Since the release of the Xbox 360 in late 2005 it’s become obvious that Microsoft has a hot console on their hands. Building on top of the already technologically advanced Xbox, the 360 offers features and convenience we have only dreamt of until now.
While the list is huge, some of the major value added features include: gamer points, Live Arcade, Live Marketplace, backwards compatibility, wireless controllers and even connectivity with networked PCs. A loved but controversial feature is automatic updating allowing patching of games or even the dashboard through Xbox Live.
Before video game consoles started connecting to the internet there was a clear divide between the games that ended up on PCs and the ones console bound. The PC offered much more versatility to the developer as they could release content updates and even patches over the internet. The result: PC games were many times rushed out the door bug ridden or even incomplete as the developer knew they could meet their launch date while still finishing the game at a later date. Things were sometimes so bad that games were released without multiplayer capabilities but instead a promise of an update in the future to add it. Many people complained and they had every right. They were mislead through and sometimes made to feel as if they were beta testing a game they just paid $50 for. There have even been times when a PC game already has bug fixes available before it’s hit store shelves, addressing issues that obviously missed quality testing. This problem was frustrating to many and they sought out refuge in consoles.
It looks like Microsoft is planning to crash Sony’s PS3 launch party by dropping the price of the Xbox 360 this coming Christmas. A source close to Microsoft says consumers can expect a price drop of almost $100.
The source also revealed according to Britxbox.co.uk that the Xbox 360 hardware team are now busy redesigning the chips supplied by ATI and IBM to cut costs and allow a price drop to coincide with the release of Sony’s Playstation 3.
If this holds true you will be able to buy an Xbox 360 for half the price of the PS3 this Xmas. This will certainly put Microsoft in a very lucrative position when the next-gen console war starts for real later this year.
Modern gaming consoles consume more and more power, dissipate more and more heat and cause a lot more noise with their cooling systems compared to their brethren a decade ago.
While it’s obvious that an Xbox 360 would have higher energy demands than a Playstation 1, the curious question is by how much? Even more importantly is the question of whether your console might be costing you money while you sleep. Preposterous you say? Actually quite the opposite!
We put every console in our lab through rigorous testing to find the answers to these questions and see who the energy hogs really are. There are some startling conclusions and amazing insight so keep reading!
One of the most unique features of the original Xbox was the ability to link several consoles together to extend multiplayer. Why settle for 4-way split screen when instead you can hook up four consoles and give each player a screen of their own? Even better, hook up multiple people to each system and suddenly you can get 16+ player matches which often times are more then allowable over Xbox Live.
Keeping with tradition, the Xbox 360 also supports system link and better yet it looks like more developers are utilizing the feature this generation.
As more 360 games are released and people start to buy second consoles, it’s becoming difficult for the average gamer to find out what games support system link.
Thankfully we here at DX Gaming have compiled a list of all Xbox 360 games that utilize system link, what exactly they offer and how good they are overall. We will be updating this list on a monthly basis so make sure to check back often!
The Nintendo DS has been available since November 2004 and after nearly a year of hard work we finally have titles being released that support the DS Wi-Fi feature. For those unaware, along with local multiplayer the DS also supports gaming over the internet through the “Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection” and any compatible wireless router. The days of link cables and proximity are gone as you can now play against your friend half way across the world. Technology is pretty damn neato!
As more and more DS games are released it’s becoming difficult for the average gamer to find out what games support Wi-Fi and more importantly what features they offer. Some games have mic support, others offer downloadable content and all of them have different multiplayer limits. It can be kind of confusing when it comes down to it.