Xbox 360

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Originally Posted by Andrew

It's not an investment at all. Videogames don't typically hold their value once you slice off the wrapper. I wouldn't call a DVD player an investment, or buying a DVD movie either. They're just for recreation.

I've already said I'll wait for the price cut and buy Oblivion on the PC. It will be better, and have more support. That's all the reason I need to wait. Of course, Kameo might end up being a killer app.

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The investment is in having games worth playing in the long run.

i.e. The Jaguar was a shitty investment.

I've since changed my mind after seeing all the bullshit the MS is pulling.

I'll definitely get one, but fuck it at launch. When Halo 3 hits I'll get one after the inevitable price drop.

This generation is looking completely fucked up.

Hopefully, the lower than projected sales this holiday season that stem from all this garbage will send a loud message to MS to get their shit together.

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Originally Posted by Gooch

Just the knowledge of Halo 3 eventually dropping makes me realize the purchase of the 360 is an inevitable reality.

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The Bungie fanboy within agrees.

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Originally Posted by Gooch

My initial vote has now changed as I've just preordered a premium bundle. I know a lot on this board don't feel remotely likewise, but to me, DOA4 and PGR3 are must have launch titles. I'm also getting the two Rare titles included in the bundle, and will probably pick up Ridge Racer 6 as well. Just the knowledge of Halo 3 eventually dropping makes me realize the purchase of the 360 is an inevitable reality.

When it comes down to it, I know I'll end up getting all three next gen consoles at their respective launches
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I'm really waiting to see how TGS shakes out before making a decision. How impressive the Sony counter assault is will put alot of things into perspective. If they have nothing interesting playable, no killer announcements or refuse to offer pricing or clarify when their launch will be (worldwide simultaneous spring, or summer Japan, next November in the west?) then 360 will be alot more appealing. Just showing a Metal Gear trailer and some Gran Turismo mockups won't cut it.

As for 360, there are a ton of reaons not to get one, but the launch games aren't one of them. Anybody who's saying it has nothing killer hasn't actually looked.

SHOULD BE FUCKING MIND-BREAKINGLY AMAZING:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - totally pimped out sequel to the best rpg of the last generation. When the hell do you see that at a system's launch?

Ridge Racer 6 - The first online game in the best arcade racing series in existence. There should be video at TGS, and you know it's going to look incredible. There has never been a bad RR game, IMO. In fact they're usually among the best games of their generation no matter when they come out.

Project Gotham Racing 3 - Photorealistic sequel to the best new racing franchise last gen (hands down, now that Rallisport no longer exists) with a buffed out online mode. PGR 2 rocked, this will bring the house down.

SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD:

Dead or Alive 4 - Nevermind what it looks like in static screenshots on your PC, do not doubt Itagaki. This will look gorgeous, have a great soundtrack, a ton of extras, great online modes and play like butta. Believe.

Ghost Recon 3- This looks awesome in motion. Not my type of game, but I can't deny this series has made a huge jump in quality since its first installment. Might be the best fps available at launch.

Perfect Dark Zero - Yep, it didn't look super next-gen at E3. But right now, there are dozens of people at Rare who Emperor Bill has not allowed to see their families or sunlight since May, and they won't until this game's out the door. Lost in all the LOLs at the textures was the fact that the video they showed looked like it played great. Add in plenty of gimmick weapons, flying, scalable levels and 50-man online battles, and I'm willing to bet this game turns out damned good.

Teh Madden 06 - Nothing real has been shown, but there's no reason they can't pull off a big jump in visual quality, AI and animations. The mockup Shaun Alexander model they've shown looks near photorealistic, and not like anything that would be impossible to pull off in realtime. The 360 version's had a seperate team working on it for at least a year. And for all the criticism the series gets (with plenty from me), the games are always good at what they do.

LOOKS PROMISING:

Frame City Killer - Namco brings you huge urban environments with dozens of onscreen bystanders and a ton of style. Don't know how it'll play, but it looks like it has a shot at being really good.

NBA 2K6 - The stuff they showed at E3 looked pretty average visually, but VC said it was CG and not the real deal. I can only assume that after really impressive NBA Live shots came out they've been working like crazy to make this look like sex. NBA 2K crushed Live's visuals like a paper cup last gen; they had way better artists working for them and a better playing, generally more realistic game. I believe.

Kameo: Elements of Power - People who are into games about a young girl's colourful action-platforming furry animal transforming voyage of self discovery say this looks really good. Not me, but people.

So there, that's 10 games that look worth checking out, at least 3-4 of which have real shots at being all-time classics. This isn't your typical "whatever we can shove out the door in time" system launch, this shit's been planned, son. Ridge Racer & Oblivion alone make this an incredible launch. The big question is - will PS3 get those games too?

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Originally Posted by Master of 7s

Hopefully, the lower than projected sales this holiday season that stem from all this garbage will send a loud message to MS to get their shit together.

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360 will sell like crazy based on last generation's Xbox performance. People will be expecting the same thing from this one. At least 80% of the folks who'll buy one don't follow this stuff as closely as we do here, and won't know about alot of the negative things until afterwards. In the case of things like the impact of a non-standard HDD, they probably won't understand or care. They just remember Xbox is the one with the best graphics and Halo. They'll get half of what they want.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

I'm really waiting to see how TGS shakes out before making a decision. How impressive the Sony counter assault is will put alot of things into perspective. If they have nothing interesting playable, no killer announcements or refuse to offer pricing or clarify when their launch will be (worldwide simultaneous spring, or summer Japan, next November in the west?) then 360 will be alot more appealing. Just showing a Metal Gear trailer and some Gran Turismo mockups won't cut it.

As for 360, there are a ton of reaons not to get one, but the launch games aren't one of them. Anybody who's saying it has nothing killer hasn't actually looked.

SHOULD BE FUCKING MIND-BREAKINGLY AMAZING:

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - totally pimped out sequel to the best rpg of the last generation. When the hell do you see that at a system's launch?

Ridge Racer 6 - The first online game in the best arcade racing series in existence. There should be video at TGS, and you know it's going to look incredible. There has never been a bad RR game, IMO. In fact they're usually among the best games of their generation no matter when they come out.

Project Gotham Racing 3 - Photorealistic sequel to the best new racing franchise last gen (hands down, now that Rallisport no longer exists) with a buffed out online mode. PGR 2 rocked, this will bring the house down.

SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD:

Dead or Alive 4 - Nevermind what it looks like in static screenshots on your PC, do not doubt Itagaki. This will look gorgeous, have a great soundtrack, a ton of extras, great online modes and play like butta. Believe.

Ghost Recon 3- This looks awesome in motion. Not my type of game, but I can't deny this series has made a huge jump in quality since its first installment. Might be the best fps available at launch.

Perfect Dark Zero - Yep, it didn't look super next-gen at E3. But right now, there are dozens of people at Rare who Emperor Bill has not allowed to see their families or sunlight since May, and they won't until this game's out the door. Lost in all the LOLs at the textures was the fact that the video they showed looked like it played great. Add in plenty of gimmick weapons, flying, scalable levels and 50-man online battles, and I'm willing to bet this game turns out damned good.

Teh Madden 06 - Nothing real has been shown, but there's no reason they can't pull off a big jump in visual quality, AI and animations. The mockup Shaun Alexander model they've shown looks near photorealistic, and not like anything that would be impossible to pull off in realtime. The 360 version's had a seperate team working on it for at least a year. And for all the criticism the series gets (with plenty from me), the games are always good at what they do.

LOOKS PROMISING:

Frame City Killer - Namco brings you huge urban environments with dozens of onscreen bystanders and a ton of style. Don't know how it'll play, but it looks like it has a shot at being really good.

NBA 2K6 - The stuff they showed at E3 looked pretty average visually, but VC said it was CG and not the real deal. I can only assume that after really impressive NBA Live shots came out they've been working like crazy to make this look like sex. NBA 2K crushed Live's visuals like a paper cup last gen; they had way better artists working for them and a better playing, generally more realistic game. I believe.

Kameo: Elements of Power - People who are into games about a young girl's colourful action-platforming furry animal transforming voyage of self discovery say this looks really good. Not me, but people.

So there, that's 10 games that look worth checking out, at least 3-4 of which have real shots at being all-time classics. This isn't your typical "whatever we can shove out the door in time" system launch, this shit's been planned, son. Ridge Racer & Oblivion alone make this an incredible launch. The big question is - will PS3 get those games too?



360 will sell like crazy based on last generation's Xbox performance. People will be expecting the same thing from this one. At least 80% of the folks who'll buy one don't follow this stuff as closely as we do here, and won't know about alot of the negative things until afterwards. In the case of things like the impact of a non-standard HDD, they probably won't understand or care. They just remember Xbox is the one with the best graphics and Halo. They'll get half of what they want.

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Good post,

Only two of the games you mentioned on that list ahve me half interested in the launch line up though. I won't buy any system at launch unless it at least has the one killer app.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

SHOULD BE REALLY GOOD:

Dead or Alive 4 - Nevermind what it looks like in static screenshots on your PC, do not doubt Itagaki. This will look gorgeous, have a great soundtrack, a ton of extras, great online modes and play like butta. Believe.

Ghost Recon 3- This looks awesome in motion. Not my type of game, but I can't deny this series has made a huge jump in quality since its first installment. Might be the best fps available at launch.

Perfect Dark Zero - Yep, it didn't look super next-gen at E3. But right now, there are dozens of people at Rare who Emperor Bill has not allowed to see their families or sunlight since May, and they won't until this game's out the door. Lost in all the LOLs at the textures was the fact that the video they showed looked like it played great. Add in plenty of gimmick weapons, flying, scalable levels and 50-man online battles, and I'm willing to bet this game turns out damned good.

Teh Madden 06 - Nothing real has been shown, but there's no reason they can't pull off a big jump in visual quality, AI and animations. The mockup Shaun Alexander model they've shown looks near photorealistic, and not like anything that would be impossible to pull off in realtime. The 360 version's had a seperate team working on it for at least a year. And for all the criticism the series gets (with plenty from me), the games are always good at what they do.

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Nothing in any of these series has been "really good" since the 16-bit era (Madden). New technology does not make old series not suck.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

So there, that's 10 games that look worth checking out, at least 3-4 of which have real shots at being all-time classics.

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Wow. Hyperbole FTW. There aren't ten 8/10 games there and no way are there 3-4 9.5s. Now factor in that Oblivion will be better on PC, and Ridge Racer 6 will be >= on PS3. And one more thing... none of that has been confirmed for launch yet.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

360 will sell like crazy based on last generation's Xbox performance. People will be expecting the same thing from this one. At least 80% of the folks who'll buy one don't follow this stuff as closely as we do here, and won't know about alot of the negative things until afterwards. In the case of things like the impact of a non-standard HDD, they probably won't understand or care. They just remember Xbox is the one with the best graphics and Halo. They'll get half of what they want.

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*heavy sigh*

You're right and I know it, I'm just living like an Egyptian and trying not to believe that MS could fuck up something so good.

I love my Xbox, but MS has done nothing but disappoint so far regarding the next-gen. It will get better down the the road obviously, but my initial enthusiasm just keeps getting rained on because of all these stupid decisions as of late.

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Originally Posted by StriderKyo

Dead or Alive 4 - Nevermind what it looks like in static screenshots on your PC, do not doubt Itagaki. This will look gorgeous, have a great soundtrack, a ton of extras, great online modes and play like butta. Believe.

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more like "play like butt" amirite

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Originally Posted by Revoltor

The investment is in having games worth playing in the long run.

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So it's an investment in fun? That's kind of like getting high on life. Really lame.

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Nothing in any of these series has been "really good" since the 16-bit era (Madden). New technology does not make old series not suck.

Wow. Hyperbole FTW. There aren't ten 8/10 games there and no way are there 3-4 9.5s. Now factor in that Oblivion will be better on PC, and Ridge Racer 6 will be >= on PS3. And one more thing... none of that has been confirmed for launch yet.

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Not true; there's no official launch day lineup, but DoA, Perfect Dark & Ridge Racer have been confirmed for launch day. The fact that Kameo & Pgr are being stuck in bundles by major retailers should also be a huge hint. Oblivion, NBA 2K6 & Frame City Killer are the ones I think have a possibility of slipping, but I think all of those games will be there. If not day one, very soon after.

As for Oblivion, Bethesda says 360'll be hands down the best version. They'll be offering a ton of DLC for it, unlike Morrowind, and you can play it on your couch in front of a bigass TV. Besides, the 360'll still cost less than the graphics card you'll need to run it at anything near full spec. The only thing it likely won't have is the mod community, but I honestly don't expect that to be as big a deal this time around - there just isn't as much room for visual improvement as there was last time. But I won't knock the mods, I'm sure they'll come up with some cool shit. So if you really want the PC version by all means go for it; only two more GPU generations (by sometime next summer) and you'll have 360 quality visuals.

As for numbers, Oblivion has major 9.5 potential, PGR's is in the 9 range, RR as long as they don't mess it up will be a 9 in my heart, Madden's a lock for 9s (what do you think they were saving them for with the current gen versions?) and all the rest - DoA, Ghost Recon, etc. have scored 8s in the past and should do so again unless they're flawed. You can hate, but unless they fuck up, solid series track record + hot new tech = teh scorez.

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Originally Posted by Shadow Not Shade

more like "play like butt" amirite

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Amurong! You can gripe about the series' depth, but there's no denying the controls are fast, easy & intuitive.