Is Xbox360 worth it? (For me?)

[jeff the cheff]

I went into an EB store the other day to check out some wii games, and Madden 08 was on an xbox 360. I played for a little bit and thought it was amazing, it looked great especially compared to madden for PS2.

I have a wii that I share with my little sister, and I'll be at college without a car so I won't have it all the time. I used to be really into videogames, but as I got older, I've been more of a casual gamer, enjoying simpler games, like anything on wii.

Right now, the only reason I want an xbox 360 is for madden, although I know there are some other great games out, and more coming. Do you think it's worth it to spend that much on a system when I will probably only spend a few hours a week playing?

The first part is more up to me to decide, but I'd like some opinions. My other question is which kind should I get. Do I need a core system, premium system? Whats the difference? Also, I heard you need an hdtv to have the great graphics. Is it worth it to get the system if I'm mostly going to be playing on a 20" tv without hd? I do have a 50+" tv at home with hd, but I have an apartment away from home for the next 12 months at school, so I won't be playing on it a lot.


btw, on ebay a used core system is about $200

[Peanut]

You don't sound like you're in any position to own any next-gen consoles, honestly. Madden is still Madden on the PS2. If that's all you're going to play, you don't have much interest in other big games, and you're going to be playing on a sh*t TV, I would suggest not even thinking about it. All of those factors, coupled with the fact that you're even remotely thinking of buying the tard-pack Core 360, leads me to believe you should stick with the last-gen stuff.

[jeff the cheff]

You don't sound like you're in any position to own any next-gen consoles, honestly. Madden is still Madden on the PS2. If that's all you're going to play, you don't have much interest in other big games, and you're going to be playing on a sh*t TV, I would suggest not even thinking about it. All of those factors, coupled with the fact that you're even remotely thinking of buying the tard-pack Core 360, leads me to believe you should stick with the last-gen stuff.

Thanks for your answer.

I don't think I'm considering a core console, I looked up the difference b/w the core and premium and now that I actually know the difference, I would get the premium.

The graphics on madden are a lot better on 360, and I've never really cared about graphics until I played madden for xbox. I know almost nobody in the VG section appreciates madden games, but I really do think they are up there as the most fun games to play.

If my **** tv isn't good enough to play, then I'll skip. Maybe someday I'll be good enough to join all you next-gen players.

[Peanut]

Madden would look just fine on your TV, as would a bunch of others, they just don't look AS good, and there are certain games (RS:Las Vegas and C&C3 come to mind) that look terrible in regular definition. It really is a waste playing next-gen games on a regular TV, but the experience isn't totally lost to you.

And honestly, if you like Madden enough that you want to see it looking slightly better, then you should just go ahead and buy one. It is your choice, after all.

[jeff the cheff]

Does RS: LA and C&C3 just have the best graphics on the system, or do they use the hd differently than madden?

I'm not trying to justify buying a 360 just for one game, but it is what originally attracted me to it. Other than that, it would be halo games, gta4, and any games that my friends say are "totally ****ing awesome"

[Peanut]

No, it's just because of the way they use HD.

[Janus Prospero]

But keep in mind that you can get a 26" LCD HDTV for $500 or so.

If you're willing to make that commitment along with the 360, then why not?

[jeff the cheff]

A year ago I bought my 20" tv for $300. I regret it, I only went to one store and picked from there.

[raphael_is_cool]

You'd also need to make sure your TV is 60hz, but considering you got yours a year ago that's usually what newer models are anyway.

I don't really play my 360 much, due to other constraints but damn is it fun. The only reason I got mine is because a) I started getting commission at work, b) I saw enough good games to warrant buying it and c) Halo 3!

If you're a casual gamer there may be other titles to draw you in and keep you hooked, saving the need to buy loads of other games. I know I'm terrible for zipping through games and getting bored but with the online stuff (and partly due to time constraints) I haven't needed to buy a new game since June.

I hope that makes sense to you. But if you're not too serious about gaming, considering the costs involved in a 360 in particular, then maybe you could wait a while.

[jeff the cheff]

Your probably right, I just saw the xbox 360 $279 sign at eb and thought that wasn't too much, so I considered it.

I guess if its not worth having with a non-hd tv, i'll just wait

[raphael_is_cool]

I play it on a 21" non-HDTV and I'm perfectly happy with it. I wouldn't say it harms the experience at all, it just looks so awesome in HD (of which we have in a 40", but downstairs in the family/living room, so I can't always use it, dangit)

[Mr. Snackpants]

Thanks for your answer.

I don't think I'm considering a core console, I looked up the difference b/w the core and premium and now that I actually know the difference, I would get the premium.

The graphics on madden are a lot better on 360, and I've never really cared about graphics until I played madden for xbox. I know almost nobody in the VG section appreciates madden games, but I really do think they are up there as the most fun games to play.

If my **** tv isn't good enough to play, then I'll skip. Maybe someday I'll be good enough to join all you next-gen players.

I do !!! :D

I would say it's not worth it...paying that much to basically play Madden. Not having an awesome TV isnt that muchof a problem, though. I played on a 20" SDTV in my dorm last year and it still looked good compared to my roomates PS2. But now I have 42" 1080p tv, so I could never go back :P .

[Brodie]

I don't have an HDTV, and I still enjoy it. I also own Rainbow6 Vegas, and it looks fine...

[Spitfire]

It really is a waste playing next-gen games on a regular TV, but the experience isn't totally lost to you.

I back that up 100%, you honestly have no idea what your missing till you play a game in HD as opposed to SD. Dead Rising was like a brand new game in HD. Being able to read the font was a huge help.

[Barkworm]

Has anyone here ever hooked up his 360 to his PC monitor? If so how did it look? I hope to buy a 360 before the end of the year and that would be the cheapest solution to me.

[Janus Prospero]

Dead Rising was like a brand new game in HD. Being able to read the font was a huge help.

Dude, wasn't that the most annoying thing in the world? When I got my HD TV I played Dead Rising again, just so I could read it all.

Plus I really like hearing the remix of "Justified" during the credits.

[Cure]

Before I bought my HDTV, I remember the subtitles for certain games being offensively small. I think it was in Crackdown and the Dead Rising demo.

EDIT: Whoops, for some reason I skipped some posts. I usually try to read all of them. Dunno what happened there.

[愛]

Has anyone here ever hooked up his 360 to his PC monitor? If so how did it look? I hope to buy a 360 before the end of the year and that would be the cheapest solution to me.

My monitor is an HDTV, and supports 720p. I haven't hooked up a 360 to it (I will soon), but I've hooked up PS2 and played God of War and God of War II on it. I must say, the game looked amazing for the generation it was made in.