UK or US Xbox, advice wanted

[Pikman]

I'm thinking of getting an Xbox but am unsure which version to go for.

I don't intend to use any of the emulator programs or the Xbox live stuff. All I really want is to play games in full screen, at 60Hz, in progressive scan mode.

Will the UK Xbox cater to my needs?

Oh, and do all Xbox games feature progressive scan?

Cheers.

[superkully]

Xbox is pretty good for 60Hz conversions, but if that's why you're buying it get the US version. Halo was a terrible PAL60 conversion and Ninja Gaiden was censored for Europe.

So the adage "Buy NTSC if you want to play a game like it was meant to be played" still applies.

[Pikman]

Hmm.. interesting, I thought that Xbox games didn't need converting for European release as the hardware would let you play any game in 60Hz.

Goes to show how much I know.

Thanks for the advice anyway - a US machine it is then.

[randombs]

I wish! the 'developers can include it if they want' rule applies, same as the DC. The only real difference is that you don't get asked like you do on the DC, PS2 (hardly ever!) and GC - if you set the option in the dashboard, the game takes it from there.

One interesting this is, though, I've found that a few PAL games I have won't play in PAL60 (even though the option is enabled in the dash) but work fine when the XBox is set to NTSC mode (Rainbow Six 3 for example). Odd...

[Salsa Party Animal]

You should have a modded XBOX or american XBOX (I got both) if you want multi region support and be able to buy games in Game or Gamestation get a modded xbox, but don't forget it is cheaper to import the games from videogamesplus.ca

Another problem is NTSC XBOX need a strong step down transformer which will add 30 quid to the cost at least.

You can find it in www.tlc-direct.co.uk

[huxley]

didn`t the latest live update include a prog scan up date, hold both triggers and click the thumbs? or am i mad?

[Pikman]

What's the deal with Xbox progressive scan anyway?

Is it like the Gamecube in that you're presented with a screen asking if you to want play in progressive scan, or do you select progressive scan from the dashboard? If it's selected from the dashboard does it mean all games can be played in progressive scan?

[Valken]

If you want progressive scan without any messing about with modchips then you need to go US...

It's slightly different from GC prog scan since you enable it in the dash and when a game supports it (practically always) then it switches without asking.

The latest version of the xbox dashboard can also be toggled to and from progressive mode.

TBH, the RGB is so mucky on Xbox that progressive scan is the only way to get a decent image anyway...

[tankplanker]

From testing on my unchipped PAL xbox which is running the lastest dash, there is still no support for prog scan. On my chipped NTSC xbox the latest update enabled the xbox dash to be in progressive scan - I think this was the only change made in this department. This helps people who hook up their xbox to a monitor - they can actually see the dash now.

Progressive scan on a NTSC cube is enabled in the options - video screen and it then applys to all games that support it. I think only a few PAL games (timesplitters 2 is one I've come across) don't support it, note: PAL most games require patching to support it.

Whats best for you is dependant if you want to go onto Xbox Live or not, if you do get a US XBox and games. If not, get a chipped PAL xbox from wil@Londonconsoles and ask him to set the region to NTSC (very easy to do), then you have a US Xbox with a UK power supply, and the ability to run UK games if you need it - region protection is disabled while the chip is on.