Pal or NTSC XBox 360?

[marcus]

Im going to be ordering a Xbox360 like nearly everyone else here, typically I always buy the US version of a console because historically Ive benefited from the advantages of NTSC games, pro-scan and so on. This time round Im thinking of simply buying a UK one from Play, but will there be any notable differences between the two?

I have a plasma screen with a VGA input, no-DVI or Scarts, and will want the best possible connection for my Xbox360. Will this have any influence on my buying decision seeing as how the UK XBox wasnt PS-enabled out of the box?

Obviously the lack of hassle from ordering via a UK retailer is also appealing to me, so as long as Im not losing out on a vital mode or something I expect Ill get the UK one.

[anephric]

From MS's HD vunderland warbling, I think it would be suicidal of them to release the PAL 360 with any HD functionality removed, but stranger things have happened, like that horse becoming pope.

I've preordered PAL, btw.

[Pavey]

Im going to be waiting to see once people post thier findings,and the price should of dropped a bit by then aswell.
Not bothered about having it on launch.

[mid]

I'd quite like a US one, just because my DVDs are mainly region 1, and if they're shipping with the remote I might as well use it. They'd be nuts to drop all the HD support with all the 'HD Ready' screens on the market at the moment in PAL land, however.

[anephric]

Bugger all of which are truly "HD Ready" but I digress (he says having looked at a Hitachi ALIS "HD Ready"-badged Plasma at the weekend and finding that it's incapable of a 1:1 map of ANY HDTV standard).

[Angry the Clown]

I think the only key difference this time will remain the occasional delayed release of some titles, and - god forbid - more potential instances of Ninja Gaiden like censorship with the odd game or two.

When the Xbox launched here, the standards for PAL Progressive and European HD were still very much up in the air which is why they felt the need to remove the function (and charge us more at the same time. Cheers for that). This time round it genuinely looks as if functionality will be the same in all markets. All the promotional materials for Europe continue to hype the HD factor, so yes they'll certainly be digging their own grave if it's not offered.

I dare say it won?t take too long after launch before someone figures out a mod for it to run import games, though as with the Xbox such a mod may threaten one?s Xbox Live membership if such a thing is of any interest.

The cost of a US machine with taxes and import duty added be it purchased directly from overseas or via a UK based dealer who?s had to account for such added fees, is still going to be above what I would ever pay for a games console. I?m toying with a UK model at launch, I have one pre-ordered, but am quite likely to cancel it before it the thing is released and wait on making a decision until the new year.

[anephric]

It should be noted that PAL progressive sucks, and I believe European HDTV standards are all for 50hz (720p, 1080i) as a base standard.

I could be wrong, though. I'd gladly be corrected.

[SubparMario]

I'm going PAL. It seems like the reasons to import are becoming less and less each generation.

[Angry the Clown]

...and I believe European HDTV standards are all for 50hz (720p, 1080i) as a base standard.

For televised output, yes this is correct - which is why I've zero interest in Sky HD with all that 50hz and 25p nonsense. All 'HD ready' branded televisions must accept both 720p and 1080i at both 50 and 60hz however..

Whether Xbox 360 games in all territories will default to 60hz for HD output, or the consoles will offer the option to select an output of either 50 and 60hz I've no idea. I'd like an answer to this actually.

[capcom_suicide]

For the first time ever, (Well since my JAP megadrive) I'm thinking PAL maybe a wise move. Microsoft did do quite a reasonable job with x-brick.

Perhaps we should call the the site

www.ntsc-uk-and-pal-360.com

Can anyone be arsed to do a matrix, of plus/minus between PAL/Import

When I'm unsure of things I usually find a matrix helps we work it out. I'm not clued up enough on 360 to do an accurate job.

/C_S

[MartyG]

Erm.

- Some PAL games were censored, so the possibility may arise again
- Some games still took a while to arrive in the UK, so the possibility may arise again

+ Warranty issues much easier with a PAL unit
+ Live stuff shouldn't be an issue with a PAL unit in the UK (though this wasn't a problem with XBox mind)

If you're intending to watch DVDs in component, presumably the machine will be region locked to R1/R2 for US/UK, so your collection of DVDs might influence things.

And actually, I can't really think of much else, as it looks like the US/UK release is identical. Given the Western nature of the console, things like major differences in packaging and content haven't really been a big issue.

I've also opted for the PAL route for the first time in years.

[marcus]

Anephric has made the point which is of most concern to me and could well sway one way or the other, if by buying a PAL Xbox Ill be shortchanging myself on losing the potential of my plasma screen to display the best quality image then Id rather spend more and get a US one.

[anephric]

D'you reckon the 360 will upscale regular dvds for 720p output (movie playback)? That'd be interesting.

[anephric]

One would assume, as the belligerent clown has said, that MS will offer 50/60hz output for 720p in PAL. Anything else would be mean the destruction of any goodwill MS has fostered in Europe, and it has to be said, I think quite well of MS in regards to how it's handled the Xbox.

[MartyG]

According to this FAQ, the machine has the ability to upscale, but MS is undecided due to license issues. If it's a money thing, I can't see it happening.