Xbox 360 Elite - hands on
[intro]I've seen the new 120GB, HDMI version of the Xbox 360 go head-to-head with the PS3. With intriguing results[/intro]
Microsoft is desperate to stop the PS3 stealing all the gaming headlines, which explains why its releasing a new version of the Xbox with a 120GB hard drive, HDMI output and a black paintjob. And a cool name.
It's not out in the US until the end of April, and it'll cost $80 more than the current Xbox Premium package.
So is it worth waiting for? And how does it stand up to the PS3? That's what I was asking when I visited Microsoft today for a (rather biased) head-to-head comparison between the Elite and the PS3. Here's what I learned:
1) The Xbox 360 Live online service is better than the PS3's - it'll give you more appropriate match-ups, more info on your opponents and a more consistent experience on different games. However, the PS3's service is free - and its web browser is great. The Xbox's browser is non-existant.
2) Call of Duty and Virtua Tennis look pretty much identical on the two consoles, although the Xbox seemed to deliver a slightly softer and much greener picture.
3) The Xbox Elite's HDMI output seemed to look worse than the component out on a standard 360. Which is strange, but may be to do with the way the screens were set up. The HDMI picture seemed over sharp and the greens were fluorescent. A bit off-putting when playing tennis.
4) The Elite doesn't feature an HD-DVD drive, but you can obviously buy the external one. There was nothing to choose between the HD-DVD playback on the 360 and Blu-Ray on the PS3 - at least with the demo Mission Impossible discs Microsoft were playing. Weirdly, HD-DVD looked slightly better on long shots, but Blu-Ray was better for close-ups.
5) Gears of War is a better game than Resistance. But I knew that anyway.
6) We don't know when the Elite - or the video download service its 120GB hard drive is built for - will arrive in the UK. Or how much it'll cost.
7) Black is definitely cooler than beige.
We'll have my video review up on our video page in the next few hours. In the meantime you can see it over on YouTube.
Comments
hybrid_snyper
6 years ago
Why didn't they not just release the HDD separate and phase in the HDMI in to the existing core and premium packs.
bgk
6 years ago
I guess perhaps releasing a whole new package will increase hype and make more people buy it, rather than people going, "Oh, the 360 just got a HDMI port," or, "O great, I have to spend more money getting a new hard drive!" This new release may intice people who had previously not considered the 360 because it didnt have the HDMI port they wanted, for better quality gaming (or not as Tom's review may have revealed). HOWEVER this will probably annoy those who already have xboxes who WILL need the extra hard drive space for the video download service and who might want HDMI. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to but a new console just for those, perhaps hybrid_snyper's idea of releasing the hard drive seperatly might be a good move for Microsoft (and consumers) in the future...
Drunken Max
6 years ago
I think Microsoft have to pick their fights carefully with Sony on this and making everyone who bought the original beige box regret it less than 12 months after launch is not the best way of doing it. Add on or upgrades is one thing, but total replacement will make people think twice about which console is worth it. If Morcosoft want to whup Sony, it will be with Live, the download service and of course, the games. People will pay for Live if its worth it and I've found that most things that are free aren't and usually come with a "if you want more click here! From only £29.99 a month!!" Great review which is always difficult when you are there with a set agenda put in front of you.
hybrid_snyper
6 years ago
still don't think its worth the price. HDMI is nothing special, to most folk the difference between component and HDMI is going to be non existent, the only way you would see any difference is if you were ti put two systems side by side, with one running component and the other running HDMI. So really there is little point in this system. MY 360 will do everything th elite does. if i were to spray paint my 360 black then who would know the difference?
Drunken Max
6 years ago
I wonder what the rumours are on the next gen Xbox? I'd rather plump for that than an Elite, even if it came out next week.