I'm not a 360 hater, but I think I will be soon. I actually started as an XBox hater, that is I hated that ugly black box that had like five games I wanted to play on it for its whole lifespan, but I never bought it. My brother bought one for $50 at a garage sale, and it's still every bit the ugly thing I thought it was.
I bought a 360 because of GRAW, and it's been a good machine with lots of good games since; even a few Xbox games. Now, at this point in time, I am a turncoat in the 360 army and I put my full support in the Playstation 3 - we all love the Wii, so that's that.
Keep in mind I kinda hated the PS3 when I didn't own one, and even after it seemed like an expensive black box, a sexy one, but useless for the most part. I've played some solid games on the PS3 and I've not really played a true game on the 360 during this time I've been on the PS3.
There are 5 good reasons why I've changed sides:
1. The red rings of death
2. It's best games may be behind it
3. The games I play on it right now are also on the PS3
4. Microsoft being Microsoft
5. Now I have a new technical problem
If you don't have a 360, you already now about the alarming rate of failure that is described as the "red ring of death", which is 3 red lights along the power button. I already went through that. For the month of losing my xbox, I got a new one that played standard definition TV in black and white, but HD was good so I didn't complain.
That was until today when, while driving to win the game in Madden, the game froze and there were blue patches covering the screen. So I turned it off and back on to get the red rings. I'm thinking "okay, no big, at least there are no great exclusives coming out soon" - right?
Well, I tried again and the system seemed to be back on track. Madden ran all the way to the "press start" screen, and then the same patches.
I've since done all the troubleshooting, getting as far as the "pick a team" option in Madden, the "pick a song" in Guitar Hero 3, and to the second preview of a DVD, all ending in the same screen. I've checked the website and I'll know in a few days if I can get a replacement or what, but the problem alone is enough to drive me off the system.
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But why stop there? Why just hate because of technical problems? I look at the games I play on the 360 nowadays: Madden, NBA 2K8, Guitar Hero 3, and the only "true" game recently was Alone in the Dark. Really, I haven't played anything that is 360 exclusive. Even before all of this, I had kinda decided to go PS3 with Madden and rest. Part of the reason is because of this lovely little story:
Yeah, maybe Microsoft has done something since, but it took long enough if so. I've just been feeling a little like I've given into the dark side by buying into the 360. Plus, I at one point had two games on the PS3 for forever, so I needed to fix that.
I bought GTA4 on the PS3 because that felt right, and possibly the best way, to play that game. I've been on the PS3 for a long time now, and when playing Alone on the 360 it was just different being hooked back into the achievement machine. Slave isn't the word, but maybe a sucker fits the feeling.
What about the future? Well, I know there is Gears 2, which is something I would like, but at this moment I don't know any games that I must play that are on the 360 only. I'm pretty sure Too Human is a 360 exclusive, but I hear that is a mediocre game.
So am I angry? Yes. Will I do anything about it? Yes. I will first do everything in my power to make sure Bill Gates gets me a new system, and after that I will officially swing my favor in Sony's direction when buying 3rd party games. I'll also be sure to let others know my feelings, like I am right now.
At least I haven't bought any game that is unfinished or that isn't just a waste of time on the 360.
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If I can't get a new, free 360, then it's over. I may start buying more than just an iPod from Apple if this shit isn't fixed.