more stuff about Xbox Live and all the other little neat things I experiment with. Oh yeah, for those of you who have read my stuff over the past two years, yes, the first day I had my 360, I was still online playing Halo 2 with my clan. Wanna try me or join the clan (Servn Hot Wingz), my gamertag is EAT MEAH X8. If you've read my stuff over the years, the gamertag shouldn't be a surprise either.
Because I just picked mine up last week, I haven't had a chance to play through a lot of the games I have. I picked up Call of Duty 2 because of all the good things I've heard about it. Before I had my system, I had Kameo, Perfect Dark Zero and Project Gotham Racing 3 because I got them for free. But I haven't played the games enough to give any reviews, so I'll just give you my impressions on the system itself.
The Xbox 360 is not as big and heavy as I expected but it is a hell of a lot noisier than I had thought. When there's no disc in the system, it's not bad at all, but once it starts running a game, whoo boy! Thank goodness all the games have 5.1 sound in them now because if I didn't have the sound coming from every speaker in my living room, the loudness of the system would definitely bug me.
The new wireless controllers (I got the platinum package with the 20 gig hard drive) are really nice. I've never been wireless on a console before (which is weird considering all the time I'm gaming) and I just love the freedom. Plugging in the headset (which now lays on top of your head instead behind your head) and moving around the room or into the kitchen to get a beer is SOOO awesome. No unplugging, no missing banter or trash talking…just freedom. The controllers are set up nicely but it does take some getting used to because the old buttons on the side of the old Xbox controller are now on the shoulders just like the PS2 pad (but just a little smaller).
Xbox Live is now even better. You can customize your profile to your liking and even hook up your digital camera to the USB ports to import pics. You can also see your gaming experience and rank because each game you play has points that are applied to your profile (after you complete certain objectives) so people can see how hardcore you are.
One of the coolest things about Xbox Live now is how you can actually download trailers for games and movies and even actual playable demos for upcoming games. I immediately downloaded the demos for Madden 06, Condemned (creepy as hell) and Fight Night Round 3. I'm not a boxing person at all, but HOLY SHIT, if this doesn't scream next gen graphics I don't know what does. It's just a marvel to look at and I've used it as a showcase to my friends who are coming over to see what the hell I spent $700 on.
I'll be back in the next few issues to give reviews of all the latest next gen games and let you know more stuff about Xbox Live and all the other little neat things I experiment with. Oh yeah, for those of you who have read my stuff over the past two years, yes, the first day I had my 360, I was still online playing Halo 2 with my clan. Wanna try me or join the clan (Servn Hot Wingz), my gamertag is EAT MEAH X8. If you've read my stuff over the years, the gamertag shouldn't be a surprise either.
