XBox 360 video games console

The Xbox 360 video games console is a wireless wonder, if you include all the options it offers. It also introduces several new possibilities for playing video games. To look at what the console offers, a comparison of the Xbox 360 with the first Xbox can put things into perspective. When comparing the two consoles together obvious differences can be found. The two Xbox consoles are almost the opposite of each other. Black and bulky, with a tint of neon green, the Xbox was one of the biggest console on the market when it as released in 2001. Its size resembled a desktop PC, and it has several similar features. The Xbox features a processor from the same manufacturer that is in most PCs, it has an Intel 733 Mhz processor, 64 megabytes of memory, a hard drive and an NVIDIA graphics card. Although it resembles a PC, it does not play PC games, but offers an easy way for developers of porting games made for the PC to the Xbox. In a sense it offers gamers who want to play games made for the PC an opportunity to play them on the Xbox along with great console games. The Xbox 360 video games console looks set to evolve the Xbox from its PC resemblance, as it is smaller, and the opposite color of its predecessor.

It also has many features of an Ipod, which allows you to download new soundtracks using micro payments. The Xbox 360 will allow you to buy and download game content using micro payments. The name of the service is Xbox Live Marketplace, a place where you can get fresh new content for your game. Content that includes new levels, vehicles, weapons, and anything that you feel will give you an extra advantage when playing online games.

You can also decide the color and texture yourself by snapping a new faceplate with your favorite color or design on the console. Not only does the Xbox 360 look like a game console, it has been designed for the need of each and every gamer. Personalization is the word, and with a snap of a faceplate, you can change the appearance of the Xbox 360 video games console to look like anything you want.

When looking at the design of the console, more curved lines can be found than in the first Xbox, and the console looks like it is drawing its breath for breathing. To design the Xbox 360, a design studio called Astro Studios was hired to design the look of the console. They have designed the look of the cover of games like SSX3 and NFL Street, and the look of the Alienware computers.

Before the official name of the console was released, many speculations were for the name of the next Xbox. One was simply Next XBox, another was Xbox 2, when the name was finally released in May it was Xbox 360. A circle has 360 degrees, and the name indicates the ring of light on the front of the Xbox 360 video games console .The ring still has a touch of the neon green that comes from the original Xbox.

It is no secret that the Xbox 360 video games console is going for the game console crown, its design aims to make it the first choice of every gamer. The first Xbox was designed with that same aim to compete with the PlayStation 2 for the gamers attention.

Getting the gamers attention has been expensive for Microsoft, as it has lost on every Xbox sold. The reason is that to be competitive its price has to match the price of a PlayStation 2. The PlayStation 2 does not have a built in hard drive, and therefore does not cost as much to manufacture.

One of the novelties that the first XBox featured was that a hard drive came as a standard. The cost of the hard drive is one of the features that kept the price of making it higher. This has resulted in a loss on every Xbox sold, but the gain has been on getting a foothold in the game console market.

The first Xbox is in the second place behind the PlayStation 2 in terms of consoles sold. The Xbox has succeeded in many ways to get the attention of gamers, as it features many novelties that have not been seen in a console before like the hard drive, and broadband access. The Xbox 360 video games console will be built on where the Xbox succeeded in getting the attention of gamers, which is in offering online gaming and downloadable content.

The PC of the living room
The chance is that not only will it get the attention of gamers, but also the interest of people that want to use it to download other content such as music, and use it in the living room. The Xbox 360 video games console could be the PC of the living room, as it has what is called an Media Center extender. The real secret to the extender can be found with the Media blade, which will allow you wireless access to music and photos on any computer with a Windows XP operating system.

As there are many computers that have a Windows XP operating system, the problem is, that most of them are not in the living room where all the fun is. Most people use a pc to upload pictures from digital cameras, or download music from the Internet.

Unless you have a PC, or a laptop the only way to get this content to the living room is by plugging it directly to the television, or an mp3 player to the home stereo. The Xbox 360 video games console will allow wireless streaming of digital content from a PC with the Media Blade.

No longer will you have to find out how to set up a slideshow in your computer when your friends visit. You can just meet in the living room and access them from the Xbox 360. The living room is the place to meet with your friends, and if you are one of the lucky people to have a Windows Media Center PC, you can enjoy HDTV movies on a HD television.

That's right, with the Media Center Extender, you will be able to access your Media Center PC. Streaming is the word, and with a click of a button you can stream movies from you Media Center to your Xbox 360 video games console.

Things can't get any better, and the Xbox 360 is a wireless wonder with its wireless network capability, and controllers. The Xbox 360 controllers are wireless, and offer you to be as mobile as you want. No longer do you have to sit within the limits of the controllers cord.

Up to four wireless controllers can be used to play games. Multiply that number with four by connecting four Xbox 360 consoles in LAN, and you have 16 controllers. 16 is the magic number, as most people will want to play XBox 360 games together in the next LAN (Local Area Network) party.

As a console it takes many of the features that personal computers have had for a long time and fuses them within a console. The step from the Xbox to the Xbox 360 video games console will involve some growing pains for the platform, as not all Xbox video games will be compatible with the Xbox 360.

The Xbox 360 video games console is set to go through some growing pains, as only the top selling games will be compatible. The reason for this is the new processor being used in the console. Just like PC games can't be played on a Mac, Mac games canīt be played on a PC. The difference is comparable on the new Xbox console, where the Xbox 360 video games console can emulate the top selling Xbox games.

Since the games on the first Xbox used a hard drive. A hard drive on the Xbox 360 video games console is a requirement to play them.For many Xbox 360 gamers this could be a problem, for others it won't be a problem.

Games like Halo, and Halo 2, along with every best selling game on the Xbox like Project Gotham Racing will play on the Xbox 360. Some of the games that the Xbox set in stone as classic games could also become classic Xbox 360 video games.

The games are the most important, when it comes to the Xbox 360 video games console. Halo was the media magnet when it came to the Xbox, and its sequel did much to boost its success. Halo 3 has continued the success for the Xbox 360, and the game has received good reviews from many game sites.

New Xbox 360 video games will be able to take advantage of the consoles three powerPC processors, and High Definition capabilities.

The Xbox 360 video games console comes with a DVD drive as standard, which will make it an affordable console for most gamers. Many will ask the question whether there should not have been a HD-DVD or a Blue-ray drive included?

High definition movies are in as much demand as HD games. Some people will be able to use the Media Extender to stream movies. For people that have the next version of the Windows operating system, Windows Vista has a Media Center built in for streaming content.

HD-DVD used to be the format of choice for the Xbox 360, and an optional HD-DVD drive was released by Microsoft, which now has been discontinued. HD movies can still be downloaded from Xbox Live to the consoles hard drive.

Upgrade is the keyword when it comes to customizing the Xbox 360, as it is released in two editions. A Core version, and a Platinum edition, this may be a problem for many people. How do you know which one to get, and why have two editions, when one could be enough?

This might confuse some people, who want to get everything in one package. The difference in editions is in terms of wireless options. The Core version costs 279.95$ and is the cheaper version. This package does not include the wireless controller, but a controller with a cord.

The Xbox 360 core system version:
*The Xbox 360 video games console
*Xbox 360 Corded controller
*Removable faceplate
*Xbox 360 Live Silver Membership
*Xbox 360 standard AV cable

It does not include the removable 20 gigabyte hard drive, and hard drives are one of the novelty which the first Xbox introduced. For most fans of the Xbox, a hard drive should come as standard, as it did with the first. What a hard drive gives, are faster loading times of games, and an easier way to save games. Not only are loading times faster, to be able to download new content from the Xbox marketplace you will need a place to store the content.

Not everyone will need the hard drive, but most would expect it to be a standard on a next generation games console. You will still need to save game data from playing a game, and will need to get a memory card. The 64 MB memory card is not included with the Core version, and costs an extra 24.99$.

You could include the hard drive, by customizing the console to your needs, depending on how you are going to play games. You can also add it later, when you feel that you need it. The removable 20 gigabyte hard drive comes at extra 89$ separately, if you plan on getting the Core version, which does not include the hard drive.

Still, what you would expect of a wireless wonder is that it should also come with a wireless controller as a standard. In the Core version it does not, but the Core version is cheaper than the Platinum version. The Platinum version also includes wireless controllers.

To enjoy the console with everything a wireless wonder should have the wireless controller is a must, but it has one weakness that a corded controller has not. It needs batteries, since it is not plugged to the console, and it does not get any power supply from. Personalization is what the Xbox 360 video games console gives every gamer, a choice to make a console that fits your needs.

The Platinum version gives you the most for your buck, it comes at 349.99$ and it includes the 20 gigabyte removable hard drive. It also adds some extras that are not included in the Core version, like a wireless headset and a component HD AV cable to connect to a HD type television. The platinum version now also includes an HDMI connection.

Adding all the features, and customizations available will give you a xbox 360 Platinum edition that any gamer could be proud of. The Platinum edition will offer more for gamers looking for wireless options, and the removable hard drive. It costs 349.99 and includes some upgrades not available in the core version.

The XBox 360 Platinum pack includes:
* Xbox 360 video games console
* 20 Gigabyte removable Hard Drive
* HDMI connection
* Removable Faceplate
* Xbox Live Headset
* Component HD AV Cable
* Ethernet Cable
* Xbox Live Silver membership
* Some platinum packs include the Xbox 360 media remote

Which edition to get is one big question? The Core version is cheaper, but includes fewer options and needs more upgrades. The platinum is more expensive, but offers more in terms of options. Looking at the difference in dollars, the Platinum version with upgrades gives you a bargain for the options included. You can do a comparison of the cost of adding these options to a standard core version to the Platinum pack.

In an online store like Amazon.com you could get a Xbox 360 Core version for 279.95$, but the xbox 360 Platinum comes at 349.95$. To upgrade the Core version to a platinum edition you would need to buy each of the below parts separately, and they would be more expensive.

The Xbox 360 Platinum upgrade
-Xbox 360 20 gigabyte removable Hard Drive (20 GB) ($89.99)
-Xbox 360 Component HD AV Cable ($39.99)
-Xbox 360 Live Headset ($17.82)
-Xbox 360 wireless controller ($37.99)

Buying these parts online separately could cost more than 100 dollars in addition to the Xbox Core console itself. I would recommend getting the Xbox 360 Platinum edition as it includes the hard drive and more options.