I am interested in the xbox 360 BF deals and was looking at the Wally world arcade version w/ guitar hero. My boy wants guitar hero so it seems like the ideal buy. I plan to buy a HDMI cable and a larger Hard drive....maybe the 20GB for $30 bucks. Does this seem to be a good plan? Are there any disadvantages to this plan? Does the arcade have all the features of other xbox's? Thanks

The Arcade is a good buy but only if you already have an HDD. If you can still get the 20GB HDD and it's available at the price you quoted, then you should definitely snag the drive and an Arcade package as long as you are okay with the limited capacity of the 20GB drive which is around 13GB. That can fill up pretty fast with game content if you download add-ons and demos.

That is the price on xbox.com, they also have the 60GB for $100 and 120GB for $150. Is there any issues w/ the HDMI for the arcade unit. I thought I heard that it didn't fit for some reason. I just want to know everything before I buy. Thanks again.

The fit issue you refer to is when people do not want to buy the official 360 HDMI cable and they want to use an HDMI cable as well as the component/composite cable that allows for use of RCA and optical audio output for A/V receivers and TVs which don't accept HDMI audio. The HDMI and A/V ports are extremely close together, making use of both HDMI and component/composite 360 A/V cables impossible, which means you have to modify the plug housing one the cable because it is too big to allow both cables to coexist in the rear of the 360. If you get the official 360 HDMI cable you get a separate cable that allows you to use HDMI and RCA/Optical audio but many users prefer to be cheap and mod the existing A/V cable themselves.

I am interested in the xbox 360 BF deals and was looking at the Wally world arcade version w/ guitar hero. My boy wants guitar hero so it seems like the ideal buy. I plan to buy a HDMI cable and a larger Hard drive....maybe the 20GB for $30 bucks. Does this seem to be a good plan? Are there any disadvantages to this plan? Does the arcade have all the features of other xbox's? Thanks

Based on your original question, I personally think the answers you have recieved so far, are wayyyyyyyyyy too complicated. It doesnt sound like you know much about the 360, so I'll make my answers alot simpler.

1) What do you plan to do with the 360? If you just want to play Guitar Hero with your son.. then the Arcade 360 is perfect. It will play that game perfectly fine with nothing else needed. The Arcade 360 will play every game that comes on a disc, (except 1 title I cant remember the name of) , WITHOUT needing a harddrive (HDD). In other words, the HDD is not necessary to play Guitar Hero.

2) Any brand of HDMI cable will work with any of the current 360's offered. Thats all you need to know. Buy the cheapest HDMI cable you can find. You dont need any official anything cable, so dont let the salesman talk you into that.

3) The only "feature" missing from the Arcade compared to the other 360's is a harddrive. The 20gig HDD will come in handy ONLY if you put your Xbox 360 online, want to watch movies from off the internet, and downloading/adding content to games. If you dont plan on doing that extra stuff, then you dont need a HDD. But if you can get a 20gig HDD for $30 bucks, I say definitely get it. You will find a use for it sooner or later.

4) I think you have a great plan. Any more questions?

For anybody else, shopping on Friday. Here is the FULL list of videogame related Black Friday deals.

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/?f=547

So Circuit City has a deal right now on the Arcade 360

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Arcade-Holiday-Bundle-882224770118/sem/rpsm/oid/225335/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do?linkid=j13459594k31063&affiliateid=k31063&mid=

This includes a 20 GB HDD and a wireless controller added at checkout for $199 and Free Shipping. That's hard to beat even if the HDD and controller are refurbs. Now I have one for the bedroom!

Thank you for your replies. I guess my statement was misleading. I am very interested in gaming myself and plan to play alot. I may download some movies but nothing crazy. I figure the 20-60 GB HD will suit me. But I do plan on definately purchasing the HD regardless. I do know quite a bit about the systems as I researched it a year ago, but have not been watching for awhile. I am just interested in any new developments. I was searching when the Falcons were being rumored to come out. I was just afraid the Arcade had cheaper processors or something. I know they were saying that there were several different brands of components that went into these, and it was hard to tell what you were getting.

The only thing I'm going to add in because you plan on playing games, is that the 20GB drive only has 13 GB available, which is only enough to install ONE game on.

You don't need to install games though, as you can just play them straight off the CD, but installing it does make the system significantly quieter. Personally I am only a "casual" gamer and even I am upgrading to a 60GB drive just so I can have more than one game installed.

I am also not sure if you need the HDD to do the Netflix thing if you'd be interested in that. I think you do, but I'm not sure.

I am interested in the xbox 360 BF deals and was looking at the Wally world arcade version w/ guitar hero. My boy wants guitar hero so it seems like the ideal buy. I plan to buy a HDMI cable and a larger Hard drive....maybe the 20GB for $30 bucks. Does this seem to be a good plan? Are there any disadvantages to this plan? Does the arcade have all the features of other xbox's? Thanks
honestly, there are no great (or even really good for that matter) BF deals on Arcades this year. if i was you, i would do this:

go to Target on BF and get the Pro for $299, then use the $60 Target gift card (that you get free for purchasing the Pro on BF) and put that towards a 1 year XBL subscription card and the GHII game seperately. i believe most Target's still actually have them in stock, even though it's over a year old. if they don't still have it, use it towards a 1600 point MS card, because you're going to want it for DLC for any GH game you get...

then go to Wal[cough] and get the GH:WT bundle that comes with 2 guitars (1 GH:WT wireless guitar and 1 GHIII wireless guitar) for $119. that way there's an extra guitar, if you two want to play together on XBL with other band mates in GH:WT, or just to have a spare guitar one if unfortunately one breaks down the road. for $20 more, it's definitely worth it, because those things don't last forever...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10669740

also, don't forget about the GH:WT complete band kit, that comes with a guitar and drums and microphone. if you both plan on playing, and i KNOW you do, this may be the best version to get. if so, than use the Target gift card towards this and scratch the bundle i mentioned above at you know where. and don't forget about Rock Band and RB2, which are 2 GREAT games and compatible with all GH instruments, even though playing the GH:WT drums with RB and RB2 may be a bit tricky because of the layouts.

also, if you're going to bite on the Arcade at CC, with the refurb 20gig HDD and refurb controller, it's been activated so you can add it to your cart and pay for it now (with free shipping of course) if you want...

and have a great holiday...

Based on your original question, I personally think the answers you have recieved so far, are wayyyyyyyyyy too complicated. It doesnt sound like you know much about the 360, so I'll make my answers alot simpler.

1) The Arcade 360 will play every game that comes on a disc, (except 1 title I cant remember the name of) , WITHOUT needing a harddrive (HDD).

2) [B]Any brand of HDMI cable will work with any of the current 360's offered.

4) I think you have a great plan.

1. It's Burnout Paradise.

2. If your 360 has a HDMI port.

4. I think the plan is flawed as it's being purchased at Wal-mart. As someone that's on their 6th system and had to yell at them for 30 minutes to get it fixed 2 of those 5 times and has a total of 18 reference numbers (+ they called me 4 times and the one time I didn't get a number making for a total of 23) I'd say buy it somewhere that has a warranty plan or just buy that other system to play Guitar Hero 3 on.

Vegaz there hasnt been a 360 made WITHOUT an HDMI port in almost 2 years.. trust me.. every new 360 on ANY store shelf now has an HDMI port.

Thank you all, I went w/ the Arcade. Xbox has 20 GB HD for $29, they are refurbs but should work fine. This is a heck of a deal, I think it will suit our needs just fine. I think a 360 arcade w/ G Hero III and a 20 GHD is a steal for $230. I also got Madden 09 for $30. I was only upset w/ Wally Worlds organization. They told me I was first to get one in electronics, and when it came time they put them on the opposite side of the store. I still got one luckily. I almost had to choke a service manager.

P.S.....Hey Vegas, they have protection plans at Wally's also.

P.S.....Hey Vegas, they have protection plans at Wally's also.
make SURE you read that protection plan thoroughly, because most protection plans at retailers like that ONLY cover what the manufacturers warranty doesn't cover, which is why they're so cheap. so basically, if you get a RRoD, they will refer you to MS because they cover that for 3 years. if something happens to say to the video board for example, since MS doesn't cover that and would normally charge you, than and ONLY than will it be covered under the retailers protection plan...

and i'm not saying this is exactly how Walmart's protection plan is, but this is how the protection plan is at some other retailers like them, and my point is to be sure to read the actual agreement and don't take anything for granted...

I got one of those wally bonus bundles online just after midnight.. thank god.. I didn't want to stand in line.. :D

Our daughter (and I? :)) wanted GH but I didn't like the idea of her playing on our PS3 (used primary for Blu-Ray and Battlefield Bad Company :D) on a Pioneer 60" PRO-141FD Plasma... my wife had the idea to get another console... worked out great.. I think I will add the $29 20GB HD as it appears from the posts above this is a great deal...

I also ordered the $9.99 wired GH controller from Circuit City (http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=206684&om_keycode=8360) so we, I mean she, can play with her friends... ;)

EDIT: It looks like you need the 360's Serial Number and Console Number to order the 20GB HD, is this information on the box or do we have to power on the 360 to get this?

EDIT 2: What is the warranty on a 360 anyways? (I know, I'll search)..

EDIT: It looks like you need the 360's Serial Number and Console Number to order the 20GB HD, is this information on the box or do we have to power on the 360 to get this?
the serial number is on the label right above where the cables plug into the back of the system, and that label is also visible through a hole in the box, if you are waiting until X-Mas to open it but want to get the ball rolling on the HDD. if by console number, you mean product id, that number's directly below the serial number on the above mentioned label...

I see wally made some of those bundles available again online as of 5:10pm (PST) this evening..

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10755904

Probably is Product ID but the link specifically states/asks for Console ID..


How do I locate my Console Serial Number and Console ID

Each Xbox 360 console has a unique, 12-digit serial number and a separate 12-digit Console ID . The Console Serial Number and Console ID are both located in the System Information area of the Xbox 360 Dashboard:

1. Turn on your Xbox 360 Console
2. Scroll right to the System area. This may also be System Settings depending on your version of the dash
3. Select Console Settings
4. Select System Info
5. Write down your Console Serial Number and Console ID

I see wally made some of those bundles available again online as of 5:10pm (PST) this evening..

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10755904
actually, they didn't, because they say it's in stock but when you add it to your cart it says that it's not available at this time. it just looks like they did...

Probably is Product ID but the link specifically states/asks for Console ID..
i just checked, and the Console ID in my dashboard didn't match the Product ID on the back of my system, so you WILL have to power on your system to find out that number...

You will find the console # in the console settings section once you power it up. Go to xbox.com and follow the directions below where it asks for your I.D. #. It was a small pain to open everything up, but well worth it for the price. Good luck and enjoy.

actually, they didn't, because they say it's in stock but when you add it to your cart it says that it's not available at this time. it just looks like they did...
I had it actually in my cart, they probably released a few more and sold out fast again.....

If anyone is interested, I suggest you monitor that link (and click Add to Cart if that option is available).. Walmart did this last year same time...