Review of Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote

I put a great deal of interest in my purchases. With a lot of extra down-time at work and an internet connection, I find myself reviewing EVERYTHING before I buy it. And only after I am very impressed and convinced by many positive reviews will I take out my credit card. But this product, the Microsoft XBOX360 Media Remote, was one exception having read many bad reviews and deciding to purchase it anyway. Let me tell you...

This remote is PERFECT if...

1. You would like one, easy-to-use remote to control both basic TV and an Xbox 360 that doubles as your DVD player.
2. The only buttons you would need for the TV are: Channels, Volume (TV speaker/output control only), Numerical channel input, Muting, *INTPUT SELECTION* (yes, it CAN switch between your TV's inputs), Return (to toggle between 2 TV channels), and Power.
3. You do not need specialized/advanced buttons found on a OEM remote or advanced learning remote for the TV.
4. You do not need to control a A/V receiver, DVD player (other than XBOX 360), or a digital cable box (Tivo, DVR, etc.)
5. You are on a budget but would still like a quality remote.

If you can say yes to all or most, then don't hesitate to grab one of these remotes. You will be completely satisfied. Especially with immediate access to the tactile DVD buttons versus the 360's annoying on-screen DVD navigation. For this feature it is almost worth the $30 alone.

P.S.
I also own a Logitech Harmony 880 for the living room which I highly recommend for anyone not fitting into the catagory mentioned above.



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Review of Xbox 360 Live Subscription Gold Card

To sum it up quick, this is the best deal you can purchase for Xbox Live.

Here is a quick breakdown:
1 month via Microsoft = $7.99 = $7.99/month
3 months via Microsoft = $19.99 = $6.66/month
12 months via Microsoft = $49.99 = $4.17/month
12+1 months via Amazon = $45.00 = $3.46/month

This card comes with THIRTEEN (13) months of Xbox Live for cheaper than directly from Xbox.I fully recommend purchasing Live via Amazon, but the choice is yours.



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Review of Project Gotham Racing

One of the best racing games available on any console, Project Gotham (PGR) improves upon the wonderful Metropolis Street Racer (Dreamcast) in EVERY way.PGR is extremely challenging, visually striking, and full of replay value and many modes of play.

First, gameplay.PGR features a mix of realism and arcade-speed in its handling that is beyond compare.I gave my brother a shot at a very tight track in NYC with a Porsche Boxster.He was doing fairly well--as far as he knew--after only a lap or two.He is a casual gamer who only plays sports games, baseball and Madden.So if he can handle it so quickly and so well, then anyone can.

BUT, then there are Kudos points, which you must earn by driving aggressively and with style.This my brother would need much time to learn, how to string together a tail-out slide through cone markers while passing two cars and avoiding walls at the same time...plus coming in 1st!Manage all this and you'll earn Kudos to open up new cars and tracks, even extra play modes, helmets, etc.Real skill is needed in this game, on many dimensions.

Now gameplay modes: you may be tasked with passing a certain number of cars in a certain time limit; beating a fast car one-on-one; earning a set number of Kudos on a track in a given number of time and laps (very hard); beating a specified average time; beating a specified single time, and more!In fact, after 5 hours of playing, the game will open up an entire new game mode called Medal Pursuit (in which the focus shifts away from powerslides to absolutely clean driving to beat a best time)!So much game!

Oh, and then graphics.The game is inarguably more graphically accomplished than even GT3 on PS2.For instance, cars in GT3 generally only have "paintd-on" bodylines such as at doors, hoods, trunks.In PGR there are so many more polygons used that you can actually see the sun reflect WITHIN the modeled bodylines!Superb.

PGR is flatly the best racer on the market for those who truly desire challenge, great gameplay, awesome music (including the ability to import your own from the hard drive), incredible 60fps graphics, and longevity.You will not be getting that Ferrari F50 until you've shown some serious mettle.A must-have racer for a must-have system.



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Review of Forza Motorsport for Xbox

Forza Motorsport is Microsoft'sgrand attempt at breaking the strangle hold that Grand Turismo has had on the racing simulation.The attempt is certainly a very impressive one and quite welcome as well.First of all we start with vehicle selection of over 200 cars from Ford, Nissan, Porsche, Mecedes and more that will be available through content download off X-Box Live.With this many cars to choose from, it makes for great replay capability.The game features several different modes of play including Arcade, career and of course multi-player online, also greatly adding to the replay value.

In Arcade mode you can compete in six different vehicle classes.Most of the cars are selectable but many have to be unlocked through gameplay.In all the arcade mode offers 186 races in 31 different events making it a tremendous challenge.But Forza Motorsport really shines with the tremendous career mode option.You start by selecting your home region which dictates the cars that are available for use with a starting number of six in each region.From there you start your career at the bottom in the amateur circuit to race and build credits towards buying new cars, buying parts or making modifications to your existing ride.Just the paint and decal selections to modify your car's look offers hundreds of options.Credits are also used to unlock higher levels of competition to get more challenges.There is also a pretty cool reward system where you can gain discounts on parts from certain manufacturers.When it comes right down to it, the sheer number of option and modifications that you have available to you can be pretty overwhelming, but if you're looking for depth in this department then this is the game for you.

The graphics and sound are just fabulous and top Grand Turismo in every way.The cars look showroom accurate and the various tracks and locations you race on are just stunning!The music offers several options including adding your own custom soundtracks.With it's sheer number of options and great play Forza Motorsport is a fantastic race simulation.





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Review of Xbox 360 Controller for Windows

The Xbox 360 controller is just wonderful, the best console controller I've ever held in fact.

Be aware of the fact that this is the EXACT same product as the wired 360 console controller, so if that one is cheaper, buy it! The only difference is the package (this one is uglier...) and you don't get the software CD...but you can download the latest software package at MS website.

Microsoft making this controller cross compatible is actually a pretty big deal as there may finally be a level of standardization for PC controllers, if most people begin using this controller is makes it far easier on game developers to know what interface gamers are using. In fact, many games are coming with a 360 control scheme pre-installed, just as Need For Speed Most Wanted.



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Review of Xbox 360 HDMI AV Cable

I Love my XBOX 360 with it's Microsoft VGA Cable.
Just wanted to Clear this up for people with the older 360's looking to boost their graphics. (This Cable dose exactly what it is meant to do, that is why I give it 5 Stars).

I have a non-HDMI XBOX 360 core system mfg. 7/2007, the picture doesn't show it well, but all this package contains is a Standard HDMI cable and a adapter that connects to the large A/V port on the back of the 360 and goes out to SOUND ONLY.

This WILL NOT Adapt your Standard 360 A/V port to HDMI.

This product only works if your XBOX 360 Already has a HDMI port in the back and it just gives you ports for audio so you can attach your 360 to HDMI and your surround sound receiver. where as with just HDMI cable, the sound is just coming from your TV's speakers.



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