Xbox Experience Noise Test

Of all the things the new Xbox experience is going to bring, one of the best things for me is the ability to install games to the hard drive. Not only will they load quicker but also cut the amount of noise the thing makes. Even with a newer Xbox the sound it makes when the DVD drive is spinning is a little ridiculous compared to the Wii or PS3. So exactly how much quieter will it be? Watch this...



Peace, love and respect... but mostly PEACE!

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Endurance Test

I've been going through my game case recently trying to actually finish off all those games I keep saying I'm going to finish off... one day. So far I'm doing quite well with another one finally complete (Conan on the 360) after not touching it for around 8 or 9 months. One of the biggest problems I find is that if I put a game down for a length of time I can rarely be bothered to relearn the controls again. Often it's not as difficult as I think it'll be it's just this mental block I create. The thing is I'd left Conan with only the final boss left to fight, so why hadn't I just done it and traded it in for something else months a go?

Within around 15 minutes of asking this question the answer arrived with a resounding thud... the kind of thud sound that banging your head repeatedly against a wall would create. This boss wasn't a test of skill, it was a test of endurance. Six bloody stages of endurance to be precise. Each time I got his energy bar down to zero I thought that's it, I've done it, but the game had other ideas. The thing transformed into something else and I had to do the same again... and again... and again. I realised I wasn't actually even enjoying playing it anymore, which is a shame as whilst not a fantastic game the rest of it had been lots of fun. It was only my stubbornness of not wanting it to get the better of me that carried me through. There was no joy having got there though, just relief. I could finally get rid of it knowing I beat it, and I couldn't get rid of it fast enough! So 85% of games go unfinished? Someone tell the developers of this in case they make a second one please!

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Seven Trials?

I finished Prey on the 360 last night. Quite an old game now but available very cheap. It's not bad but a little disorientating when the floor can suddenly become the ceiling. None of the puzzles are actually that difficult but it can sometimes be hard to actually see where you're supposed to be going.

Anyway that's not really what I'm writing about... the bit that confused me more is a short level right near the end where you meet up with your spirit Grandpa. In it he tells me I must complete seven trials but strangely I never found these, neither were they ever mentioned again. In fact within around half an hour of being told about this I'd finished the game. Maybe the game was intended to be longer and these trials didn't make the final version? Maybe the developers thought I wouldn't notice? Anyone know what the old fool was on about?

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Transfer from 20Gb 360 Hard Drive to a 60Gb 360 Hard Drive

If you're upgrading from a 20Gb 360 hdd to a 60Gb you know it works thanks to Lee's post earlier this week.

I also made the change to a 60Gb 360 earlier this week and interestingly enough I had a chance to compare the software and cables supplied for the transfer to the 60Gb with those supplied when transferring to a 120Gb as this seems to be where the confusion lies.

So let's play Spot the Difference!

60Gb120GbAt first glance it may appear to be the same but a closer inspection, if your eyes are good enough to read the text on the disk sleeves, you can see that the software is different. The transfer won't work if you use the 120Gb software unless you're using the 120Gb hdd. The part number for the 60Gb hdd is X13-45328-04 and that's the one you need for the transfer to work.

I suspect that the newer 60Gb software works with all sizes of hdd considering that Microsoft only tell you to make sure the destination drive is the same size or larger than your original source drive and that all mention of the 120Gb size has been removed from the packaging and booklet.

If you have an old 20Gb that's ageing faster than it should then the 60Gb is a great option. The one I have operates quieter and has a manufacter date of 08/08 so I'm hoping all the gremlins have been ironed out seeing as my old console was an 06 version. You will need to have lots of patience while you wait for MS to post you a cable, thanks for saving me the pain Lee, or you could ask Gamestation if they have a Transfer Pack. If you trade in at Gamestation, as I did, they'll very kindly loan you your original hdd to take away with you so that you can transfer all your content which makes the whole deal sweet and very straight forward. Just make sure they give you the right software. The Gamestation shop that I went to only had the Elite Transfer Pack so despite them being helpful and loaning me the pack they didn't have a clue if it would work or not.

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Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Offer

Update to the post regarding those Arcade Xbox 360 console owners without enough free space for the 'new experience' arriving on November 19th.

Go to this web page to see if you are eligible for the upgrade offer. Apparently you'll be offered either a free 512MB memory unit or a discounted refurbished 20GB hard drive. Not a bad deal at all really.

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Xbox 360 20GB to 60GB Data Transfer

I'm posting this purely in the hope that people thinking about upgrading for whatever reason to the Xbox 360 with a 60GB hard drive will come across it among all the posts on forums that say this doesn't work.

I recently upgraded due to a faulty DVD drive in my old 20GB 360 and took the opportunity to go for a larger hard drive due to the recent price drop. The form you fill in on the Microsoft website in order to obtain the free data migration cable only mentions the Elite console, but I crossed this out and sent it off anyway. During the three weeks I spent waiting for the cable (yes, three weeks Microsoft!) I've heard advice from game shops that the process may not work for the 60GB console. I've also read numerous posts on forums from people that say they have tried this and it doesn't work. I couldn't find a single article that said a 20GB to 60GB transfer had been successful. I was getting a little worried and thinking my only option may be to buy a Microsoft Memory Unit and transfer my saves that way. While not a huge outlay it's not something I really wanted to be having to spend more money on.

Anyway the cable turned up the weekend and worked a treat. Everything was transferred over in around 40 minutes. With the licenses transferred everything is back to normal only with a bit more free space. The only reason I can think that others have had trouble is if the CD that comes supplied with the cable has been updated since the 60GB console was released and maybe the older kits intended for the Elite don't work?

EDIT: Further Reading...

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Experience This

The new Xbox 'experience' is set to arrive on November 19th but first there are a few hurdles to overcome... the update requires 128MB of free space and therefore a hard drive is recommended for the optimal experience as some Arcade console users are going to be struggling for space.

The update is not optional so Microsoft have said that they plan to offer some kind of solution but haven't yet stated exactly what that will be. Users in this position are being told to keep checking xbox.com for details in the coming weeks. Free memory units for all? Discounted hard drive or memory units for affected customers? Either way if it ends up costing these customers for something they are forced to accept there could be some unhappy people come November 19th.

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