The Xbox 360 is the latest, next generation, incarnation of Microsoft’s ever-popular video games console, now with the benefits of a true, high-definition, widescreen, cinematic gaming experience, powered by impressive hardware and intelligent software. To call the Xbox 360 merely a games console is to do it a great injustice – wired, or wireless, operation, detachable memory units and hard drives, and accessories, such as the Universal Media Remote, and “Xbox Live” Camera, mean that the Xbox 360 is now a highly versatile, and powerful, digital entertainment centre. It’s worth taking a look at some of the available accessories for the Xbox 360, to make sure that you’re not missing out on a truly memorable gaming experience.
Xbox Accessories
The Xbox 360 controller – available in wired, and wireless, versions – is slightly different in it configuration from the original Xbox controller, and after originally being launched in a whitish grey hue, is also now available (for the die-hard, Xbox purists) in the more traditional black, of it predecessor. The original, “black” and “white” buttons have been replaced by more ergonomic, “bumper” buttons, located on the shoulders of the controller, and while the two analogue triggers and eight-way directional pad are familiar, the “rumble” control may now to set to several different levels, or switched off completely, if it’s not to your liking, or you want to preserve battery life, and the central “Xbox Guide” button provides access to “Xbox Live” and other advanced functions.
The wireless Xbox 360 controller utilises 2.4 Ghz wireless technology and runs on two, standard AA batteries, or rechargeable batteries, with a life of up to 40 hours, and the Xbox Guide provides an indication of remaining battery life. An Xbox “Play and Charge” Kit, includes rechargeable, NiMH (“Nickel Metal Hydride”) batteries, and a charging cable, allowing a wireless Xbox 360 controller to be recharged during actual game play, so there need never be any downtime, for recharging batteries.
The wireless controller has a range of up to 30 feet, and an optional wireless Xbox 360 headset offers the possibility of full, two-way, wireless voice communication, adding a further dimension to the freedom of wireless gaming. A single Xbox 360 console can support up to four wireless (or, indeed, wired) connections at the same time.
Continuing on the wireless theme, a Microsoft Xbox 360 wireless adaptor can be a useful acquisition if you’re intending to connect your console to a network, for access to Xbox Live, or for streaming media from Windows Media Centre.
The storage space that is available will depend on whether you opt for the “Core” or the “Elite” Xbox 360 system – with a 20 GB, or 120 GB hard drive, respectively, although hard drives are detachable, and available as separate items, so upgrading at a later date is always an option. Depending, of course, on how much downloading you’re intending to do, you may find that a 20 GB hard drive fills up very quickly, and it may be more economical, in the long-term, to go for the larger alternative right from the start.
A portable Microsoft Xbox 360 Memory Unit allows you to save, and transport, your Xbox 360 and Xbox Live gamer profiles – and comes with a carrying case for attachment to a key ring – so, if you want to play a game at friend’s house, you can just plug in your memory unit, and off you go. The Xbox 360 accommodates two, memory units, ranging 64 MB, and for the more demanding gamer, 512 MB.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote allows full control of all Xbox 360 functions, from powering the system on and off, to playing DVDs, for films (the Xbox 360 supports progressive scan) and music, or navigating the Xbox Guide, and control of your TV, with, for example, volume and channel changing capabilities, DVD player, or Windows Media Centre, all from one, single controller.
The Microsoft Xbox 360 “Live Vision” camera adds a new, personal, element to the Xbox gaming experience, allowing you to superimpose your own face onto your gaming character, and send video messages to the Xbox Live community, as you play online games. Xbox 360 Live Vision supports VGA, 640 x 480 pixel, video, at a rate of 30 frames per second, includes the facility for 1.3 megapixel still photographs, and a microphone that connects to an Xbox 360 controller.
In terms of actual game play, if motor racing is your forte, you may like to consider an Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, featuring the same wireless technology as the Xbox 360 wireless controller, with dual rumble motors, and force feedback, replicating a real racing experience, or a Williams F1 Steering Wheel, complete with accelerator and brake pedals, and clip-on leg supports.
For a real, “play anywhere” option, you may also like to consider the Joytech Xbox 360 9200 Digital LCD Monitor, with a 9.2 inch LCD TFT colour screen, true RGB colour definition and SRS Surround Sound.
The very latest technology, in the form of an HD (“High Definition”) DVD player add-on, is available from Microsoft, aimed at producing the highest possible picture quality from the Xbox 260 Elite, via the all-digital, HDMI (“High Definition Multimedia Interface”) output.
Conclusion
The Xbox 360 is, naturally, a very popular console, and, as such, more and more accessories are becoming available, most of which add significantly to the functionality or ease of use of the console, itself, or add value to the gaming experience, generally, but – inevitably – there will also be those, from third party manufacturers, that are purely attempts to make a “fast buck”, by seizing onto the popularity of the Xbox 360. There are enough truly useful Xbox 360 accessories on the market to satisfy even the most ardent video gamer, without the need for costly “gimmicks”, which may be fun the first once, or twice, but for which the novelty soon wears off.
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