Following Edge's report on the convincing suggestions that Microsoft has updated the 360's motherboard - a measure intended to make the console less susceptible to RRoD-related hardware failures - Microsoft has confirmed that 360's Arcade SKU will feature 256MB of flash memory.
"We are constantly updating the consoles' more than 1700 internal components," a Microsoft spokesperson told 360fanboy, adding that "we can confirm that we are moving to internal memory for the Xbox 360 Arcade. The physical internal memory is the same size as the previous external memory units - 256MB."
That extra 256MB of on-board flash memory will encourage Arcade users to install all 128MBs of NXE, which will in turn provide Arcade owners more incentives to explore the console's services and online capabilities.
The new hardware reportedly features 65 nanometer AMD GPUs (as opposed to the 90nm components featured in the console's first edition), as well as a 150w power brick. Helped by the console's rearranged interior, these measures are said to allow for far cooler running console, theoretically circumventing the key causes of 360 hardware failures.
Again, Microsoft is delivering details in a piecemeal manner. It remains unknown when the new Arcade units will arrive in both the US and UK. Edge is seeking comment on this matter.
Just ditch the arcade model and bring back the 20 gig HDD model. Seems pointless tinkering with this one. I assume they aren't packaging these with external memory cards any longer then.
I'm tempted to purchase an Xbox 360 for the first time with the low prices, however, the Xbox 360 is getting up there in years and the games cost more than the PC games I buy for my new PC. If I were to focus on solid console gaming without paying premium prices I would go for the PS2. Yet I would like a "next gen" console if I were to buy one but I have an inkling that the next "next gen" console from Microsoft may not be that far off (maybe in 2 years time or so?). While that's not exactly tomorrow I can easily keep myself occupied with my prized PC. *looks fondly at PC*
this might be slightly off topic. me and my brother both share a 360 and wii, the wii hasn't been touched in like 2 months, and through all of the next gen consoles, i'm getting a ps2 for xmas, mostly because all of the games i like are mostly on ps2 apart from GOW. i would prefer to play the older games than most of the newly released games
Then What are all the current arcade 360 owners supposed to do then, go out and buy a new arcade 360...typical M$
That's a stupid argument - that's like saying 'what are all current DS Lite owners supposed to do in light of the new DSi', or how about the PSP3000? Upgrades are constantly done to hardware, as a consumer, that's just something you have to get used to. The same goes for price cuts. There will ALWAYS be someone who has 'just' bought a product at the old, higher price, and will therefore be pee'd off that they spent additional money.
I've heard rumours that MS were dropping their LIVE subscription charge. Any truth in it, anybody?
I do wonder how many people who have bought a 360 actually knew about the charge to play online? I am sure that MS could afford to scrap the charges now that enough people have 'jumped in'.
get the feeling, even if MS PAID you to buy an Xbox, people on these boards would still moan!
Yep that's about the size of it!!
Makes total sense to put the flash memory in as part of the Arcade package and I'm sure Microsoft are hoping that once gamers have a look at NXE and the whole on-line experience they'll want to subscribe and start buying stuff, which in turn will mean that a hard drive will become necessary and more revenue.
I've heard rumours that MS were dropping their LIVE subscription charge. Any truth in it, anybody?
I do wonder how many people who have bought a 360 actually knew about the charge to play online? I am sure that MS could afford to scrap the charges now that enough people have 'jumped in'.
*fingers crossed* You know it's a con. I know it's a con. They know it's a con. Sadly, they have you by the short and curlies with regards to it though - wanna play online? Pay. If they scrapped the charge my opinion of them would increase by about one thousand.
I've heard rumours that MS were dropping their LIVE subscription charge. Any truth in it, anybody?
I do wonder how many people who have bought a 360 actually knew about the charge to play online? I am sure that MS could afford to scrap the charges now that enough people have 'jumped in'.
*fingers crossed* You know it's a con. I know it's a con. They know it's a con. Sadly, they have you by the short and curlies with regards to it though - wanna play online? Pay. If they scrapped the charge my opinion of them would increase by about one thousand.
I'd certainly have no complaints. In fact, I am sure every 360 owner would rejoice at such news. I know Ł30-40 isn't much, but I would rather spend my money on ARCADE games and such, so MS would still benefit from it anyway.
the saturn had internal memory! where as the ps needed a memory card. nothing new, should have been in there from the off.. especially as they refuse to kit every box out with a HDD.
If I ever buy a console for myself it won't be to play online. Indeed, if I bought an Xbox 360 tomorrow I couldn't generally care less if I could play online with it or not. I would buy it to play single player games. For online I'll stick with my darling PC. Sure, I pay for the internet connection but I get so much more out of it than just some game portal where I can download games (many of which I've been led to believe are subpar to say the least). It's atrocious that Microsoft gets away with it. It's the cable companies that provide the wiring (and even there in some instances they are merely leasing the wires from older formerly state owned enterprises,) and since they are already paid a subscription fee the internet service shouldn't cost extra. I refuse to pay for this out of principle especially when the PC is a superior alternative when it comes to online offerings.
It's unlikely they will scrap the charges because the Ł40 pays for server upkeep etc. on the 360 whiich inturn is enticing to a developer trhat otherwise would not have put online into their game.
It's unlikely they will scrap the charges because the Ł40 pays for server upkeep etc. on the 360 whiich inturn is enticing to a developer trhat otherwise would not have put online into their game.
stupid, silly quote.
why do xbox owners have to pay for their servers?
almost EVERY company has servers, thats what makes the company run. we shouldnt have to pay for their upkeep, thats microsofts job.. next online banking will take a percetage of your bill for the privelage and the BBC will charge for people reading off their news website.
every company has its servers, just like the roof and bricks that house them, the servers are the price of doing business.
charging for them is disgraceful.
and im sure devs put online into their game cause they want them to sell. simply. they arent enticed by the fact MS charges people for their servers.
the PC is a superior alternative when it comes to online offerings.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion
Back on topic, the memory addition to the arcade 360 sounds great... as many of you have mentioned, no doubt MS are hoping they will entice more consumers to Live and the marketplace.
How many different variants of the console are microsoft going to release?
What happened to the good old days of maybe one of two different versions of the same console i.e. the NES, Dreamcast, or Game Gear - they don't make them like they used to....
Seeing as how I haven't owned a console since the Sega Megadrive and 8-bit Nintendo how exactly does the Xbox 360 memory work? Does the Xbox 360 require a HDD in order to install a game on it and play like a PC does or is primarily for saved games and online downloads while the games are run directly from the discs? I ask because if that is the case then the arcade version might be of greater interest to someone like myself who is a PC gamer but may be interested in dabbling with the occassional console game.
How many different variants of the console are microsoft going to release?
What happened to the good old days of maybe one of two different versions of the same console i.e. the NES, Dreamcast, or Game Gear - they don't make them like they used to....
There was no point releasing a new version of the dreamcast as unfortunately it just didn't sell.
And I seem to remember there being a Megadrive 2 and a Master System 2. These are hardly complete new redesigns.
Re charges for XBL, if they drop the charges more people will come online and the maintenance of the survers will decrease, so online on the 360 could end up getting worse!!
It's unlikely they will scrap the charges because the Ł40 pays for server upkeep etc. on the 360 whiich inturn is enticing to a developer trhat otherwise would not have put online into their game.
stupid, silly quote.
why do xbox owners have to pay for their servers?
almost EVERY company has servers, thats what makes the company run. we shouldnt have to pay for their upkeep, thats microsofts job.. next online banking will take a percetage of your bill for the privelage and the BBC will charge for people reading off their news website.
every company has its servers, just like the roof and bricks that house them, the servers are the price of doing business.
charging for them is disgraceful.
and im sure devs put online into their game cause they want them to sell. simply. they arent enticed by the fact MS charges people for their servers.
indeed, as ive said many a time PC gaming has been enjoying free servers for years, but as soon as microsoft stick there nose in they start charging Ł40 a year LOL! passing on the overheads to there loyal fanbase. What is there excuse exactly for still charging Ł40? they could slightly get away with it when psn just took off and it was bare bones but now it has just as much and is still free.
what's Microlols excuse for charging for live servers?
Seeing as how I haven't owned a console since the Sega Megadrive and 8-bit Nintendo how exactly does the Xbox 360 memory work? Does the Xbox 360 require a HDD in order to install a game on it and play like a PC does or is primarily for saved games and online downloads while the games are run directly from the discs? I ask because if that is the case then the arcade version might be of greater interest to someone like myself who is a PC gamer but may be interested in dabbling with the occassional console game.
Thanks ahead of time.
The hard drive is mostly for storing downloaded content, game saves and user profiles, but can also now be used to install an entire game from disc(the disc still needs to be in drive to work), making most games run a little faster, and overall make the box a little less noisy.
If your just playing offline then a memory card should be more than enough to store all your game saves, and you could allways pick up the 60gig starter pack(Ł50) latter.
PS, you can also plug USB flash drives in and play music files(MP3/WMA), which is great during racing games.
It's unlikely they will scrap the charges because the Ł40 pays for server upkeep etc. on the 360 whiich inturn is enticing to a developer trhat otherwise would not have put online into their game.
stupid, silly quote.
why do xbox owners have to pay for their servers?
almost EVERY company has servers, thats what makes the company run. we shouldnt have to pay for their upkeep, thats microsofts job.. next online banking will take a percetage of your bill for the privelage and the BBC will charge for people reading off their news website.
every company has its servers, just like the roof and bricks that house them, the servers are the price of doing business.
charging for them is disgraceful.
and im sure devs put online into their game cause they want them to sell. simply. they arent enticed by the fact MS charges people for their servers.
indeed, as ive said many a time PC gaming has been enjoying free servers for years, but as soon as microsoft stick there nose in they start charging Ł40 a year LOL! passing on the overheads to there loyal fanbase. What is there excuse exactly for still charging Ł40? they could slightly get away with it when psn just took off and it was bare bones but now it has just as much and is still free.
what's Microlols excuse for charging for live servers?
It's a poxy Ł40 quid a year, not even a pound a week!
If you think it's such an exorbitant amount, then don't pay it and stop whinging about it.
Microsoft should just get rid of the Arcade SKU, and bring the 60GB model down to the Arcade's price range. How much does the 60GB HDD cost them to make?! Hardly anything I imagine.
Seeing as how I haven't owned a console since the Sega Megadrive and 8-bit Nintendo how exactly does the Xbox 360 memory work? Does the Xbox 360 require a HDD in order to install a game on it and play like a PC does or is primarily for saved games and online downloads while the games are run directly from the discs? I ask because if that is the case then the arcade version might be of greater interest to someone like myself who is a PC gamer but may be interested in dabbling with the occassional console game.
Thanks ahead of time.
The hard drive is mostly for storing downloaded content, game saves and user profiles, but can also now be used to install an entire game from disc(the disc still needs to be in drive to work), making most games run a little faster, and overall make the box a little less noisy.
If your just playing offline then a memory card should be more than enough to store all your game saves, and you could allways pick up the 60gig starter pack(Ł50) latter.
PS, you can also plug USB flash drives in and play music files(MP3/WMA), which is great during racing games.
The direct answer to your question is that "No", the 360 doesn't need a hard disk drive to play games.
The flash memory upgrade to the "Arcade" model is a superb addition to that particular model which now means that budget conscious users can experience "Live" without the need for a hard drive upgrade (even though you don't seem to be bothered about on-line as a PC gamer!!)...bottom line, unlike the PS3, the installs are totally optional so go get yourself a genuine bargain with the finest gaming console this gen., bar none!!
Thanks Ted and Tony. I appreciate your responses. The Arcade version sounds like it might fit quite nicely with my interest in a budget console solution as I'm a PC-only gamer at present time. May still give the 60GB version a look over, though the ability to purchase an add-on HDD later on might serve just as well. Cheers!
after buying 2 360's having the rrod and then nxe stuffing up my first xbox i decided after much deliberation that i'm getting a ps3.i've played all the exclusives on the box that i wanted and realised that hype helped with the ratings.i enjoyed it while it lasted but hey i'm free to change right?360 is hitting that plateau real soon,great games poorly built loud,unreliable machine.thanks for the memories but ps3 is looking tasty this coming year.
Thanks Ted and Tony. I appreciate your responses. The Arcade version sounds like it might fit quite nicely with my interest in a budget console solution as I'm a PC-only gamer at present time. May still give the 60GB version a look over, though the ability to purchase an add-on HDD later on might serve just as well. Cheers!
Your welcome.
BTW, the 60gig starter pack also contains a headset and a 3 month sub for gold membership, which, contrary to some peoples opinions here, is actually good value for money(less than 70p a week).
The hard drive is mostly for storing downloaded content, game saves and user profiles, but can also now be used to install an entire game from disc(the disc still needs to be in drive to work), making most games run a little faster, and overall make the box a little less noisy.
User profiles aren't stored on the hard drive. If you want to make the most of your Xbox then you need a hard drive and it works out cheaper to buy your 360 with the hard drive rather than upgrading later.
Microsoft should get rid of the arcade pack and exchange it for a 20GB hard drive version without all the other additions of the premium pack for Ł130 because they have allot of demos and videos that you cant download without a hard drive also its not possible to back up your cd collection and listen to your own music whilst playing a game without a hardrive, and also play a few multiplayer games online like crackdown for example which is a really good online multiplayer game
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The Arcade version sounds like it might fit quite nicely with my interest in a budget console solution as I'm a PC-only gamer at present time. May still give the 60GB version a look over, though the ability to purchase an add-on HDD later on might serve just as well. Cheers!
