Not weird at all. Every avatar item is gender specific. If there's a little blue man in the corner, it's a male clothing item, if there's a little pink girl, it's a female item.

But do you mute the game? The xbox feature is nice because it subs out the game's soundtrack but retains the sound fx without fiddling in menus (when the option is even available). Plus, I would think not a lot of people have multiple audio sources in the same room. If they have a receiver the console is run to that and not the tv.

Am I in the minority? I do listen to music through my 360, either direct connection to my ipod or via my Pc's library using TVersity, but that is only to use the 360 as a "stereo" and play it through my home theater system.
But when I'm playing a game, I listen to the game. I might turn down the music if it's annoying or distracting, or skip certain songs if that's allowed, but I don't really listen to other music while playing a game. So streaming random music during a game is not a feature I really care about it.
If Last.fm runs on the dashboard and is faster and easier than accessing my music on my PC, I'll definitely try it for the 'stereo' function, and who knows, I might discover a new band, and I haven't gotten too fancy with playlists on my ipod/music library so that would be a good way to stay mostly within a general. But I don't care about playing Last or any music while playing a game.

Hey, is there a way to see what code you redeemed for an item? I have a couple codes for the same game -- I used one, but I want to trade the other -- but I can't remember which is which!

What's the code for?

Have you never played an EA game? Racing game? I will give you games that have atmospheric scores (I never sub those out), but games that come with a preset 'pop-alt-grunge' soundtrack get subbed out. It's also great for the little XBLA games like UNO, Zuma, card games and the like. It's easier getting into a zone listening to something you like over something you don't.

Try entering a code and it may tell if it has already been redeemed. If you enter the unused code it should just give you the "Redeem Now" and "Cancel" options.

You can't change the number on the jersey and it says "Madden" on the back of it.

Does the LIONS jersey come with a Paper Bag mask?

No. That's an extra 160 points.

I am thinking about picking up an Elite and selling my old unit however I have some questions first, mainly regarding HDMI.

My A/V Receiver is an older model without HDMI. My DLP TV does have HDMI, one I believe, unused. I also have the Turtle Beach x3 headset which requires it to be connected to the source (either Xbox or TV I think) via dual RCA jacks (red/white). I also have the Xbox Component A/V cable which I will be keeping.

Questions:

1a) First, is there much visual difference between component video and HDMI? My TV is a Sony 50" DLP (projection) model KDS-50A2000.
1b) Should I switch to HDMI or stick with component?

Assuming I switch to HDMI...

2) I think I have to pretty much use MS's official HDMI cable since it also comes with that separate audio cable so I can send audio to my receiver vs the TV (I don't want audio through my TV)?

3) Also, the Turtle Beach headset requires RCA jacks so I think I need to use MS's cable again as well. Or I think I can hook the TB directly to my audio out on my TV.

Thanks

Do not buy the official MS cable. You can just take the plastic shell off the one in the box and it'll work just fine with the HDMI cable and TB headset.

I'll take this:

1) HDMI is superior. You can get higher resolution with that. Run the connection through the TV HDMI input.

2) My receiver doen't have an HDMI input, but I can run the audio into the TV with the HDMI then out of the TV through the optical output and into the reveiver and it works just fine. I just turn the TV volume down. Check your TV for an optical output.
Barring that, it's easy enough to split the propriatray cable so you can use the HDMI output with the optical, but like I said, I don't have to.

3) I recently got the Turtle Beach X31 and had the same concern. I plugged them into the unused RCA jacks on the TV (remember, the HDMI goes from the xbox to the tv). It works GREAT, as long as I keep the RF receiver out in the front of the component cabinet.

Thanks you two. More questions,

1. The Elites come with this cable now, at least according to the official site... Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable (S video?). Does this also come with the correct audio ports, digital and RCA, like the component one I have now? And, can it be split to fit with an HDMI cable?

(I'm asking because I'd like to sell my old XB first and use the money towards the Elite and need to know if I should keep my component cable or include it in the sale)

2. If I do split the cable and use HDMI to TV and digital/RCA audio to receiver, will I still have to turn the sound down on my TV? Or does the use of the MS official audio cable that I will split override the audio output via HDMI?

Thanks

1. Should be able to. I can't imagine they removed the optical out port from that thing. In fact, without the component/HD video out, it may be small enough to work with the HDMI without modding the shell. If you need to sell before you buy, you might look around the net for that information as I don't know.

2. Probably, yes. I don't know for sure because I have my TV on no sound all the time anyway since the receiver is used for all applications.

1: Apparently the Elites no longer come with the component cable. If you have an older one it might, but the new ones don't, or so I've heard. Like I said, check the back of your TV : If there's an optical outputthere. just run an HDMI from the 360 to the TV, an optical cable from the TV to the receiver and you're set.

2: Yes. Sound is transmitted through the HDMI cable, so if you don't want any sound through your TV, turn the volume on TV all the way down. BTW: That won't affect the sound level output to either the reciever through the optical output or through the RCA plugs for your Ear Force.

Decker is a sweet peach.

You're welcome?

A few points:

The new Elites (bought mine last week) come with the crappy composite AV cable that does not have an optical output jack. Also, many TVs -- mine included -- will downmix the audio to stereo if you try to go XBOX HDMI-->TV-->TV Optical Out-->Receiver which means no DD5.1. In my case I have to run the optical from my 360 to my receiver which means I needed to keep my old 360 AV cable. If you also want to use HDMI you can remove the rubber case from the AV cable or just carve away a bit with a knife until it all fits. Fun, eh?

Wow, I never knew that about the downmixing. I'm pretty sure mine doesn't as I seem to get good surround sound in my games. I'm going to stick in an action DVD today just to make sure, though.

BTW: Here's the HDMI/ Opitcal cable fix:

Yeah, I had a friend pick up an elite last week (holiday bundle w/2games) to get the $50 rebate, and replace a red ringed pro system. I couldn't believe it when he called and said his cable didn't have optical out, so now he was out HD (his TV doesn't have any HDMI ports) and couldn't send optical to his receiver. Is this the M$ way of making you buy their HDMI cable set? Luckily he was able to swap the cables from the one he traded in (composite/component) for the new composite one.

Anybody care to give me a quick education on "zombie games"? I've never played any of them, really - Left 4 Dead, Resident Evil, Dead Space, whatever. But lately I've had the desire to kill things that were already dead, so I'm curious what I should check out.

Thanks.

You could start with "I maed a game with Zombies in it." It's more Geometry Wars than anything, but it's only $1 on XBLA in the community section.

Zombie Apocolypse Demo should do the trick.

No, I meant weird in that some are only for Men and some are only for Women.

Instead of the them having them all available for both Men and Women.

So, someone may buy their favorite team jersey and then find out that it is only available for a female avatar.

There are 64 jerseys available. 32 teams, each with a male jersey and a female one.