XBox 360 Questions

Some help wanted.

My son wants an XBox 360 for Christmas. No doubt it will be replaced by a PS3 when thy become available.

I was looking at them in Game this morning and see two types, the core system and premium system. This is where I'm stuck.

Bearing in mind that my son won't be accessing the net, playing online, doesn't use headphones and will be replacing this with a PS3 next year, is it worth the extra outlay for a premium system?

Would all the games work the same on a core system as on a premium system? Would wireless controllers work on a core system? Am I missing anything or is there something else that a premium system does that a core system doesn't?

Thanks in advance.

Edit - the best prices I could find were:

XBox core system with 1 wired contoller and 1 wireless contoller plus Project Gotham Racing for £219.99

XBox premium system with 1 wireless controller and Project Gotham Racing for £299.99.

Both versions are live enabled, so you wont have an issue there. The wireless controllers also work on a core system. The only main differences are the premium has the wireless controllers as standard (with a headset attachment) and the hard-drive add-on (which is very useful for saving games/downloads). So if you go with a core system, you will need to factor in the cost of a hard-drive addon or a Memory Unit

I have the premium one you listed above - from www.play.com though was a tenner cheaper @189.99 (edit: but seems like they're not doing that specific bundle anymore) http://www.play.com/Games/Xbox360/PR.../2-/Promo.html

That's a GREAT price!

Yeah, cheers Luke, that clears up most of my questions. I think I'll go for the Core System as he rarely saves games and if he decides he wants to I'll get a memory pack for him.

Ooops meant 289.99 (Premium, 2 wireless controllers + PGR3) Yea i would go with the core really. Probably be better off playing with a wired controller too, as you chew through batteries (or get rechargables or the rechargable pack) when on wireless controllers

Steve, the core system doesn't have the hard drive so it doesn't have the capacity and software to play any old xbox games.

If you don't intend to use it as a backward compatible system then the core will be fine. Also the core system has a wired controller rather than the premiums wireless jobby and if I remember correctly it has a standard RGB Scart lead rather than the High def cable combo lead in the premium mate. If you don't intend to play on a HD tv then the core again will be fine

Seems like most questions are answered but it's worth mentioning that although Microsoft said all 360 games would work on both the Core and Premium, the case today is that some might not work at all or their performance will be somewhat reduced on a Core (mainly loading times).

I think having two versions of the same console is a complete waste of time. As an aside, Steve, I think your son is gonna explode with happiness when he opens up his presents...

yeah as said it depends,also no BB?as for example if you want to use the ipod it requires an update and i dont know if these can ber burned to DVD and installed to the 360 this way.though i know some previous ones have.
personally i would go premium as it gives oyu a wireless controler plus the HD.
even on resale its more desirable and hell you can sell the HD for around £50 on its own

Funnily enough, just as I was about to buy today, I got a call from my local Woolworths store.

My son originally wanted a Nintendo Wii. I tried everywhere to get one pre-ordered with no luck. Woolies took my number in case anyone cancelled a pre-order, they stopped taking pre-orders when they met their quota, I never expected to hear from them. Anyway, someone cancelled a pre-order this morning and I got a call at lunchtime, so down I went, handed over £179.99 and it'll be ready for collection on 8th December!

1 hour later and I'd have had an XBox. It's a funny old world....

Thanks for all the advice though.

good choice steve,WII rules

and for the ps2 fanboys

I just hope Woolies can fulfill their pre-orders now or it'll be a panic trying to get a 360 before Christmas!