notepad.xbox

So I'm writing this in good ol' Notepad at the moment. My computer isn't connected to the great interwebs, so I can't do this as usual on the oh so lovable Blogger.com - so here I am.

Why is my compy not connected? It is not connected to our network for the moment, because our new XBOX360 is! Yes, the console that I have been... Less than friendly towards... Is now one that I own. Huzzah.

Why now you ask? Why after all this not caring about fancy graphics? I still don't care about fancy graphics. I'm running the 360 to my computer in 4:3, just because for some reason, the 16:9 just isn't translating to my software properly, so I get this squashed image. I'm also not using any of the HDTV stuff, nor the HDMI. The games look really nice, a lot better than anything on Wii, but that's not what made me want to get it.

Online.

360 has some of the most robust online features I have ever seen in a console. Not that I've seen it in many. The online is spectacular. From multiplayer, the scoreboards, achievements, add-ons, demos, and so on. Even unnecessary things like videos are available. I knew that LIVE was a good online service. Just how good was not apparent until I witnessed it for myself. I've had it for half a day, and already my GamerTag is on my Facebook =D I've also gotten a few demos easily enough. It's all fairly seamless. My only gripe so far would have to be that it doesn't come with a keyboard by default, which is something I could really use for all the text entering involved with certain things. But meh, it's ok for now.

So what does this mean for RufiGaming? More games to review and to talk about in general. Whilst before I might have been able to comment on 360 games based on other articles, now I can speak for myself! The entire Demo thing is breathtaking to say the least. Until now I haven't been able to play before I pay without a) having a friend with the game or b) obtaining the game in fiendish ways. The weirdest thing is that for too many people, all these features are now 2nd nature =/ I'm behind T_T

With that said, I just picked up the demos for Burnout: Paradise, and DefJam: ICON. Burnout is stunning. I've only played it for a tiny bit, but it's great. The last burnout game I played would have to have been 2 or 3 on the original XBOX that my friend Rob owned. And as for DefJam, well, it's a very interestingly done fighter.

When I have more time and it isn't 3am, I will have to see about writing up my own impressions for the demos.

And in other new, I'm about to go job hunting in the areas of beta testing, and QA (quality assurance) in general. Considering my sudden interest in being critical about things where I previously wasn't is kind of the thing I need to be if I end up doing this stuff. I've had lots of ideas for changes in games, and these aren't massive changes, but slight ones that subtley impact certain aspects. Make certain things more friendly or appealing, and so on. Change things up. You get the idea. I think the fact that the idea I submitted to YouTube got implemented was a real boost for me. Maybe that's what started this o_o

Well, my console listing has just hit a +1, and so... I don't know. I now have potentially more games to talk about? Yes.

Night.