Xbox 360
Full system $649.95, Core system $499.95 www.xbox.com.au
Microsoft’s next-gen games console, the Xbox 360, has arrived, and it delivers much more than just better graphics. Of course, the graphics are certainly much higher resolution and sharper than the graphics you’ll find on older consoles, although to fully appreciate them you’ll need a new high-definition television, be it plasma, LCD, rear-pro jection or even a video projector. The 360 can display images in 1080i resolution, which is effectively the highest quality available for most HDTVs on the market.
The first Xbox 360 release titles are not massive advances on the previous generation in terms of gameplay, but certainly look many times better than older titles, and were truly created to be enjoyed on an HDTV. Because of this, the Xbox 360 is likely to further drive the adoption of HDTVs in Australia, as has happened in the US.
Certainly the future for upcoming games on all next-generation consoles is bright, as games developers take the time to create even more stunning visuals for us to enjoy, blending games and interac tive movies more closely together. Already in currently available Xbox 360 sports games, you can see the players starting to sweat as the on-court or on-field action gets more intense. Racing games offer ever more realistic cars and courses. It really is eye candy taken to the next level.
The original Xbox allowed you to get into online gam ing by purchasing a subscription to Xbox Live. The Xbox 360 comes with a free Silver subscription that lets you go online into the Xbox Live community where you can download movie trailers, game demos, talk to friends using an optional Xbox headset/microphone, purchase and download simple yet addictive games and track your gaming accomplishments. To actually play against others you’ll need to subscribe to the Gold level. There are many extras in the Gold subscription, includ ing the ability to play against others who match your skill level, avoid ing the situation of getting into an online game only to find yourself instantly bested by far more experienced players. This makes the entire online gaming experience much more enjoyable for all.
The Xbox 360’s case and on-screen interface has undergone a complete redesign. The unit can be customised with changeable faceplates, while the on-screen interface uses a ‘blade’ system for navigating the menu system of the console. Each blade takes you to a different activity, be it playing games, going online, playing with digital media and more. If you have a computer with Windows XP and Media Player 10 or the media specific Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre version, you can also use the Xbox 360 to stream content from that computer to the TV the Xbox 360 is plugged into, be it in the living room, the bed room or elsewhere, by connecting your Xbox 360 to a wired network or by using an optional wireless adapter.
You can also rip music from your favourite CDs to your Xbox hard drive. You can also plug in your iPod, and listen to your favourite mp3 music files while playing games – although songs bought from iTunes won’t work because of Apple’s copy protection. You can plug in your digital camera and view slideshows of your photos on the TV, or pop a DVD into the Xbox 360 and it plays as you’d expect.
Launch games include Perfect Dark Zero, Project Gotham Racing 3, Kameo, Peter Jackson’s King Kong and NBA Live 06, with many more games on the way. Although Sony’s PS3 and Nintendo’s Revolution consoles are due towards the end of 2006 and promise advances of their own, the Xbox 360 is the only next-gen game in town, but you will need a new HDTV for the best experience.
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