Lot of questions from a possible newcommer

Hi there dear XBox 360 community

I'm comming from the far far away kingdom of Playstation 3 and I'm considering the bought of a XBox 360, but I got to admit that I'm confused with the different models and somehow their description does not match what I heard on the PS3 forums (haven't been here, sorry ^^) nad I have some questions I hope you can help me out.

First of about the model. Can you help me which one would suit me the best? I just need a XBox for Exclusives/Timed Exclusives or Games that have a difference in quality or added services like DLC that the PS3 doesn't have. I'm using full HD Tv (would like to go on it over HDMI) and a 5:1 surround system (optical is already used by PS3, dunno if there are switches for it. Can I take the sound over a 6 channel stereo (3 cables)? I would like to go online wirelessly and I would like to have a wireless controller. How important is the disc? Are there a lot of Games around with optional install? Is it a 3.5'' or 2.5'' (if second I can still use my old 80gig ps3 hdd). Which model would you say I should get and which accessoirs are important?

Well, now to my questions especially regarding the XBox. I heard that online gaming costs money. Do I get anything beside online gaming with it (like, dunno, demos?) How about the archivments: Can I get anything special with them like, let's say new designes forthe OS of the ystem or anything else? Like ingame objects in Home that are comming for newer Games on PS3. Which exclusives should I know about if I prefe rpg, strategy and puzzle (sorry, no interest in Halo)?

I know those are a hell lot of questins and I'm sore for the time an answer would take, but you guys could really help me out, thanks in advance

Go Pro it comes with a 60gig HDD. At this point ALL new consoles regardless of the package should have HDMI if bought new. The console supports Dolby Digital for 5.1 Surround with either component or optical (with optional adapter). By disc size I am assuming HDD, and it doesn't matter you can't use any other but Xbox's proprietary drive with a special seat/port.

Important accessories? I dunno I guess it depends on what you want to be able to do. You said wireless so you need the wireless network adapter. The PRO comes with one wireless controller. If you like to video chat you can get the Vision webcam but I rarely use mine. Wireless headsets are nice: the PRO will come with a wired one that plugs into the wireless controller. The keyboard attachment is nice if you text a lot or play certain games. A NiCad rechargable pack with a charger is nice, there are a few different chargers available. I like the Play & Charge kit it comes with a cable that plugs into the console and charges the battery allowing you to use the controller like a wired one until the battery is charged.

Online Live access is two-tiered: Silver and Gold.

Silver is free and gives you:

• A profile that allows for a Gamertag, a Gamer"card" that other Live players can see that inclues info likeyour Tag,Achievements score,what your playing, ect.
• A friends list and the ability to communicate with them via voice or text.
• An avatar (part of your profile) that you can customize to look like you.
• Access to the Marketplace for demos, trailers, games, music, video, ect. There is a lot of free content, but you can also purchase Microsoft Points (the Live currency) to get more stuff.

Gold costs anywhere from $50 to $100 per year. It's cheapest when you pay for a whole year up front @ $50 and it gives you:

• Access to online multiplayer for any game that supports it (this includes online co-op).
• Exclusive access to certain new content for a limited time (i.e. you can DL a new demo before Silver can).
• The ability to create or join Live parties for up to 7 other people to chat or play together.
• The ability to review other gamers (positively or negatively).
• Access to streaming Netflix on your Xbox as long as you are already a Netflix subscriber.
• All the items listed for Silver membership.

Achievements are simply a way to track what games you've played and what kind of milestones you have achieved within each game. You can allow other players to "compare games" with you that gives them a detailed breakdown of all achievements earned. Each and every retail games must have at least 1000 points and possibly more with extra content. Arcade games must have at least 200 points available with more through extra contect. Don't get Microsoft Points and Gamer Points confused. One is a currency and the other simply a record of achievements completed.

Thanks for your information Coey-69 and thanks for your very detailed post my_mortal_coil. Looks like the pro edition is a good deal and all in all it looks like it's a good deal (even though I don't understand why they can't add a wireless card or why they have a special form of HDD. How about DVD as medium. Are there a lot of Games divided into more than one DVD or is one DVD ordinary everything you need per Game? Can anyone name good exclusive rpg/strategy/puzzle Games that have may be unknown (I'm not talking about RPGs from big companies like SquareEnix but some smallers like Nippon Ichi Software which created Disgaea 3 for PS3: Only few know about it but it's actually a good Game)

Sorry for doublepost, but after searching for the pro on the ch website I haven't found it. I think it's called Premium here (the 60GB), but where is the difference to Elite 120GB?

Thanks for your answer Avenger1234, I really appreciate every post from all in this thread.

Thanks to your information I now know that Pro is a really good deal (I'm somehow shocked that the Elite is about $80 expensiver here in Switzerland while adding so much less, don't really care about color ^^). Do I get the silver membership forever or only for a year with it? How does the whole online aspect works then. Is everything devided to different regions like the PS3. So do I have to make a special second account with another membership to get US things or can I have access to everywhere so I'm able to get Games that firstly released in the US before they release in the EU/Switzerland? The wireless adapter looks pretty expensive with $100, so I most likely go on it over power lan (have an adapter anwhere xD) .

May anyone answer my question about exclusives that may be "hidden" from newcommers?

I know I'm asking a lot and I can understand it if nobody wants to take his/her time to answer, but I'm bumping it this one (and last) time in hope that somebody may give me some more information, thanks

Thank you Avenger1234 for your second post in my thread, it's really kind of you to take all this time for me and I really appreciate it. You actually got me very interessted and I made up my mind: I'll most likely get it after Easter. Thanks Hotwire246 for your opinion in which you agree what Avenger said, this made up my mind as well. Looking at wataeri99 I'm really sorry to have taken your time, it's just me having a PS3 already and I just need those infos to make sure the money spent for another system just for exclusives is really worth it. Of corse I'm going to check everything out once I got it, but this topic is actually to make my way to get one. To bad nobody knows about any unknown/not so popular RPG/Strategy/Puzzle Game around so I think that there just is none. Thanks again to everyone who posted here

RPG/Strategy/Puzzle Game around so I think that there just is none.

ArchoNils2

Says who? I own some of the best underrated games :P. Lost odyssey,Tales of vesperia,Eternal sonata,Star ocean:TLH,Last remnant,Infinite undiscovery,and Enchanted arm are all good some better than others while others are only worth it for their price. Strategy games do you mean RTS or what? Also puzzes i have no clue not my thing but there's an XBLA game that everyone raves about not sure if it's on PSN though..

Says who? I own some of the best underrated games :P. Lost odyssey,Tales of vesperia,Eternal sonata,Star ocean:TLH,Last remnant,Infinite undiscovery,and Enchanted arm are all good some better than others while others are only worth it for their price. Strategy games do you mean RTS or what? Also puzzes i have no clue not my thing but there's an XBLA game that everyone raves about not sure if it's on PSN though..

craigalan23

Thanks for your answer. I was more thinking of unknown RPGs like PS3s Disgaea 3. I heard of all of them and I already have Eternal Sonata and Enchanted Arms on PS3. I am defently getting Lost Odyssey, Tales of Vesperia, Star Ocean and Last Ramnant, not sure about Infinite Undiscovery. By Strategy I mean about anything that fits this description, from RTS to turn based strategy or Games with strategy elements (like Valkyria Chronicles on PS3, sorry for the reference, haven't played XBox360 Games to explain). I'm sure checking out XBLA Games, but I somehow asume that a lot of them are already on the PSN and I actually have quite a lot bought there ^^

Get The Elite and throw your PS3 Away.:D