Joystiq's massive Xbox 360 launch weekend blowout: the aftermath
by Ben Striegel 
{ Nov 22nd 2005 at 9:00AM }
There's a strong possibility that many of you out there were cryogenically frozen in antarctic glaciers over the weekend, so we won't fault you if you missed out on our 48-hour Xbox 360 playathon. Just bought a 360 and wondering what games are worth your while? On the ropes about whether or not the console is for you? Or do you just want a peek at some hardcore uncensored unboxing action? Whatever it is you're looking for, chances are we've got you covered. And for more in-depth game and console coverage, check out James' hands-on Xbox 360 experience from last month's New York press event.
The Setup
Unpacking the Xbox 360; hot unboxing action
Our sweet test setup
Our sweet speaker setup
Our sweet screen setup
Fuel for a 48-hour gaming fiesta
Blockbuster & Hollywood Video: 350 what?
The Hardware
Joystiq, PGR3 and faceplate. PGR3 and faceplate, Joystiq
Invasion of the Xbox 360 faceplates
Xbox 360 controller range: Can you hear me now?
Side-by-side of Xbox 360 remotes
Titlefight: 480p v. 720p for the championship!
Parasitic Play-and-Charge controllers get juice from Windows, but Windows gets nothing in return
Xbox 360 heat concerns are no concern
Xbox 360 fan noise ranked
The Services
Visualize this: Xbox 360's visualizer taken for a spin
Game trailers available on Xbox Live
Live: best way to download game trailers
Best and worst trailers from Xbox Live Marketplace
Gaming trailers are insulting to gamers
360 plays videos, but controls are lacking
MP3s streamed to Xbox 360 via laptop
Xbox Live arcade titles added: free to try, $5 to $15 to buy
Our first Xbox Live friend: you like us, you really like us
Joystiq Guide: iPod on the Xbox 360
The Games
3 copies of Kameo = MS wants us to play it
2K on the 360: NBA 2K6, Amped 3, & NHL 2K6
Joyswag caption contest: win a copy of Kameo
Joystiq review: Geometry Wars demo
Joystiq review: Bankshot Billiards 2 demo
Joystiq review: Gauntlet demo
Joystiq review: Hexic HD
Are we perverse? There's nothing retro about this experience!
Joystiq review: Joust demo, thy game is over
Joystiq review: Bejeweled 2 Deluxe demo
Kameo's in the house, er... 360 tray
Super-frustrating boss fight in Kameo
Joystiq is better than GameSpot
And the best Xbox 360 launch title is...
Them's a lotta links! And while we're still recovering from a full weekend of hectic gaming, great fun was had by all, and we can hardly wait for our 48-hour Revolution blowout to roll around... You listening, Nintendo? And if that's still not enough reading material to quench your thirst for Xbox 360 coverage, check out the newest member of the Joystiq family, Xbox 360 Fanboy. Response has already been overwhelming, and it's all thanks to you guys!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Josh Zatzman @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
can you guys speculate when the second shipment will be and why please?
Kyle @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I have to say that you're blog about the 360 has been mostly uninteresting to read. It was broken up poorly and the fact that you have chosen Geometry Wars as your standout launch title for the 360 is laughable. Thanks for nothing! I'll stick with other sites.
skibble @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Kyle, you might want to think about checking out that 360 fanboy site, it seems right up your alley...
LinkerX @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
Just got my 360 and I am going to be going at it right up until thanksgiving without sleep. So far I am loving it my HDTV is finally getting some use and abuse.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
The coverage ain't done yet. We're still writing reviews.
We didn't write an article about how we suck at beating a Kameo boss. We wrote an article about poor game design in Kameo. Please check that fight out first-hand and let us know what ya think. If you do not agree that the fight is one of the worst moments in gaming, you have a much higher tolerance for pain than I.
"kept stressing the fact that you were drinking chardonnay."
Noted one time. Did not keep stressing it. Chardonnay gets a bad rap -- it's not all oaky swill. You should give it another chance if you were burned by early '00s vintages. They've become more nuanced.
And Geometry Wars really is the best launch title that we've played yet. PGR3 is a fine game. But nothing else caused the hoots, hollers, moments of agony and excitement that Geometry Wars caused.
We owe it to you to be honest, and we were. I know it's disappointing to some to think that a game like PGR3 got beat by a simple, deftly executed arcade title, but that's the way it is. Big budgets do not guarantee great games. I'm sure people were miffed when Blair Witch Project (a movie that cost $40,000 to make) ended up netting box office proceeds of over $248,300,000.
Stay tuned for reviews on Kameo, PGR3, NBA2K6, NHL2K6, CoD2, PDZ, and so on.
vc @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
On shipment schedules: Microsoft has noted that the console will ship on a weekly basis. Check with your retailer of choice regularly if you want one.
I'm partial to Amazon.com and other online retailers myself -- no drive out to the store needed.
josh @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
I like the picture of the game cube in the background! I'm glad it got the invite to the 360 launch party. I'm sure there's a deeper meaning there but I'll let you all figure it out.
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
What happened to that surprise announcement or whatever it was one of you Joystiq lads were going to make? did you chicken out?
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
cube in the background? has thou been playing Smash Bros? We did that at college once, hooked up my cube to a digital cinema projector all with WaveBirds. best day ever. sure it was pixelly but the image was about 20' across.
skibble @ Dec 18th 2005 10:05PM
And in case anyone overlooked that link at the top of the post (who DOESN'T click every single link a blog throws at you??), they already posted long hands-on reviews with PDZ, PGR3, Condemned, Oblivion, et al.
http://xbox360.joystiq.com/entry/1234000673063378/