Microsoft Xbox 360 Games Console FAQ1st March 2008
What is a Xbox 360 Console?
The Xbox 360 is Microsofts latest generation of games console, developed in co-operation with IBM, ATI, Samsung and SiS. The console was officially unveiled on MTV on the 12th May 2005, and first released in the United States on the 22 November 2005.
Does the Xbox 360 play DVD, HD DVD or Blu-Ray Movies?
Currently there is no support for Blu-ray, although the Xbox 360 will play DVD movies with the addition of a DVD Playback Kit, and HD-DVD movies with the addition of an external drive. Recently Toshiba have announced that they are to discontinue the manufacturing of HD-DVD equipment, and with this Microsoft have also announced they will cease production of the Xbox 360s external HD DVD Drive.
Will the Xbox 360 work with my TV?
The Xbox 360 is optimised for a minimum of 720p high definition output, although should work perfectly fine on older televisions with a lower resolution.
Does the Xbox 360 controller use motion sensing?
Currently the Xbox does not make any use of motion sensing.
Can you rip music on the Xbox 360?
Music can be ripped onto the consoles hard drive, and then listened to while playing games or while in the Xbox's dashboard.
Does the Xbox 360 require a memory card?
The Xbox 360 is supplied with either an internal hard disk, or memory card. Either one of these is required to save game and other data. If you are planning to save or download large amounts of files such as movies, game demos, or music, then you may want to opt for a console supplied with a hard drive, as this will offer much greater storage capacity.
Can the Xbox 360 play original Xbox games?
The Xbox 360 will play original Xbox games, although not all titles will play at their original frame rate, and some titles have know bugs.
Can I play on-line games?
Games can be played on-line using Microsofts XBox Live service, and a gold membership account. An Xbox Live Gold account has an annual cost of $49.99, £39.99, or €59.99.
What is a next generation console?
This is a confusing term which refers to the most up and coming group of gaming platforms. The Wii is often seen as part of the 7th wave of gaming consoles, which also in includes the Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles.
How much does a Xbox 360 Console cost?
There are currently a number of versions of the Xbox 360 which vary in price, including Elite, Premium, Arcade and Core. The suggested retail prices are are illustrated in the table below.
| Model | US Dollars | UK Pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Elite | $449.99 | £299.99 |
| Premium | $349.99 | £249.99 |
| Arcade | $279.99 | £199.99 |
| Core | $279.99 | £199.99 |
Do Xbox 360 controllers have built in force feed back?
All Microsoft controllers have dual force feed back, although some third party controllers might not.
Does the Xbox 360 support Dolby Digital?
Yes.
Does the Xbox 360 support HDTV?
Yes it supports HDTV in 480, 720 or 1080 resolution. You will need to purchase a Component Video Cable to allow the XBOX to be displayed with HDTV.