|
|
|
Average Customer Review
Share your thoughts with other customers
|
|
|
The most helpful favorable review
The most helpful critical review
231 of 238 people found the following review helpful:
Inexpensive with limitless upgradability
If you take nothing else away from this review, understand that the Arcade bundle is simply an Xbox 360 without a hard drive and some games thrown in. The games are nothing to go crazy about, but you can't beat the price.
The fact that this version doesn't have a hard drive is important because backwards compatibility (the ability to play old Xbox games)...
Published 22 months ago by Gregory G. Kergosien III
|
› See more 5 star, 4 star reviews |
 |
27 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
They all break, so here is how to save some money on this ripoff product
First, buy the arcade console. It is the cheapest way to get into a 360. Then follow this link to build your own hard drive, as Microsoft will rip you off on the same thing in there package: (http://www.pcworld.com/article/150970/upgrade_your_xbox_360s_hard_drive_on_the_cheap.html )
now you have a nice console without spending a fortune. The console will die...
Published 15 months ago by IHate Microsoft
|
› See more 3 star, 2 star, 1 star reviews |
|
|
231 of 238 people found the following review helpful:
Inexpensive with limitless upgradability, November 5, 2008
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
If you take nothing else away from this review, understand that the Arcade bundle is simply an Xbox 360 without a hard drive and some games thrown in. The games are nothing to go crazy about, but you can't beat the price.
The fact that this version doesn't have a hard drive is important because backwards compatibility (the ability to play old Xbox games) relies on emulator software which gets installed to the hard drive. If you hear someone saying that the Arcade version can't play old Xbox games, they probably don't realize that all you have to do is install a hard drive. Microsoft is running a promotion where you can get a 20GB hard drive with a free Gold Live subscription for around $30. This is way cheaper than retail.
It's also worth mentioning that some industrious individuals have figured out how use an inexpensive (~$60) 120GB (Western Digital BEVS) hard drive rather than paying four times as much for Microsoft's version. If you're interested I suggest googling "HDDHackr".
It appears that Microsoft has made some improvements on the Xbox 360 since they first came out, especially in cooling to help prevent the dreaded "Red Ring of Death" (RROD) which results from your console overheating. This is a great reason to buy one of these new consoles rather than a used one or old bundle.
If you've got the money, check out the Pro or Elite. If you're like me and would rather put that cash into a premium drum set for Rock Band 2 or rechargeable wireless controllers, the Arcade version is a great option.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
Got my Jasper - Arcade Holiday Bundle from Amazon, December 5, 2008
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
I bought my Arcade from Amazon two days ago, chose one day shipping and got it yesterday. BTW, it is a jasper, came with 150W power brick, TEAM: FDOU, mfg 10-23-2008, Lot 0843x (package was picked up by carrier from Phoenix, AZ).
This is my first XBOX360 console. I never had one in the past due to the bad reputation it had from the RRoD issue. I did have a PS3 but sold it a few months ago due to financial problems. I was regretting it until now.
Now the review:
I have to say I'm impressed by the size, looks and feel of the controller (which BTW is wireless). I like it much better than the PS3 controller. Although that was much lighter it didn't provide the same accuracy in FPS games - I can tell the analog sticks really make the difference. One annoying thing though, the controller anaglog sticks start squeaking after playing less than one hour (I bought the Orange Box and Fallout 3).
The console didn't come with a HD cable so I bought a component cable to go with my 26" HDTV.
The graphics on this are gorgeous. It's been a while since I played on my PS3 but I can tell the images look crisper on the XBOX360 (might be due to contrast). I didn't experience any hickups while playing the orange box unlike on the PS3 which was unplayable at times (frame rate drops).
I also purchased a separate 60GB HDD that came with a 3-month XBOX LIve GOld subscription. From what I can tell, there's no more waiting unlike the PSN which was very very slow. I'm not going to renew the subscription since I rarely have time to play.
Now to the bad part:
Let me start saying the console is fairly quiet WHEN playing from the HDD (the new update allows you to install games locally), as quiet as my previous 40GB PS3. It does not overheat either. I played three ours both Half life EP2 and Fallout3 and the console was amazingly cool - no slowdowns or hangs).
HOWEVER, the console sounds like a vacuum cleaner when playing from the disk. It is very very annoying. I don't know if it scratches disks yet but we will see in time. BTW, I thought it scratched my disk for a second but then I realized that circle who looked as a scratch was present on other disks too (which were unopened at that time)
Overall, I like it a lot and don't regret buying it. I don't care about blu-ray anyway, the movies are so expensive so are the games and if it breaks it will cost a fortune to replace/repair. I'm not going to start about the game selection which its huge. I can finally play some oldies like Doom3, Quake4 which are unavailable on the PS3.
Now that It's confirmed Amazon has Jaspers you could hunt for one of your own. (God, I was so lucky being able to cancel my order for the 60GB bundle and getting this)
I'm not giving it five stars due to the controller squeaking issue and DVD drive noise.
Cheers!
PS: I'm keeping mine horizontal.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Very impressed by the new 360, February 25, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
Just to start out:
I've owned numerous xbox 360, 2 premiums and 1 elite. I've either sold them off, or had them 3rrod and then sold them.
I finally decided to try out a new arcade with the jasper chip.
I must say from the get-go I was highly impressed with the new system. A few things had been changed, the top plate where the HD goes has been redesigned, the power brick has been redesigned, the frontplate cd drive has been redesgined, and finally the back has had some tweaks as well.
This thing is DEAD quiet when playing games from the harddrive, and does NOT get hot at all. I booted up World At War and played for about 2 hours straight...it was BARELY warm on the back; my previous 360s would have been INSANELY hot.
This is a great buy for people getting into 360s or people who want a new unit to pair their old harddrives with.
I recommend it 110%
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
They all break, so here is how to save some money on this ripoff product, May 20, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
First, buy the arcade console. It is the cheapest way to get into a 360. Then follow this link to build your own hard drive, as Microsoft will rip you off on the same thing in there package: (http://www.pcworld.com/article/150970/upgrade_your_xbox_360s_hard_drive_on_the_cheap.html )
now you have a nice console without spending a fortune. The console will die within a year if used daily, or last a little longer if used lightly. Microsoft will repair it for you when it breaks for free if it shows a E74 error on the screen or if you get three flashing red lights on the console. It is only covered for three years however. This WILL happen in time.
My 360 is the very expensive Elite model (unfortunately), and just died a second time so it is back to Microsoft for another free repair. This takes about 3 weeks which is pretty bad. My brother in law's 360 just came back from his third repair, my other brother in law had his repaired once so far, and my friend just got his back from his first repair. So you see everyone I know with a 360 has had to get there system repaired. It will happen to you too.
Xbox 360 has the best games out for it and the most people playing the system online, otherwise I would tell you to get a PlayStation 3. When the next generation game systems come out we all should boycott Microsoft for these shoddy systems they sold us. My original Nintendo still works just fine and it's like 25 years old. Microsoft you should be ashamed!!!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
29 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
Microsoft should be ashamed, March 27, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
We purchased an XBOX 360 when they first came out. We were so happy with it, we decided to get a second one, an Arcade this time. I was tired of having to move the 360 from the media room to the living room every time we had friends over to play Rock Band, and I figured the back and forth couldn't be good for the system anyway. It was an added bonus that we would now have the media center extender in both rooms, and I would be able to play my games on the 360 when Mike was playing the PS3 or the other 360 in the media room.
We're a dual income, no kids family, so we have disposable income and spend a good deal of money on electronics. When our 360 Arcade broke, it was a mild inconvenience, an annoyance more than anything. Purchased in January of 2008, and broken by March of 2009. It lasted all of 14 months, two months past the warranty period. It wasn't the RRoD, so to fix it, we would have to pay $100. Microsoft would warranty the repair for all of three months. We're very lucky, we can afford to fix our 360, or even just buy a new one. But not everyone is in our situation, and that's what makes me angry about this.
There are kids everywhere who begged and pleaded with their parents for this console, and it was a big deal that they got it. Maybe it was a Christmas/Birthday combo gift, or the only present the entire family received. Some people don't have $100 to spend fixing a broken console, not to mention not everyone has something else to play while it's off for repair. It is NOT COOL that Microsoft will not do the right thing and stand behind their product.
That being said, when the 360 is working, it's a wonderful console. The interface is very intuitive and it has wonderful features that make it much more than just a gaming system. I can't say that we won't buy the next generation console, because we will. And, I guess that's the problem, the reason Microsoft can continue to sell and manufacture substandard merchandise is that we let them.
EDIT: Microsoft has, after this review was originally written, agreed to extend the RRoD warranty to include the E74 error message. Thank you, Microsoft, for standing up and doing the right thing.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent option!!!, November 29, 2008
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
This bundle it's an excellent option to people like me, who is buying a 360 for the second or third time. You know the deal... 3 red lights and nothing to do.
So if you by any chance happend to be a proud owner of a dead xbox360 with lots of games, 2 or 3 controllers and a working hard drive, do not hesitate to buy this arcade bundle.
PS: sorry for the bad writing, i'm from Costa Rica
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
The X's Y's and B's: An unbaised review of the 360, April 7, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
The X's Y's and B's: An unbiased review of the 360
Here's my review of the XBOX360:
What version:
After having received my XBOX360, I immediately turned it over and checked for one thing. The AC unit. This is of importance, as it has been known of XBOX's RRing on consumers and other problems because of hardware issues. It was a Jasper Unit. Jasper, being the most "recent" XBOX 360 system update meant that the likely chance of a RROD was slimmer compared to other products such as the falcon and even older versions of the mother-board.
The box cover:
Turned the box over carefully, noting a slight dent on "Mumbo's Nuts" screenshot on the bottom half of the box. Thumb's length. Though the crack didn't tear the box itself it, that small area was "pushed" into the box, causing a white line . Also noted some very slight wrinkles located near the round corners of the box, particularly on the upper-left side of the front cover.
Opening the box:
First, the sticker was old because it torn the surface of the box paint upon removal. A new sticker would be slightly harder to come off, and if done carefully would not damage the surface but leave a sticky residue.
Now comes the tricky part. The box itself took a little longer than expected, having to grab the side of the box and then wiggle the slippery-tight cardboard flap out of it's hiding place. Possibly annoying for folks with smooth hands who want to get to the console straight-away.
Inside the box:
The unit was covered in it's original packaging. Turned the system over to examine it until I heard a loose, squeaking noise. Turned the unit over again, hearing that sound once more. More than likely it could have been the DVD drive, as I have read articles of people's XBOX's having to be replaced because the spindles on the drive wore out.
That's like buying a brand-new DVD player with a wobbly/loose dvd drive. Seriously Microsoft, this shouldn't even be on ANY of your units! That's why the label says "Do not move console with disc inside". Could moving the unit potentially knock the axles out and scratch the disc? Probably.
The items:
After having to pull out some useless cardboard materials I finally got to the meat of the console's accessories on the bottom of box. The control, the AC, the output cables, batteries, the game (which was hidden within one of those cardboard sleeves), 6 manuals and a plug.
As for the plug there has been 2 small minor dents from the tie that was used to keep the wires together. Nothing major, as the tie didn't "bite" into the wire itself but left a barely noticeable mark upon examination.
*The physical 256 MB unit is nowhere to be found which was noted to be in the box*
The AC outlet is HUGE. It literally looks like a plastic wired brick. Microsoft, why the brontosaurus size AC? Does it REALLY take that much power to run this console? No wonder why i've heard of consoles overheating! This thing is like a giant eyesore!
Controller:
The controller itself is funny. It had the surface design of a game cube (concerning the placement of the joysticks and D-Pad) and the buttons of a PS2 system. The shape of the controller itself is like a shorter, rounder version of a N64 controller (without the "third" man in the middle). Holding the controller felt awkward and unnatural to the curves of the hands at first try. Pushing down on the joysticks made the small click-noises that a PlayStation controller does. Unfortunately there is no recharge cable available with the wireless controller. There is a Power button in the middle of the controller.
Setting Up:
I would recommend having enough space before starting this. Thanks to the mini-surge like ac adapter, one would have to make adjustments on an a smaller surface. The box came with a quick-instruction sheet (one of the manuals). Simply by following the instructions the entire process took no more than 3 or 4 minutes. The AC adaptor is "orange" when it's plugged into the wall. The controller had a small piece of paper in one of the batteries sockets. This was taken out, the batteries were pushed inside, and the controller was closed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Playing XBOX360:
The first thing to notice about the machine is how loud it is. Immediately after turning it on, the AC's Orange light it turns Green. Followed by an annoying, vacuum sound of a fan that would suit a Windows 98 system, not a 2009 console. Compared to the PS2's silent almost non-existent noise, this is a draw-back. I expected, for the prices going for this console that it would have little to no noise.
As a first-time user you'll have to go through a configuration set-up. Very easy. After finishing everything insert the arcade disc that came with the console. You'll be greeted by a cheesy-yet funny tutorial video that'll explain the rest of the features.
The Good and the Bad:
Pro's:
-Wireless Controller with Power On/Off feature
-Large Library of Games for the system
-Ability to playback dvd video's
-Live-Support/Internet ability for multiplayer games
-Download games
-Extra games/demos included not on arcade disc were on system.
*Note* Had the Xbox360 running for two hours straight and experienced no over-heating problems. The unit is fairly cool to the touch except for the vents over the fan. The air was slightly warm.
Con's:
-Physical Memory unit is not in package(Can save games in internal memory)
-Console turned ON sounds like a room filled with old computers
-Mysterious "squeaking" noise can indicate a "loose" part inside the console or possible wearing down.
-No re-charger for your controller.
-Games on the XBox360 have a tendency to be worth $50+
-That AC adapter is annoying and takes up WAY too much space.
-Accessories can be expensive.
-Must pay to use online features
Overall Score:
Graphics: A+
Accessories: C+
Noise: C-
Fun: B+
Price: B
Microsoft should have ironed out the noise, downsize the ac outlet, and fix anything that could go wrong with the system to make it a quality console that would last its years and beyond.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
X-BOX 360 Arcade Console Review from a PS3 Gamer, March 14, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
Okay, my previously thought to be bomb-proof Sony PlayStation 3 was sent back to SCEA because of its dead Blu-Ray drive. Of course, it was out-of-warranty, so it cost me $160 to get Sony to send me a new/refurbished one. While waiting, I decided to finally try my luck with the Microsoft XBOX 360 Arcade system. The price was right for this stripped down XBOX. Since I'm primarily a lone gamer (not really into online gaming, but looking forward to getting the XBOX Live membership so that I can stream movies with Netflix), getting all the other accessories didn't make much sense to me. I'm not really into the console flame wars, so I could care less who makes the consoles as long as I like the games that are made exclusively for them. Being a PS3-only gamer made me salivate at TV commercials for Halo Wars and Gears of War 2.
Skeptical of its reliability issues and being on the fence since the 360's launch because of them, I finally decided to take the plunge and ordered the Arcade version from Amazon on March 10th and received it on Friday, March 13th. It was shipped from Reno, NV to the SF Bay Area via Free Super Saver Shipping. Now that's quick! Turns out, I received one with a MFR date of 9.29.08 (14.2 a, 175 W power supply). According to what I've read from Amazon reviewers, I did not get a Jasper motherboard 360. At first, I was somewhat disappointed in this fact, but I was willing to give this system a chance.
So far, I'm liking what I see. Build-quality seems comparable to other gaming systems. The X-Box Dashboard seems impressive. Although I've only played the games supplied with the purchase and a couple of demo games, I found the graphics quite similar to my PS3 when connected via HDMI to my Sony Bravia XBR. The noise level coming from the console when using the disc drive was noticeable but not overwhelming to me. It also did not feel hot to the touch after usage at all, but then again, I didn't play for six hours straight. I'm not thrilled that the XBOX wireless controllers use disposable or rechargeable batteries. Sure I could go buy a rechargeable battery pack and charge, but the PS3 came with a rechargeable controller. For the XBOX, I had to buy a network adaptor separately. The PS3's network adaptor comes built-in. The XBOX doesn't have a Blu-Ray player, the standard in high definition movies to many videophiles, but since I'm using it solely for gaming, I could care less. Before my PS3 BD drive broke, I used to use it for NetFlix Blu-Rays as well as gaming, but now, when I get my new PS3 back, it'll strictly be used for gaming. Not taking any more chances. In the coming months, I might begin looking for an XBOX 360 60 GB hard drive for more storage. Yep, the PS3 comes with one already. Overall, I've gotten the impression that Microsoft will charge you for every single accessory separately. It is my guess that Mr. Gate's corporation makes more money selling its accessories and online content than from selling the consoles.
In conclusion, both the XBOX 360 and the PlayStation 3 have a lot to love and hate. Neither system is completely perfect nor reliable. However, they're both good next-generation multi-media consoles that'll keep you rocking until the next revision comes along. I consider myself lucky that I get to taste the best of both worlds. Now to add XBOX 360 games to my GameFly GameQ...
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
very fun system / very unreliable system, February 6, 2009
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
I am on my 3rd xbox, yes, 3rd. And my 3rd xbox just broke today. The first ones were the red rings of death. With this one I put a game in and it says "to play this disc put it in an xbox 360 console". I found out that it's a dvd drive failure. My warranty is up, so that means I either pay the $120 to $Microsoft$ and have them repair it, or throw this thing in the garbage and buy a ps3 some day. I've been wanting blue ray for my hd sony projector anyway. I can't believe a company could legally put out such an expensive product that continuously fails. There is no way I'm getting a 4th xbox 360, mostly because I will have to pay for it this time. The reason I give this 2 stars instead of 1 is because it's the most enjoyable system to me. It has better games and a better online service than the other systems in my opinion, and you can watch netflix on it. So I will truly miss this console, good bye xbox 360.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
23 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
The Always Entertaining 360 for a steal!, November 22, 2008
Fun:
This review is from: Xbox 360 Arcade Console with Bonus Game (Video Game)
I bought this bundle because Im broke, which is the beautiful part because after my first 360 gave me the red ring treatment I sold it for a ps2. The whole time I wanted another 360 but did;nt have the clams to shell out for a new one. But then Microsoft showed some class and presented the Arcade Holiday Bundle. It's the same 360 with a new format and layout (in the dashboard and live segments). The only thing that sucks about this is that there's no hard drive with it!, I would've rather had a wired controller and a 360 w/hard drive (at least the old 20gig one) but hey, what can you do about it. It's a big step up from the original base models, that only came with the wired controller, this one is a giver. For 199 you get a free wireless 360 pad, a 256mb memory card, (which can only hold memory for like 2 games)and a free month of XBOX Live Gold. What a steal! I did'nt really bother to play the included games too much, because I think personally that Wii Sports' version of tennis is a lot more mature, Sega superstars tennis is for 4 year olds and no one above that age. Period. The arcade games suck too, but it was a nice gesture from a greedy corporation, I mean monopoly, like microsoft. Buy it if you are poor like me and cant afford the one with the hard drive, but if you can get the one with the hard drive. Or you could buy this one and just buy a hard drive from ebay for 35 dollars. It's up to you. At least with this one you'll still have money for some games. Well im gonna get back to playing GTA4, buy this!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
