Who has an Atari, PS2, and now a 360? ME!

[The MilkMan]

Yep, finally did it. My last New console purchase was is '01 when the PS2 came with GT3 in the red box. I was going to wait maybe another year or so. Kinida see how the 360/PS3 war went, and hope for some price drops. But, I wanted MotoGp sooo bad, and killing zombies in a mall (zombies, my other favorite genre) how could I wait any longer.

 

I got the Premium package and some games. Dead Rising, MotoGP '06, Project Gotham Racing 3/Forza Motorsport 2 pack at wal-mart for $30.

 

I played Dead all weekend. While fun killing zombies, man...I love and hate this game at the same time. I thought I was going to have 72 hours to survive a mall full of zombies. Instead, I have alot of missions, bosses, and quest. The zombies in the mall seem are more of a hassle to deal with while your out resolving the underlying truth of the situation....sigh.

 

MotoGP is what it is. Bikes that go really fast, I love it! PGR3 is fun. Forza is the answer to the PS2 Gran Turismo series, which I really enjoy. I think I'll look into Forza2 when that comes out.

 

Heh, even though late, I called every BK in town until I found a store that still copies of the 3 games, so I picked those up too.

 

I don't have a HD TV, so everything is not being seen at it's full pontenial. One thing at a time. Although, I do have an optical cable hooked up from the 360 to my receiver, and OMG.....WOW! The sounds these games produce is simply amazing! There is a Tomb Radier demo thats loaded on the disc. If you want to hear really good deep bass rumble, launch the demo, even the title screen lets you feel your surround system.

 

I don't have internet (I log on here at work), so I know I'm missing out on the online community that XBL has to offer. And the store thingy they have? I don't know. It's new to me, and it's been awhile.

 

I think the next game I'll get is Viva. My girlfriend wants to play that one really bad.

 

Feedback is needed. Again, I'm new to the Xbox scene. If anyone care to list games to own, or other places to you like to go for more Xbox info, things like that...please let me know.

[Gabriel]

I've been enjoying the button mashing hack n' slashers lately, specifically Samurai Warriors 2 and Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires. Samurai Warriors 2 is really more accessible. Both are definitely last gen games, with SW2 having been spiffed up a bit to at least look a little better against the next gen lineup.

 

I'd really say the online component of the X360 is a take it or leave it thing. Online play is lag ridden and full of people you'd ordinarily NEVER play with (and costs money, on top of it). Leaderboards are kind of fun, but nothing spectacular. Online content is hit and miss. It's nice downloading demos of upcoming games, but it never seems like anything I'd actually care to see is ever offerred as a demo.

 

Sooner or later you'll need to get a HD-TV. You'll be very impressed. When I got mine, I really felt like I had previously been playing games on a blurry black and white TV.

[The MilkMan]

I'll have to look into those games. I had Dynasty Warriors 2 & 3 for the PS2, and I enjoyed those. I had rented a samurai game too, but I can't remember the name of it. Something like, you walked across the land and eventually you'd meet someone to duel against. Dang, I can't remember the name... anyway

 

Yeah, I've been looking to get a TV soon. In fact, when I bought the Xbox, my intension was to walk out with a new tv. Instead, the 360 was my purchase.

 

Question, the instruction booklet that came with it seemed kind of limited about the console itself. I thought for better performance issues, you could load a game onto the hard drive itself rather than using the disk. Is that true? If I remember, that was an option you could do on the original Xbox. I didn't find any info about that in the booklet. Seems like there was no info on managing your hard drive or anything.

 

Just like adding images from my camera or other external USB devices. I added an image for my background. Cool. I selected a jpeg and now it's my background. But what if I wanted to upload more than a single image. You know, put 2 or 3 images on there to choose from. Isn't there some kind of folder or something to put stuff like that? I guess I'm looking at the 360 more as a computer rather than a gaming console.

[+Cobra Kai]

Buy Gears of War. Have Fun.

[Gabriel]

Question, the instruction booklet that came with it seemed kind of limited about the console itself. I thought for better performance issues, you could load a game onto the hard drive itself rather than using the disk. Is that true? If I remember, that was an option you could do on the original Xbox. I didn't find any info about that in the booklet. Seems like there was no info on managing your hard drive or anything.

 

As far as I'm aware, you can't do this. You can load music files and download games to your hard drive, but as far as I know, you can't load disc games on it for faster access.

 

As for your other question, I'm not really sure. I haven't really experimented with the customization options for the 360 desktop.

[The MilkMan]

Cool.

One other Xbox noob question....

What the hell are achievement points and why do/would I care?

I see things like, do this in a certain time and you unlock that and you get 20 pts. Am I supposed to spend these or something? Are tallied up somewhere. Do all points mass into one lump or are they per game?

[Gabriel]

Cool.

One other Xbox noob question....

What the hell are achievement points and why do/would I care?

I see things like, do this in a certain time and you unlock that and you get 20 pts. Am I supposed to spend these or something? Are tallied up somewhere. Do all points mass into one lump or are they per game?

 

Achievement points are per game and tallied up. Let's say I knew your Gamertag and you were on Live with at least a Silver account. I could look up your tag and see what games you played and what you had accomplished while playing them.

 

In short, they're about dick-waving. They can also give you goals to accomplish in the game. For example, in Pac-Man there's an achievement for eating all four of the ghosts all four times in a wave. So, you keep on trying to reach that goal and get that Achievement.

 

You can't spend achievement points. Your point total is supposed to represent how good a gamer you are. In reality, it's pretty meaningless. Some people are hung up on Achievement totals just like they'd be hung up on designer sneakers or something. Other people just wear their shoes and go about their business.

[The MilkMan]

 

In short, they're about dick-waving.

 

You can't spend achievement points. Your point total is supposed to represent how good a gamer you are. In reality, it's pretty meaningless. Some people are hung up on Achievement totals just like they'd be hung up on designer sneakers or something. Other people just wear their shoes and go about their business.

Right on. I'll take your advice and wear my shoes and go about my business. Thanks for the reply!

[Foxy Cleopatra]

 

 

You can't spend achievement points.

 

For now.......

[+Cobra Kai]

Achievment points are addictive. You can't spend them on anything, but they do give a very good reason for replaying games. I think they add to replay value immensely.

[StormSurge]

I could care less if I have a higher gamerscore than my friends, but I sure am addicted to unlocking those damn achievements!

 

Welcome aboard!

[moycon]

I could care less if I have a higher gamerscore than my friends, but I sure am addicted to unlocking those damn achievements!

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Yep this is the way I feel about it. Definately adds to the life of a game. It probably depends on what type of person you are if you will dig the gamerpoints. If you enjoying striving to complete sometimes very difficult tasks you will like them, if you aren't, you won't. Me personally I would encourage you to push and accomplish all achievements you can if only for your own personal satisfaction. True they aren't "worth" anything (right now) but how much is a hole-in-one at a golf course worth? I'll bet lots of golfers enjoy getting those hu?

 

BTW The MilkMan, You don't have to play through all the quests and bosses in Dead Rising, the game goes 72 hours regardless and you keep your stats from game to game, chances are you will have to start over and over to actually beat the game. If you get to the end of a game at Lvl 20, you start again at level 20. I didn't attempt to play through it until I was like Level 50. In the mean time it's the perfect opportunity to go for the achievements!! LOL

 

Online play is lag ridden and full of people you'd ordinarily NEVER play with (and costs money, on top of it).

 

It helps if you have friends on Live that you know and have played with before. I dunno why folks wouldn't want to play with you Gabriel, You have such a positive , upbeat and sunny personality. LOL I have noticed some lag in games like Prey and DOA but last time I played Prey about 2 weeks ago it seemed much better. Other games like The Outfit I've never experienced lag. If you want to get online cheap The MilkMan, pick up a Live kit off eBay, you can usually get them for around $50-$55 and they come with enough extra's (Headset, Live Points, Games, Coupons) it's like getting on Live for nothing.

Edited January 16, 2007 by moycon

[decypher]

You deff have to get Vegas. It is one of the best ever. Gears of War is also a must have.

 

JIm

[The MilkMan]

BTW The MilkMan, You don't have to play through all the quests and bosses in Dead Rising, the game goes 72 hours regardless and you keep your stats from game to game, chances are you will have to start over and over to actually beat the game. If you get to the end of a game at Lvl 20, you start again at level 20. I didn't attempt to play through it until I was like Level 50. In the mean time it's the perfect opportunity to go for the achievements!! LOL

 

Really? Thats crazy! Is this strategy mentioned in the rulebook? I think I need to fully re-read the manual for more insight about playing.

 

Yeah, right now I'm level 10 and I'm dealing with those yellow rainsuit cult guys with green faces. (why don't zombies attack them too?! are they not among the living? I want a yellow outfit so zombies ignore me too) I'm in the movie theater now. I wiped all them out in the mall part, and cleared out a couple movies rooms, and then went to the restroom to save.

Maybe when I play tonight, I'll just save and restart a new game like you suggested. Weird. It's definately a waaay different gaming style then I'm used to....play this game for like 10-12 hours. Then, before the game is finished, start the game all over again. We'll even let your keep your stats! Weird.

 

I guess with that mindset, I'll play the game more relaxed and get into it in a far more posistive atitude. I can tell you this... playing this game so far has heightend my anger levels, increased my profanity vocabulary, and allowed me to dabble in the art of object breaking. Survivor missions, sigh....never mind, I've already said enough about dealing with anger issues.

[The MilkMan]

dam...double post

Edited January 16, 2007 by The MilkMan

[moycon]

I guess with that mindset, I'll play the game more relaxed and get into it in a far more posistive atitude. I can tell you this... playing this game so far has heightend my anger levels, increased my profanity vocabulary, and allowed me to dabble in the art of object breaking. Survivor missions, sigh....never mind, I've already said enough about dealing with anger issues.

 

LOL Yeah just chill and level up. Once you hit level 50 the game gets MUCH less frustrating, especially when you do beat the game and get the Mega Man Gun. My strategy was to take a whole game and go for the genocide achievement. I just stayed in the tunnels, driving a car and running over 100s and 100s of zombies. My levels went way up and I killed the 56k zombies (Or whatever it was)

[moycon]

 

 

You can't spend achievement points.

 

For now.......

 

Keep in mind this is only a rumor, but it's a step in the right direction:

 

 

January 29, 2007 - Xbox Achievements could soon net gamers true rewards. According to unscripted360.com, next month Microsoft will introduce a rewards program to benefit both hardcore 360 players and casual gamers alike.

 

The report claims that the rewards program will be free and that rewards will be tied to specific achievements. No other details were offered, but if true, this could catapult Microsoft's online offering to a level Sony and Nintendo's new consoles cannot reach. Win cool stuff just by playing games? Sounds good to us.

 

Microsoft offered neither confirmation nor denial of the rewards program. "We have nothing to say about these rumors or speculation," a Microsoft spokesperson told IGN. "However, what we can tell you is that Xbox is always exploring ideas for how we can reward our loyal customers. As soon as we have anything new to share, we will definitely let you know."

 

Microsoft has been a big supporter of community sites, going so far as to award bloggers with "MVP" honors. The MVPs sometimes get special invites to check out 360 games early. It's a great reward for fans. DeaconBlade 360, who founded Unscripted 360, is a bonafide MVP member and claims that it's through this status he was able to obtain this information.

 

Time will prove the veracity of these claims. Even if they are untrue, the positive stir this rumor has created among the Xbox community could prove enough to encourage Microsoft to pursue a rewards program.

 

Hopefully this turns out to be true. The perfect scenrio would be the ability to "cash in" your gamer points for Microsoft points. Can't deny the appeal of earning free content off Live. I wouldn't like it so much if they just offer early access to demo's to folk with high enough Gamerpoints. In any case, like I said, I just like the challenge of going for the achievements, but hell, I'll take freebies any day!

[NE146]

Yeah.. achievement points mean absolutely zero. If they're not to get stuff (heck, at least some friggin wallpaper or something), what's the point? I have zero clue how many achievement points I have as it's useless... for now. Just like I have zero clue how many Atariage posts I have. Al don't give any rewards for those either

 

<edit> holy crap it's 9,111 posts. Who knew!

Edited January 30, 2007 by NE146

[moycon]

Yeah.. achievement points mean absolutely zero. If they're not to get stuff (heck, at least some friggin wallpaper or something), what's the point? I have zero clue how many achievement points I have as it's useless... for now. Just like I have zero clue how many Atariage posts I have. Al don't give any rewards for those either

 

<edit> holy crap it's 9,111 posts. Who knew!

 

The question is tho, now that you might possibly get something out of it, would it encourage you to go for some?

Like I said yeah for me I snag em just for the personal victory. I know no ones gonna care, I guess I just like that little *plink* sound it makes when you get one. Still I think if they start making them worth something folks who might not otherwise care could get into the whole achievement thing more.

[NE146]

The question is tho, now that you might possibly get something out of it, would it encourage you to go for some?

Yes. I'd even do stuff like map my face to my character in Rainbow Six just to get that achievement... etc.

 

I mean they have to be thinking of something for it.. I can't imagine they'd make people accumulate these forever with no incentive.. then whats the point?

[The MilkMan]

 

The question is tho, now that you might possibly get something out of it, would it encourage you to go for some?

Like I said yeah for me I snag em just for the personal victory. I know no ones gonna care, I guess I just like that little *plink* sound it makes when you get one. Still I think if they start making them worth something folks who might not otherwise care could get into the whole achievement thing more.

 

Achievements are really new to me. I don't actively search out to meet the requirements to unlock them. It is kinda cool though, when your not looking for them, and say for example, you kill 1,000 zombies in Dead Rising. *plink* you get an acheivement.

Maybe if I used XBL, and they had something to offer, yeah I guess I would make an effort to unlocking more.

 

There is one in Dead Rising for killing 10,000 zombies. Moycon, you said you used the car and racked up quite a bit of points. Ok, I admit, I want to bash 10,000 zombies! hahaahaaa

I found the parking garage, but there is no visible entrance. What do you do to get inside?

[moycon]

Check your PM Milk. I sent you a guide I wrote awhile back. Hope it helps out.

 

Man I can't wait for Dead Rising 2