Xbox Series X | S

[Plissken]

Won’t let me add it to the basket.

[Uncle Nasty]

On 03/03/2021 at 21:49, JPL said:

You lot about to get an X are in for a treat. It’s an amazing console and it’s only going to get better as the games start to appear.

 

It really is. It feels like way more of a significant jump than 360>Bone or PS3>PS4, and this is without any dedicated games yet. With Gamepass I thought there would be the risk of just dabbling in the first level of everything and never committing properly to a game, but because this thing is such a pleasure to use I've actually found I'm completing more games than ever and in genres I perhaps would've overlooked previously. It makes games more accessible and more immediate, so you play more and experiment more. Instead of having one big game on the go like in the olde days, usually the one you bought most recently, I'm finding that I have a good four-five games in rotation and they all get my attention equally. From big games to smaller indie/Arcade titles. I love that.

 

I did wonder how much of a big deal the quick loading times would be, but Christ, it really is a Very Big Deal and massively improves the experience. I still can't get my head around how quick the console is to boot from cold and get you up and running in a game, how insanely snappy and responsive the front end is, and how slick and usable the console is - apps, Gamepass, Store, it's just lovely in use.

 

MS really came through this time.

[MattyP]

1 hour ago, Uncle Nasty said:

 

It really is. It feels like way more of a significant jump than 360>Bone or PS3>PS4, and this is without any dedicated games yet. With Gamepass I thought there would be the risk of just dabbling in the first level of everything and never committing properly to a game, but because this thing is such a pleasure to use I've actually found I'm completing more games than ever and in genres I perhaps would've overlooked previously. It makes games more accessible and more immediate, so you play more and experiment more. Instead of having one big game on the go like in the olde days, usually the one you bought most recently, I'm finding that I have a good four-five games in rotation and they all get my attention equally. From big games to smaller indie/Arcade titles. I love that.

 

I did wonder how much of a big deal the quick loading times would be, but Christ, it really is a Very Big Deal and massively improves the experience. I still can't get my head around how quick the console is to boot from cold and get you up and running in a game, how insanely snappy and responsive the front end is, and how slick and usable the console is - apps, Gamepass, Store, it's just lovely in use.

 

MS really came through this time.

 

Agree completely. I think for those who have had SSD tech in their PC for a while its something almost taken for granted. In the consoles its really well implemented and super quick and makes a huge difference to playing - especially quick resume. I've been playing some games on my old 360 lately (non BC titles) and it just feels so slow at loading. Just wish the games I play on it would make their way over via BC but I accept it will never happen TBH due to licensing etc. Which is a shame.

 

The machine is solid, quiet, fast and is a great place to game. Coupled with GamePass and having some of my favourite games on tap is just the icing on the cake. As for exclusives well sure new exclusives are slim on the ground but to be fair enjoying playing content I haven't played before on GamePass as well as my old fav goto games not really fussed. Main thing I am enjoying playing games again. I have completed more games since I got my X and GamePass than I did in the previous year before getting it.

 

Enjoy your new consoles everyone waiting for one. You are in for a treat.... This is the best console and service MS have built.

[Stanley]

How are you all standing your Series X, horizontal or vertical? I’m going to put mine upright I think on top of my entertainment unit next to my TV, the shelf underneath just doesn’t really have enough space around it that I’d be comfortable with to place it sideways, I’m not sure yet though. 

[MattyP]

4 minutes ago, Stanley said:

How are you all standing your Series X, horizontal or vertical? I’m going to put mine upright I think on top of my entertainment unit next to my TV, the shelf underneath just doesn’t really have enough space around it that I’d be comfortable with to place it sideways, I’m not sure yet though. 

 

Vertically. I think this is what the designers had in mind especially for the heat dissipation etc. Which makes it awkward to store in a existing setup as it will usually need to go next to a TV. I have mine in my man cave anyway and its hooked up to a 4K monitor that is shared with everything else. At least it looks kind of inconspicuous - just a black box so doesn't stand out too much. 

[Stanley]

Yeah, so it takes air in at the back and then blasts it out the top is that right? Vertical certainly makes sense in that case as otherwise it’s just hitting the side of my AV unit and heating the compartment housing the console 

[MattyP]

6 minutes ago, Stanley said:

Yeah, so it takes air in at the back and then blasts it out the top is that right? Vertical certainly makes sense in that case as otherwise it’s just hitting the side of my AV unit and heating the compartment housing the console 

It does....  I think they put rubber feet on to accommodate a horizontal orientation but its clear it was designed from the ground up to be vertical.

[JPL]

@Uncle NastyWell said. Other than a current lack of exclusives, it really does feel like they’ve got all bases covered this gen. A mature OS that’s in the best shape it’s ever been in. Amazing hardware, that’s a work of industrial design genius. The best controller in the Elite v2. Gamepass. Xcloud. It’s all there.

 

But imagine when we start to see the games from all the studios they recently bought. All dropping on Gamepass day one. It’s going to be magnificent.

[Stanley]

Imagine when Flight Sim comes out, I’m not even using Gamepass for that I’ll be buying the all singing all dancing deluxe edition with every bit of content, and a flight stick. 
 

edit. Actually I already have a flight stick 

[JPL]

@Stanley It looks way better vertical as well.

 

 

[Garwoofoo]

41 minutes ago, Stanley said:

How are you all standing your Series X, horizontal or vertical? I’m going to put mine upright I think on top of my entertainment unit next to my TV, the shelf underneath just doesn’t really have enough space around it that I’d be comfortable with to place it sideways, I’m not sure yet though. 

 

Mine got pretty toasty horizontal in an AV unit, even with plenty of space, and it made a faint but audible ticking noise (probably fan-related) which concerned me a bit.

 

I moved it outside the rack and stood it vertically and it's now dead silent, and only the exhaust really gets warm. I think it's clearly designed for vertical orientation.

[cassidy]

Mines placed to the right of my new TV. (not sure I've mentioned that before) 

On the marble grate. 

 

Only because of the short length of the included HDMI.  It looks nice vertical. 

[deerokus]

I am fairly sure the disc drive is a lot quieter in horizontal for some reason. 

[cassidy]

Don't use the gas fire anymore, that's where my poorly dog is undertaking her cage rest as well. 

 

 

[Stanley]

[Jackson]

What a pleasant unboxing experience that was. So thoughtful that they have the easy to remove tape and everything! I remember shredding open a PS4 box a few years back.

 

Now I just need to collect the new TV from Hughes...

[Stanley]

It is nice to open, does anyone know where the Gamepass code would be? Maybe it’s in an email or something. 

[cassidy]

5 minutes ago, Stanley said:

It is nice to open, does anyone know where the Gamepass code would be? Maybe it’s in an email or something. 

When you set it up it will be on the system itself for you to redeem. 

 

Don't worry you can't miss it. 

 

Think it's in my games and apps and called included with console. 

 

But IIRC you get prompted to do it during set up anyway.  

[Stanley]

Awesome, here we go then 

[Opinionated Ham Scarecrow]

Got a series s coming tomorrow. Just kinda happened... 

 

 

[lankysanchez]

Unboxing and setting that up was a complete pleasure, Microsoft really have done well. It all almost feels like Apple in that thoughtful premium way. 
 

Setting up a child account with actual useable permissions for a 5 year old is however a fucking nightmare. 
 

In terms of games, I have only been allowed to observe Roblox so far and that seems to look rather nice in 4K HDR, I must say. 
 

Halo and Battlefield V downloading for later. 
 

Mine will need to live on its side because of how my AV setup is, but I might stand it up behind the TV if it starts getting hot and I don’t need to access the disc drive very much. 

[lankysanchez]

Ps my Live tag is the same as my forum name if anyone wants to add me 

[LaveDisco]

With a toddler I'm too worried about the holes at the top being seen as a fun place to put things if I left it vertical...

[MattyP]

20 minutes ago, LaveDisco said:

With a toddler I'm too worried about the holes at the top being seen as a fun place to put things if I left it vertical...

Probably make a good crayon holder!  

[JPL]

26 minutes ago, LaveDisco said:

With a toddler I'm too worried about the holes at the top being seen as a fun place to put things if I left it vertical...

I don’t think a toddler would care if it was horizontal or vertical. If there’s holes to jam things in they inevitably will!

[lankysanchez]

Stood vertically it would probably be good for warming bottles of formula for the parents of younger children among us 

[TehStu]

At least you're probably less likely to have pads put on it, while vertical. My kids are always leaving pads atop the XB1 while running, and while the grill can't really be blocked it's still a fair amount of heat to be exposed to.

 

After the 360 engineering faux pas, it's hard to fault the XSX. It's a fast PC I've never heard. 

[JPL]

4 minutes ago, TehStu said:

At least you're probably less likely to have pads put on it, while vertical. My kids are always leaving pads atop the XB1 while running, and while the grill can't really be blocked it's still a fair amount of heat to be exposed to.

 

After the 360 engineering faux pas, it's hard to fault the XSX. It's a fast PC I've never heard. 

I always left my controllers on top of my One X. 

[MattyP]

13 minutes ago, lankysanchez said:

Stood vertically it would probably be good for warming bottles of formula for the parents of younger children among us 

Well its already also been tested as a urinal!  (and survived!!!). I'm old but my 360 could almost boil milk I think...  Think I never played so many games when my first son was born and he wouldn't sleep... lots of early mornings late 2005 with an XBox and and him eventually sleeping next to me...  

[Garwoofoo]

53 minutes ago, lankysanchez said:

Setting up a child account with actual useable permissions for a 5 year old is however a fucking nightmare.

 

I actually really like the Xbox parental permissions, they're really granular and - crucially - you can override them for individual games if you think it's OK. My son can play anything up to 12 rating but on occasion if I know a game with an older rating is suitable, I can log in with my profile and grant him permission, either as a one-off or as a permanent thing.

 

Plus it's all linked in with Microsoft Family Safety so I can monitor exactly what he's up to, on the Xbox and PC if I need to.

 

It's so much better than the Sony equivalent where there is simply no way your child can play online if a game is rated above their actual age. You have no ability to override that in any way. Deeply frustrating, especially given the randomness of videogame age ratings.

 

(The one frustration is with EA, who insist you log in to their own service and then apply their own unbreakable parental restrictions on top of the Microsoft controls. My son simply cannot play Star Wars Battlefront online because it's rated 16, god knows why but it is. But that's hardly Microsoft's fault).