Doesn't the Top Spin rumor seem a little odd... that all these new systems would ship out already (without it) and then a few days after they reach stores, supposedly Top Spin will also be packaged? I doubt they would have retailers just throw it in for free.

More likely, if anything, we'll see a combo package with Top Spin and an accessory or something like that at some locations.

As if the price drop wasn't enough of a test to boost sales on its own?

Well, I know a lot of places have been throwing in a game like Burnout or Viva Pinata at the $400 price, so it's nothing real new...but at least in the case of Table Tennis, it's actually included in the 360 box, so that's new I think.

My Burnout was in the 360 box.

Is there any way to store mp3, jpg, and wmv files on the hard drive yet (for playback on the 360)?

I did a side by side compare and at first I really thought there was a noticeable difference... but after you flip back and forth a few times it doesn't seem as noticeable.

It IS a tiny bit... something-er, but the main difference I've noticed between the two inputs is that component handles lower res feeds a little better. Things in 480 look a little smoother via component whereas the HDMI input makes the lower line draw jag out a little more. (other people's hardware will give different results, like you said)

But for 1080, I agree that it's not the kind of diff that will make you go "Wow!" More like "Oh... that's HDMI? Cool."

I think that HDMI might enable better audio quality....? I'm not sure though.

Meh, shows what I know then.

Yup, most differences like that should be attributed to the hardware. Such as: I reread Engadget's piece and they mentioned they could (barely) notice an improvement in black/shadow quality on HDMI. Now, HDMI doesn't allow better audio quality per se (you won't hear more/better sound out of HDMI than over TOSLINK), but it is the only way to pass HD audio formats, which is a moot point on the 360 as DD 5.1 is as high as it goes. Right now, the allure for me to get one of these (while I can still exchange) is the improved hardware and the HDMI is just a bonus to enable cable convenience once I upgrade my receiver.

Has anyone or is anyone planning on picking up the new tile set for Carcassonne? It's 300 points though I hope that Catan offers some new expansions in the near future.

I want it, but it's a lot of coin for 12 virtual tiles.

What's funny is that even with the CC points deal, BB's 4800 points with Halo3 pre-order, and getting MS to refund all my previously used MS points when I got a refurb back, I'm still hesitant to spend points on overpriced content. I guess it's just the principle.

I haven't. I'm curious though if people who didn't buy it can play in games using the new tile set if the host purchased it.

I'm fine with $10 arcade games (I've spent $55 on XBLA games already), but yeah, I'm not too sure if I want to be nickel-and-dimed for shit like that. I'm feel less stringent on it for games I didn't pay a lot for to begin with.. for example, I got Kameo for $20 and I know there's a $5 expansion online that I might look at once I start that up (I'm waiting for my friend to get his 360 so we can co-op it).

FYI - Just looking at Amazon, they have the Premiums for $330 w/free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-Console-2...6681053&sr=1-2

I wonder if they're clearing stock for the new versions... Too bad there's no way to guarantee what you'd get.

I know...or I'd jump on this. If it weren't for the HDMI, I'd consider getting this from Amazon, and swapping it with one bought at a B&M store, returning the "older" version. Not sure if they check the serial # on the actual unit itself when returning...probably have to, no? That'd be a bit too much of a screw job for me though, trouble sleeping at night, all that good stuff.

Like Uno.

Well - once I'm back in town and hook my xbox back up - I'm sure I'll get it. Then you can leech off me and see if it works

I even bought the Catan pack for the original graphics.

Browsing through the customer images, it looks like there are 4 or 5 displaying the RROD.

I want to get a 360 for my brother, but he doesn't have an HDTV yet...I don't know why it wouldn't look and work just fine on his 27" SDTV...will it?

i was playing mine on a 35" SD TV for a LONG time...

it completely sucked for Dead Rising (think an update fixed the writing now) but everything was pretty darn playable

seeing a 360 on an HDTV does ruin you, though

Yeah, like UNO is what i was thinking. 300 points for 12 tiles worries me though... how much will they charge for the actual expansions? For instance i got 9 or 12 (i forget how many) new Carc tiles packaged free with my subscription to the magazine Knucklebones. If they can do something like that when actually printing and creating the tiles it kind of galls me to pay 300 points for virtual content.

Thanks...agreed, I couldn't play it on an SDTV after experiencing it in 42" HDTV. If he wants to bitch about it, I'll tell him to go buy a damned HDTV (pretty cheap for something in the 30" range).

I JUST upgraded to my 47" LCD just 3-4 weeks ago. I still can't believe it's sitting in my living room.

I will say I've checked out a bunch of games, again, after getting it (TV). I'm actually thinking about re-buying dead rising just so I can read wtf is going on

It looks fine on SDTV; it just looks better on HDTV. Notice how everything (especially text) is more crisp on your PC monitor? That is the same difference between SDTV and HDTV too since monitors are natively HD. In fact, you can play your 360 on a monitor at HD resolutions. I play on my 19" widescreen monitor since I don't have a HDTV.

I thought about it, but I've only played with the River rules once, and it didn't add that much to the game. I don't know what additions these new river tiles add, but I doubt there's much.
I hear ya! I got 20,000 points last week, due to the CC deal. I haven't spent any of them yet. I purchased so much, mainly in anticipation of Rock Band and GH3 DLC, and it looks like there's quite a few XBLA games coming out by the end of the year that I wouldn't mind picking up.

what deal was it that helped you get 20,000 points?

I'm a fan of the base River expansion and hate playing games without it. I think it creates a nice starting point instead of just a block of farms and cities. I also like how it breaks the farms up some.

Also, if you buy the tabletop base set of Carc it comes with the first River expansion packaged in the box so i have only played without it once as a test.