The Xbox 360 belongs to the seventh generation of video game consoles and is in the same league as Sony’s PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. Launched by Microsoft in 2005, three versions of the Xbox 360 (the Arcade, the Premium and the Elite) are available, each with a distinct set of enhancements.
The Xbox 360 Arcade includes a wireless controller, a 256MB memory unit, a composite AV cable and HDMI 1.2 output. There are five Xbox LIVE Arcade titles – Boom Boom Rocket, Feeding Frenzy, Luxor 2, Pac-Man Championship Edition and Uno. The Xbox 360 Premium or Pro includes a detachable 20GB Hard Disk Drive, HDMI 1.2 output, an improved GPU heat sink and free games like Hexic HD. The Xbox 360 Elite includes a 120GB Hard Disk Drive, a HDMI 1.2 cable, a controller and a headset. All three versions of the Xbox 360 use the Zephyr motherboard. Microsoft has released special editions of the console on specific occasions likethe launch of Halo 3.
Xbox LIVE is Microsoft’s online gaming service, which offers both a subscription and a non-subscription service. Xbox LIVE also facilitates voice and video communications. Subscribers to Xbox LIVE can play integrated online games, access their friends list, create their profile, join message boards, access Xbox LIVE Arcade and the Marketplace, and chat with other members. From the Marketplace, you can download purchased or promotional content, movie and game trailers, game demos, Xbox LIVE Arcade games, Gamertag images, and Xbox 360 Dashboard themes. Microsoft has also come up with Xbox Video Marketplace for console users. The Xbox LIVE Arcade is another Microsoft online service which distributes downloadable video games to Xbox and Xbox 360 users. You can play original games like Assault Heroes or games from other consoles the like PlayStation and the PC such as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Zuma.
The Xbox 360 console also allows you to play audio and video files. You can use the standard USB mass storage devices to access music, photos, and videos through the console. The XBox 360’s dashboard features five blades. It is launched automatically when the system boots up. The dashboard shows the user’s game card, Xbox LIVE messages and the friends list. It allows the customizing of settings and chatting. The Xbox 360 supports an IDE called the Microsoft XNA which allows amateur players to develop their own games.
A new feature called Xbox Originals was launched in 2007 which allows users to download original Xbox games directly to their Xbox 360. Some of the popular original games include Halo: Combat Evolved, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, Psychonauts, and Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. Best-selling games supported by the console include Call of Duty 2, Ghost Reckon Advanced Warfighter, the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dead or Alive 4, Saints Row, Gears of War, and the most successful of all – Halo 3.
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