Comments on: Walmart Bundles $100 Gift Cards With Xbox 360 Arcade

By: Aoshi00

Aoshi00 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:16:49 +0000

Amazon just had the same deal w/ the $100 credit back w/ the lightning deal (EST 9am / PST 6am), but it's all claimed w/in minutes (seconds?). Would've made a nice gift for someone…

BTW, for those who are interested in the Halo Legends anime, the first episode “Babysitters” is premiering on Live now, w/ new ones updated every Saturday. But it's only available for 24 hrs on Sat only, so hit it up guys.

By: Aoshi00

Aoshi00 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:16:49 +0000

Amazon just had the same deal w/ the $100 credit back w/ the lightning deal (EST 9am / PST 6am), but it's all claimed w/in minutes (seconds?). Would've made a nice gift for someone…

By: Aoshi00

Aoshi00 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:57:48 +0000

Good deal indeed, but 60Gb is kind of small (thanks to MS's greedy pricing..), I wonder how much the 250Gb would cost if it's ever made available separately, since I do need the space as I install all the games I play.

Right now I have an old HDMI-less Jpn 360 w/ 20Gb (for shmups and other imports, thankfully shmups is small to install) and an HDMI US Arcade w/ 120Gb. I just use the $6 HDMI cable and it works fine since I don't have a fancy sound system, can't bother the neighbors, I know I'm missing out… so I really don't mind MS skimping on the component cable w/ the Elite. I picked up my official component cable for $20 on ebay back then to play my first 360 game Blue Dragon, my first 10 hours w/ it was w/ a composite, silly I know…

By: malek86

malek86 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:58:42 +0000

Yep, Elite only. And for the record, since September 2009 they've taken it out of the Elite too. I knew there was something behind that $50 price cut.

Good for me that I use VGA, so I don't have any problem. My launch day 360 (repaired in 2007) doesn't have HDMI anyway.

By: nyoron

nyoron — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:56:02 +0000

Oh I see what you mean. I actually have a little adapter that lets you plug in an optical cable while HDMI is plugged in, it came with the system… Elite only I guess.

By: malek86

malek86 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:39:58 +0000

It applies if you want to use an amp for surround. You won't be able to with a standard HDMI, because there is not enough space to insert both the HDMI cable and the AV cable (which contains the necessary optical output).

You can either buy MS's official HDMI cable for 50$, which contains the optical output on a smaller dongle, or you can get the plastic off a component cable in order to be able to insert both. You can also, if you are ok with having just DPL2, use a Core composite cable, because they are smaller (and for the record, the ones in the Arcade boxes have been made bigger, so I doubt MS is completely guiltless about the matter).

Of course, if you listen to the sound through the TV speakers, then a standard HDMI cable is just fine.

By: tim_mbp

tim_mbp — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:13:26 +0000

I was at Walmart today. They marked down the Rock Band Unplugged PSP Bundle to $139. So, I'm a PSP owner now. Not bad for a PSP-3000, Rock Band Unplugged, School of Rock voucher and 4 GB card. Seems to be in store only.

By: neo_firenze

neo_firenze — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:07:54 +0000

Huh? What are these reasons that using a HDMI cable you have lying around won't cut it? I'm not familiar.

Good deal though. I personally had a near-US launch 20GB 360 (no HDMI ports on those, by the way). I ended up breaking down and buying the overpriced MS 120GB HDD (between FFXI, demos, and now installing games on the HDD, I was strapped for space).

I later got a Japanese 360 Arcade for 2D shooters. Just used my old 20GB HDD, plugged in an HDMI cable I had lying around (360s from like late 2008 and newer certainly DO have an HDMI port, including the Arcade unit), and I'm good to go with an HDMI connected machine with a hard drive.

By: nyoron

nyoron — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:04:45 +0000

I've been using an HDMI cable so I'm curious as to what you mean. Does Component give better picture quality or something?

By: malek86

malek86 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:35:04 +0000

Also keep in mind that the Arcade only includes the composite cable, so you'll need to buy at least a Component cable too. Using a HDMI cable you have got lying around, probably won't cut it, for a number of reasons you may already know about.

By: endaround

endaround — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:30:18 +0000

Amazon has 60 GB HD starting packs (HD plus 3 months gold and headset) for $90 so this is basically getting a standard 360 for $190.

I bring up Amazon because many Walmarts have been dropping accessories for consoels for some reason.