Xbox 360 or Xbox One - in idiot-speak, please.

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

I've read loads of stuff online but I still don't get it. We are going to get the kids an xbox for Christmas but I don't know which one to get. They will want to play with their friends, most of whom have a 360 but some have a One - am I right that a 360 can only play with a 360? (Is there some clever gaget that lets 360 owners playing with One Owners?)

Also, what would they need to play with friends - I've read all sorts of gubbins about playing online (eg. Xbox Live? WTF is that?) and I'm none the wiser.

I'd rather get a 360, just because it's cheaper - but would this be a mistake? Is a One loads better?

And what about Kinect - this is just an add-on that you don't NEED, only if you WANT, is that right?!

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

I almost bought Ds a 360 for his birthday, so glad I paid extra and got the One. They are going to stop making the games for 360 quite soon, so you would end up having to replace it. It would honestly be a waste of money.

[PaulAnkaTheDog]

Also, you don't need Kinect, ds doesn't have it and has never even asked.

[ottothedog]

How old are the kids and what are their friends getting for xmas (ie are they all upgrading to xbox one?)

[caroldecker]

360 is the old version that will stop being produced soon. One is the new version. All new games will be for the One, although a lot of games for 360 will still be available.

playing with friends: most games have an on-line component which allows them to play with others playing the same game at the same time. Hence can only play if they have the same console and same game. You need to pay for xbox live to enable the online features. You can restrict access to friends etc and be careful as they can buy add-ons to games etc.

Kinect is, IMO, useless but some people ( and v few games) use it. I think it is now standard fit

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

Thanks everyone, this is all very helpful. I'll discount Kinect then, that's good.

My kids are 12 and 8. I'm not sure about their friends - the only friend who has a One isn't allowed to play online anyway, so I'm worried that if I get a One they'll be disappointed that they can't play with their friends! I guess I could talk to the parents. I don't want to ask the kids too much as they think there's no way they're getting one this year :)

Re. the games, I guess I need to find out what games they want (I think some of their are old games so am presuming they'd only be on 360 - do they ever re-release old games on the One?)

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

Just had a look and there are soooooooo many more games for the 360 than for the One (a handful can be played on the One but not that many).

[BuildersBum]

The One will be able to play 360 games soon.
Not sure if it's a new model, or the existing ones on sale will be able to play them too.

[LibidinousSwine]

Its such a tricky one to judge isn't it
DS has a 360 and has little desire to upgrade as none of his friends have. AFAIK there's not a huge amount of upgrading going on for Christmas either but time will tell. In any case, DS has an April birthday so it's an option then if it turns out he's the only one left with a 360 after Christmas.
Have you considered a preowned 360 OP? You could get one very cheap with a years warranty and a good selection of games for now and upgrade later on.

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

The One will be able to play 360 games soon.

I read that some are backwards compatible but so many aren't - the official line is that 'we'll be adding more titles soon' but it doesn't say anything about all games being playable. DD wants the Harry Potter games and there's nothing for the One and the 360 ones arn't in the compatible list :(

Have you considered a preowned 360 OP?

That's exactly what I was considering before I looked into the One! The 2nd-hand 360s are so cheap compared to the Ones. I hadn't thought further about it but you make a very good point about upgrading later!

[PittacusLore]

We got ds a reconditioned 360 because:

1. It was cheap.
2. Most of his friends (who he wanted to play online with) had, or were planning to get a 360 too.
3. there are loads of games available, again cheaply (2nd hand)

dh nearly lost the plot sorting out xbox live, but there were some brilliant threads on here explaining how to do and he managed it in the end. It costs ?40 a year for that I think.

Set very good ground rules about using it both in terms of who they can play with and what behavior (from their friends) is acceptable, and how long they can play it for. Ds had a few issues with boys from school swearing and trashing his worlds (minecraft). We had to help him understand he could ban a friend online (for stupid gaming behaviour) and yet still be friends with them at school if they were ok there.

Overall it was a brilliant investment as we didn't pay that much for it and ds has really used it (had it a year). He has said he is glad we got the 360 not the One and seems very happy to stick with it. He hasn't asked for a console upgrade this Christmas. He's 10.

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

Good luck with the decision being right, LittleLights!

Pittacus, that's very useful, thank you. I am definitely leaning towards the 2nd-hand 360. DS is only 8 so he has plenty of time to upgrade in the future (by which time the Xbox New And Swizzy will be out and I'll be asking the same questions again :) )

[gamerchick]

The only thing as far as I can see with younglings that you need to think about is whether online play is important to you or not.

Xbox360 will not be supported this time next year. So if it's just to play games without being hooked up to the Internet then there's enough games to see them for a while.

[Quornmakesmefart]

Yes I agree you should go for a second hand 360 - particularly if that's what most of his friends have. As others have said, you can only play online with the same console.

The xbox one has lots of features the 360 doesn't, and some new games are already being made only for the One, but that's not important if the main thing your DS wants is to play online with his friends. It is now backwards compatible, but it's not a blanket compatibility; 360 games are gradually being added to be available on the One.

Xbox live has two levels - silver which is free, and means you have limited online access, and gold which costs £45 a year through xbox, but you can buy online through ebay for around £25 a year. Gold allows you to play online against other people so that's what you need.

I would buy a second hand xbox with a warranty, through somebody like cash convertors. Second hand xbox 360s are notorious for overheating and dying on you - so at least with a warranty you're covered for a few months.

[GrimmauldPlace]

I'd say with the age of your kids and the fact that the friends they want to play with have 360's then you'd be better off getting one of those. However, it could backfire on you if the friends then upgrade to the One. Support for 360 is being withdrawn next year, so should you get in to any technical trouble with it, you will find it very hard to sort out.

If you are OK to get the 360 with the knowledge that it probably will need to be upgraded in a year or two then I'd say go for it. Preowned 360's are really cheap now. As pp's have said though, it is really important to get one with a warranty. I'm currently on my 7th 360 since it was first released because of issues with overheating. Doubt that's the norm, but I'm very wary of them!

[Theresomethingaboutdairy]

My ds has the 360. He is 9 and hasn't asked to upgrade purely because all of his friends have the same console.

[gamerchick]

I'm perplexed at the overheating issue people seem to be having... Are you hoovering the vents regularly of the dust? Keeping both sides of the machine free and open? I've spent a lot of extended hours on all of mine and they're still fine.

[Quornmakesmefart]

gamerchick I would say you've been pretty lucky then - I have three xbox-mad DC and they've all had problems with this before. And yes we keep them dust free and well ventilated.

According to my DC the new Xbox One has been designed in a way that overcomes the problem - I can't say how though as at this point in the conversation I zoned out...

[gamerchick]

I find the one way more stroppy than the 360. At least if the internet goes off or drops out the 360 just lets you know and carries on.. The one throws a tantrum and has to be coaxed back into the game you were playing.

I'm going to miss the 360 when it goes offline

[ottothedog]

Ours is full of dust and never been a problem . Still look for one with a warranty tho!
A cheap 360 sounds a good idea for your kids, op, based on ages/friends

[PittacusLore]

jeez, another thing to hoover

[GrimmauldPlace]

I have a specific mini hoover purely for my electrical products and still have this problem! Granted, the newest one we have hasn't had the red ring of death and we've had this one around 3 years now. So fingers crossed. You've been very lucky gamerchick

[gamerchick]

Well maybe not I have 4 360s so they probably get even wear between them

[balletgirlmum]

Ds has had a 360 for a few years now but most of his friends are upgrading to the Xbox one & so we will be doing so soon. I reckon the 360 only has a couple of years left in terms of support & new games b

[LucasNorthsTwiglets]

I have read about the red ring of death and it's scary. Warranty a good idea, thanks. They still cost a fair bit on ebay - one just went for just over £100!