Xbox 360 - Some hands on

[Knightshade Dragon]

I'll get into specifics when I can sit down and write but let me say that the 360 lives up to the hype.  I saw HDTV streaming from a PC on the 1st floor to the 360 playing clips pulled from the web.  I saw a new unified OS-type functionality where profiles are stored at a lower level and you simply pick one. ( I.E. I'd like to play a shooter - this game uses the default shooter setup and I've saved all your settings.)  I saw PVR functions.  I saw slideshow and music presentation pulled from a remote PC.  I saw streaming video on demand (including movies on demand).  I saw music on demand.  Wow...just f'n WOW!

I got to see almost all the launch titles - the devil is in the details and I'm tellin you there are a LOT of details.  Ok, yea yea on all the normal mapping...we know it looks great.  I'm talking details like zooming in on the back of the helmets in Madden and seeing the warning label that tells you not to block with your head.  I'm talking creases in your pants when you kneel.  I'm talkin blood spatter like you've never seen in Condemned.  I'm talkin fluid animations that are truly NEXT GEN for DOA 4.  Hot damn...I'm very excited and when you start seeing kiosks in stores, you will be too.  Screenshots do NOT do this system justice.

I am going to write huge previews on every title I got to see hands-on over the next few days...stay tuned, its gonna rock.


P.S. I met J. Allard finally - he is one high-energy individual.  It isn't an act, he really believes in the product and he is one of the best influencial speakers I've seen in a long time.  If you get the opportunity to meet him, don't miss it.

[Lockdown]

Awesome Ron!

Look forward to your upcoming posts on this!

LD

[Arkon]

Wait... did you say PVR functions?  Thought this was not going to make it in.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Yes, yes I did.

PVR functions are alive and well as long as:

You have a PC running Media Center
You have a tuner card to receive programming

We were watching Episode II in HD captured via a Media Center PC.

[Devil]

Thanks!

Keep us posted!

[greeneggsnham]

So, the Microsoft Media Center revolution has finally arrived?

Actually, I'm cool with that. I've been thinking about getting Linux on my xbox for the longest time to turn it into a HT media center, and now the 360 saves me the trouble. Do they actually have any decent visualizations for music this time?

Too bad I won't be able to afford one this year. Maybe I'll win one in one of the giveaways that are out there (7up, Bioware). I'm not complaining about the cost (the system, if it delivers on the gaming, is a steal at $400) - I just don't have the scratch. Plus, Sony will eventually put out the PS3, and if Microsoft can, they'll be aggresive with the pricing on the 360...

I, for one, am looking forward to the kiosks so we can give the system a whirl.

Ron, were there any surprises in the titles you got to play? Anything from left field that could be a sleeper hit?

[Eco-Logic]

Awesome Ron!

Thanks for the info.  I'm looking forward to reading your detailed impressions.

[warning]

Sounds very good!  Looking forward to more impressions.  Like... you know... Oblivion?

[Lockdown]

Wait a second.... Warning :  Is that signature quote really something he typed?  Was he making a joke when he typed it?

 - - -

PGR3 Ron.  P...G...R...3   -  Stay focused!

LD  :wink:

[Purge]

For gods sake... papa needs his smak; gimme some Crimson Skies news.


So, to sum up :

Visualizations, Wireless 802.11a functionality, Media Center / 360 connectivity, noise (does the 360 sound like a cesna with 2 extra balls in the bearings)... give us the goods man.

Oh, and a shot of you kissing J's arse. That's a picture worth a thousand laughs.  :twisted: See if he'll wear your feather boa for the shot..  :lol:

[Hetz]

Need Oblivoin Info.........Now!!!!

[warning]

Wait a second.... Warning :  Is that signature quote really something he typed?  Was he making a joke when he typed it?

Yes he did actually type that.

And, sadly, no I don't think he meant it as a joke.  At least not more than any of U2K/The General's posts were meant as jokes.

Makes for an amazing signature though.  

Now back to Oblivion!  Please Ron?

[Arkon]

With the mention of Condemned..... check out the game website, my god this game looks like a day 1 purchase now based solely off of the incredible site.


http://www.condemnedgame.com/

[Knightshade Dragon]

The Oblivion writeup is first on my plate.  I'm afraid I don't have a great deal of NEW information, but I'll give you my take on it.

[mytocles]

Need Oblivoin Info.........Now!!!!

Yup... yup!  

[The Grue]

I'm talking details like zooming in on the back of the helmets in Madden and seeing the warning label that tells you not to block with your head.  I'm talking creases in your pants when you kneel.  

This is great and all, but too bad the animations in Madden look very outdated.  I would rather have good animations than being able to see warning labels on helmets.

[Sparhawk]

Wait a second.... Warning :  Is that signature quote really something he typed?  Was he making a joke when he typed it?

 - - -

PGR3 Ron.  P...G...R...3   -  Stay focused!

LD  :wink:

 

  Time to race!

[Sparhawk]

wow the condemned website is awesome!

[Sparhawk]

OKay, Condemned = Day One Purchase as well. Holy god that looks like fun. Trailer Two was very impressive.,

[Laner]

Actually, I'm cool with that. I've been thinking about getting Linux on my xbox for the longest time to turn it into a HT media center, and now the 360 saves me the trouble. Do they actually have any decent visualizations for music this time?

The guy who virtually invented visualizations for PC/consoles is doing the new ones for the Xbox 360 -

http://www.llamasoft.co.uk/neon.php

[Laner]

Regarding Media Center extender functionality... any idea if it handles streamed Divx/Xvid files or decrypted VOB files?  The Xbox Media Center (not the MS-published one) handles these well, but I have my doubts if MS will support those formats.

[Knightshade Dragon]

streamed Divx/Xvid files or decrypted VOB files?

I didn't get to field this question.  I'll research.  I can't imagine that it would have a problem with DivX given that almost everything you pull off the net is encoded that way.

[TheMissingLink]

Wow.  Those Condemned trailers...wow.  Disturbing.  Messed up.  And with next-gen graphics = truly, truly scary.  It looks awesome but I doubt I could play it, being the wussy I am.

But holy wow, that was pretty damn impressive.

[Arkon]

I just don't know how that game managed to be nowhere on my radar until now.

[DamageInc]

Glad you had a great time, can't wait to hear all about it.

[Sparhawk]

My scroll banner broke.  

[msduncan]

So would I be pipe-dreaming to hope that this 'marketplace' for the 360 might offer a way to purchase and download movies (like REAL movies -- Lord of the Rings, The Ring, Gone with the Wind, etc) to then transfer and store on your Media Center PC?

[Eco-Logic]

Regarding Media Center extender functionality... any idea if it handles streamed Divx/Xvid files or decrypted VOB files?  The Xbox Media Center (not the MS-published one) handles these well, but I have my doubts if MS will support those formats.

On that same note, any idea if it will play/stream image files (.bin, .iso etc.).

My modded xbox plays them like a champ, but I would love to be able to move my modded box to the other room.

[Lockdown]

This brings up the question.... are they using the same Live! information, and will your modded xbox screw you from getting on Live with the new 360?  Or perhaps it's a completely seperate deal, and they are totally unrelated?  I'm sure you already thought of that though.

LD

[Eco-Logic]

This brings up the question.... are they using the same Live! information, and will your modded xbox screw you from getting on Live with the new 360?  Or perhaps it's a completely seperate deal, and they are totally unrelated?  I'm sure you already thought of that though.

LD

Oh, I will have to get a new account is all.

My previous gamer tag was all that was banned.  Not me, personally.  I could have bought a new xbox and live starter kit and got back on live if I chose too.  

I definitely thought about it.

I will not be modding the 360 that is for sure

[whiteboyskim]

So would I be pipe-dreaming to hope that this 'marketplace' for the 360 might offer a way to purchase and download movies (like REAL movies -- Lord of the Rings, The Ring, Gone with the Wind, etc) to then transfer and store on your Media Center PC?

Without having been there along with Ron, I can only guess at this. But I would cite the recent upheaval of Hollywood from support of HDTV (and Microsoft) and moving to Blu-Ray because the security is by nature stronger than what Microsoft created. Hollywood is notoriously paranoid about theft (ironic considering how everyone there steals everyone else's ideas ) and anything that will prevent ripping of movies and music to hard drives for ease of use to the consumer is viewed by them as a threat. I think it's a cool idea to be able to stream a movie from my PC to my 360, but do I think it makes the console that much more useful? Not especially. I buy a console for games, and my personal opinion is that all the frill only jacks up the price by adding things that I not only don't want, but don't need either.

But that's just my opinion on it.

[Calvin]

Awesome Ron! Great to hear man, I look forward to your impressions and you have definately made me feel better about the future purchase.