Swapping a Wii for a 360

[Lateralus]

I have come to the conclusion recently that I really don't play my Wii that much, and when I do want to play console games I'd rather be playing things like Fifa than the games around on the Wii. Therefore, I was thinking of trying to swap a Wii for a 360. A PS3 just doesn't have a wide enough range of games at the moment, and despite having GT5 looming, I don't want to buy a console for a single game. Plus it's still much more expensive, and I think that the games are a bit more expensive too although I may be wrong on that.

Anyway, I don't know much about 360s, so which one do I want to go for? I'm guessing I want one with a hard drive, so does that mean going for a premium console rather than a core one? Also, what's the arcade 360?

For peripherals, I'll want a second controller, but are there any other things I need? Wireless adaptor seems overly expensive so I'll stick to the old-fashioned method, and since I still have a CRT TV I'll not need an HDMI cable yet either. Might get a VOIP headset, but do any 5punkers actually play 360 over t'intertubes together?

Finally, and most importantly, what games should I get? Not bothered about ones that are also available on the PC as most of the time I'd rather play the PC version, so mainly thinking of console-only games unless there are particular exceptions out there. The ones I'm currently looking to get are FIFA 08 and GTA:IV. I'd like a racing game too, so what's a good title in that regard? I tend to prefer games like Gran Turismo over more arcade-style ones that are focused on style/tricks etc. What are the other games out there that are "must-haves"?

Just in case, are there any 5punkers that might be interested in swapping a 360 for a Wii?

[Joose]

I'm guessing I want one with a hard drive, so does that mean going for a premium console rather than a core one?

yes

Also, what's the arcade 360?

one you don't want. Basically, you want one with a hard drive. However, unless you are going to be downloading HD films, and/or the entire 360 downloadable game collection, you don't really need the hueg drive that comes with the elite.

For peripherals, I'll want a second controller, but are there any other things I need? Wireless adaptor seems overly expensive so I'll stick to the old-fashioned method, and since I still have a CRT TV I'll not need an HDMI cable yet either. Might get a VOIP headset

You should get a headset and a single controller with most deals, I also don't use the wireless adapter, as its silly expensive and I prefer non-wireless anyway. I have a media remote, which is handy if you use it for streaming video off your computer (which I do a lot) but is absolutely not necessary. As for the CRT thing: this may be an issue. You'll only really have issues with games that have a lot of text and haven't taken non-hd users into account (Dead Rising, im looking at you), but I found that even on other games, non HD 360ing gave me a headache after more than 30mins or so in some games. It didnt happen all the time; Dead or Alive I was fine with, PGR4 killed me in the eyes. Not had that at all since HD. Might just be me though.

but do any 5punkers actually play 360 over t'intertubes together?

No, but I think we should.

Finally, and most importantly, what games should I get? Not bothered about ones that are also available on the PC as most of the time I'd rather play the PC version, so mainly thinking of console-only games unless there are particular exceptions out there. The ones I'm currently looking to get are FIFA 08 and GTA:IV. I'd like a racing game too, so what's a good title in that regard? I tend to prefer games like Gran Turismo over more arcade-style ones that are focused on style/tricks etc. What are the other games out there that are "must-haves"?

GTA:IV is win. As for racing, Forza if you are a real petrol head, PGR4 if you just want a decent, non arcade driving game. Assassins Creed is, from what I can tell, much more enjoyable an experience on the 360. Also, get guitar hero, its the best game I have ever bought for a console.

[HereComesPete]

The HD thing really isn't just you Joose. I can't afford HD and was really looking forward to halol 3, but it gives me eye crushing headaches after about 30 mins, so I'm at the point where my account is suspended and the 360 is boxed and ready to be traded in at game. I had pgr4 for less than a day because that too really fucked me up, the writing and the shiny zoomyness gave me a headache and made me feel sick.

Lat, I would love to swap a wii for a 360, but it's just not fair on you. The one I have is pre-hdmi so if you did get a hdtv or tried to connect it to your monitor then it would fail. It's also a bit old now, and the rare time I spark it up I expect the red ring. If we traded and it shat itself I'd have no way of recompensing you without offering sex.

[buzzmong]

If we traded and it shat itself I'd have no way of recompensing you without offering more dirtier and kinkier sex than we have already.

Fix'd.

[HereComesPete]

I think you've got me and lat confused with you and rabs there buzz.

[buzzmong]

Touché sir, touché.

[HereComesPete]

That's what you do to rabs isn't it? I want no part of it!

[Joose]

Speaking of red rings: I would recommend getting a second hand 360 from Game. I did, its much cheaper than getting a new one and the warranty Game give you for the second hand stuff is the same as new stuff. Mine red ringed within a couple of months, took it to the shop, and they swapped it there and then. Not only that, the one I bought was one of the old ones, without HDMI. The one they replaced it with was brand new, as they didn't have any second hand ones in stock at the time. Epic Win.

[buzzmong]

That's what you do to rabs isn't it? I want no part of it!

Lies! You know you love it!

[Lateralus]

Cheers for the help Joose and Pete. Good point about getting a 360 from a shop with warranty too - I may see about selling my Wii rather than going for a swap then. Given that this is what I have, what would be a reasonable price to go for:

2 controllers, 2 nunchucks,
Wii Sports
Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Resident Evil 4

I was thinking between £250-£300 since there are a fair few games, but I'm going to see what I'd get for trade-in too.

The HD thing is what it is, and I'm not in a position to do much about it yet. However, I have a feeling that a shiny new TV is creeping higher on my list of things to buy anyway.

[eRabbit]

What what?!

[Lateralus]

What?

[Lateralus]

Well I popped into Game at lunch, and for the Console and above games, they’ll offer me about £190 for a trade in. Seems pretty low to me given that the console would only have been about £120 of that, so I’ll try for a private sale and then buy a second hand 360 from them. I think they were offering them for £160, or £180 in Gamestation with any pre-owned game up to £25, but do offer the full 1-year manufacturer’s warranty which seems like a good idea. With that trade-in price as a benchmark, I might advertise the Wii etc for £280ono and see how that goes.

[HereComesPete]

Maybe advertise them as the wii, and a selection of games that you might like to buy with it. I think you might get a good price for the wii if there's some fat bird looking to wii-fit but she might be turned away if you just bundle them.

I do have some games for the 360 that are destined to game as well, I has -

Crackdown, originally bought it for the halo 3 beta. Turned out to be rather good. It's kinda like a gta but you play a cop with kick-ass vehicles and guns and stomp on all the bad guys.

Burnout revenge, not the newest, but still bloody good fun.

Rockstar table tennis, this game elicits more rage from me than any other, it's easily twice as bad as my beef rage. it's also exceedingly satisfying to finally beat the bot after multiple attempts, I have found myself shouting at the guy as if he was real.

Halo 3, needs HD imo, but that's because I don't really play it for fun, it's serious business when I play. I racked up close to 8k hours on halo 2. But this game kills me in the head.

Gears of war, looks bloody sexy, it gets a bit samey all on your lonesome, but multiplayer is great fun, chainsawing the most alien thingies and running away screaming from big angry creatures.

Chrome hounds, sexy looking rip off of mechwarrior. Starts easy, then rapidly becomes unbelievably difficult to progress through, I managed to beat this game with what can only be described as flukey jammy bastardness. Great fun using sniper cannon things, enough bass to nearly blow out my tv speakers.

If you want any gimme a shout. If not no bother they'll go to game.

[Lateralus]

Good idea about the bundling of games, and PM sent about your collection.

[Joose]

Crackdown, originally bought it for the halo 3 beta. Turned out to be rather good. It's kinda like a gta but you play a cop with kick-ass vehicles and guns and stomp on all the bad guys.

Burnout revenge, not the newest, but still bloody good fun.

Ooh, yes, I enjoyed both of these immensely too.

[Fred Woogle]

1 controller, 1 nunchuck,
Sonic and Mario at the Olympic Games
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Paper Mario
Resident Evil 4

If you sold it spereately, I might be interested in these bits depending on price

[FatherJack]

The Arcade isn't a bad deal, as it's cheap enough to buy new - which gives you a full-length warranty with MS as well as the shop you buy it from, has an HDMI socket (although with only the standard cable supplied) and a memory card to save your games, plus a couple of arcade games which aren't half bad. While the HDMI port isn't essential, I'd recommend it both for future use and as an indication that the hardware is newer and hopefully more reliable.

You can get a hard drive seperately if you decide you need one later, some friends have had one for years, and only got the hard drive for Championship Manager. I ran out of space very quickly downloading demos, though - so went for the 120G drive. Both are stupidly expensive (£65 and £109) for what they are though, but I do have a spare 20G drive from mine that I could send you for free.

The Wireless Entertainment Pack 2 gives you Forza 2, Viva Pinata and a second controller for £26. I favour the wireless ones, and using the play & charge kit (£13) keeps it topped up.

Other games I've played a lot would be Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey and Burnout Paradise.

[HereComesPete]

There's a lot of stuff floating around the internet about replacing your hdd with a bigger laptop one. Apparently it's quite easy and of course it's cheaper to buy them like that. Still, for simplicities sake if you've got the money for the official ones its easier like that.

[cashy]

While the HDMI port isn't essential, I'd recommend it both for future use and as an indication that the hardware is newer and hopefully more reliable.

I'm on xbox#3 and this one does indeed seem to be more reliable. Also its not quite as loud.

As for games, i'd recomend Frontlines: fuel of war if you fancy some BF2 style shooty. This also seems to be the only game with actual real servers, meaning you can fly around in choppers and planes with 32 players. Also has remote control mini tanks. Awesome.

The other games mentioned above are mostly good, especially as you can get most older games dirt cheap now.

5punky GTA4 could be quite epic too, if the shit goes down then hook a brother up.

Also the 20gig HDD should be fine unless you want to be a fool and buy old xbox games and such, its not like you will want to keep a demo of a game for 3 years. You can always go back and download it again 3 years later (apocolypse pending).