Help! Quick education on Xbox 360 please

[ChrisinNJ]

My son has been asking for an xbox, along with several other expensive items for Christmas & my DH didn't want to get it for him since we already have wii. I had one in my cart online on BF but listened to him & didn't get it.

Now I am thinking I should have bought it. Of course I am not seeing the same sales now. The one I was going to get based on reviews here was the 250gb. The question I have is do we really need the 250 or is the 4gb sufficient. I don't see us using it to stream movies or go online, strictly for gaming. Is it worth the extra $$ for the 250gb?

Also, if you are still shopping or following prices on these things...what is the best deal you are seeing now??

Sorry for sounding clueless, but basically I am.

 

[java]

If he or you are planning on using any online content- Like Movies, or Map Packs (from games) or Game Demo's(those can be deleted though once you play) then I say go with the 250gb.

If not you probably don't need it.

We have the 250 GB with 2 serious gamers in my house and it's about 1/2 full. No movies, just game junk.

I am no expert though. If I had the money then I would get the 250- if not it's not the end of the world to get the 4gb.

I will also add that my teenage son's friends that have the 4gb have all traded up for the 250gb.

 

[JennSaint]

My son said if we bought the 4gb we would probably have to buy more memory. They play alot and play Xbox live etc. I bought the 250gb.

 

[kamik86]

My son has been asking for an xbox, along with several other expensive items for Christmas & my DH didn't want to get it for him since we already have wii. I had one in my cart online on BF but listened to him & didn't get it.

Now I am thinking I should have bought it. Of course I am not seeing the same sales now. The one I was going to get based on reviews here was the 250gb. The question I have is do we really need the 250 or is the 4gb sufficient. I don't see us using it to stream movies or go online, strictly for gaming. Is it worth the extra $$ for the 250gb?

Also, if you are still shopping or following prices on these things...what is the best deal you are seeing now??

Sorry for sounding clueless, but basically I am.

I agree with the above posters. 4GB is very little. Many games now have more content you can get though downloads that he may want space for. The space isn't just for save files.

As for the 360 and the wii they are very very different systems. Very few games are available for both and even those that are play quite differently wii is not HD, focuses much more on motion play where for the 360 only kinetic games do, the wii focuses more on your younger and or more casual gamers, games that you can pick up for 30 min and then stop and play like that. Online gaming on the Wii isn't great.

360 is most known for first person shooters and online play. Graphics are in HD. Many of these games due to being online are the ones that you have to play to the end of the round or mission, and sometimes can't even pause since its online with other people.

(Personally my favorite is the PS3 which is somewhat between the two, with the HD graphics longer more involved games then many on the Wii, (arkum City, Drake, Assassins Creed, etc) but without the huge controller. But then again I don't like first person shooters or playing online as much, which really is what the 360 is designed for.)

 

[marie1203]

4GB is not enough memory. Of course it all depends which games you are playing, etc. We got the 4GB and have a hard drive for extra memory. You can buy the hard drive separate. DH prefers to do this that way he can transfer his game info when he gets a new system. External memories price range from $50-$100. If your kids or DH are computer savvy getting a hard drive install shouldn't be a problem.

 

[momto3pirates]

I missed the black Friday deals (we were in Disneyland) so I have been looking. I have also been told that the bigger memory is worth it. I found the holiday bundle at Best Buy online yesterday for $399 with a $75 gift card. It comes with 2 games. They also had the Disneyland Adventure game on sale for $19.99.

 

[HM]

I've been paying attention to the pricing as we needed to get one for my DH since our son took his to college. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals were the best, but impossible to get. So the poster who mentioned missing out....you at least didn't waste any time stalking the items and losing out.

The above mentioned deal from Best Buy is also available at Amazon.com right now and is the best deal out there. You can also do well with a bundle from Walmart (Customer Choice) where you get an extra controller and choose two games.

We ended up getting ours from Best Buy (since we get BB points with the purchase) and we'll use the $75 gift card for games. This week it's buy 2 get 1 free.

 

[princessmom29]

Bottom line:
Teen and pre-teen boys play xbox, not wii.

The wii is a system for young children and families. It is NOT designed to handle serous gaming and is really a "casual gamer" system. It deosn't have the graphics capabilities or the interface(controller) to handle it. We have one set up in DD8's room and I occasionally go in there to play Zelda or to play with her. DH doesn't use it unless she wants him to play Wii sports or something similar with her.

We have both and xbox and a PS3 set up in the living room. These are our primary adult use systems. DD plays her lego games on ps3 because they are just so much easier to play on this than on the wii. Both have the larger memory option. If you are gonig to be dowloading ANYTHING (game add-ons, demos, ect) the 4gb is NOT enough space. We couldn't even fit all of our save games for what we are currently playing in 4gb, and we are adults with jobs not teenage boys with time on our hands.

 

[Planogirl]

We've had X-Box for years and I wouldn't bother with the 4GB. It's too restrictive.

 

[cseca]

Depends on the usage. If you don't go online to download stuff or play Live then 4G is enough. Plus you can always add USB flash drive to a 4G.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Thanks for all the advice! I bought the 250gb, xbox 360 kinect holiday bundle at Best Buy for $399.99, along with a second controller.

Then I used the $75.00 gift card toward the buy 2 get 1 free & got MW3 for my DS, Just dance 3 for my DDs, and Wipeout for all 3 of them. I also picked up Disneyland for $19.99.

My Aunt is buying my son grand theft auto, so I think I am all set with the system & enough games to please everyone!

 

[girli565]

I bought the Walmart BF bundle for $199, my husband just wants to play the shoot 'em up games and not download or play live so the 4gb one should be enough. I just need to get him another controller and don't want to spend $40+ for it, lol. Any deals on those?

Also what would we need to add more memory to the 4gb one? I thought you could add a card or USB device? I'd like to use an external hard drive which we already have at home.

 

[bbarba]

Regarding controllers--i recommend game stop when they have a buy 2 get 1 free preowned deal (one is coming up). the wireless is 40 and guaranteed to work by them. You can then pick out two games and one is free. i had bought a controller on BF at target for 40, but took it back since i got the deal at gamestop.

 

[girli565]

Regarding controllers--i recommend game stop when they have a buy 2 get 1 free preowned deal (one is coming up). the wireless is 40 and guaranteed to work by them. You can then pick out two games and one is free. i had bought a controller on BF at target for 40, but took it back since i got the deal at gamestop.

Thanks for the info, I have a GameStop a block form my house so I'll check them out. any idea when the preowned deal will be happening?

 

[princessmom29]

Thanks for all the advice! I bought the 250gb, xbox 360 kinect holiday bundle at Best Buy for $399.99, along with a second controller.

Then I used the $75.00 gift card toward the buy 2 get 1 free & got MW3 for my DS, Just dance 3 for my DDs, and Wipeout for all 3 of them. I also picked up Disneyland for $19.99.

My Aunt is buying my son grand theft auto, so I think I am all set with the system & enough games to please everyone!

I don't mean to tell anyone how to parent, but you may want to do some looking at Grand Theft Auto before giving it to him. DH has played them and I would personally NOT let my kid play them unti lthey were at LEAST 16 or so. Too much sex, drugs, and well, grand theft auto involved. MW3 is intense as far as violence as well. If we are talking about 14+ probably not a problem, but I don't think I would give it to a pre-teen. Agian, not telling oyu what you should or shouldn't do, just wanted you to be aware of the content of the games.

 

[LilyWDW]

I don't mean to tell anyone how to parent, but you may want to do some looking at Grand Theft Auto before giving it to him. DH has played them and I would personally NOT let my kid play them unti lthey were at LEAST 16 or so. Too much sex, drugs, and well, grand theft auto involved. MW3 is intense as far as violence as well. If we are talking about 14+ probably not a problem, but I don't think I would give it to a pre-teen. Agian, not telling oyu what you should or shouldn't do, just wanted you to be aware of the content of the games.

I am super relaxed when it comes to gaming, movies, music, and the like for kids... and I would not allow any kid preteen or younger to play Grand Theft Auto. Heck, I don't want to see or play that stuff myself. I am all for the game existing and adults buying and playing it if they so choose, but it is not a game for kids.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Thanks for the info on Grand Theft Auto, I didn't realize how bad it was, but I heard the same from 2 other friends today so I told my aunt not to get it.

Any good car/truck/racing/chasing games for a pre-teen?

 

[Fyrefly]

As far as racing games, I believe the Gran Turismo series has always gotten good reviews.

Regarding ratings, please familiarize yourself with this page: http://www.esrb.org/ratings/index.jsp

The ratings are there for a reason and it would be super if all parents familiarized themselves with them. I'm not saying you aren't, I just wanted to make that website known to you and extended family (aunt) can look up any game on there and see what it's rated. Just make it a rule, nothing M-rated until they're at least 14. High school is the bare minimum when kids should be playing that stuff.

Another great site is commonsensemedia.org, which has reviews more in "plain English," broken down into exactly what could be seen to be objectionable about each game. For example I brought up Grand Theft Auto IV for you:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/grand-theft-auto-iv

Notice that the game is rated at 5 stars, its just not for kids and it explains why.

The average kid who grew up on Super Nintendo is in his or her 20s and 30s now, and we like having more mature games. I don't play a lot of M-rated games but I like the ones I do have. And it's a massive pet peeve of mine to see people railing on video gaming as a hobby and how it's corrupting our children when they choose to ignore the ratings that are right there. It's like saying adults shouldn't be allowed to go to R-rated movies because they are corrupting the 10-year-olds!

 

[LilyWDW]

Thanks for the info on Grand Theft Auto, I didn't realize how bad it was, but I heard the same from 2 other friends today so I told my aunt not to get it.

Any good car/truck/racing/chasing games for a pre-teen?

Forza Motor sports might cover the racing aspect.

Other then that... I really have no idea. I am more of a RPG/fantasy type of player (with a bit of action). You might want to jump on Amazon or Gamespot to see what is out there and what your son might like.

 

[HeatherC]

I think Amazon has it on sale today...or is offering a $50 credit with it.