Xbox 360: Beyond the Purchase
Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has recently dropped to an all-time low price. Taking advantage of this opportunity is a must for gamers, acquiring arguably the most popular console around for such a low price is not to be sniffed at. However, there are a few other potential investments to consider once you have the console itself.
First up, Xbox Live's Gold account is a must. This application is used to allow online gaming and functions. The console generally comes with a free subscription for the Silver Membership, but this offer usually only allows you to buy downloadable content. If you want to experience playing Halo or Gears of War online, the a Gold Account is what is needed.
The Xbox also pips the competition by securing a wealth of great exclusive game franchises and downloadable content, which are unavailable to other consoles. Some of these games include Banjo-Kazooie, Halo, Ninja Gaiden 2 and Gears of War, and additional levels for games such as Tomb Raider Underworld.
Next up, perhaps for those gamers of a certain age, Xbox Live Arcade can be accessed to find a whole host of gaming classics from yesteryear. Such old favourites as Duke Nukem 3D and Geometry Wars can be found here, amongst many others.
Next up there’s Netflix. If you hadn't heard already, Netflix movies can now be streamed online and watched on your Xbox 360. For a monthly subscription you can get hours of online streaming and DVD rentals.
Paramount to gaining the optimum Xbox 360 experience, you should consider HDTV. As with the Playstation 3, only through an HDTV can the Xbox's full potential be unleashed. Without one, you only experience a shadow of what the next generation console is capable of. With an HDTV, visuals are sharp and crystal clear with higher, better resolution. The difference is amazing, and should not be missed. The prospect of getting an HDTV may seem like an expensive one, but HDTV's are now less expensive than ever before. There are also some Xbox 360 bundles that come with a good HDTV.
So as you can see, purchasing the Xbox 360 is just the beginning. Take the experience further with these functions and you're well on the way to getting all you could possibly need from a console!
