Xbox 360 Launch Guide - Accessories

The hard drive opens up a whole new world for Xbox 360 gamers.  Not only does it provide infinitely more storage space than a Memory Unit for game saves, custom soundtracks, and downloaded content, but it also enables backward-compatibility with original Xbox titles.  Certain titles will also take advantage of it for things like caching, and it will be required for some MMOs.

Should you buy it?  Quite honestly, if you think you won't be able to live without one of these you shouldn't buy a Core system to begin with.  That being said, if you can live without everything it provides then it's not absolutely an essential part of the Xbox 360 experience.

For me, the GameCube's Wavebird was a revelation.  Being able to move around your living room with complete freedom makes gaming much more comfortable, and the fact that the power button for the Xbox 360 is on the controller makes being wireless better than ever.

Should you buy it?  Absolutely.  It's a little pricey and I certainly wouldn't buy one instead of a game with the same price like Project Gotham Racing 3, but at some point you owe it to yourself to go wireless.

Bark out voice commands, trash talk on Xbox Live, or leave voice messages for friends using this headset.

Should you buy it?  If you play on Xbox Live for any length of time or enjoy games that incorporate voice commands (ex: the Rainbow Six series), a Headset is essential to the overall experience and not that pricey compared to other accessories.

Component cables provide the greatest level of visual and audio clarity, including support for HDTV resolutions.

Should you buy it?  Honestly, if you were too cheap to spring for a Premium system you probably don't have a TV that needs component cables.  If you were simply stuck with a Core system however (thanks Grandma) and have a TV that supports HD, you should absolutely buy a set of these to enjoy the full experience.

The Universal Media Remote acts as an all-in-one device, including control buttons for music, pictures, DVD navigation, Windows XP Media Center Edition functionality, and even the four basic controller buttons.

Should you buy it?  If you plan to do more than just play games with your Xbox 360, it's a worthwhile purchase.  Most people can probably get by without it though.

OK Premium owners, now's the time for you to start paying attention as well.  Here are the rest of the accessories that will be available on day one:

Core owners get one of these with the package of course, but should you buy extras for your friends?

Should you buy it?  Unless you really can't afford the extra $10, don't be the guy that sticks your fellow gamers with wired controllers during multiplayer games.  People trip over them, babies yank them, and they just don't provide the same experience.

This kit allows you to charge your wireless controller and includes a rechargeable battery pack, eliminating the need for AA batteries.

Should you buy it?  Absolutely.  If you're an avid gamer and have a wireless controller, this will probably save you money on batteries alone in the long run.  You also might want to consider...

It's a battery pack, without the charger.

Should you buy it?  If you've already got a Play & Charge Kit and multiple wireless controllers, buying extra battery packs is a decent investment if you frequently play with friends.  If they aren't used that often however, standard AA batteries will probably be sufficient.

It's a memory card.  It does all the things memory cards have always done.

Should you buy it?  If you don't have a hard drive, you must own one of these if you ever want to do something as simple as save your game.  Given the high price for a meager 64MB however, you should seriously consider spending the $60 more for a 20GB hard drive (which offers 320 times the capacity).

Three faceplates will be available at launch, allowing you to customize the front of your Xbox 360 as you see fit.

Should you buy it?  Don't waste your money, for now at least.  There are sure to be designs down the road that are more appealing, and that's an awful lot to spend on something that doesn't change the gameplay experience in any way (unless the white console really bothers you a lot).

The Wireless Networking Adapter allows you to free your Xbox 360 from that troublesome Ethernet cord, enabling wireless online gaming from virtually any room in the house provided you already have a wireless network setup.  Compatible with A/B/G standards.

Should you buy it?  It's a great product, but you can find adapters from D-Link, Linksys, and others that are significantly cheaper and perform just as well if you look around.  Even the 802.11b adapters are faster than all but the fastest of Internet connections (T1 or above), meaning you shouldn't notice any slowdown due to the speed of the adapter.

A step below Composite cables, S-Video nevertheless provides a picture clearer than standard AV cables.

Should you buy it?  If you bought a Premium system but don't have composite inputs on your TV, or if you bought a Core system that came with standard AV cables, a S-Video AV cable is a good investment.

Allows you to connect your Xbox 360 to HD VGA monitors or other devices with a DV-15S VGA connector.

Should you buy it?  If you specifically need it for a projector or high-end TV, or have an extremely nice PC monitor, of course you should purchase it.  Otherwise that hardware is wasted.