Andy Wood

The console itself is slimmer that the original, this was made possible by keeping the “brick” outside of the main unit. Usually when it comes to the “next version”, the 360 is more powerful that the original Xbox.

There have been many reports that the Xbox 360 runs hot, VERY HOT. After playing games for hours on end, the game DVD is almost too hot to touch. To date, I have not had one over heat problem or a single game that has crashed or locked up on me. I have left my unit on for the past 4 days only to be able to pick up where I left off with no problems. Yes, this console generated heat, but so does my PC.

I have been able to play Halo, Halo 2, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Jade Empire, Batman Begins and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic so far without any problems.

Graphically, the Xbox 360 titles under HDTV are stunning. Now, I will have to justify the cost of a new TV that has more HDTV input.

The coolest thing about the Xbox 360 (other than playing great games like Need for Speed Most Wanted) is the new Xbox Live dashboard. From your Xbox 360 dashboard you can send messages, chat with friends, take advantage of downloadable content like game demos and trailers and more too.

For you geeks out there, getting the Xbox360 to intergrate into your home lan is simple and having it interface with your MS Media Center is snap. (Nicely done Microsoft)

Is the Xbox 360 worth all of the bread? If you have the ability to display to HDTV and you would like manilupate via a Media Center PC, which the Xbox 360�??s supports, then yes! If all you really want to do it play games, then you have to ask santa really nice of have access to his/her credit card. When the original Xbox launch hit, it was all about Halo, this time around I wanted it mainly for the Xbox Live and Madden Football.

If you got the green then by all means, pick one up. (if you can) Or wait till next year to make the purchase: the console will be cheaper, the selection of games will be broader, used games will be available.

There you have it, short and sweet! I now await Gears of War and Chrome Hounds

Here is the complete list of games that came with my bundle:

Project Gotham Racing 3 – I decided to keep this one, the series was solid enough to justify.

Kameo Elements of Power – Not my cup of tea, so this one went up on eBay

Perfect Dark Zero Limited Collector’s Edition – this game has a great story line to it, but as much as I hated to do it, this one went up on eBay

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion – Cancelled

Dead or Alive 4 – Cancelled

Call of Duty 2 – as much as I such at FPS on the console, this was a keeper.

Quake 4 – I also purched some adult diapers to go along with this game as Quake 3 scared about 10 years off me.

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland – the last time I did anything with a skateboard was to use it to help move furniture, so this one went up on eBay

Condemned: Criminal Origins – umm, to eBay this one went

Madden NFL 06 – riddle me this, I don’t play football (used to though), I can’t stand to watch it on TV (highlights are better for me), but I just get a kick out of play it on a console, so this one has part of my collection.

GUN – I don’t know, looks really cool, but a western FPS, just didn’t bode well with me, to eBay this one went

NHL 2K6 – boring!! and to eBay this one went

Amped 3 – I find these games as fun as painting my house, to eBay this one went

NBA 2K6 – to eBay this one went

Top Spin 2 – Cancelled

Peter Jackson’s King Kong – okay look! I know this movie is going to just blow us all away! I even went out and got the King Kong Tin from best buy the other day as I think the big monkey is great, but this game well. It left a not so great feeling in my tum tum, to eBay this one went

Ridge Racer 6 – decided that I only wanted 2 racing games, so I went with Project Gotham Racing 3 and Need For Speed: Most Wanted. [clears throat] to eBay this one went

Need For Speed: Most Wanted – in my eye, this is about the best racing game on any platform out there.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06 – to eBay this one went

FIFA Soccer 06 – to eBay this one went

As soon as I get more console time in, I will give some of my own reviews of the games that are kicking tail for me.