Advice for new XB360 owner

Shifty Geezer

Shifty Geezer

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A friend just bought himself an XB360. He wants wireless and I suggested to him to find out if alternative USB devices work over the official one. Thought I'd ask here, and also request any pointers for tips and tricks to save money and/or improve the experience. We've had the D-Pad modification already today.

All ideas welcome!

Edit : Games bought are

GeOW
PGR3
Crackdown
Whatnot vs. Raw
(these were a bundle deal)

Marvel Ultimate Alliance
 
- tell him to ALWAYS take out disc before turning off console
- tell him to only take out disc in dashboard mode. NEVER do it during game menus
 
Ant1Fanb0y1sm said:
- tell him to ALWAYS take out disc before turning off console
- tell him to only take out disc in dashboard mode. NEVER do it during game menus
Click to expand...

Hi,

Is there a reset functionality where you can go back to the dashboard from the game? If I interpreted your post correctly, they did not implemented the nice "boot back to dashboard when you eject the disc ingame" which you could do on the original Xbox? That was one of the nicest features of Xbox IMO.
 
Ant1Fanb0y1sm said:
- tell him to ALWAYS take out disc before turning off console
- tell him to only take out disc in dashboard mode. NEVER do it during game menus
Click to expand...

what?? why would he do that? I never take a disc out in the dashboard or before turning the console off.
 
Shompola said:
Hi,

Is there a reset functionality where you can go back to the dashboard from the game? If I interpreted your post correctly, they did not implemented the nice "boot back to dashboard when you eject the disc ingame" which you could do on the original Xbox? That was one of the nicest features of Xbox IMO.
Click to expand...

yes, you can hit the guide button and hit "Y" to return to the dash in any game. You can also make it go to the dash by default when you turn it on too.
 
Shompola said:
Hi,

Is there a reset functionality where you can go back to the dashboard from the game? If I interpreted your post correctly, they did not implemented the nice "boot back to dashboard when you eject the disc ingame" which you could do on the original Xbox? That was one of the nicest features of Xbox IMO.
Click to expand...
It's still there. Though Antifanoism is right, Xbox 360 (at least mine) scratches discs when you take out or eject them while playing AND console is in vertical position. When it's horizontal it's not an issue, but I found it out after my 360 had scratched GRAW and PDZ. :( The discs are still readable, but I doubt I'll be able to sell them.
 
Don't put yourXBOX in the vertical position. That causes two problems. Scratched discs sometimes, although I've never had that problem, and the discs are MUCH more noisy when the box is verticle. There's a big noise difference in laying your 360 flat.
 
aselto said:
It's still there. Though Antifanoism is right, Xbox 360 (at least mine) scratches discs when you take out or eject them while playing AND console is in vertical position. When it's horizontal it's not an issue, but I found it out after my 360 had scratched GRAW and PDZ. :( The discs are still readable, but I doubt I'll be able to sell them.
Click to expand...

use toothpaste to remove scratches. my Gears of War discs had 4 arc shaped scratches due to console raping the disc, but using toothpaste i removed them and sold it for 21GBP :LOL:
 
Qroach said:
Don't put yourXBOX in the vertical position. That causes two problems. Scratched discs sometimes, although I've never had that problem, and the discs are MUCH more noisy when the box is verticle. There's a big noise difference in laying your 360 flat.
Click to expand...

I already know that, but it's probably a good advice for Shifty's friend.;)

My advice is: use custom soundtrack option - it changes experience with some games completely.:smile:
 
It switches on but nobody's home

He's just switched it on. There's a noise but no picture. He's tried composite in his HDTV with the cable switched to HDTV, and the cable switched to TV plugged into the TV with the normal connector. Any suggestions?

(note all my info is coming live over Messenger. This guy is also a geek with every gadget that comes out, so it's not likely to be a simple wiring up thing)
 
Shifty Geezer said:
He's just switched it on. There's a noise but no picture. He's tried composite in his HDTV with the cable switched to HDTV, and the cable switched to TV plugged into the TV with the normal connector. Any suggestions?

(note all my info is coming live over Messenger. This guy is also a geek with every gadget that comes out, so it's not likely to be a simple wiring up thing)
Click to expand...


Just to be clear... there's a switch at the plug that goes into the 360 video port which defines HD or SD. Make sure it's on the appropriate setting. (I think that's what you meant but it never hurts to clarify).

My advice on little tips:
  • Another nod for custom soundtracks - particularly in Uno and Geo Wars
  • I've found some games lock up on occasion - notably Oblivion. This can be prevented by trying to give all sides of your power brick as much ventilation as possible. I have mine resting on it's "head", with the four long sides all getting more airflow. I haven't had a single lock-up since.
  • Demos, demos, demos. If he/she is wondering "what should I play/buy", there's tonnes of great demos out there
  • Marketplace videos should provide you with a lot of enthusiasm for what's sure to be a great year for gaming. Of particular note are Mass Effect, Halo Wars, Halo 3 and the free Viva Pinata eps are just cute :p
  • Download Windows Media Player 11 and you can stream WMV files from your PC to your 360. This is great because lots of HD game trailers are in WMV format - perfect for viewing on your gaming telly, just like you'll be playing it. Check Eternal Sonata and Bioshock as an example (search for the thread on the games section)
  • Put your gamertag on the B3D list. It's given me lots of good games, and a few new friends too
  • Buy a separate battery charger, and keep a set of batteries ready to go. Nothing sucks like running flat in a desperate moment (though the games always go to a pause menu)... except being tethered to a wire.
  • Buy Viva Pinata. My personal GOTY 2006, and no one played it like all the true greats (System Shock, Deus Ex, Vampire: Bloodlines, etc)
That's all for now... will keep my mind open.
 
Shifty Geezer said:
He's just switched it on. There's a noise but no picture. He's tried composite in his HDTV with the cable switched to HDTV, and the cable switched to TV plugged into the TV with the normal connector. Any suggestions?

(note all my info is coming live over Messenger. This guy is also a geek with every gadget that comes out, so it's not likely to be a simple wiring up thing)
Click to expand...

Just making sure the terms are in sync here....

If the cable is switched to HDTV (the little gray slider on the base of the cable itself near the 360)then he should be using component cables (the RCA jacks with red, green, blue, connections.) I dont think the composite jack will spit anything out if the cable is switched to HDTV.

If that doesnt work, try and switch the cable to standard def and then use the composite jack (the single yellow video connection). His TV may not support 720p and he may need to configure it for 1080i in the dash before making the move to HD.

Good luck...
 
To his eternal embrassment, he didn't push the cable in properly. I would ock him eternally over this, but as I thought I once had a busted GPU because I hadn't pushed that into the AGP slot all the way...:oops:

In widescreen (480p and 1080i, TV in 'full' picture mode), the top and bottom overreach the borders of the TV. Sounds like what you'd get from a 16:10 output onto a 16:9 TV. Any way to scale the output?
 
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