Mumbai gamers enjoy first byte of Xbox 360
Despite the cutting-edge console’s hefty price, the city seems sold on it. Anjali Thomas plays on.
Sandeep Mishra is in gaming paradise. Two weeks ago the 25-year-old BPO employee made a purchase that would help him make the transition from a first-timer to an addict — the Xbox 360.
Until September 23, when the Xbox 360 was launched in India, Sony’s PlayStation2 (PS2) was the undisputed king of consoles. But an out-of-the-box ad campaign and a prolonged wait for the much-hyped PlayStation3 have helped many city gamers zero in on this Microsoft product as their choice for the next generation gaming console.
The Xbox 360 has a 20GB hard drive, a wireless controller and a headset, offering the user a powerful, high definition gaming experience. “It is available everywhere, even at McDonald’s outlets and bookstore chains,” says Mohit Anand, country manager, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division. “A true gamer will not be able to resist the temptation because when it comes to the gaming experience, other consoles such as the PS2 can’t match up.”
“I’ve been drooling at the thought of playing on a powerful console such as the Xbox 360, which promises awesome processing prowess and high definition graphics,” says Kaizad Mistry, 30, a graphic designer. “With the PS3 nowhere in sight, I’m going to invest in the Xbox 360.”
So will the city’s large community of PS2 fans switch loyalties? “There are two factors to consider: your budget, and the choice of games available,” says 27-year-old video editor Dwain D’Souza. While the Xbox 360 has a price tag of Rs22,000-24,000 (for two versions), the PS2 is currently going for about Rs6,500.
Microsoft could, however, edge out Sony in the battle for game titles. The next installment of PlayStation’s hugely popular Grand Theft Auto series, GTA IV, will come to the Xbox 360 later this month. This is a switch from earlier versions which were released on PS2 before being ported to Xbox.
But there’s a catch here too. “While pirated games for the PS2 and Xbox were available for Rs50, Xbox 360 games will cost a minimum of Rs2,000,” says 22-year-old college student Manoj. Unlike other consoles which can be chipped to play pirated games, the Xbox 360 appears pirate-proof. That’s not to say that seasoned hackers aren’t trying to break the code, as a Google search will tell you.
So while many people might wait till the price of the Xbox 360 drops or a way is discovered to hack into Microsoft’s much vaulted security system, there are those true-blue gamers, the likes of Mishra and Mistry, who are willing to pay the price for the pure unadulterated joy of playing on a next generation console with a cutting edge gaming experience.
X-factor:
There are two versions of the Xbox 360:Xbox 360 Core System. At Rs20,000, this version starts with the basics and allows you to accessorise at your own pace. It does not allow online gaming and the convenience of wireless controls.
X Box 360: The fully-loaded version costs Rs24,000. It comes with a 20GB hard drive, chrome-finish console and wireless controller and headset. It allows online gaming and voice chat over Xbox Live.
By adding software, the Xbox 360 can be used to play Xbox games. The PlayStation2 does not have this kind of backward compatibility.
