# Question for XBOX gamers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420 "2003-05-20T23:22:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/1 "2003-05-20T23:22:05Z")
I’m probably going to get an XBOX soon. Any advice on the best (ie, cheapest) place to buy an XBOX and accessories? Anyone have experience with the cordless contollers? I’ve seen two on the market. Don’t remember who makes them but one is about $30 and the other is about $60. Any reason I should get the more expensive one? ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@Chief\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/2 "2003-05-20T23:56:52Z")
I’m sorry, but I can not support your decision. In lieu of the X-box, please purchase a Sega Master System, Neo Geo or Atari 5200. Not only will you reap more fun, you’ll be doing your part to make the world a brighter place for our children. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/3 "2003-05-21T00:18:21Z")
Ebay. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/4 "2003-05-21T00:35:37Z")
I picked mine up new from Amazon, but I think there’s been a price drop recently. And when buying controllers, I’d advice you to actually try and take one in hand first. A bad controller fit sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/5 "2003-05-21T00:46:13Z")
Wait a little bit before buying, if you’re buying a new one. MS is in the process of lowering the price. Cordless controllers vary widely in dependability- nothing sucks more than one that doesn’t always respond right away. Definitely try out more than one model and see how they work. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chief Crunch \* > \*\*Not only will you reap more fun, you’ll be doing your part to make the world a brighter place for our children. \*\* Can you explain what you mean by that? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/6 "2003-05-21T00:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chief Crunch \* > \*\*I’m sorry, but I can not support your decision. In lieu of the X-box, please purchase a Sega Master System, Neo Geo or Atari 5200. Not only will you reap more fun, you’ll be doing your part to make the world a brighter place for our children. \*\* I meant to add in my OP that I’m pretty much constrained by some external circumstances to get the XBOX, as much I’d rather not lock myself into a product from the Evil Empire. I really don’t want to get into what might be a better system. But thanks anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/7 "2003-05-21T01:50:37Z")
Personally, I wouldn’t even bother with the cordless controller. The Xbox controller has a markedly longer cord/cable than any other system I’ve used. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/8 "2003-05-21T02:14:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Mace \* > \*\*I meant to add in my OP that I’m pretty much constrained by some external circumstances to get the XBOX, as much I’d rather not lock myself into a product from the Evil Empire. I really don’t want to get into what might be a better system. But thanks anyway. \*\* As unhip as it may be, I’m going to defend Microsoft, or at least their game studios, cause most of what they put out is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/9 "2003-05-21T02:21:02Z")
Cordless controller’s a waste of time and money. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/10 "2003-05-21T02:23:38Z")
you can try [overstock.com](http://overstock.com) they have the xbox(refurbished) for 140. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/11 "2003-05-21T03:24:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harmonix \* > \*\*you can try [overstock.com](http://overstock.com) they have the xbox(refurbished) for 140. \*\* This looks good. Do you happen to know if the price includes a controller? I couldn’t tell from the web page. ---
**Author:** ![Beer\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@Beer\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beer_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/12 "2003-05-21T07:29:10Z")
Ben has been posting a lot of great deals on X-boxen and other consoles for the last couple of weeks. You should check with Ben for at least a week before making any major electronics purchase. I have to date saved over $100 because of Ben, and that’s only on two purchases. [http://www.bensbargains.net](http://www.bensbargains.net) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/13 "2003-05-21T14:11:41Z")
Beer: Also a good site. Thanks for the info, folks. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/14 "2003-05-21T15:09:03Z")
blockbuster is having a 25% off used games right now. I went in yesterday in my area & some xbox games came to $5.25 each. What a store has varies. They also sell them & I think you get one new game if you buy from them. ---
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/15 "2003-05-21T16:20:37Z")
Yeah, blockbuster is great for used games. Who cares if 100 other people played it? Still works just as well. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/16 "2003-05-21T18:46:21Z")
I got my XBOX at Taco Bell. Seriously. Back when XBOX was launched, they did a promotional giveaway with Taco Bell. Every Taco Bell store gave away one XBOX system with a controller and Gotham Racing. I won the one for our town. I went out for tacos on the last day of the promotion. The manager of the place gave me about 2000 or so entry tickets. Over the next couple of days, if I had a few free minutes, I entered the code on the Internet. By the deadline, I had around 200 entries. Since I live (and the Taco Bell lives) in a small town, I was a shoo-in. Betcha no one can beat that price. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/17 "2003-05-21T19:53:01Z")
Anyone care to comment on the wireless controller issue? So far only one post. Negative, but no reason given. ---
**Author:** ![InquisitiveIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@InquisitiveIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InquisitiveIdiot)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/18 "2003-05-21T20:01:16Z")
> [@](#): > > As unhip as it may be, I’m going to defend Microsoft, or at least their game studios, cause most of what they put out is amazing. Dear game developer, As you know, we recently purchased your company. As such, the game you are currently creating will be XBOX exclusive, until such time as we say otherwise. Thank you for your dedication to our company. Microsoft Marketing Dept. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/19 "2003-05-21T21:27:45Z")
If you’re going to buy refurbished, I HIGHLY recommend you don’t do so online. Most places that sell refurbished offer some sort of limited warranty, and since you’re buying a machine that used to be broken, the odds of getting a lemon are marginally higher (hence the lower price - added risk). If your Box breaks, it’ll be a lot easier to return it to a Real Live Store than to some place on the 'net. That being said, eBay often has used systems selling for $120 or less. With that big a savings, it may be worth it to you to risk an online purchase. Your call. For the record, I picked mine up refurbished at a GameStop for $150, and am quite happy with it. At any rate, the aforementioned price drop is already in effect - new systems now go for $180, and I believe that still includes Sega GT 2002 and Jet Set Radio Future (the former is okay, the latter is pure joy). Refurbished systems generally come with no games. Then again, you can pick up the Sega GT/JSRF combo disk for $15 used, so the pack-in isn’t all that much of a selling point. Be careful with refurbished systems, though - many of them sell with the old controllers, which suck mightily (they’re large and bulky). The new Controller S (which is what the new systems now ship with) is a great controller. Make sure you know what you’re getting, and handle the controller to make sure it’s comfortable for you (I didn’t, and got stuck with the Big One; not a huge deal, since I was going to buy a second controller anyway, but still…). As far as wireless, I have no experience with XBox wireless controllers. However, I do have some Wavebirds for my GameCube, and they are absolutely wonderful. No delay, no problems with the signal cutting out, and no worries about something getting in the way of an IR port - they’re radio, not IR. So excellent wireless controllers are at least possible in theory - whether or not there exist any excellent _XBox_ controllers, of course, is another matter. That being said, the XBox controllers have 8’ cables, so wireless is less useful than for other systems. [gushy pro-XBox aside] I am so glad that the XBox appears to have been designed by people who actually play games, and listen to gamers. Long controller cords, writeable hard drive, 4 controller ports, good controllers (the S, not the behemoth that was the original controller), sensible configuration menus, tear-away controller cables for when someone trips over a cord… Just about every gripe ever made by a gamer seems to have been heard and addressed by MS. Even the Giant Controller of Doom fiasco is excuseable, given that it was in response to the oft-heard complaint that most controllers are too small for American hands. Their system is by no means perfect, but they did a damned good job, considering this is their first stab in the market. I hate a lot of their PC software with a fiery passion, but the XBox is a first-rate piece of machinery. [/gushy pro-XBox aside] Anyway, happy hunting. Let us know if you need help picking out games. 🙂 Jeff ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-xbox-gamers/176420/20 "2003-05-21T21:39:31Z")
If you have a Coconuts music store nearby they are having a sale on new ones $149 after rebate. comes with a game, i think.