Lunchtime Discussion: Updates
Will you be buying the new 360?Published: 12:00, 17/06/2010 by Kris [Halbpro].
44So we’re sticking with E3 themed discussions this week, and for the second year in a row we’ve had updates to two consoles announced. Last year we had the PS3 ‘Slim’ and the PSPGo announced and this year we’ve got the 3DS and the Xbox 360 ‘Slim’. Of course whilst these kind of upgrades seem relatively new, we have to remember that there was both a Master System and a Master System II with the second incarnation mostly being a case of redesigning the casing, and Nintendo have been doing incremental updates to their hand held consoles since the start of time.
However the real question is do we like them? I can see some of the reasoning behind the updates to consoles that are becoming more and more prevalent now. Of course there’s the major issue that this generation the life cycle seems to be being stretched further than it has been in recent memory. The manufacturers need to some how keep sales of their consoles up, and an update is a good way to resell the same hardware to some of their existing user base, as well as giving a solid base to launch a new advertising campaign from.
So what is our reception to this? Well it, oddly, seems to be generally positive. Whilst they may include a few new features, such as more USB ports or something along those lines, their isn’t any real upgrade to the console. You can’t play games on the new models that you couldn’t on the old machines, and yet people still will upgrade. Of course part of this is the fear that the original console will die at some point, something we’ve only really had to worry about in this generation. Releasing updates to consoles that attempt to fix the issues existing in the original batch doesn’t really seem like fair play, but that may just be my lack of cash.
So did you upgrade to a new PS3 Slim? Will you be buying the new 360 when it hits our shores? I have to say whilst I don’t really like the idea, I am tempted to pick up the 360 update, apparently it doesn’t actually sound like a jet engine now. How do you feel about the issue as a whole? Let us know.
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17/06/2010 at 12:03
Member since: May 2009
My PS3 broke last November, and rather than getting my old one repaired for £130(?), I bought a new PS3 Slim for £199 while it was on offer. A great deal, got a second Dualshock and a smaller PS3 for very cheap.
If my 360 was to break out of warranty, I would do the same. I really only upgrade when the old one breaks. My first DS broke, so I’ve upgraded to a shiny red DSi. The 3DS might change this completely, however, as it seems like a ‘proper’ update to the console.
17/06/2010 at 13:13
Member since: Nov 2008
+1
Totally agree, except for the DS, coz I dont own any…
I did however buy the PSPgo while I had the PSP-3000.
18/06/2010 at 08:27
Member since: Feb 2009
I also upgraded my ps3 launch model to a slim after my 2nd ylod on my original (i fixed the 1st, failed to fix the 2nd). Problem is, the slim isn’t an upgrade, it’s a downgrade. Removed backwards compatibility. Reduced number of usb ports. Removed card readers. Slim is quieter, but just doesn’t have the same features.
17/06/2010 at 12:04
Member since: Dec 2008
Ah Master System II, my old friend. That was my first console! *Hums alex kidd theme tune*
I’m still using the same phat PS3 I bought (despite it having YLoDed on me twice now!) but considering buying a slim at the next price-drop.
As someone who doesn’t own a 360, the slim is relatively appealing to me, but in all honesty I think that I simply wont use it as much, and my console attention will be diluted.
17/06/2010 at 12:21
Member since: Mar 2009
The Master System II was bad ass. I still have mine, although it may be dead.
17/06/2010 at 13:18
Member since: Jul 2009
The original Atari VCS2600 “Woody” was so much nicer that the later mini VCS2600. I still have one and it’s always a talking point, plus it’s really really quiet !!
17/06/2010 at 18:30
Member since: May 2010
i still have a 60gb ps3, from lauch, i have had to upgrade twice as it broke twice, my second upgrade was free , so thank you sony, i need a new hardrive, i would get a ps3 slim but too expensive atm
17/06/2010 at 12:04
Member since: Jul 2009
For the serious 360 gamer I can see why the new one would be most attractive. Also, it’s obviously the correct one to buy (assuming it doesn’t blow up on contact and kill everyone in a 50m radius) for anyone who’s looking to get into gaming with the 360 for the first time.
Outside of that, it’s a (relative) waste of money.
I like the design and it finally doesn’t look like cheap plastic tat!
17/06/2010 at 12:20
Member since: Mar 2009
I’m considering it, just because it’s quieter. Then again I don’t have any actual money.
17/06/2010 at 13:18
Member since: Jul 2009
I think if you (anyone) games enough on their 360 then a quieter version will be a serious option. Then again, if you can tolerate the “ARE WE IN A WIND TUNNEL” sound effects then justifying the cost of a completely new console is hard work.
If people have a 360 in their bedroom and just 2.1 audio set-up I’d suggest spending their money on headphones instead. Problem solved! :-)
17/06/2010 at 19:13
Member since: Mar 2009
Whilst it is loud, installing to HDD cures most of the wind tunnel effect. It’s a pain, but does save a significant amount of money.
17/06/2010 at 19:18
Member since: Forever
@Raen – Not really. HDD installs quieten it but it’s still way too loud.
17/06/2010 at 19:22
Member since: Mar 2009
@djhsecondnature With the install it’s just around ignorable, in my opinion. The thing that tempts me more is wireless and a larger HDD.
17/06/2010 at 12:08
Member since: May 2009
I had my 60GB ;launch PS3 and I upgraded to the slim, main reason being I had been on my 3rd ‘launch’ PS3 from sony, not due to YLOD but because the bluray drive seemed to fail on me on 2 occasions.
Anyway, the quieter fan appealed to me, but I also swapped cos I managed to flog my console for the cost of the new slim so it seemed silly not to!
17/06/2010 at 12:14
Member since: Aug 2009
‘will you buying the new 360?’ :D
no. but i am more likely to snap up one of the old ones that are getting almost thrown out to make space for the new slim model
17/06/2010 at 12:14
Member since: Nov 2008
I went through 4 360′s all RROD, then i brought the PS3 just after launch and never looked back and never will. I brought the PS3 slim not long after it came out and gave my son my 40gb and neither one has ever messed up, so i will stick with something i know is reliable. They say new 360′s are RROD proof but they said that with the elite and i know a few friends that have experianced it.
17/06/2010 at 12:19
Member since: Mar 2009
I always find it odd to hear about people who have had huge numbers of RRoD. Obviously sucks for you, but I had a launch unit that went, but only one replacement. My brother has a launch arcade (which he added a hard disk too) which he uses every day and it hasn’t gone. I think part of it is luck of the draw with the 360.
17/06/2010 at 12:21
Member since: Jul 2009
Does seem to be lap of the gods. One of my closest friends is on number eight and I know someone on TSA is up to thirteen!!! Although I know his brother hammers it (not literally, I hope).
If Microsoft can finally lay this bugbear to rest then good on them.
17/06/2010 at 12:48
Member since: Forever
If you have phone contracts, they’re a great way of getting free consoles.
I purchased a 60Gb for £425, when that YLoD’d I got a free 80GB on my missus’ phone contract, and then I got a free 250GB PS3Slim when it was due for renewal (I also got a £90 chequeback and of course sold my 80GB for around £180)
Why would anyone buy consoles for actual money if you have a pay monthly phone?
I won’t be buying a X360 anytime soon unless Kinect turns out to be any good, as there are other consoles I want far more, like a PS2 so I can play my back catalogue, a Wii because there are a few awesome games for it, and quite a few announced at E3 and of course the amazing new 3DS, which is blowing everyone away who comes into contact with it.
17/06/2010 at 13:20
Member since: Jul 2009
The price of the console is built into the price of the contract. Although paying off a console over 18 months (for example) seems like a lovely way to take the sting out of initial cost.
17/06/2010 at 14:13
Member since: Forever
The price of the contract is what you pay to the network, whether you get a console with it or not.
So if you have a contract phone (which we both do anyway) then why not get a free console with it, and if you shop around you get some cashback on top, and you have your old console to sell. no brainer really
17/06/2010 at 17:54
Member since: Jul 2009
If you get a contract they will have allowed for it whether you click the PS3 contract or not. If you throw down £30/month over 24 months it allows for the cost of the PS3. If you don’t click on the PS3 offer (same cost per month and same overall length) it’s still the same simply because they’ve allowed for it still. The handset will be around £300 or so. The PS3 will be around £180 or so and the rest covers the basic minutes you might use.
Obviously, they’re more than happy for you NOT to click on the PS3 offer but either way you’re paying for it. Had a quick chat with my mate who used to own his own chain of stores (admittedly many years ago) but he’s still in touch with enough bods in the industry and seems to think this will be the case.
17/06/2010 at 19:23
Member since: Mar 2009
Would have gone that way, but at present my phone is only available direct through O2.
17/06/2010 at 12:53
Member since: Sep 2009
I like it – anything that extends the life of a console generation and brings more users to the console is fine by me, I’d rather that than need to buy a new console every 5 years to be able to play the latest games…
I am tempted by a Slim but have not upgraded yet, if they added rear USB ports and Wireless N to the next model I will upgrade my original model…
17/06/2010 at 13:08
Member since: May 2010
Not really that interested in the 360 slim. I sold my 360 shortly after buying my 60Gb PS3 … which died last september (the day after my birthday). I then bought an 80Gb PS3, partly because I don’t like the look of the slim (and because I love the touch sensitive buttons on the phat PS3).
17/06/2010 at 13:16
Member since: Jul 2009
I bought a slim to replace my launch 60gb that died in August last year, and then got an 80gb phat from Argos to replace my 2 year old broken 60gb.
On a seperate note – this psn+ business does anyone know how it will affect people with multiple consoles? I don’t mind the benefits being locked to the use of one account but it better not be tied to one console!
17/06/2010 at 13:25
Member since: Jul 2009
What a top question! Have they allowed for multiple accounts, game sharing, etc. Cripes!