TORONTO (Digital Journal) — Vince Carter’s sweaty bald head is three feet away from me. But I’m not at a New Jersey Nets game to watch Vinsanity soar through the air. I’m at a sneak peek event in Toronto to check out the new HD-ready Xbox 360, playing NBA 2K6 before the console hits shelves Nov. 22.
Instantly, I’m struck by the realistic graphics displaying bunched muscles and sweat droplets (in the instant replay, of course). Gameplay is deceptively smooth, so much so that I can’t lazily throw a pass to a player without expecting a steal. The 360 controller fits snugly in my hand — like its predecessor — but I notice two more button resting atop the L and R buttons.
As I walk from kiosk to kiosk trying out every game possible, I realize ease of use is 360’s primary goal. Well, that and wowing our eyeballs with vivid graphics. From Perfect Dark Zero to Dead or Alive 4 , each game follows the precedent set by the average first-person shooter or combat title; surprises only enhance the gaming experience by throwing in a curveball.
 |
A cool addition to the 360 is its “ring of light” button on the controller: Used as a way to access an in-game dashboard, the button also allows you to power on/off the console. — Photography by Digital Journal |
For instance, a new feature in 360’s NHL 2K6 allows players to control the goalie with a click on the toggle stick. In single-player mode, the screen tightens on the goalie, from a behind-the-net perspective, and players must quickly dive across the ice to stop wristshots. It’s difficult to control at first but the game developers are no fools — once you’ve mastered a sports game, you always hunt for cool features to amplify the next session.
At the sneak peek, gaming took centre stage, although the new console is more than just a button-masher’s best friend. Billed as a digital entertainment hub, Xbox 360 has the ability to play MP3s and display photos, while also allowing players to access recorded TV and digital movies on Windows XP Media Centre-based PCs. So now you can play 360’s NBA 2K6 with your own ripped playlists, or share photos with friends during breaks in Kameo.
To appease gaming geeks who want to play their original Xbox games on the 360, Microsoft armed the souped-up 360s ($500 in Canada, $400 in U.S.) with a hard drive to play “top selling” Xbox titles. The basic package ($400 in Canada, $300 in U.S.) will likely impel gamers to shell out $100 for the hard drive so that the console is backward compatible.
Inside the Xbox 360, sheer power waits. Its CPU features three computing engines that can handle tasks at clock speeds greater than 3 GHz. A custom ATI graphics processor and more than 512MB of memory make the new unit blazing fast.
An interesting addition to the 360 is its “ring of light” button on the controller: Used as a way to access an in-game dashboard, the button also allows you to power on/off the console without moving from the couch (gotta love those wireless controllers). By viewing the dashboard mid-game, you can click on sleeves listing Xbox Live or Games, Media and System.
The Gamer Card turns into a mini-profile for each player, holding reputation, Gamescore and player type (novice, intermediate, hardcore, etc.). Reputation is based on a five-star system compiled by feedback from other gamers. Gamescore ranks players by quantity of games, rather than achievement. Rounding out the Card is gaming zone, which places players in a category based on competitive nature. This feature works splendidly for novices who want to play a game with at least a fighting chance of winning.
Part of the Xbox Live interface ushers in chat, a marketplace and multiplayer online play. All these bells and whistles may be moot to the average gamer, which Microsoft Canada is not denying.
While Sony and Nintendo give no official release date for their next-gen consoles, industry rumours indicate Xbox 360 has a jump of about eight months on the competition. “We listened to gamers’ feedback and we realized they want a next-generation console now,” says Craig Tullett, product manager for Microsoft Canada’s home entertainment division.
If the early bird gets the worm, then Microsoft can finally make a profit in its gaming division — a feat it has yet to accomplish in the past three years. The Xbox 360 will undoubtedly be a strong contender in the new age of video game consoles.
When I leave the room full of Xbox 360 kiosks, my hands already itch to grab a controller and pilot Mario Lemieux across the ice. I still didn’t master a deke move exclusive to the hockey game, which makes me think Xbox 360 has already infiltrated my mind.
And that isn’t so bad. Xbox 360 is living up to the hype by delivering all the punch gamers desire in a next-gen console.
