Sure it can play games but is it a "total entertainment package"?  No. 

IMHO, they fell short of the mark when they decided to not include PVR capabilities.  I want to plug my cable line into the box and let it do everything from simple TV tuning to scheduled recording and playback.  Let me throw out that old VCR!!  Sure it works with a Media Center PC (as an extender) but that simply is not good enough.  I dont want to have to depend on the other machine.

Without that basic need fulfilled the XBox 360 will not be on my shopping list anytime soon.  The added value around game play just isnt enough for me to justify the cost, especially when I can play games with my v1 Xbox.

9 Comments

• HyperOrc said Tuesday, May 17, 2005 4:26:00 PM

  So what. It isn't even out yet. Who cares??? Yawn.

• Damien Guard said Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:38:00 AM

  PVR and a console ideas just don't mesh.
  
  Console hardware is regularly pushed to it's limits to delivery the best visual and audio experience. There's no spare capacity to run PVR recording in the background and it would be pretty useless if you had to stop playing a games when the TV show to record came on.
  
  A console also has little need for hard disk space, a PVR conversely needs as much as possible.
  
  

• Jamie said Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:40:00 AM

  The XBOX 360 is a games console - anything else can be done with another box. I don't want PVR features, nor do I want HT features - I want to play games on it. After all, isn't that why people buy games consoles?
  
  If you want a PVR, go out and buy one!

• Ian said Wednesday, May 18, 2005 1:47:00 AM

  I like the differntiation that exists at the moment, XBOX essentially games (accepted that it can do a whole lot more) . Media Centre - does what it says on the box, and a PC allowing me to tinker.

• IM said Wednesday, May 18, 2005 2:38:00 AM

  Agree - PVR is best as a dedicated box. And preferably not a fugly monstrosity like XBox 360.

• kaniz said Wednesday, May 18, 2005 8:37:00 AM

  PVR is just adding feature bulk to a product that doesnt otherwise need it.
  
  and, didnt MS announce the'll stop developing XBOX games right as XBOX360 is released?
  
  If your happy sticking to your current game collection only, thats fine and dandy - but once games come out for XBOX360 that catch your eye, it'll be a diff story.
  
  then again, I havnt purchased a consol system since the days of SNES

• anon said Sunday, June 5, 2005 12:59:00 PM

  "I was also hoping ( before original x box) ~ PC game compatability. "DirectX Box" not playing those great pc "DirectX Games?" .... Pop in age of empires 2, or Far Cry and install to the hd and play away. Thats my dream ms console. "
  
  Keep dreaming! PC game developers also have a market to uphold, why sell ONE copy of a game for the PC-CD that can be also installed on your console? When they can sell TWO? While I agree it would be an awesome feature, from a finanacial standpoint that won't happen anytime soon.
  

• anon said Sunday, June 5, 2005 1:03:00 PM

  oh, BTW, IMHO the use of the DirectX API was one of MS's more brillant moves with Xbox development, regardless if you love them or hate them. You have a league of game devlopers already proficient with using the DX API to develop PC games, those skills can then be transferred (with some tweaks due to the propriatery nature of some of the hardware) to console development with little effort.

• GuisaGuemmaph said Sunday, November 29, 2009 5:33:03 PM

  PlayStation Eye and Sony motion control interface lead researcher Richard Marks answers questions about the company's upcoming PlayStation 3 motion control interface: pcworld.com/article/169398/exclusive_sony_answers_12_questions_about_playstation_3_motion_control.html