As you read this very newspaper, there are hundreds of Xbox 360 video game consoles being sold on eBay for thousands of dollars.
After spending several hours with the console and a few of its games, I can understand why people are so keyed up for a 360 – but it’s certainly not worth a few thousand bucks.
The $300 to $400 the system retails for might be pushing it, even.
While there are improvements across the board on the 360 over the original Xbox – including a better laid-out controller, more content on Xbox Live and prettier graphics – there are no drastic leaps in the console’s abilities.
The controller is very similar to the Xbox’s S-Controller, but with smoother curves, a huge button in the center that calls up the 360’s “dashboard” – more on that in a minute – and a pair of shoulder buttons above the triggers.
The shoulder buttons replace are a little confusing to use because they’re referred to as “LB” and “RB” while the triggers are called “LT” and “RT.” Perhaps it takes some getting used to, but the buttons’ similar names mixed me up more than once.
The Xbox’s operating system, called the “dashboard,” is always accessible from within games by pressing the aforementioned large button on the controller. It gives access to system options, content on the hard drive (if one is in the system) and Xbox Live.
I like it – it’s convenient, easy to use and gives a comforting feeling that the Xbox’s OS is never far away.
Xbox Live’s options for downloading game demos a buying little extras like new dashboard themes are very nice, but I’m not sure how much people will use them.
Microsoft recently released a “Christmas costume” download for their adventure game “Kameo,” which will test the waters for consumer feelings on buying preplanned extras for games.
The graphics in 360 games are better than those in games for current-generation consoles, but it’s barely noticeable on a regular television – an HD set is needed to really be surprised by the 360’s power.
Too bad HDTVs are still expensive and fairly few in number in American households.
Yes, the 360 is a fun, powerful system with a lot of potential. It just doesn’t excite me enough to buy one before a year passes and the price drops.
