First off, I will admit that I have a 360 and love it.  It has been well worth it in my opinion.

But $450 is for the Elite.  You don't need that one.  It has the 120 gig hard drive.  If you go for the "Pro", which is the one that comes with the 20 gig hard drive, that is plenty.  That version is $350.  But, yes, you don't want to go the most basic version, the "Core".  It is affectionately been known as the "tard pack" as in retard.  The hard drive really is the key for saved games, downloading demos, XBox live arcade games, etc.  And it is overall cheaper to get the Pro with the 20 gig HD than to get the core and add on a hard drive and wireless controller later.

And it is overall cheaper to get the Pro with the 20 gig HD than to get the core and add on a hard drive and wireless controller later.

That is great info..thanks!  I am forwarding your reply to my husband...heh.

 

Definitely hip.

As suggested by BlueDev, skip the Elite.  You don't need the extra stuff on it for basic gaming.  Get the Pro or Premium (whatever the name is that they put on it).

The Core box is ok for gaming, but you wind up having to purchase a memory card and you get a wired gaming controller instead of wireless.  By the time you add even a few things to the core system you could have gotten the Pro/Premium and saved money.

For an 11 year old you should be aware that you'll need to do some monitoring of the gaming that is done.  As noted when you run the games "game experience may change during online play."  Mostly that means that idiots will be cursing a blue streak, calling things in the game g-hey (pronounced G-A-Y), talking about f--k this, and f--k that, etc.  Some of the games can be a bit violent (onscreen gore and violence depicted) but a well adjusted child with a little management and guidance from parents should be fine.

You can mute other game players if you are using the headphones, or better yet plug in the headphones and leave them muted on your side and just don't even put them on for playing.  You miss the trash talking that way and need not worry about what others may be doing.

Finally, be aware that thanks to the Vision camera add-on players may run into some complete morons online.  Morons that will send obscene images taken with those cameras, or morons that leave the cameras plugged in and then try making their own real-time pr0n (p-o-r-n) movies to entertain and/or disgust the people on the other side of the net.  Some games let the players see other players images from the cameras, games you would think would be friendly, sociable, harmless games.  Games like Uno (the card game).  What should be a nice friendly atmosphere can take a turn for the worst very quickly so again, parental supervision is useful. 

Finally, be aware that thanks to the Vision camera add-on players may run into some complete morons online.

Whoa.  Is there a way to disable it?  Or block it?

Thanks Terp...great advice.

Yes, there is. You can disable it, like the microphone

I have never run into problems with the camera.  Then again, I don't use it to chat other than to send game invites to friends and don't play games that really use the camera.

Most importantly, be involved.  Know what games he wants to play and seek advice about whether or not they are appropriate.  Some of my favorite games I wouldn't let my 11 year old play, so ask around.  I think there are enough here who game to give you a decent idea if a game is appropriate for that age or not, or at least we can let you know what the game entails so you can decide if it is appropriate.

Also, be aware that to play with friends online requires a high speed connection and a subscription ($50 for 13 months if you buy the sub card in the store).  You can play with other people on the same console with many games (though that will require a $40-50 controller) without having to buy the subscription, but you do need to pay extra to play online.

Yes, there is. You can disable it, like the microphone

Cool beans.  Thanks.

be aware that to play with friends online requires a high speed connection and a subscription ($50 for 13 months if you buy the sub card in the store)

That little rat told me it was free with the 360.  But he probably meant Halo 2?  Shesh.  Gaming gets you coming and going doesn't it?  heh

be involved. Know what games he wants to play and seek advice about whether or not they are appropriate

Right now the only thing he wants to play is Halo 3.  But he keeps his door open and I check in on him a lot.  Sometimes I just go sit and read in his room while he plays.  He is only allowed to play on the weekends.

 

Are there any games right off the top of your head that you don't think are age appropriate?  If we pick up the system and some games then I will know which ones to avoid..heh.

 

Are there any games right off the top of your head that you don't think are age appropriate? If we pick up the system and some games then I will know which ones to avoid..heh.

Most of the games rated M deserve it.  Gears of War is one of my favorites, but it is very violent, bloody and has some harsh language.  You can turn off the language and blood, but that does nothing for the fact that it is really gritty and violent.  For some reason I found it more violent than the Halo games, though you spend the entire game killing baddies in both.

The Darkness is a bit violent and dark for that age.  Dead Rising is definately too violent, though in a bit more of a campy way, it is basically killing zombies in a mall any way you can.  Saints Row is definately out.  Vulgar, violent, it is basically gang wars.

Hi,

I have an 11 year old and 8 year old sons, we got an XBOX 360 last year at christmas time.

For the most part it has been worth it. (They have both Halo and Halo 2, but I have not bought Halo 3... yet )

It can be tough finding truly age appropriate games, though it is getting easier. If it was only for an 11 year old I would not be as concerned though.

As said above the now $350 version is a good place to start, if you have a CostCo or Sam's membership they will sometimes have game packs that cost a little more but come with a second wireless controller, a microphone, and a recharge kit for the wireless controllers.

Be warned that new games run $60, and their price will take usually 6 months or more to fall (longer for popular games).

There are two levels of Xbox Live (the online service) Silver which is free and can be used to download demos (which can be cool), videos and other items like TV shows. Then the Gold service is what costs, $50 for 12-13 months is the best deal and it gets more expensive per month as you buy it for smaller increments. (a one month trial card usually comes with purchase.) Gold is only for playing others online. My wife and I decided that the boys are too young to play online at this time and so we don't let them have an online account, they have not complained once about that.

The system crashed once last May, Microsoft paid for shipping and I sent it in and they sent me a new system for free, with another one month Gold trial card. It can play some ( and most of the popular ) old xbox games. So that is another nice addition.

If you have any other questions let me know.

Hey...my birthday's in April...so...

~Zoo

Hey...my birthday's in April...so...

So what are you saying?  You are willing to use some student loan money to buy my kid a 360..right?  I know you couldn't possibly be suggesting anything else.

Be warned that new games run $60, and their price will take usually 6 months or more to fall (longer for popular games).

OUCH!

Good grief.  When I was 11 I BEGGED my dad for a $25 pair of Nikes.  It was the most expensive thing he ever gave me besides a guitar.  He never bought me another pair. 

There are two levels of Xbox Live (the online service) Silver which is free and can be used to download demos (which can be cool), videos and other items like TV shows. Then the Gold service is what costs, $50 for 12-13 months is the best deal and it gets more expensive per month as you buy it for smaller increments

Ah this must be what he was talking about.  The free one and then the not so free one.  Gotchya.

As said above the now $350 version is a good place to start, if you have a CostCo or Sam's membership they will sometimes have game packs that cost a little more but come with a second wireless controller, a microphone, and a recharge kit for the wireless controllers.

Oh that's great info...thank you.  Will check Sams first.

The Darkness is a bit violent and dark for that age. Dead Rising is definately too violent, though in a bit more of a campy way, it is basically killing zombies in a mall any way you can. Saints Row is definately out. Vulgar, violent, it is basically gang wars.

Thanks so much.  I made a list.  It's so nice to have someone who actually plays be able to say...yeah its M for this...because when I ask my son its always...just blood mom.  Yeah right.

 

Halo 3 is free to play online for the first 32 days.

You get a free 48 hour invitation to try it, then when you sign up for the Xbox live gold account, you get another 1 month trial that reverts to the silver level after 1 month. Silver is the "free" one. You can chat, download extra content, etc. but not participate in the games. So the Xbox Live is free, but to play halo3 after 32 days is not

So the Xbox Live is free, but to play halo3 after 32 days is not

Got it.  Thanks.

They have only just recently come out with the Elite version of the 360.  That's the one everyone is telling you to not get.  I'd agree that, for an 11 year old, it's probably not necessary.  When shopping, you'll know it's the one not to get because it'll be black instead of white.  This can help you to quickly narrow down what you are looking for.

I have had the Xbox 360 version everyone here is suggesting for awhile now.  I like it, and it sure is nice having the harddrive and wireless controllers. 

I have paid for the online service since the day I got it.  It's $50 a year, so like a bit over $4 a month... not too bad really.

Wireless controllers run on 2-AA batteries, and they come with a set.  But unless you want to be buying AA's everytime you turn around, you should get the Xbox 360 Quick Charge Kit:  http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360quickchargekit/default.htm which comes with a rechargable battery pack, but is capable of charging two at once.  It's a charging stand that you plug into the wall.  I have one, and it's much nicer than having to replace AA's all the time.  You can pick up more rechargable battery packs for like $12 a piece: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360rechargebatterypack/ at most electronic stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.).  But like I said, it comes with one, so you should be good if it's just your son playing.

As an alternative to the Quick Charge Kit, you could get the cheaper recharge solution: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/x/xbox360playchargekit/default.htm  It's called the Play And Charge Kit, and basically, it's a cord that you plug into your 360 then into your controller.  It recharges your battery pack while you play.  Unfortunately it makes a wireless controller effectively wired while it recharges.  For some people this is not a big deal.  It just depends on the person.  It uses the same rechargable battery packs as the Quick Charge kit, and comes with one as well.  It costs $10 less, but can only charge one battery pack at a time.

New games almost always start out at $60.  But, as was already pointed out, you can get them cheaper if you don't buy them at release.  Wait a few months and see what happens.  The day-after Thanksgiving would be a good day to plan to buy games.  Sometimes they are advertised for as much as 50% off!

Anyway, I've been very happy with my Xbox 360 and would definitely recommend it.

~C

You are willing to use some student loan money to buy my kid a 360..right?

Yeah...just let me sell one of these extra organs and I'll get right on it.

~Zoo