XBOX 360: Is it worth the purchase?

Posted by admin on Mar 23, 2006 in Volume 14 Issue 1 | 0 comments

Christmas came early for this journalist last week. With a stroke of luck, I secured an Xbox 360 gaming console. Released November of 2005, the system has suffered low production due to hardware shortages, and it is likely that they will not be consistently in stock until late March. However, with the bugs worked out and production increasing, I could no longer resist the voices in my head and bought this modern marvel of technology. The hardware is unrivaled, the wireless controllers are flawless, and Xbox Live is firmly established as the best online console interface. As a hardcore gamer, I could not be happier. But is now the time for the more casual gamer to get on the next-gen bandwagon? I would advise some caution.

I will not lie, the price of next-gen equipment is not for the faint of heart. The console comes in two packages: the core system at $300 and the premium edition at $400. Be aware, purchasing the core system would be a mistake of epic proportions. The significant difference is that the core system lacks the 20GB removable hard drive. This is more than a glorified memory card; it allows you to store downloadable content, have backwards compatibility, and improved caching (for faster load times).

Without it, you are sadly handicapped. Also, all the accessories that come with the premium edition have a $200 value, yet it only costs $100 more than the core system. If you are getting a 360, the premium package is always the way to go.

Yet even with the premium package, I managed to spend an extra $160 on other accessories (extra controller: $50; VGA adaptor: $40; plug and play rechargeable battery: $20; year of Xbox Live subscription $50). And do not expect costs to drop anytime soon. With the Playstation 3 rumoured to be more expensive on release than the Xbox 360, Microsoft will not have to drop prices to remain competitive.

An additional reason to refrain from running out and getting an Xbox 360 is the lack of next-gen games. As of now, there are roughly 35 games released for this console, but only a handful that I would recommend purchasing. The rest are fancy current-gen games not living up to the promise of the 360’s capabilities. A veritable avalanche of potentially amazing 360 games are to be released in the coming months (Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Gears of War, and Mass Effect to name a few) and will seriously brighten up the 360’s library.

Finally, it is the sad truth that unless you have a hi-def TV or a computer monitor, there is little point in going next-gen. All the games for the 360 are created with high resolution in mind. While it still looks nice on a normal TV, I do not think ‘nice’ warrants a $400 investment. The games are only going to look better as time goes on, and without a high resolution display, you might as well take a Ferrari engine and stick it in your grandma’s station wagon. It might run faster and sound better, but it is going to look terrible.

While I am thrilled with how my Xbox 360 has performed, now may not be the time for the less fanatic to purchase one. With production still limited, the game library small (but growing rapidly) and high definition almost required, patience is a virtue. By the time summer rolls around, there will be a 360 on every store shelf and enough high caliber games to keep you occupied for a very long time. By then, perhaps you can find a cheap computer monitor or even a high-def TV to enjoy graphics unparalleled in console gaming. The next generation is here to stay, just make sure you are ready for it before you commit.