Getting an Xbox - 360 This Week - Checklist

Atomic · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:12

I'm torn between the Premium version and the Core version.

Core version is very attractive price wise, as I wont use online features and have no desire to play back past xbox content on hardrive and I'd settle for memory cards for the Xbox360.

Premium version is less attractive price wise when you add up buying games and a monitor for it.

Although if I can get a good bundle for around £300, I may just go for it...especially if it comes with two controllers that are wireless.

I do need a monitor and I think I may go for the Hyundai ImageQuest N91W 19.

If I go the Premium console route do I need to buy any more cable to connect visual and audio to the monitor? I also take it if I go the HDDVD addon that watching a movie on that monitor would be fine as it should be HD anyway given the good resoloution.

I also have a Creative Inspire GD580 5.1 speaker system (not great) but better than nothing, will that be fine with my Xobx360 via optical cable?

I'm thinking of getting Tomb Raider as a game as I've always liked that series, but am not sure - any other quality adventure games that are out?

Gerard · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:23

The premiums come with a little adaptor that lets you connect it to the monitor, also comes with a little dongle thing for audio. Some peopl however have said theirs never came with this, mine did though and ive had it a month.

TriedandTested · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:26

For some reason..you using that font has put me off reading your post. My eyes are too used to the normal font everyone else uses.

melchy · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:28

The new premium bundle is £299 with PGR3 and an additional wireless controller making it great value. The addition of the Hard Disk makes all the difference to the console and even if you have no wish to play online, it does give you the ability to download game demos and games from the arcade. Going for the core limits the console in my opinion. Tomb Raider : Legend is great if a bit short.

You may need to purchase a VGA cable to connect to a monitor. The MS one is best.

DaveyD · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:34

Neither the Premium or Core come with a VGA cable to connect the 360 to a normal TFT or CRT PC monitor. The Core comes with the standard cables to connect the 360 to a normal TV, so SCART / Composte.

The premium comes with the same capability, the cable also has component output for HDTVs.

You have to buy the VGA cable separately to play it on a monitor.

Sound wise, as long as your speakers have a Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder and accept an optical connection, you'll be fine.

In the long term, I would say go for the Premium, as if you don't want to play anything online, it is always nice to download demos and videos from Xbox live for free, you don't have to pay to use the Silver package of Xbox Live afterall.

If you really don't see yourself not wanting to go for any sort of online stuff, then maybe the core is okay for you, but bear in mind you don't get a wireless controller, meaning if you do want a wireless controller, you'd have to spend ~£25-£30 to get one, £15 for memory card, plus a £40 game, you have spend nearly £280, when you can get a Premium bundle for £300 which has much much more in it.

Abooie · 1 Oct 2006 at 20:52

Atomic said:
I'm torn between the Premium version and the Core version.

Core version is very attractive price wise, as I wont use online features and have no desire to play back past xbox content on hardrive and I'd settle for memory cards for the Xbox360.

Premium version is less attractive price wise when you add up buying games and a monitor for it.

Although if I can get a good bundle for around £300, I may just go for it...especially if it comes with two controllers that are wireless.

I do need a monitor and I think I may go for the Hyundai ImageQuest N91W 19.

If I go the Premium console route do I need to buy any more cable to connect visual and audio to the monitor? I also take it if I go the HDDVD addon that watching a movie on that monitor would be fine as it should be HD anyway given the good resoloution.

I also have a Creative Inspire GD580 5.1 speaker system (not great) but better than nothing, will that be fine with my Xobx360 via optical cable?

I'm thinking of getting Tomb Raider as a game as I've always liked that series, but am not sure - any other quality adventure games that are out?

You get component cable, headset, wireless controller and hard drive with the premium over the core. But as you say, if you're not going to go on Live! (you may change your mind) you can live without all this. The wireless controller is nice but if you can live with the wired one, again you'll save yourself money buying charge kits (either MS ones or just a Uniross charger etc).

You'll still need a memory card and VGA cable but that'll be it.

Single player Adventure Games I've played and really enjoyed.

Tomb Raider: Legends
Hitman: Bloodmoney
Kameo

Rpgs...

Oblivion
Enchanted Arms (is linear, annoying at times but quite fun)

Also some others which aren't your typical adventure romp .. Dead Rising, Saints Row and even King Kong (ok it's short but good fun).

Atomic · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:13

melchy said:
The new premium bundle is £299 with PGR3 and an additional wireless controller making it great value. The addition of the Hard Disk makes all the difference to the console and even if you have no wish to play online, it does give you the ability to download game demos and games from the arcade. Going for the core limits the console in my opinion. Tomb Raider : Legend is great if a bit short.

You may need to purchase a VGA cable to connect to a monitor. The MS one is best.

Do OCUK sell those cables, or will I have to search elsewhere?

I'm thinking of getting Premium one now and a nice monitor, so £470ish will be gone out of my wallet and be skint till bmy pay day in two weeks. Oh the joys of life.

Nismo · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:16

Atomic said:
Do OCUK sell those cables, or will I have to search elsewhere?

They are an official 360 lead, so any game shop or anywhere selling 360 hardware will do them. Just make sure to buy the official one, and not a 3rd party effort like Joytech or Madcatz.

welshboy · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:23

i didnt know silver membership was free. tempted now myself at the £300 deal. only thing is i would rather have saints row or grand theft auto or similar rather then pgr. ill have to shop around.

fuz · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:31

Silver membership doesn't include online gaming though.... btw, I picked up one of these beauts today (premium pack with component) but sadly it seems my sharp hdtv only has 2.5mm jacks as sound on the component input.

Is there some kind of phono to 2.5mm jack converter I can buy? surely someone has had the same problem but google doesn't help me much... I've been left without sound now for the last day

DaveyD · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:33

fuz said:
Silver membership doesn't include online gaming though.... btw, I picked up one of these beauts today (premium pack with component) but sadly it seems my sharp hdtv only has 2.5mm jacks as sound on the component input.

Is there some kind of phono to 2.5mm jack converter I can buy? surely someone has had the same problem but google doesn't help me much... I've been left without sound now for the last day

I guess you'll be able to specify another audio input in the menu options for component, but if not, you can get a "phono to 3.5mm" connection, which I guess you mean 3.5mm anyway, but even so, you can then get a 3.5mm to 2mm if needed.

welshboy · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:33

also, prob best to get a dvi cable to your monitor not a vga if they do one?

im so tempted now, just looked at the bank balance though, ouch.

DaveyD · 1 Oct 2006 at 21:35

paddyuk said:
also, prob best to get a dvi cable to your monitor not a vga if they do one?

im so tempted now, just looked at the bank balance though, ouch.

The 360 doesn't have digital output capablities yet, so VGA or Component are the only ways you can get HD, no DVI/HDMI cable is available yet, though there may be one in the future, but probably a while away if they do ever release one.

richolmes72 · 1 Oct 2006 at 23:24

You seem to get much better bundles available with the premium.

One shop in town is doing the 360 premium with an extra wireless pad and PGR3 and 1 more game for £300.

Also, 1 online retailer is doing; xbox 360 premium, additional wireless controller, PGR3, DOA4, King Kong and Final Fantasy for a £300. Needless to say they're out of stock.

neverender · 1 Oct 2006 at 23:27

richolmes72 said:
One shop in town is doing the 360 premium with an extra wireless pad and PGR3 and 1 more game for £300.

And where would this be?
Finances (ie. student loan) permitting I'm after grabbing a 360 sometime this week. So far the £309 Gamestation deal is the best I've spotted, but if anyone knows of better I'm all ears

Hoping to grab a Premium pack, PGR3, Dead Rising and a VGA lead, fingers crossed it'll all be instock in town!

Psymonkee · 1 Oct 2006 at 23:33

You say you won't use LIVE.

I bet otherwise

Get the premium as your all set then plus you should get 1 month free on XBL anyway which should suck you in like some sort of addict :>

ZG002 · 2 Oct 2006 at 00:11

Im actually thinking about buying one of these :eek:

shocked myself a lot.. its all this test drive talk going around thats done it!!! and the fact.. march for ps3

Wheres the best deals at people?

ikillbears · 2 Oct 2006 at 00:36

dont forget to pick up a plug and charge kit as well. So you wont have to constantly go buying AA batteries

Psymonkee · 2 Oct 2006 at 01:19

ZG002 said:
Im actually thinking about buying one of these shocked myself a lot.. its all this test drive talk going around thats done it!!! and the fact.. march for ps3

Wheres the best deals at people?

Gamestation £309 deal tbh.

Premium+PGR3+wireless controller+any game of your choice

winnar

Quick charge kit would be a good idea too

AWPC · 2 Oct 2006 at 07:23

Managed to get a premium yesterday + dead rising, pgr3, tr:legend + Far Cry & 2 wireless controllers & an MS vga cable for only £409.