Working Title 08.02.2006: Welcome to Next Gen - The Xbox 360

Posted by Jordan Williams on 08.02.2006

Last year Microsoft jumped into the fray and made a big splash, this year it's the first one in the pool. Does it have what it takes to keep Nintendo and Sony away?

Why hello there! I see you came back. If it was by accident, then YOU ARE STUCK HERE. Anyway, this is Working Title and I am Jordan Williams. I am pretty sure you know this by now unless you came here by accident.


I figured my first few columns should be about the biggest news in the gaming world right now: The Next Generation. So, with a special four issue set, I am breaking down all three of the big consoles: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.

Last time, I broke down the wallet-buster that is the Playstation 3. This time, I will break down the second generation of the giant surprise that was the Xbox, the Xbox 360.


Where the hell did YOU come from?


So, last generation we were all ready for another head-to-head battle between Sony and Nintendo; that is, until Microsoft decided it was going to throw its multibillion hat into the ring with the Xbox. Now many were skeptical. Hell, damn near everyone was. The Xbox crashed into the market with a giant digital cable box-sized console, an equally huge controller, but a relatively small library of games. Some argue the Xbox really didn't catch on until its exclusive blockbuster, Halo, hit the market. From then on, following up Halo with exclusives like Dead or Alive 3, Morrowind, KOTOR, and the debut of Xbox Live, the Xbox become a force to be reckoned with in the gaming world, even overtaking Nintendo.

Now, while the Xbox enjoyed a lot of success, it was still marred with a lot of problems. One that everyone is quick to point out is that behemoth of a controller, and many also state that there were not enough exclusive titles; most were just late ports of other console games. But it cannot be denied that of the three, the Xbox brought the most to the table hardware-wise. The thing was built like a computer and played as such. Too bad it inherited the size.

Full Circle


Now, while being caught in the crowd with its launch all those years ago, Xbox 360 made sure to get a jump on the competition this time. How big of a jump? Try a whole year. Last November, Microsoft unleashed the great white giant that is the Xbox 360 unto the masses. Sporting a revamped design, some of the best controllers ever, and a whole new Media Hub (there's that word again!) feel, the Xbox 360 was quick to impress, not even counting the wonderful graphics it brought to the table as well as an even BETTER Xbox Live. And the best thing it had going for itself? It was the first console of the Next Gen.

Getting a jump on the competition is always good, but some might say the Xbox 360 jumped out of the gate a bit TOO early. A whole year's worth of letting the competition see what you are bringing to the table could be a double-edged sword, but right now it's working in the console's favor. With blockbuster titles already on the market and more coming on the way this year, Xbox 360 has set the bar EXTREMELY high for the Playstation 3 and the Wii to get over.

Now, as I said last week, I really don't know too much about the Xbox 360, so now I am going to turn it over to my good friend and an Xbox 360 owner (I'm too poor), Frank Mohr.


Special Guest?


Frank Mohr here, putting in my two cents as far as actual performance of the machine. News reports are one thing, but Jordan figured an actual 360 owner might be able to put more justice to the report. Right then, introductions out, let's get down to the real meat here: the games on the Xbox 360.

First of all, I need to ask a rhetorical question or two: do you like shooters? I hope you like shooters. Man, you really better like shooters. Why? Because shooter genres make up roughly 97% of the population of Ecksbocksville. In all seriousness, a good deal of the 360's still small library is composed of shooters, and most of them, once you get used to the whole 'next gen graphics' thing, are all pretty mediocre. Call of Duty 2, Perfect Dark Zero, Battlefield 2, Prey, Far Cry, Gun, Hitman, Chromehounds, Condemned...need I say more? Practically every game currently 'defining' the XB360 experience involves placing bullets in enemies somehow. All that said, though, the 360 is offering some very amazing titles outside of the shooting genre. Kameo is one of the best platformers this particular writer has played in a VERY long time, and the fighting game whore in me squealed with delight at the masterful DoA4. Sports titles are generally ports, and the exclusives at least meet par. Not to mention the soul-eating greatness that is the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, though I will admit, the PC version for that title is preferable if you happen to have a 5.2 GB graphics card. MotoGP and NFS:MW should also pump up all you gearheads out there.

Another rather nice feature of the 360 is, of course, Xbox Live. For those of you unfamiliar with it, let me summarize it by saying that centralized online service = FUCKING WIN. This kind of connectivity and functionality has been sought after since the Dreamcast, and this marks the first time it has truly and fully worked. XBL was nice in the past, but this takes it to a whole new level. Demos, simple games, movie trailers; hell, pretty much everything some people use their computers for.

As nice as the 360 is, though, the feeling remains that they should have waited for release. Early problems were an indicator of problems to come. Even now, with a second revision to the hardware, games will lock up much more frequently (Ogre's Note: Oblivion) than the previous generation, and rumor has it that keeping the console on a confined shelf will result in a thermonuclear explosion. I'm assuming that means it overheats, but who knows?


Can it win?


Back to me. Now, the question on everyone's mind is if the Xbox 360 can outclass the Nintendo Wii and the PS3 (why do all of the names rhyme?). Some say yes, but most say no due the the sheer time gap resting between the two sets of releases. People also fail to remember that the PS2 was out a long time before the Gamecube and the Xbox, and it still managed to hold its lead all that time. What do I think? I think the Xbox has all the makings to actually run away with the win this time. As stated above, they DEFINITELY have the exclusive games this time around, and they have the technology to back them. Xbox Live is the single BEST way to play online with a console (at the moment) and it's still getting better with the additions of Xbox Live Arcade and downloadable content.

It can definitely hang with the PS3. Xbox 360 has implemented its 'Media Hub'-like software perfectly and seamlessly. It also has a lot of franchises that can go head-to-head with the PS3.

Xbox 360 can go toe-to-toe with the Nintendo Wii just by sheer power alone. Its online play, power, and sheer simpleness will be enough to win over even a Nintendo fanboy.

But, like with every other generation, it's not about the console; it's about the games. Xbox 360 has a lot of games, and they don't seem to be making the same mistakes they made last time. Many call this the second coming of the Dreamcast because it seems too far ahead of its time. This has yet to be seen, but what we see now is that Microsoft has firmly planted itself in the gaming industry and they are making way for the throne.


Okay, that's it. Go home.


Welp, that concludes another installment of the column with no name, Working Title. Next week, in the fourth and final installment of Welcome to Next Gen, I take a look at the granddaddy of all gaming's little console that might, the Nintendo Wii.

Remember, send in some reader mail so I know more than two of you read us way down here in the columns section. I might use some of this empty space to plug some reader mail.

Also, in celebration of the new TMNT movie(and video game), I give you all this.

Until next time, this is Jordan Williams, wishing this column had a real title.