Should i buy a 360?

Dcully

Hi guys,im thinking of purchasing either a PS3 or 360 but not sure which to go for.
Ill be honest im not in tune with the console world at all these days so forgive me if questions are dumb.
Im very tempted to buy a 360 as im hearing it is ahead in the console war both from a players and game creaters perspective,is this true?
Im on eircom 3MB down,386 up broadband,will this be ok to host?

On the games front im very much a noob,first and foremost im an online gamer,single player games dont float my boat at all.
What is online play really like?
What games do you suggest i purchase?
I loved halo on xbox for some multiplayer fun when we hooked up for a small lan,is halo or similar games any good online?

Just to let you know ive been playing online games on pc for years so how will the experience compare?

I also love simracing on pc so can someone give an honest opinion on games like PGR3 and Forza,are these total arcade racers? are the physics in any way realistic?

Sorry for all the questions but i really havent followed console stuff for quite a few years now.

Sorry to barge in on your post but I'm also looking to buy a 360 myself and want to know if they still have issues like overheating ?

Ciaran500

Now is the perfect time to buy a Xbox360. The game lineup is really starting to shine with some very big games coming before Christmas.

I'm on 3mb and I've no problems at all with Live.

Online play is much more simplified than PC games and it can be easy to end up with a bunch of whining kids but build up a large friends list and that problem dissapears.

Look into these games and see what floats your boat (IMO they're all worth buying):
Splinter Cell DA
Ghost Recon Advance War Fighter
Saints Row
Dead Rising (SP only but worth buying)
Test Drive: Unlimited

PGR3 is an arcadey sim and Forza is an out and out sim.


TBH the PS3 is not worth buying till at least this time next year, the launch line up is pretty terrible and all of the big hitters should be arriving late next year. You'll also have trouble getting a PS3 till early summer next year.

EDIT:

hellboy99 wrote:

Sorry to barge in on your post but I'm also looking to buy a 360 myself and want to know if they still have issues like overheating ?

I haven't heard about many recent 360s with problems and my one (made in July) has been rock solid since I got it. Most of the failures are from consoles bought around launch, but only time will tell I guess.

god's toy

I think, YES! get one. as for what games, well I'm sure a few posts after mine will help you out but I'm still loving Ridge Racer on the 360 and PGR3 is fab and well worth it IMO.

3mb BB will be fine with XBL, I'm on that and it's always fast and it does not use up that much bandwidth.

Xbox Live is the best thing to come out of bedrooms gaming in years and the 360 makes good use of it, well worth it I say.

(next post)

I think the overheating probs was mostly in the US. it's when people dont allow them to breath they go wrong...( now I'm sure a few have gone bad having said that) Mine has never over heated and in-fact it's always cool.

Not the best post in my life (Sorry I need Coffee) but it's the truth.

Dcully

Thanks for replies so far guys,one quickie,not that it really matters but are both machines on a par with regard raw processing power?

mcgovern

Dcully wrote:

Thanks for replies so far guys,one quickie,not that it really matters but are both machines on a par with regard raw processing power?

Both are reasonably on-par, different architechtures though.
AFAIK PS3 CPU is better but the X360s GPU is better, and every developer so far has said that there is no significant difference in the power.

xanthor

Dcully wrote:

Im on eircom 3MB down,386 up broadband,will this be ok to host?

I'm on the same connection/ISP/. It's yet to fail on me when im hosting... however, apparently there are some NATL when the host is on Eircom and a
guest is on Eircom too.

Dcully wrote:

What games do you suggest i purchase?

Gears of war seems to have some likeness to the Halo series.

Dcully

Ok i got the deluxe system and 3 games today.
However im having problems.
I also bought the recharger set for wireless controler and the cable to hook up to my lcd monitor i use with my gaming pc but here lies the problem
I have perfect picture but as my lcd has no speakers attached to it {i use seperate logitech subwoofer setup} i have no sound
I brought my 32 inch lcd tv down to where i have my broadband and pc setup and all worked fine but i really want the 360 setup beside the pc arrangement.

The only other answer is to buy the wireless adapter thingy so i can put the 360 in the living room with the big tv and keep router beside pc where it is.
Id prefer not to do this but have i any choice?
If indeed i must move 360 to living room will the wireless connection back to my eircom router be ok for gaming?

CiaranC

Plug the component connections into your speaker set up, whats the problem?

Dcully

The problem is there is nowhere to connect to on the speaker system,I assure thats the first thing i tried.

CiaranC

A speaker system with no inputs would be pretty useless

If the input connectors arent component L&R like the picture, what are they? 3.5mm audio jack? If so, buy a component to 3.5mm jack adapter.

This should set you back the princely sum of €1 down your local electrical retailer.

Dcully

There is absolutely no connections on the speaker system.
Its a 6 week old logitech speaker system,the wires go straight into and from the speakers and subwoofer,no attachments whatsoever just cables straight from speakers and woofer,only feature on the back is the bass volume.
I agree its very silly arrangement but not as much as a console with no standard headphones socket imo.

CiaranC

Unless you are using the speakers as ornaments, then there must be a way to connect them to audio equipment.

Julez

Sound like pretty useless spearker, there must be some sort of input, what are u playing through them now and how's it connected?!

Dcully

Here is the exact system i have guys
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00069ZEA6/kaufenundbe00-21/ref=nosim
I even tried connecting this

to the headphones connection on the right side speaker when all else failed[i think you may see it on the images on above link] im getting only some sound from the left speaker ,totaly useless.
Looks like i need a new speaker setup so then.

CiaranC

Connections

* Connector Type: 1 x headphones ¦ 1 x audio line-in

Miscellaneous

* Cables Included: Audio cable

You dont need a new speaker system. What are the speakers connected to now? Have you ever used them before? Are they still in the box?

Dcully

Yes Ciaran they have been connected to my pc up until i got the console today via a single green cable [unsure of correct name] direct into the pc soundcard.
Ive been using them on the pc for the 6 weeks since i purchased them.
Ive just checked the box and there are no other connectors,i dont recall them either when i first opened box.
Thanks for your time here m8.

CiaranC

The idea is to replace the single green cable you describe here.

Remove this cable.

Put the red/white phono to 3.5mm jack adapter (shown above) on to the vga cable. Plug this into where the green cable used to go on the speaker system.

Thats it.

Dcully

This green cable is joined straight to the woofer and speakers.
It is not connected via a connector its actually FIXED in place,unless i take apart the speakers there is no way to access the cables.

Ciaran500

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34619&criteria=3.5mm%20jack&doy=24m10


That'll do it.

CiaranC

lol, right now I get you! Thats brutal.


One of these (3.5mm female-3.5mm female adapter) on the end of the fixed cable will allow you to connect the adapter above. 2 quid should sort it. Bit of an inelegant solution though.

What I use is something like this:-


It allows you to connect a single set of speakers and a single monitor to two devices. Pressing the button on top switches between them. Kinda like a KVM switch, but with audio too.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/SOHO-Series-KVM-Switch-with-Audio-PS-2-USB-and-VGA_W0QQitemZ280039574829QQihZ018QQcategoryZ45341QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ciaran500

Link for that VGA box please ciaran, I've been looking for one of those.

GrumPy

Jesus Ciaran's, get a room!

CiaranC

ebay is your only man

The one I originally posted is for switching between my old xbox 1 (composite) and pc (vga). The one above is for two vga devices (360 and pc).

Dcully

Well guys i came across the speakers setup i had before current one and all worked fine.
Only thing is im far from impressed,the console itself is decent but the games just dont appeal to me like online pc games.
Maybe i was crazy to even get a 360 when i have a very fast gaming pc but hey this was a present from the wife and i couldnt think of anything else.
I doubt Harvey Norman will refund so theres a 2 day old 360 deluxe for sale with PGR3,GRAW,Saints Row,wireless charger and vga monitor adapter

Ciaran500

Download some demos from Live and see what floats your boat, bit early to give up on a console already.

Dcully

Nah i hear you guys but imo pc first person shooters,racing games which into are just so much better.
I have a very fast gaming rig so i really cant see myself playing the 360 at all.

CiaranC

You are probably right DCully, it doesnt compare to PC gaming really. Consoles are more aimed at the casual gamer.