The Bottom Line

Since the Xbox 360 was released in retail stores across the United States last Tuesday, November 22 it has caused quite an uproar. Reviews and discussions have popped up all over the web. People are debating this next generation console's value since it is in short supply. In Game Over, a weekly column on CNN.com, Chris Morris makes his case as to why the Xbox 360 isn't worth rushing to stores to get. With Xbox 360s selling on eBay for anywhere up to about $5,000 it seems people will do anything to appease their kids for Christmas, but is it really worth the cost?

There are two different Xbox 360 systems that someone can buy. The first one is a "bare bones" system for $299. The fully loaded Xbox 360 is tough on your wallet, costing $399 retail. Of course, the advantage to the fully loaded system is that it is a backward compatible system. Alright, so maybe you are thinking, "Well I'll just buy mine on the internet and avoid the frenzy at the local Wal Mart." In a recent MacWorld article titled, "Outrageous prices for Xbox 360 preorder bundles," the author sheds some light on the brilliant and brutal Microsoft business strategy. According to the article, online shops unveiled their Xbox 360 preorder bundles last week but to the customer's surprise there were no single system purchases! Instead, consumers are forced to purchase "bundles," the lowest of which costs $599.93 without tax. In that bundle you receive the $299, bare bones, Xbox 360, and four games: Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, Dead or Alive 4, and Project Gotham Racing 3. The ultimate bundle offered by EBGames.com runs a price tag of $699.92 and includes the same games, but you get the fully loaded Xbox 360 instead. The lame thing about these bundles is that there are no options to purchase the console system and games separately! The standard packages are only sold at retail stores and the overpriced bundles are available only on the retailer websites. The Xbox 360 appears to be a solid machine despite that is vastly overpriced and slightly overrated. The backwards compatible system is definitely the smarter buy between the two versions.

As its name suggests, the Xbox 360 is a complete turnaround from the old system. From its looks to what it's made of, you will be able to notice a difference. The processing power of this next generation console is said to be about five to ten times more than its predecessor. From a graphics point of view, the Xbox 360 boasts its ability to draw up to 500 million polygons per second, dwarfing the regular Xbox's limit of 125 million. The Xbox 360 and its various launch titles are all HD compatible. Those of you lucky enough to own a HD television and actually get your hands on the Xbox 360 won't be visually disappointed. Another great feature is that anyone with an existing Xbox live account has the option to transfer it to their 360 for no extra charge. The Xbox 360 also has three USB ports - two on the front and one on the back - where you can plug a variety of electronics such as digital cameras and even IPods! There are rumors of system crashes upon loading the Xbox 360 for the first time. Molly O'Donnell, Microsoft spokeswoman, said the rumors involved a "very, very small fraction" of the total number of 360s sold. "With any launch of this magnitude, you're bound to see something happening," she said.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 is definitely a formidable gaming machine but you are better off waiting until after Christmas before trying to get one. If you are like me then you have your eyes set on Sony's Playstation 3, said to be released sometime in the spring of 2006. Then again, if you have a couple thousand dollars lying around and a need to impress your friends, then check out eBay. Good Game.

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