Comments on: Joining the Next Gen Pt. 1 (a.k.a. Todd Gets a 360) http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/ Two guys who love Sports Gaming on their PCs and consoles rant and rave about various stuff. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:20:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jon Diehl http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2661 Jon Diehl Mon, 23 Jan 2006 23:55:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2661 Another vote for King Kong (not being a POS). Yes, it's a rental-only type of game (thank you Gamefly) but it's worth a week's rental to play through it (looks fine on a HDTV as well, I didn't think it was terribly dark).<br/><br/>PDZ and Kameo are worth renting too. Another vote for King Kong (not being a POS). Yes, it’s a rental-only type of game (thank you Gamefly) but it’s worth a week’s rental to play through it (looks fine on a HDTV as well, I didn’t think it was terribly dark).

PDZ and Kameo are worth renting too.

]]> By: Glen http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2660 Glen Mon, 23 Jan 2006 23:00:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2660 I thought Kong was ok, other than some issues with darkness on a few levels. <br/><br/>Kameo was pretty fun while it lasted as well. Unfortunately the game only took about 10 hours to complete, but I didn't go back to complete all of the score attack type achievements either. <br/><br/>Regarding streaming movies to the 360, there are ways that the MCPC can convert the movies on the fly to files that the 360 can handle natively. I haven't done this, but Major Nelson refered to it on his blog the other day.<br/><br/>http://www.majornelson.com/2006/01/16/how-to-use-your-divx-files-on-your-xbox-360/ I thought Kong was ok, other than some issues with darkness on a few levels.

Kameo was pretty fun while it lasted as well. Unfortunately the game only took about 10 hours to complete, but I didn’t go back to complete all of the score attack type achievements either.

Regarding streaming movies to the 360, there are ways that the MCPC can convert the movies on the fly to files that the 360 can handle natively. I haven’t done this, but Major Nelson refered to it on his blog the other day.

http://www.majornelson.com/2006/01/16/how-to-use-your-divx-files-on-your-xbox-360/

]]> By: Lord Flatus http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2659 Lord Flatus Mon, 23 Jan 2006 20:06:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2659 You need MCE in order to stream video.<br/><br/>The jist of my question was whether a MCE PC needed an expensive video card if all it had to do was stream video to the 360. It seems to me that it should not. Dropping the top o' the line video card with DVI/HDMI output would put a MCE PC in the sub-$1k range.<br/><br/>But if streaming video stinks like mjb says, then it's not worth it anyways. You need MCE in order to stream video.

The jist of my question was whether a MCE PC needed an expensive video card if all it had to do was stream video to the 360. It seems to me that it should not. Dropping the top o’ the line video card with DVI/HDMI output would put a MCE PC in the sub-$1k range.

But if streaming video stinks like mjb says, then it’s not worth it anyways.

]]> By: mjb2123 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2657 mjb2123 Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:48:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2657 Regarding streaming video and Windows Media Center - <br/><br/>I work in IT so I can get different operating systems relatively easy. I copied Windows MC edition and loaded it onto a spare machine I had at home. Set everything up and tried streaming 10-15 movies that I have stored on my network. Only 1 of them worked because of issues with codec's that the 360 was unable to decode. I'm sure there are ways to convert all of these movies, but I haven't bothered looking yet. <br/><br/>The 1 movie I did watch had issues as well. Anytime I fast forwarded the movie, the audio/video became out of sync. Regarding streaming video and Windows Media Center -

I work in IT so I can get different operating systems relatively easy. I copied Windows MC edition and loaded it onto a spare machine I had at home. Set everything up and tried streaming 10-15 movies that I have stored on my network. Only 1 of them worked because of issues with codec’s that the 360 was unable to decode. I’m sure there are ways to convert all of these movies, but I haven’t bothered looking yet.

The 1 movie I did watch had issues as well. Anytime I fast forwarded the movie, the audio/video became out of sync.

]]> By: bill http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2656 bill Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:45:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2656 Todd, Kong is worth playing. The final end game in NYC is indeed shitty but the game is by no means a PoS. Todd, Kong is worth playing. The final end game in NYC is indeed shitty but the game is by no means a PoS.

]]> By: Todd http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2655 Todd Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:43:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2655 Yeah, my Harmony is why I don't really give a fig about not having the MS remote. I was just surprised it wasn't there because I thought it came with it. Because I will end up using the 360 as a DVD player on occasion I am glad the IR receiver is built into the console. If had to buy a remote just to get a receiver (like with the regular Xbox) I'd have been ticked. <br/><br/>Teebee - I played Kong for a couple hours last night. I certainly wouldn't call it horrid. It's a pretty game. But no, Half Life 2 this game is not. Not sure if I'll keep playing it or not. Kind of depends if I'm able to land a rental of College Hoops this week. <br/><br/>Flatus - unless I'm misunderstanding the question, you don't even need a MCPC to stream pictures or music. I don't have XP Media Center so I'm none too sure about what additional benefits it might have. <br/><br/>Craig - I would've rented NFS, but it was out. It was between Kong, Kameo and Criminal Origins. :) Yeah, my Harmony is why I don’t really give a fig about not having the MS remote. I was just surprised it wasn’t there because I thought it came with it. Because I will end up using the 360 as a DVD player on occasion I am glad the IR receiver is built into the console. If had to buy a remote just to get a receiver (like with the regular Xbox) I’d have been ticked.

Teebee - I played Kong for a couple hours last night. I certainly wouldn’t call it horrid. It’s a pretty game. But no, Half Life 2 this game is not. Not sure if I’ll keep playing it or not. Kind of depends if I’m able to land a rental of College Hoops this week.

Flatus - unless I’m misunderstanding the question, you don’t even need a MCPC to stream pictures or music. I don’t have XP Media Center so I’m none too sure about what additional benefits it might have.

Craig - I would’ve rented NFS, but it was out. It was between Kong, Kameo and Criminal Origins. :)

]]> By: Craig Tompkins http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2654 Craig Tompkins Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:20:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2654 I didn't buy my 360 on launch, but I got the remote. Of course like Glen, mine's still in the green bag. I just went to the Harmony website and told it I had a 360, and it added that activity to my remote. I didn’t buy my 360 on launch, but I got the remote. Of course like Glen, mine’s still in the green bag. I just went to the Harmony website and told it I had a 360, and it added that activity to my remote.

]]> By: Lord Flatus http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2653 Lord Flatus Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:58:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2653 The way I hear it, you have to have WinXP Media Center Edition to stream videos to the 360. The little Media Center Connect only odes music and photos. Some lame excuse about the streaming stuff being built into XP MCE and not an easy thing to incorporate into XP non-MCE. I figure it's just a ploy to get you to upgrade to MCE.<br/><br/>Here's a question: since my 360 is my Media Extended, does that mean I will therefore not need a super-duper $300+ video card if I buy a new Media Center PC? The MCPC only has to stream the stuff to the 360 and not render it out a DVI/HDMI plug, so it should make it possible to get good results with a cheap MC PC, right? The way I hear it, you have to have WinXP Media Center Edition to stream videos to the 360. The little Media Center Connect only odes music and photos. Some lame excuse about the streaming stuff being built into XP MCE and not an easy thing to incorporate into XP non-MCE. I figure it’s just a ploy to get you to upgrade to MCE.

Here’s a question: since my 360 is my Media Extended, does that mean I will therefore not need a super-duper $300+ video card if I buy a new Media Center PC? The MCPC only has to stream the stuff to the 360 and not render it out a DVI/HDMI plug, so it should make it possible to get good results with a cheap MC PC, right?

]]> By: kevinpars http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2652 kevinpars Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:37:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2652 Honestly, unless you have a media center PC or use your 360 extensively for viewing movies, the little remote is not that great. For one, if I close the media cabinet door, it does not work (unlike the controller that works through walls). It was a nice little extra, but I wouldn't lose sleep over not getting it. Honestly, unless you have a media center PC or use your 360 extensively for viewing movies, the little remote is not that great. For one, if I close the media cabinet door, it does not work (unlike the controller that works through walls). It was a nice little extra, but I wouldn’t lose sleep over not getting it.

]]> By: Glen http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2651 Glen Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2651 I'll second the NFS comments from Craig. The single player on the game is a great deal of fun. Frustrating, but fun. <br/><br/>Also, COD2 should be picked up as well. That game is the bees knees. <br/><br/>That remote is limited? Huh. Mine is still in the green plastic bag that it came in. I’ll second the NFS comments from Craig. The single player on the game is a great deal of fun. Frustrating, but fun.

Also, COD2 should be picked up as well. That game is the bees knees.

That remote is limited? Huh. Mine is still in the green plastic bag that it came in.

]]> By: Teebeebee http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2650 Teebeebee Mon, 23 Jan 2006 17:05:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2650 King Kong is the worst game i've ever played.<br/><br/>Just horrid. King Kong is the worst game i’ve ever played.

Just horrid.

]]> By: Jon Diehl http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2649 Jon Diehl Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2649 Welcome to the club, about damn time. NBA2k6 is the best sports game for the 360 (IMO). Skip Madden, it was disappointing. NHL is decent, but wait for the price drop.<br/><br/>COD2 is a must buy, just for the single player. Either rent it, or buy it used (~$35 on eBay) and resell it when you're done.<br/><br/>PS. The included remote was a "limited" thing, I guess they've officially stopped including it now. Welcome to the club, about damn time. NBA2k6 is the best sports game for the 360 (IMO). Skip Madden, it was disappointing. NHL is decent, but wait for the price drop.

COD2 is a must buy, just for the single player. Either rent it, or buy it used (~$35 on eBay) and resell it when you’re done.

PS. The included remote was a “limited” thing, I guess they’ve officially stopped including it now.

]]> By: Craig Tompkins http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2647 Craig Tompkins Mon, 23 Jan 2006 16:19:00 +0000 http://www.sportsgamerblog.com/2006/01/23/joining-the-next-gen-pt-1-aka-todd-gets-a-360/#comment-2647 Go get NFS. Don't wait, just go do it! Go get NFS. Don’t wait, just go do it!

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