Newbie Assecories Question

[perusn01]

Great forum!
I'll soon have the $349 Xbox360 (premium console bundle).
I'd like to know what else to buy to be able to get started and save progress on a few games. Specifically...

-memory card? I'm not familiar with how game progress is saved? Do I even need a $30 memory card?

-to go on-line with Xbox360? I have DSL connected to my modem, then to my PC (no router or wireless). What do I need to get my Xbox360 going on-line?

-anything else (besides a second controller)?

-almost forgot...best game for someone who likes Ghost Recon, Medal of Honor type games?

Thank you

[paintba||er]

You don't need a memory card, you can save your progress directly to the harddrive. And the best solution for online is just to get a router.

[perusn01]

So...on the model with the 20GB hard drive, I can save as much game data as I need from both regular game play and LIVE game play? Is that correct?

[paintba||er]

Originally Posted by perusn01

So...on the model with the 20GB hard drive, I can save as much game data as I need from both regular game play and LIVE game play? Is that correct?

What do you mean by Live gameplay? You usually don't save anything when playing on Live, since there usually isn't much progress to keep track of, and if there is it will be kept on the servers to prevent cheating. Or maybe you are talking about downloadable content?

Anyway, you can save anything on the HDD that you can on a memory card, and I doubt you will ever fill it with purely game saves, since they are usually extremely small.

[perusn01]

Thanks, everything you've said is helpful.
I don't know much about xbox Live, if there's nothing to save from it then I don't have to worry about doing so. And if the 20GB drive is enough to save games, then so much for having to get a memory card.

As I stated, I have a DSL line hooked directly into my modem, which is then connected to my PC. Once I get a router will I then be able to do the on-line stuff gaming via my TV, or must I use the PC? I can easily get a wire from the router to my xbox360 location if that helps.

Finally, and this is probably a stupid question, but for on-line gaming do I have to have a copy of the game I want to play? Or is it simply a matter of getting into xbox Live and going from there (unfortunately, I have not seen xbox Live in action, so I have no idea what to expect. I just want to be prepared to join up).

Thanks, again.

[paintba||er]

Originally Posted by perusn01

Thanks, everything you've said is helpful.
I don't know much about xbox Live, if there's nothing to save from it then I don't have to worry about doing so. And if the 20GB drive is enough to save games, then so much for having to get a memory card.

Well, to give you an idea of the space, it has 40 times as much memory as a memory card.

As I stated, I have a DSL line hooked directly into my modem, which is then connected to my PC. Once I get a router will I then be able to do the on-line stuff gaming via my TV, or must I use the PC? I can easily get a wire from the router to my xbox360 location if that helps.

Ya, you should be able to do everything via the Xbox

Finally, and this is probably a stupid question, but for on-line gaming do I have to have a copy of the game I want to play? Or is it simply a matter of getting into xbox Live and going from there (unfortunately, I have not seen xbox Live in action, so I have no idea what to expect. I just want to be prepared to join up).

Thanks, again.

LOL Of course you have to have the game.

[perusn01]

Got it.....

Some of the xbox360 games say "live" and some don't?

Does this mean the "live" ones can be played on-line AND without on-line play?

I assume those that do not say "live" can be played only as a stand-alone game.

Hookup: It makes sense to me that if I have a 5.1 surround system I'll want to get an optical cord instead of using the supplied audio cord.

Router: Model/brand that will work with the 360. Does not need to do anything else, just the 360.

[TTR Dr Payne]

Hey, If a game has the LIVE tag on the box it means they can be played online. These games also have offline play, the Live feature is just an added bonus. Basically every game has Live play now, theres only a few games here and there that dont, but the games that do not say XBOX Live on the box, are only single player games. You can still be connected to XBOX Live and talk to your friends, you just cannot play the game with them.

For 5.1 surround sound, yes that is what you will want. As far as i know the standard cable that comes with the 360 does not support Surround Sound(although im not actually 100% sure on this as i did not buy the Premium console, i bought the Core which comes with different cables. Somebody who bought the Premium should be able to confirm this for you though)

For routers, use this page to help chose a router. They have list the compatable routers with exactly what firmware updates and what routers are not compatable.

I believe all your previous questions were sufficiently answered by the others.


I dont know if this picture helps at all, but it shows you how everything is connected with a router(taken from XBOX.com)


So right now your setup is simply the first box going into your PC. When you get a router, that is how it will look.

[paintba||er]

For 5.1 surround sound, yes that is what you will want. As far as i know the standard cable that comes with the 360 does not support Surround Sound(although im not actually 100% sure on this as i did not buy the Premium console, i bought the Core which comes with different cables. Somebody who bought the Premium should be able to confirm this for you though)

Ya, the audio is the same as the core. Its just the red/white RCA cables.....

For routers, use this page to help chose a router. They have list the compatable routers with exactly what firmware updates and what routers are not compatable.

I wouldn't worry about the router too much. Most are compatible even though they aren't listed.

[perusn01]

Thanks for the answers. I think I'm all set to get started.
Many regards.