Help me get a 360

[hush]

I'm thinking of buying a 360 but I need a bit of help
Let:
If I go online do I go for the silver or gold online pack,what size memory do I get. Also if there any other things I need to know about, plus if I import a USA console how do the whole online thing works, can I join the uk network on it


Thank you

Hush

[Jebus]

Any of the Hard Drives would be fine unless you plan on installing all your games, in which case go for the bigger one.

As for membership, Gold if you play online and are fussed about getting demos when they come out, Silver if not.

Yes you can play a USA console online, but to be honest, I've no idea why you'd import a US 360, maybe a Japanese one, but since games come out almost simultanously now (with a few exceptions) I'd go for a PAL one.

[Mayhem]

And many games are region free anyhow... plus when (not if) you get the RRoD it will be much easier to get fixed and replaced. PAL all the way here really.

[C']

PAL 360 is fine unless you're at all interested in the masses of shoot em ups that are being released on the machine, the majority of which are region locked and getting released in Japan only.

If you're not a fan of games from Cave and the like, then a PAL machine will suit you down to a tee. Getting a US console is like getting the worse of both worlds. A pain in the ass to get repaired/replaced when it (inevitably) goes tits up and still region locked out of the JPN only titles.

[Kubrick]

Unless you're into College Basketball or something, getting a US machine is pretty pointless tbh.

[charlesr]

I got a US machine because it was cheap 2nd hand. There's no real advantage. MS repaired mine when it RRODd no problem and I can get all the games I want from VG+. But I can't watch DVDs on it (region locked) and I have to wait for the games to turn up. Exchange rate means there's no price advantage either.

However, I am playing Stoked which is maximum awesomeness and only out in the US. I played Skate a month before anyone else. Erm. I'd just go for a UK machine tbh.

[Brats]

Re Gold or Silver, sign up for a silver account and you get Gold free for one month anyway. You can then test it before deciding if you think it is worth paying for.

Re hard drives, the price difference between the elite (120 gig) and the Pro (60 gig) is a fair amount of dosh. There's no other difference between the two models besides the colour. A 60 gig would allow you to install 4 or 5 'normal' games at once, download demos, install a fair amount of DLC and XBLA titles.

I have a 120gig HD, but then I have about 10 games installed, 120 XBLA games and about 20 gig of space taken up with Rock Band stuff!

[charlesr]

Oh, also, you'll need a stepdown for a US one, or as I did, source a UK PSU.

[averybluemonkey]

There are several US only releases - Zoids Assault, Operation Darkness, Culdcept Saga and Spectral Force 3 which we'll probably never see over here and which feature large amounts of text.

Charles when your machine RRODed did they guarantee a US replacement?

[charlesr]

All I did was go on xbox.com, tap in my serial number and register the fault. Neither me or they mentioned the region at any point.

[sj33]

As others have said, there's basically zero point in getting a US machine, because most games are region-free, release dates are usually roughly simultanious, and it's rare for a game to be released in the US but not over here. Plus you'd need a stepdown.

A Japanese 360 might be a worth consideration, given the amount of Japan-only games (that are usually region locked) and cheap Asian versions of western titles. But that depends if games like Idolm@ster, the Cave shumps etc. appeal to you.

[Dazzyman]

If you want shmups only then get a JPN unit. IF you want to play anything else pop down to your local seller and get a PAL unit as zero point buying a import machine for anything else as its normally USA get the games Tuesday and we get em the Thursday (mail order) or Friday that week in shops. 360 doesnt need importation unless your into shmups.

[Brats]

Even if MS will take back US machines, you can exchange UK machines bought from places like Game and Gamestation back at the shop where you bought it from for anything up to 12 months.