Xbox - What You May Have Never Known

Xbox 360 - What You May Not Know
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Covering Your Gaming Needs with the Xbox 360

The home video game console market is currently dominated by two powerful giants:
Sony’s high end Playstation 3 and of course, Microsoft’s Xbox 360. While some may
argue that Nintendo’s Wii console is a third alternative, many often see the motion
gaming system as a secondary platform designed mostly for casual players. On its end,
Microsoft is taking all of the lessons they learned from the original Xbox system and
bringing all the great things back for their new console –plus plenty of great innovations.

One of the first massive improvements of the 360 is its size. The original Xbox is
considerably one of the consoles of its time. Many complained about its robust size and
the shelving space it occupied. Microsoft addressed this problem by creating a smaller
system with the additional option of being able to decide whether you want it flat or
standing upright (a feature that was first used in the original Playstation 2).

The Xbox 360 also brought in new hardware that pushed the gaming capabilities of the
home console well and beyond that of high end PCs. This helped usher in great games
such as Mass Effect, Halo 3, Gotham Racing and many more as developers now had
faster processors, better graphic cards and bigger storage space to work with.

Speaking of storage space, the 360 makes use of the HD DVD media format. While this
is much smaller than the Playstation 3’s Blu-Ray discs, it still provided a significant
amount of freedom that standard DVDs could not afford.

Beyond its lineup of great titles, the 360 itself is a gaming marvel fit to be in the center of
your home entertainment system. The device hooks up to the internet through LAN or
WiFi and allows players to connect to the Xbox Live network –a paid service which
allows users to access Microsoft’s online gaming platform and various media services.
The console also works as a media hub of sorts –able to playback varying types of image,
music and video file formats.

The 360’s wireless controllers are well made for fast paced gaming, with color-coded
buttons which allows players to easily create a mental map of the layout. The only
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drawback is that it makes use of standard batteries. Microsoft does sell an official
rechargeable battery pack kit (complete with specialized chargers) for those who love to
have long gaming sessions.

Microsoft has also launched a second version of the Xbox 360, the “S”. This new slim
version has a lower energy consumption rate, built in Kinect support and more
importantly, is rumored to be resilient to the issues that caused RRoD failures for the first
batches of 360 systems.

RRoD, or Red Ring of Death, is a nickname given to the indicator lights of the 360 that
indicates a complete system failure. There are plenty of theories and hypothesis as to the
varying causes of RRoD, though all conclude that once the system hits this stage,
recovery is nearly impossible. This issue has caused demand for the Jasper edition of the
unit to soar, as its lower voltage rates appears to make the system immune from the much
dreaded Red Ring of Death.

Being Microsoft’s second platform in the home gaming console, the 360 has shown how
far the PC software developer has come in terms of being able to expand. In terms of
gaming, Microsoft is now one of the biggest names in the gaming industry, with their
high end console, impressive games and impressive online service, Microsoft’s Xbox 360
community continues to grow each day.

Your 360, Your Style: Special Editions of Microsoft’s Gaming Console

The Xbox 360 is an extremely impressive gaming machine featuring high end video
graphics hardware and a library of games that is sure to satisfy any hardcore gamer’s
needs. But function is not there is to Microsoft’s very successful seventh generation video
game console. The Xbox 360 also delivers plenty in terms of form. The new sleeker
design (as compared to the original Xbox) of the original 360 and the highly stylized
360S bring to users a devices that will fit perfectly well in the center of your home
theater. But if you have been looking for something more, something extra special, you
might want to take a quick peek at these special edition versions of the Xbox 360.

No list of Xbox 360 special editions can be complete without the Halo 3 special edition;
this system is considered to be the top choice of Xbox fans for its specially designed
colors –made to look like Master Chief’s armor. Even the pack-in controller, headset and
charger has been designed in a similar fashion to fit with the overall look. Halo fans will
love the slight contouring of the side plate to match the style of the Spartan armor.

Final Fantasy fans have also been given a special console as well. The Final Fantasy XIII
360 special edition comes in a basic white color scheme with an imprinted design. Being
white, it looks a lot like the standard 360 edition until closer inspection. The package also
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comes with free game related DLC and of course, the game itself. While we cannot
exactly recommend this one for aesthetic functions (since it is still mostly white),
hardcore fans of Square Enix would certainly want to have this in their playroom.

For those looking for a strikingly good color for the Xbox, a special Resident Evil 5
edition of the console has been released and this one comes in a solid red finish. In terms
of overall design, there are no RE-specific designs on the console itself, making it a great
alternative for those who simply want a red version of the console. As a special edition,
this Xbox 360’s controller and headset accessories are also colored red.

Really hardcore collectors might want to watch out for a few very limited edition
versions of the Xbox 360. The special launch edition is a very exclusive version of the
system that has only been given to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 launch team. These editions
were never available commercially and can only be obtained from the Launch Team
members themselves –in the unlikely event that they are willing to part with the console
itself.

According to reports, the launch edition is mostly white like the original but comes with a
customized faceplate, a date engraving, and green highlights on the console (which is
gray in the commercial release of the 360). Currently, only one launch team edition has
been reported to have been sold by the original owner.

Of course, buying a brand new special edition console is not the only way to get the style
you want. There are plenty of custom faceplates and skins for the Xbox 360 available
both from official sources and third party manufacturers. The designs also range from
simple flat colors to well detailed art (gaming-related and otherwise). If the above special
editions are way off your budget, you might want to invest in a skin instead.

Full Circle: Completing Your Xbox 360 Setup

Microsoft’s Xbox is an impressive gaming system. It packs quite the punch in terms of
hardware power, and provides players with an incredible amount of games to choose
from. But simply owning the system and several games alone is not all that you need to
get the most out of your Xbox 360. Here are a few useful tricks that we found for players
to try out.

Your Game, Your Music

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Now this is actually a documented feature: you can play MP3 files on your HDD through
the console menu from within any game. Of course, you would have to check if your
game allows you to turn off the music (usually found in a game’s sound/audio settings
page). This is a pretty neat trick for games which do not rely so much on the in-game
music to deliver a story (racing games, sports titles, etc). But do remember to use it with a
little moderation, it would be odd playing Alan Wake to a Lady Gaga song.

It Also Plays the iPod

If you own an Apple iPod, you can hook it up to your Xbox 360 and play the track
straight from the iPod itself. This may seem a little strange; after all, Apple is one of
Microsoft’s biggest competitors (basically, they are industry rivals). But yes, the option is
available on the Marketplace. Once loaded on your console, you will be able to browse
your media easily. This will also allow you to charge the device while plugged in.

Create a Special Name

Is the alphabet too limited for your Gamercard? Then fear not. While Microsoft has not
allowed the use of special Ascii characters, they did actually use support for eastern
languages. Simply switch over your input settings and you can choose from a wide range
of unique characters.

Remove Excess Data

Much like the PC, the Xbox 360 is prone to storing random stuff in its memory. Indeed,
there will come a time when your system will start slowing down a bit. If you think your
360 is being encumbered by a load of unneeded files, you might want to try this out.
Select your HD from the user interface and press Y. From there, press X, X, L Bumper, R
Bumper, X, X. This will allow you to clear the memory as well as some of the game
system data –just be warned that you might need to re-download any important DLC
content you lose in the process.

Go Blogging

Tired of telling your friends what you have been playing –or not have been playing?
Then get a blog that will instantly update them on your gaming habits. Of course, it
would be such a hassle to manually create blog posts each day, so the best thing to do is
to have your Xbox 360 console do it for you.

Sign up for an account at 360 Voice, and you will have access to a special service run by
the folks at Gamer DNA. 360 Voice will create an automated blog for you that is updated
by your 360. It will list down the stuff that your Xbox publishes on your Gamercard and
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post it online for you to share. Of course, you should set your Gamercard info to “public”
instead of “private” for this service to work.

Achievements, Gamerscore and Multiplayer - The Best of Xbox Live

We all love our games, and we certainly love being able to talk about gaming experiences
with our friends. Microsoft brings these two and many more great features together in a
single online connectivity service, and this, is Xbox Live.

Originally debuting back in 2002, a year after the launch of the original Xbox home
gaming console, Xbox Live officially went online. Better known under the nickname,
XBL, this Microsoft-run online feature brought together multiplayer features, social
networking, online achievements, media downloads and so much more in a single
location. Within days of its launch, gamers scrambled to log in, create their own
Gamertags and become part of the quickly growing community.

Today, XBL is mostly accessed by Xbox 360 users –which currently account for the
largest portion of the XBL community. They are joined by users of the older Xbox
system, PCs and new users of Windows Phone 7 mobile devices. All in all, the XBL
community currently plays host to over 30 million users (as opposed to over 70 million
for the PSN). This has made Microsoft’s online community a strong, self-sustaining,
online industry for many developers and game publishers.

One of the main functions that XBL provides is the Gamerscore count. This is basically a
numerical tally of in-game achievements accomplished by players. While the Gamerscore
count cannot be used or consumed in any manner, many players often use this as a basis
of comparison of their skill and progress as compared to others on their friends list. In
order to ensure that the Gamerscore is not tampered with, Microsoft employs several
undisclosed tracking methods in order to seek out cheating players. When found, those
caught manipulating Gamerscore data are stripped of points and are publicly labeled as
cheaters.

When it comes to skill comparison however, Microsoft has a much better tracking
alternative: the TrueSkill match finder system. This little feature allows Xbox Live to
keep track of a player’s in-game performance and ranks players according to their actual
skill level.

This allows the system to create match ups of players of similar skills levels in order to
balance the game difficultly. While there are some known exploits in the system, many
players often prefer TrueSkill’s ranked matches as a way to gauge their own playing
levels.
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Aside from providing players with bragging rights, the XBL service also provides plenty
of content for players to download. Netflix, Hulu and other media sites can instantly be
accessed with the XBL account for video content (some media services are restricted
depending on the region of the player). Other social networking sites such as Facebook
and Twitter are also incorporated into the service as well. More importantly, the XBL
service also provides additional game related media and content. Trailers, downloadable
demo versions and expansion packs are all available on the XBL service (though some
will require payment).

With the Xbox Live service, Microsoft has been able to provide a comprehensive gaming
experience for players on the Xbox 360, Windows PC and WP7 smart phone users with
its great library of media channels, game add-ons and online community. If you own one
of the abovementioned systems and have yet to make your own account, you should
create one immediately and catch up on all the great content that you have been missing
out on.

Only 360: 5 of Our Favorite Microsoft Exclusives

Nothing makes a console stand out more than its line-up of exclusive titles. While the
Xbox 360 may be best known for its highly competitive multiplayer FPS titles, it also has
its own share of hardcore games from other genres. Naturally, if you want to get the full
experience of all the gaming goodness that this Microsoft gaming console has to offer,
you need to try out its many different games. To help you get started, we compiled a list
of our top five favorite exclusive titles for the 360.

Alan Wake

Intriguing, suspenseful and highly imaginative, Alan Wake is a great game that players
should not pass up on. You take control of the titular lead character, Alan Wake, as he
embarks on a strange quest to save his wife from a race of bizarre beings known as the
Taken.

The gameplay is a combination of exploration-investigation and horror-action; players
seek out various clues to find Alan’s wife while trying to get past beings that are only
vulnerable when exposed to light. Combat is combination of using in-game light sources
and basic firearms –forcing players to include a lot of strategy into their playing style.
Combined with lushly detailed environments, the creepy and haunting atmosphere of
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Bright Falls, a musical score designed to keep you on the edge of your seat and very
lifelike voice acting this is a game that certainly ranks high in the immersive-meter.

Gears of War 2

Despite the 360’s heavy reputation as a console for competitive players, it also has its
share of great local coop games. And in this category, none stand out more than
Gearbox’s Gears of War 2. This epic third person shooter game allows you and a buddy
to team up and take down more of the invading alien horde known as the Locust. The
combat is visually visceral, and keeps you glued on the screen. Much of the game’s
atmosphere is similar to that of wartime film footage, complete with shaky-hand-cam
effects, dirt splatters and of course, gore. Keeping you away from focusing entirely on
these details is the action. Gears takes you (and optionally, a friend), into the heart of the
Locusts new location underground, surrounded at all times and shooting your way
towards the goal. A deep and well delivered story narrative provides players with a
reprieve from the action-intensive gameplay.

Halo 3

Master Chief is back with the third game in the main Halo trilogy and once again, players
are back in the Chief’s iconic armored boots. The game brings players back in touch not
only with the big MC, but also with other returning cast such as Cortana, the Arbiter and
more. Speaking of the Arbiter, he and the Covenant are taking a big role twist in this
game as players get to directly interfere with the politics of the alien race. Halo 3 also
reveals more about the rings, the flood and more importantly, provides the groundwork
for an even more epic undertaking for the next game. Much of Halo’s classic FPS
gameplay is back, along with a few new extra weapons. There is also a bit of balance
with the use of special thrown weapons and melee combat –giving players that much
needed diversity that most first person shooters lack.

Tales of Vesperia

Nothing says video game more than a Japanese RPG, and Namco Bandai’s semi-
exclusive offering for Xbox 360 owners is the incredibly fun and intriguing Tales of
Vesperia. The Japanese version of the game has been released for both the PS3 and the
Xbox 360 (with the PS3 getting additional content). However, only the 360 was given an
English version.

The game takes you to the fictional planet of Terca Lumireis, a land where people rely on
magic as much as technology. This magic is basically a unique kind of planetary energy
stored in blastia -when the blastia start reacting to strange viral form of magic energy, the
binding forces of the planet hit a terrible imbalance. Taking on the role of ex-knight Yuri
Lowell, players embark on a journey that could very well spell the fate of the planet.
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JRPG veterans will know what to expect: funny voice acting, well written dialogue, a
deep storyline with light delivery and of course, Namco’s Tales-series real time combat.

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Once again, another title in the list comes from Namco Bandai. This is Project Ace’s
special work for the Xbox 360, AC6: Fires of Liberation. Taking on the same story
universe established in previous Ace Combat titles, players take flight and burn through
the skies as the ace pilot, Talisman.

Fighting to defend the fictional Republic of Emmeria from invading Estovakian forces,
players are slowly introduced into the harsh repercussions of war as told from the
perspective of civilians. The gameplay brings back more of that fast-paced and simplified
dogfight controls that have made previous AC titles famous. Speaking of which, gigantic
bosses and massive, epic dogfights dot out major points in the story –providing players
with a unique kind of challenge not seen in other flight simulation titles.

Overall, with its great game controls, action-oriented gameplay and stylish aircraft
simulation, this is one dogfight game that will keep you happily playing for hours on end.

Xbox 360: Surviving the Red Ring of Doom

We have all heard the horror stories and for many owners of early generation Xbox 360
consoles, the Red Ring of Doom/Death (also known as RRoD) is the eternal boogeyman
lurking in the shadows of the Microsoft console.

What makes RRoD so ghastly for players is simple fact that it count compromise and
destroy all your progress. But before we get into that, let us see what RRoD really is. The
term “Red Ring” comes from the three quarter-circle red indicator lights that appear on
the console once it experiences any form of general hardware failure. In short, RRoD is
actually a visible symptom for a wide range of potentially dangerous issues with the
console.

In a few very rare cases (such as voltage spikes/power surges), fixing the RRoD simply
require plugging the device from the power outlet and giving it time to cool down before
resuming play. Most of the time, users will have to send the device back to Microsoft for
replacement or take it to a third party to have the console fixed.

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Many players prefer to take the system to a third party developer. Despite the fact that
Microsoft is manufacturer of the device (and is most suited to fix it) player tend to pass
up on this service since they have a policy of completely wiping out all data on the
console. This means that all game data, save files, media and more are completely
removed from the system. With many games averaging at least 20 to 30 hours to finish,
many gamers are not too happy with the prospect of having all their gaming hours be lost.

So what do you do when you get hit by RRoD? The first thing that players should do is to
check on all the quick troubleshooting steps. This usually involves letting the device rest,
checking if the vents are blocked or if the power brick is heating up. If the console still
does not turn on properly, it is time to take it to a professional. While there are plenty of
online tutorials and how-to guides to take apart your Xbox 360, applying thermal paste
and even installing a third party cooling system, these are not recommended. Not only do
they void warranty, but unless you yourself are a professional in handling delicate
electronics, attempting to do this on your own could lead to disastrous results.

As always, an ounce of prevention is indeed better than a pound of cure. In the case of the
Xbox 360, making sure that your system does not overheat is a key factor in maintaining
a long life. First off, store the device in dust free area –if you can spare a small sheet to
cover it with, do so. Keeping out the dust allows the system to cool itself better –
naturally, remove the cover when you need to play it. Next is to ensure that you run the
system in a cool, well-ventilated area. This means that all the vents should have ample
room to ‘breathe’. Do note that not only does the console need to be checked; the power
brick also requires similar attention as well.

Online Games on Demand: Xbox Live Arcade

Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming service is one of the largest online game markets –along
with the Playstation Store and Steam. Featuring a wide range of games that is constantly
updated on an almost daily basis, XBLA provides players with a game library that is
available almost every day, at any time. But what is good about downloadable games?
After all, the common connotation about these (literally) smaller games is that they lack
the depth and content that is available in many hardcore titles. This however, is not true.
And here are a few of our top picks from the Xbox Live Arcade service.

Marvel VS Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes

Originally available in retail for the older Xbox system, MvC2 has been updated and
upgraded for the XBLA and of course, HDTV gaming with the 360. The game now
supports 720p graphics, online match support (for finding matches and even watching
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other fights) and more importantly, it fixes many of the bugs and slowdowns that plague
the original version when used on the 360 (despite being a backwards compatible title,
Marvel VS Capcom 2 suffers from plenty of performance issues when played on the
360).

This fighting game brings back all of the air combos and chain commands of Capcom’s
famous gameplay engine. With a full roster of 56 characters from both the Marvel and
Capcom universes, players get to mix and match their favorite characters for the ultimate
team combinations.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair

In today’s age of high end video gaming, sprite based 2D games are often considered as
primitive works or novelty items. But the same cannot be said of the Castlevania
franchise. While there are already plenty of games in the series that feature 3D graphics
and gameplay, the 2D titles pretty much stand well on their own. XBLA offers Harmony
of Despair, a unique, semi-mission based Castlevania game that brings back characters
from Portrait of Ruin, Symphony of the Night and more in a single game.

Players (and a friend) get to choose from varying lead characters as they track down the
various monsters and bosses that plague Dracula’s castle. Each character plays
differently, using different types of equipment, skills and even their own leveling system
for increasing stats. Thanks to the optional cooperative game mode, this game is a
definite must-have for Castlevania fans.

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

Combining fast paced action, stylish retro graphics and a bullet-hell type of gameplay,
Geometry Wars: RE2 proves that it has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with many other
hardcore shooters such as Raiden, Gradius and more. Retro Evolved 2 brings back many
of the core elements that has made the original game a hit: multidirectional movement
and shooting, along with massive waves of enemies.

New to the sequel is six new game modes varying from surviving waves, earning as
much points within a time limit to surviving without firing a single bullet. Creatively fun,
addictive and hard to put down, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 is certainly highly
recommended for XBLA players.

Bring On the East: J-RPGs for the Xbox 360

One of the hardest challenges that Microsoft faced with the original Xbox home console
was the fact that they had little Japanese game developer support. This affected the
console’s sales performance slightly in western markets and strongly in Japan. With the
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Xbox 360, Microsoft is showing that they are learning from their mistakes. The next
generation console now sports a vast number of JRPG titles, and even a few special
exclusives for the US market. Here is a quick peek at some of these great games.

Namco Bandai’s Tales of Vesperia

The “Tales Of” series from Namco Bandai is one of the longest running RPG titles in
Japan and Vesperia is one of the latest titles. While the Japanese version of the game is
available in both the PS3 and the 360, only 360 owners will be able to enjoy the English
version of this game. ToV follows the adventures of Yuri Lowell, a former knight out in
search of a way to restore balance to the Blastia cores which govern magic energy.

His adventure brings him back in touch with his long time friend, Flynn Scifo and
together, they try to unravel the mysteries of magic and ether. Vesperia makes use of a
semi-real time combat system known as the ATB which adds a degree of action to the
battle sequences.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII

The latest in the famous Final Fantasy series originated by Squaresoft, FFXIII brings you
the tale of Lightning, a soldier who takes on a system she once served in order to save her
sister. While many of the older generation of FF fans find Square-Enix new RPG
formulas to be a little dry and unimaginative, it is hard to deny that the game developer
truly pushes the limits of the video hardware in today’s consoles.

Originally meant to be released only for the PS3 in Blu-Ray format, the game went
through several cuts and edits in order to shrink down content for the HD-DVD. While
many fans cried foul at losing content, 360 users in the US finally had their first taste of
the FF series.

Microsoft’s Lost Odyssey

Taking the lack of actual Japanese support for the older system into consideration,
Microsoft has teamed up with Mistwalker and independent game company headed by
legendary Squaresoft icon, Hironobu Sakaguchi. Their product: the ambitious Lost
Odyssey RPG for the Xbox 360. This game rings back many elements of the original FF
series that has been lost in the newer titles.

A simplified items and inventory system, an easy to follow turn based, menu driven
combat engine and of course, a plotline filled with plenty of twists and turns. While
critics have panned the heavily political undertones of the game, many have also
recognized the brave step that Mistwalker and Feelplus are taking in order to re-shape the
JRPG industry. This game will certainly be a fan favorite of Sakaguchi purists and older-
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generation RPG fans, though the deep storyline and slightly reverse-experimental feel of
the game system might put off newer players.

Beyond 360: Add More to Your Xbox

So, you have finally bought an Xbox 360, hooked it up to your HDTV and bought some
of the best titles available. The question is: what would you need to further enhance your
gaming experience? Here is a quick lineup of our much recommended additional
purchases to help you make the most out of the Microsoft gaming system.

First off, buy an Xbox Live subscription card. These little things can be found in most
gaming outlets and convenience stores –making them incredibly accessible. The big
picture here is that players get to sign up for an Xbox Live account, take part in
multiplayer games and of course, be part of the of the XBL community. With a majority
of the 360’s best games featuring multiplayer functionality, this is a much needed feature.
Of course, you will have to have a decent internet connection, and preferably, a good
WiFi router. Another advantage of buying a card is that you will not need to input your
credit card data online.

Gaming with batteries is hard, and anyone who has had a Nintendo Gameboy or a Sega
Gamegear will tell you, those batteries will run out –sooner than you think. So what is a
good plan for your wireless controllers when you tend to clock in several hours of
gaming each day? Get rechargeable batteries. This is made easy by Microsoft, who sells
official rechargeable battery packs that allow you to charge whether your controllers are
in standby or in use. This means that you get to enjoy a more seamless gaming
experience -and at the same time, save the environment since you will not be throwing
batteries in the trash bin every two or three days.

Of course, it will take more than a fully charged controller to enjoy a session of online
gaming – after all, communication is a the key to having a good time. Try to find a good
Xbox 360 compatible headset in order to make full use of the system’s voice chat
functionality. While you might have to bear with a few obscenities every now and then
(well, a lot more often than we would prefer actually), this allows you to instantly
communicate with your team mates in order to formulate strategies, cheer for your squad,
or simply talk about how nice the weather has been while you are stalking out a target on
your scope.

Speaking of chat (pun intended), you might not be too fond of a direct conversational
approach. In this case, the Xbox 360 controller keyboard is a great add on. This chat-pad
or “Messenger Kit” sticks directly between the controller grips and provides players with
a fully functional QWERTY keyboard to make use of while you are gaming and cannot
afford to put down the controller. While it does take a while to get used to, being able to
instantly type out letters is significantly faster than having to use an onscreen keyboard.
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Lastly, to add even more value to your Xbox 360 accessories (outside of gaming on the
console itself) you might want to consider purchasing the Wireless Gaming Receiver.
This is a great add-on, but only for those who love to play on the PC. This little USB
receiver comes with Windows drivers that allow players to use various Xbox 360
accessories on the PC. Of course, you will still need to do a little joypad mapping in order
to make full use of your controller, but it certainly is a lot better than having to shell out
even more just to buy a separate joypad for your desktop system.

Legends Face Off: Xbox 360 vs Playstation 3

When Microsoft first entered the home console gaming arena with the original Xbox,
many felt as if the world famous software developer has lost its marbles. The Xbox was
big and bulky. Despite its obviously powerful hardware capabilities, many gamers used
to Nintendo and Sony’s consoles felt that the cumbersome device was nothing more than
a watered down gaming PC. Within weeks of its launch, the Xbox showed that it had
tremendous potential as a dedicated gaming system, and what followed was history.

Now, Microsoft is considered to be one of the three main companies of the gaming
console industry (along with competitors Sony and Nintendo), and Microsoft’s most
recent system, the Xbox 360 is considered to be one of the most powerful gaming devices
ever launched. It, along with the Sony Playstation 3, is expected to be main systems for
this generation of gamers and it is said that they hold that post for years to come.

So how good is the Xbox 360 compared to the Playstation 3?

There are several factors to consider, and first up is the hardware and cost. Without a
doubt, Sony’s use of GPU technology, accessibility features and more ergonomic
controller gives it an edge over the 360’s much simpler system.

This little advantage however, comes with a price –literally. The 360 console itself is
significantly cheaper than the PS3 (though many argue that with the additional charger
packs or batteries, XBL subscription, etc, the 360 has a higher overhead and long term
cost) and is a great choice for those who want to set aside budget for more games.

Still, this does leave the 360 a little lacking in terms of full potential. Take the case of its
use of HD-DVDs; this media storage has a lower capacity than a Blu-Ray disc, making
some games impossible to port to the 360 without using multiple discs.

Of course, judging a console simply because of its hardware is not the way to go. After
all, it is the games that truly matter at the end of the day. And for the Xbox 360, despite

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facing off against a system with a more powerful hardware configuration, they have been
able to make a pretty even stand because of the game selections.

In terms of multiplatform games, the Xbox 360 plenty of edge thanks to the fact that the
system is easier to develop for. In most cases, there are fewer bugs in the Xbox 360
version of a game when compared to its PS3 counterpart. Also, Microsoft’s close
relations with developers give them a slight advantage in terms of patch availabilities.

The Xbox 360 has several exclusive titles of its own. Bungie’s Halo and Gearbox’s Gears
of War series are among the top favorite titles for the system. Several made for Windows
titles and series have also been brought over, such as the original Mass Effect from
Bioware (the first game was an exclusive since it was co-produced by Microsoft, the
sequel was created, developed and published entirely by Bioware and EA, allowing the
title to be available on multiple platforms).

Online, the XBL service takes a bit of a hit for being a paid service –unlike Sony’s free to
use PSN. But after the events of the massive PSN hacking attack during late April of
2011, Microsoft’s online service was put in a better light. Since the features on both
networks are quite similar (achievements and trophies, friends lists and private
messages), the two are often compared to each other.

All in all, the 360 is a much preferred and recommended system for players who love to
go online and compete with others. Most of the 360’s best exclusive titles tend to be first
person shooters with a strong online multiplayer component. Also, a vast majority of
existing players in the community share a similar passion. This highly competitive
environment allows players to find varying challenge levels that single player titles are
unable to provide.

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14

Xbox - What You May Have Never Known

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