Opinion: Five Xbox 360 changes needed in 2009

[Zeus]

ThatGamingSite has put together five things the Xbox 360 needs to change this year, so here it goes) 1) Lower accessory prices, 2) Announce the big 2009 exclusives, 3) Internet browsing via 360, 4) Get rid of the MS points system and 5) Improve the 360's reliability and image once and for all.

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[billysastard]

6) ban the tossers.

[gerbilboy]

Shouldn't 5 be 1?

[harryisme]

Shouldn't 5 be 1?

My thoughts exactly, hopefully the new jasper will sort out most of the problems as the graphics chip was the one with most of the problems why M$ decided to work on the CPU i'll never know. And with the CPU/GPU on one Dye chipset rumoured to be out late this year it could be resolved completely.

We don't need a Web-Browser on the 360, we have compters to do a better job of that. M$ Point system is fine, it means I can buy points as I need them, don't trust using my C/Card to buy items, I'd probably go crazy and buy crap I don't need.

M$ need to include the Rechargable Battery as standard, and as for the Wireless I think it's about time they built it on-board it probably costs them a £5 if that to make but they sell it for £60, that's massive profit margin.

[ronaldospet]

agree with all of them baccept 5 as id say the image is a lot better than it was a few years back i dont even think of mine having a potential problem anymore and the "new" E74 error which has always been around but been googled lately either due to curiosity or because older boxes are getting the error now.

Get over it it aint as big a joke as before and its 1 week turnaround on warranty which i have my ds and ps3 to play on in that week so i couldnt care less and id get a free accesory and game and live card lol:cool:

as much as we'd all like it to go away it isnt as bad now i have had my 2 current ones for a year or 2 now with no problems and the hard drive play is helping, but none the less the reliability is much better than the days i was having like 6 in a row that didnt work.

[faceless]

1) indeed, accessory prices are pretty damn ridiculous

2) it doesn't really matter when they announce them, look at last year, they waited 'till E3 for almost everything, and it worked out great

3) please god yes. they're the only ones who actually have an in-house browser, and 360 goes browserless? come on microsoft!

4) oh hell no, the points system is great, it means they have points card sales and giveaways, nothing like getting a 1600 points card for $5-10 on sale

5) agreed

[zymologist]

1) Lower accessory prices,
this is needed, especially for the hdds. the fact they top out at 120gb and you pay more for that then you do for a bare 500gb laptop drive is insane. firmware modded scorpio's FTW for now.

2) Announce the big 2009 exclusives,
just what we need, take a play from sony's playbook... except the big 2009 announcements dont actually get released in 2009, they're just hyped for 3 years before a disappointing 2011 release.

3) Internet browsing via 360,
yawn, I can think of very few things that would be more useless to me than this. do people actually use the browser on the PS3 or is it just there as a dot point on a feature list?

4) Get rid of the MS points system
agreed. if apple can do single US$1 CC transactions on itms and still make a profit then the whole "microtransactions" argument is shot down. points dont get any cheaper in bulk, so there's no reason to sell them in pre-set sized packages that dont line up with software prices other than being arseholes

5) Improve the 360's reliability and image once and for all.
I'm still yet to hear of falcon's dying in unacceptable numbers. there's a whole lot of chinese whispers about how they're still unreliable, but not a whole lot of proof. seems that it's mostly rival console fanboys and troll site admins trying to generate traffic tbh.

[NewBeginning]

1. This is a good idea.
2. Doesn't this hold true for Sony and Nintendo as well? Microsoft's probably got more coming out this holiday than either of the others do. Point the fingers elsewhere.
3. Or we could just use computers.
4. It's fine how it is. 400 points is $5, 800 points is $10, etc. I don't know how some people are having trouble with this.
5. This has already been done as far as reliability goes. As for image, that probably won't be fixed this generation, and maybe not the next either. Of course, Sony and Nintendo could stand for some image changes themselves.

[Blazeking]

3) please god yes. they're the only ones who actually have an in-house browser, and 360 goes browserless? come on microsoft!

And that's what's stopping me from buying another. I never understood why there isn't IE by default.

[grapeape]

1) Lower accessory prices

Harddrives I think should be cheaper but other than that prices seem pretty in line with everyone else...

2) Announce the big 2009 exclusives

I'd rather see announcements when they know whats going to ship that year, GDC and E3 get announcements but are usually lackluster in many others opinions because they do just that..announce what you can actually play before the new year. IMHO thats alot better than talking about the same handful of games year after year.

3) Internet browsing via 360

Why? Does anyone seriously use their console to surf the net? IMHO its a worthless feature. If I want a browser on my TV I'll just hook up a media center PC, better experience, better support, etc.

4) Get rid of the MS points system

Again why? It works, why try to "fix" it. Does anyone really think having the cards associated with exact dollar amounts is a good idea? How often do you see for example a $20 gift card "on sale"? Never...its going to be alot more common to see Wii points cards and Live points cards on sale than the PSN Cards for that very reason.

5) Improve the 360's reliability and image once and for all.

Cant really speak to that one, I'm still on my launch 360, a couple of my friends that also had early 360's have had 3rods but havent heard of any of them having trouble lately. No one I know with a newer one has any problems at all. Just based on that I'd say their reliabilty is improving, but its just my personal observations.

[EL_CAD]

What accessories? If they mean hard drives then yes that would be a good move to lower the price of them.But MS already has the best price of controllers this generation so no price issue there.

I'd say no.5 is the only that they should be working on.

[DrEggman]

What accessories? If they mean hard drives then yes that would be a good move to lower the price of them.But MS already has the best price of controllers this generation so no price issue there.

I'd say no.5 is the only that they should be working on.

360 Wireless controllers are $10 more than Dual Shock 3s.

I wouldn't mind keeping the point system if 1000 = $10. The 800 for $10 seems like a penny pinching ploy.

#6 should have been
Make online play free

[gerbilboy]

1) Lower accessory prices

Harddrives I think should be cheaper but other than that prices seem pretty in line with everyone else....

So 100$ for a simple wireless adapter or 60$ for a 256 Memory card is ok?

[msanchez]

1) Lower accessory prices (Agreed)

2) Announce the big 2009 exclusives (not a biggie, releasing the 2009 exclusives would be much better if you ask me)

3) Internet browsing via 360 (..... this is important? I really think they can do something better with the HDD/Ram this would take up)

4) Get rid of the MS points system (Absofreakinglutely AGREE, I don't even have a 360 and the point system manages to annoy me somehow, but maybe I'm just being picky)

5) Improve the 360's reliability and image once and for all. (Good luck with that one.... you'll/they'll need it, so much sh*t has been said this gen. It's really going to be difficult for any of the consoles to change their image in the minds of members of any of the opposing camps)

6) ban the tossers.

That would be good too. Cheaters in SOCOM put me off from online gaming back when the first one was released.... well that and all the idiots with headsets.

[EL_CAD]

360 Wireless controllers are $10 more than Dual Shock 3s.

I wouldn't mind keeping the point system if 1000 = $10. The 800 for $10 seems like a penny pinching ploy.

#6 should have been
Make online play free

360 controllers are $50. $65 for the ones that come with the recharger pack. I got one of the wired 360 ones for $25 that gets a lot of use on the PC. The PS3 controllers are $55.

I wouldn't mind if they changed the point scale. 800 for $10 is just cheesy.

[grapeape]

So 100$ for a simple wireless adapter or 60$ for a 256 Memory card is ok?

Didnt think of either of those...never had a use for either of them. Where are you paying $60 for a 256mb memory card though 20gig drives are $60 at gamestop or you can buy them at newegg for $40.

[BloodyJerusalem]

2. Doesn't this hold true for Sony and Nintendo as well? Microsoft's probably got more coming out this holiday than either of the others do. Point the fingers elsewhere.


Do you have any idea, about the lineup of any console other then your obviouslly beloved 360? Does it have anything close to the quality of Killzone 2 and God of War 3 in 2009? Of course Microsoft has to release the BIG exclusives. And the sooner the better, more gaming for me, if they can cook up something good. I just don't see it happen in 2009. Simple as that. Halo ODST is a joke, Halo 3.5, a DLC like expansion (IMHO just as the entire halo franchise is hugely overrated), Mass Effect is coming in 2010, and I'm already eagerly waiting for it, cause it's one of those games I got 360 for in the first place. Gears of War 3 anyone? Maybe somewhere at the end of 2010. Certainly a great series, but in my book, those are the two only worthwhile 360 exclusives to date. Now I don't regret buying the 360, but people saying it has more games makes me burst into laughter. If you're talking about sheer quantity, then maybe it's right. But gamers value quantity of quality. For me, PS3 has quality in MGS4, Resistance series, Killzone 2 (and future titles), Uncharted series, MLB the Show series. And the unrealesed - God of War 3, TEAM Ico projects, still Final Fantasy Versus XIII (most popular jRPG series's spin-off). Of course, we're talking only about the exclusives. Mass Effect, Gears of War, and that's it for Microsoft in terms of exclusives so far. Halo is just atricious. but I realize lots and lots of people love this series. I don't, I think it's just uninteresting and boring. Even if you factor Halo, those are only 3 exclusive series. And I mean the realesed AND the unrealesed. And they released Gears of War just yesterday. You know you won't see a perfectly new halo 4 this year, and that ME 2 is coming next year. What do they have to fight that wave of Sony exclusives?
Microsoft needs new IP. It has nothing as original as TEAM Ico's stuff for example. Uncharted 2 will possibly be another big one for Sony, with two smaller ones with Heavy Rain and InFamous also in 2009. You can say you "will go with Prototype", but only ps3 users have an option to choose. And that's just it, many good exclusives, and some great ones. 360 will loose ground, if all those games come in 2009 for the ps3, and Microsoft doesn't counter with a couple of their own. Problem is, this time, all those exclusives are first party ones. You can't buy off exclusivity this time. Tough break...
Now you can say whatever you want about PS3, but for me, and I have both of those consoles, I don't see it being an inferior console in any capacity.

[sibeer]

1. Accessory price seriously isn't their biggest worry. Controllers are by far the most popular accessory and they provide the best one for the cheapest price in the UK (as well as great bundles with two games for the same price):

360 Wired - £20
360 Wireless - £30
Dualshock 3 - £35
Wiimote - £30 + £15 for Nunchuck

The wireless adapter and hard drives are a rip off, but if you use a wire and buy a 360 Premium in the first place then it won't affect you. Definitely not the first point I would complain about, especially when they are helping subsidies such a cheap console.

2. PS3 is the king of the exclusives this year, but I honestly don't think there has every been a better time to be a gamer with the quantity and quality of games we are seeing. 360 has already had the GTA expansion and the half decent Halo Wars so far. If my Wii could catch up with the other two that would be more impressive.

3. Can honestly say I installed Opera on the Wii, used it once, and have never used the browser on my PS3. That said it costs them nothing and everyone else has one so they probably should sort it. Someone at MS must seriously be worried about the 360 killing PC sales with the Media Player and internet restrictions they put on the boxes.

4. They should maybe open it up as an option. If all I want to buy is one little thing, I don't want to have to get a 2100 Point card or whatever. The proof is in the pudding as I have bought a couple of games and some Singstar tracks for my PS3 and sweet FA since launch on the 360.

5. I'm still worried about RROD on my 2nd 360, also know lots of people whose drives have failed. Don't know anyone who has had an E74 yet, but already worried about it. PS3 and Wii just don't have the same fear attached. Could be because I don't know as many people with PS3's and Wii's just get pulled out when the family is round though.
FACT: this is still the biggest negative on the image at the moment.

As I don't think 3 of them bother me here are a couple of my suggestions:

6. SORT OUT THE COLOUR. No one likes off white, MS tried to be cool like Apple and it failed. Please just stop making us have to buy an Elite to get a black console. See how popular the Red special edition is, follow it up.

7. FULL MEDIA COMPATIBILITY. I don't want to have to run anything other than my NAS to playback video files, etc. If products such as popcorn hour can make a cheap box that supports any file you throw at it (looking at HD MKV in particular) then MS should get on with it. Even if they make it a chargeable download to cover the cost of codec licensing I am sure there are still plenty who would rather use an existing box than buy another.

[panyan1991]

Shouldn't 5 be 1?

yes, i agree

[manufan4eva07]

i just really hate the fact microsoft PURPOSELY dont sell the right about of ms points to get you to keep buying them. you always end up with some left over, but an amount that isnt quite enough to buy something else, thus forcing you to buy more so not to waste them. they should let you purchase custom amounts.

and im not sure if it could handle a browser, im sick of it grinding to a holt just when using msn!

[iLLNESS]

i already have all my accessories..
exclusives aint **** no more.
points work great.. overpriced though.
my launch 360 got e74 last night after sitting a week.. rebooted and all was well :)

m$ dont need to change nothing theyre still owning sony

[sirxlaughs]

So 100$ for a simple wireless adapter or 60$ for a 256 Memory card is ok?

I just wanted to blurb a bit about the wireless adapter. Many people don't realize that it is a bridge, and supports 5gHz 802.11a networks. You can use any wireless bridge with the 360 (bridges do not require drivers). A lot of the cost for MS accessories comes from them having to buy those stupid custom casings. It's all made by 3rd parties (like the hard drive casings and such). And the 512MB memory unit can be had for 40 dollars.

[grapeape]

i just really hate the fact microsoft PURPOSELY dont sell the right about of ms points to get you to keep buying them. you always end up with some left over, but an amount that isnt quite enough to buy something else, thus forcing you to buy more so not to waste them. they should let you purchase custom amounts.

and im not sure if it could handle a browser, im sick of it grinding to a holt just when using msn!

Whats the alternative though? Nintendo has points in 2000 or 4000 point cards...Sony has $20, $50 and $100 cards, its not like you can split them up with any of the others so how is it any different?

[Degeneration]

Just improve the reliability and lower the price of the accessories. Everything else is nitpicking in comparison. When I see a 360 on a store shelf, that's what stops me from buying one. Not the lack of a millionth browser to add to my collection...

[Battlefield]

[QUOTE=zymologist;1129721]
Quote:2) Announce the big 2009 exclusives,
just what we need, take a play from sony's playbook... except the big 2009 announcements dont actually get released in 2009, they're just hyped for 3 years before a disappointing 2011 release.
--------------

This is so true, and thats why Nintendo and Microsoft dont do this.
Hyping a game years in advance gives way too high expectations, as other games often will surpass it before the hyped game actually come.

Internet browsing sucks on a console.

I tried browsing on my PS3 and Wii, but i quickly went back to PC instead.

[DAVE11674]

the red ring problem should be top of their list if you ask me
but how many revisions of board have come
and all of them have had red ringer
lol

microsoft dont wanna fix it
cos after the warranty is up you mugs just go buy a new machine lol

why should thye fix the issue when they think like that lol

all microsoft products are $hite if u ask me
none of them work right
how the fook can a man who sells fooked products be so rich lol


microsoft = WANK

lol

[msanchez]

i already have all my accessories..
exclusives aint **** no more.
points work great.. overpriced though.
my launch 360 got e74 last night after sitting a week.. rebooted and all was well :)

m$ dont need to change nothing theyre still owning sony

Sadly the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto doesn't apply here. MS is not in this to beat sony, but to make money and they will always want to make more of it. Why settle for $100 when they can make $101?

“The great menace to the life of an industry is industrial self-complacency.”

Don't remember who said that, but truer words were never spoken. Besides, if they're all about beating others then shouldn't they worry about nintendo which already passed them in total sales?

[EL_CAD]

i just really hate the fact microsoft PURPOSELY dont sell the right about of ms points to get you to keep buying them. you always end up with some left over, but an amount that isnt quite enough to buy something else, thus forcing you to buy more so not to waste them. they should let you purchase custom amounts.

I have the same problem on the Wii, and I've had 200 Wii points for at least 6 months just sitting on my Wii. While my first MS1600 card was all spent right away with no change. I got Castle Crashers and Worms. I think they were 1000 and 600 each. The second card I just got Miner Dig Deep for 250 points and told the family to get what they wanted, and I haven't checked to see if there was any change.

I do really like that MS has sales on games. The Wii could really use a sale once in a while. Like I would so spend my 200 for Excitebike or something, that I wouldn't normally spend the full 500 on for a NES game.

[faceless]

360 controllers are $50. $65 for the ones that come with the recharger pack. I got one of the wired 360 ones for $25 that gets a lot of use on the PC. The PS3 controllers are $55.

I wouldn't mind if they changed the point scale. 800 for $10 is just cheesy.

i think the point being made was DS3 = $55, and 360 with p&c kit = $65 (ds3 comes with a rechargeable battery)

[Signa]

And that's what's stopping me from buying another. I never understood why there isn't IE by default.


I think you just made me realize the answer to that. Viruses. Imagine losing your 360 to bad browsing habits. MS is way too arrogant to allow another browser like Opera on their system, and I'm certain they know that IE is ****; as hard as it is for them to admit it.

I also would like to see the points system adjusted. $.01 per point just makes sense. The only way that the current system would make sense is if it's configured to line up with euros, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

[aayman_farzand]

No one wants the controller to have its own internal battery?

[sibeer]

No one wants the controller to have its own internal battery?

Bit of a double edged sword that. Great when you get it, but what happens when the battery fails (which they all do eventually). My Play and Charge kit battery went and I would have been gutted if it had taken the pad too.

[Z3R0B4NG]

3... sure IE... dont need it, dont want it, and it would be a big fucking security risk to open the console to the internet. wont happen.

The only way that the current system would make sense is if it's configured to line up with euros, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't.

one 2100 points card is lik 25 euro so no makes no sense either...


btw. anybody notices the increased prices of arcade games?
in the beginning there only were 400 - 800 points games... now the cheap ones are 800 and go up to 1600 ?

no thx 1600 points is almost 20 EURO, for 20 EURO i get a full game on DVD at ebay or whatever.

[grapeape]

No one wants the controller to have its own internal battery?

Not really, internal batteries die...I'd rather have a cheap set of rechargables.

[EL_CAD]

Not really, internal batteries die...I'd rather have a cheap set of rechargables.

I prefer that they use AA or some standard battery. All of my stuff uses them, so I just got a bunch of rechargables. I've got 6 spares ready to go right now.

Though the internal batteries in our DS and SP work really well, it does suck when the batteries do go dead and we can't just pop in some batteries from the Quickie Mart.

How many USB ports does the PS3 come with now? Is there enough to even charge all the controllers you could be using?

[Battlefield]

When i run out of battery on PS3, i just use the USB Cable with and extender on it, and charge while i play.

I do have 2 USB ports on PS3 or more if i connect a 7-Port USB HUB when needed.

[chyottone]

Not really, internal batteries die...I'd rather have a cheap set of rechargables.The official Xbox 360 battery pack IS a set of cheap(ish) rechargables. 2x Sanyo HR-3U-2100 to be exact.