oh hell yeah! Although, I probably have every version of it available on all the different platforms today with all those Classic compilations, one more version wouldn't hurt.

I think considering the timeframe and the fact that there hasn't been a release that's just a huge piece of crap, that yes, this is probably the best 5 month period of a new system.

Even the lowest rated games on the 360 still get average or better scores. There don't seem to be any "filler" titles out there. There's no Bruce Lee game or Fantavision. Plus, if you look at the next two months, nearly every week there's at least one title of quality (or hoped to be of quality) coming out.

Just tried Blazing Angels demo and while the graphics aren't stellar I think they are ok and the gameplay is pretty fun (though tough). You can invert the stick for the poster that said you couldn't.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/697/697661p1.html

GDC 06: The Xbox 360 Camera
First details on Microsoft's answer to the EyeToy.
by Jonathan Miller

March 22, 2006 - You know that extra USB port on the back of your 360? That's for the upcoming Xbox 360 camera, a handy little gadget that will rival Sony's innovative EyeToy. We got our hands on a brochure for game developers at the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif. today and are excited at what this little baby will do.



With a nine-foot cord, the camera will reach around large TVs. You'll be able to video chat over Xbox Live. There was a concept picture showing a game of poker and the pictures of excited gamers laughing and frolicking in their living rooms. There's of course the obligatory video recording.


I've got my eye on you, Revolution.

But the biggest and best feature will be gesture recognition. Basically, the camera is going to translate your movements in real life and input them in the game. There was a concept picture of two kids playing a snowboarding game, but we really have no idea what this means except that Microsoft may be taking aim at the Nintendo Revolution as well as the EyeToy. Given the success of Xbox Live Arcade, the 360 Camera could be another strong effort to lure more than just hard-core gamers to Microsoft's next-generation console.

According to the brochure: "These features provide developers opportunities for unprecedented levels of innovation and personalization, and enable gamers to customize and socialize in their game worlds in ways they never could before. Additionally, Xbox 360 Camera support is deeply integrated into the Dashboard, making every Xbox 360 console owner a potential customer for the camera and your camera-enabled game."


Watch out EyeToy.

Also, the camera program will include XDK support for streaming video. The three-dimensional "face-in-game" for which the EyeToy is famous will be available "through middleware providers."

Here are the specs:


USB 2.0 bus-powered device

Smooth, near DV quality video: up to VGA 640x480 at 30 FPS

High-def images: still photos up to SVGA 1280x980 (1.3 Mp)

Manually adjustable variable focus: 2 feet to infinity

Field of View: 43 degrees

On board image processor

Digital zoom, cropping

Auto exposure, white balance, gamma correction, sharpness

Long (~9 feet) cable to reach around large TVs

Includes a headset for great audio.

We'll keep you posted on this nifty new toy as more information becomes available.



Chris

but that usb slot on the back of my xbox is in use by my wireless adapter

You could always use one of the two front usb ports or buy a hub.

Freakin' Microsoft! I specifically bought the MS WiFi adapter even though it was more expensive because (A) it made it look integral to the 360 and (B) I expected that by going with the "official" peripherals I'd have a more compatible experience.

Now I'll have to attach this camera via the front USB ports. bleeccch. This is my first experience with any-gen game systems, and while I'm having fun with the two 360-specific games I own (PGR3, Amped3) I am sorely disappointed in Microsoft's failures to deliver on the non-gaming aspects of the 360.

Are you kidding me?

Not only is the MS WiFi adapter terrible because it can only be used on the 360, similar hardware that does the same thing for any console or computer can be had for less money.

Yep Yep.

Anyhow you guys do realize that this is a USB device right? so you can umm put a little USB Hub back there and hook up shitloads of devices. Did you guys expect them to litter the back of the case with USB ports or something? Shit man, One in the back with none in the front would've been enough.

Oh hell no. I spent good money on that thing for a reason, because it was MADE to go in that slot. this is horseshit I'm not buying a hub out of spite!

But yeah, I could use the front...even though it would looks all ghetto.

And yes, I realize the same performance could have been had using a third party adapter. But I really liked the look of the white one, and the fact it clipped on

I was talking to some PC gaming friends and I was wondering if there will ever be Keyboard/mouse support for the xbox360? anyone know?

For the people bitching about USB ports....why not buy a USB HUB for your 360? I think they are creating a 22 slow one that accepts EVERY possibly memory card/stick and has like 4-8 USB ports.

I'll try to find a picture of it.



http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=4980

because it's MUCH easier to whine and complain

? There is keyboard/mouse support. Just plug in a usb keyboard, and you can use it to control stuff like the Final Fantasy XI demo.

LOL nice!! I think I'm going to buy one of those and just connect tons of stuff to my 360.

will it support a mouse too????

No not yet but I'm sure it will at some point.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15628

Microsoft considering how to improve Xbox 360 dashboard, multimedia

Tom Bramwell 11:17 24/03/2006

Scott Henson talks about future upgrades, and defends Microsoft's HD credentials

Microsoft's Scott Henson says that the Xbox group is considering how to improve the Xbox 360 dashboard and multimedia features - and is currently looking at and prioritising requests made by users.

Those include upgrades to the music player, support for networked media playback from PCs not using Microsoft's proprietary Windows Media Center software, and the ability to download content from Xbox Live Marketplace in the background.

In an interview with gaming website Kikizo, Henson, director of Microsoft's Game Technology Group, also defended the firm's decision to treat 1080i as the top resolution for its high-definition console as Sony this week told GDC attendees that it would support 1080p worldwide.

Henson also spoke a little about HD-DVD, which Microsoft plans to support, reiterating that the company will not be offering games using the next-generation disc format.

While a lot of talk this week has focused on how Sony's proposed user interface for PlayStation 3 will include most of the functionality familiar to Xbox 360 owners with a little bit more on top, Henson says that 360 dashboard features are not static and identified several areas likely to see improvement.

The "capability is there" to update the music player, he told Kikizo. "There are all kinds of feature requests that have come in. One of the top requested features is the ability to download from Marketplace in the 'background'. So we're looking at, and prioritising, that list of requests."

"I am not going to commit to anything specific, but I think what you're going to see in the coming months and year is us add more and more capability for both Windows XP systems, as well as Media Center Editions," he added.

He was more specific about 1080p, which he thinks is "basically impossible" for developers to do. "I think if you talk to any developer they will tell you that they will not have a performing game at 1080p."

Microsoft decided that 720p and 1080i is the "sweet spot" for the next generation, he said, having reviewed movies, television, games and the television sets themselves that are likely to spring up in the next decade.

As for HD-DVD, which will be offered as a movie-playback attachment for Xbox 360 - in contrast to Blu-ray on PlayStation 3, which will be the only disc developers can deliver games on - Henson said that "it will all come down to content".

HD-DVD's strengths included its compatibility with an existing DVD library, he added.

As for whether Microsoft would ever consider supporting Blu-ray, should the expected battle between the formats turn in Sony's favour, Henson didn't rule it out, instead referring to the Xbox 360's strengths as a system "architected [sic] so that we can continue to add components over time".

Source - Kikizo


Chris

I think this part

Is just as good as the background downloading (which is awesome).

I'd love to be able to play video directly off my computer, like I do with my MP3z.

Chris

I knew all of this when I bought it. THAT is not the reason why I'm complaining.

I've got wireless cards, adapters, and dood-dads coming out the ying-yang. The MS WiFi adapter simply looks better... integrated, especially if I chose to sell the 360. Money isn't an issue for me. Having the "official" WiFi peripheral was supposed to make things BETTER than 3rd party solutions. Having purchased the "official" solution, I have a golden ticket to whine and complain about how haphazardly Microsoft has gone about 360 support and expansion. (for whatever good whining and complaining is)

The 360's UPnP client software isn't complete. Due to scheduling and problems with the 360's UPnP client code, video playback was removed. Considering how much Microsoft is dragging their feet in fixing bugs and updating capabilities, I would be surprised to see the missing support restored.

Send some my way then buddy

I'd be satisfied if I could just play video off a USB attached device.

I can do it from my laptop because it's got Windows Media Center on it, but that's a little more involved than just plugging it into the XBox and playing it.

Very glad to see they're working on the background downloading. Kind of disappointed/surprised that they needed demands from the user base to get them to do it.