So I bought a new Xbox360s 4GB model, need some advice

[nasty_wolverine]

First impressions:
1) felt like those micro ATX towers rather than a game console (unlike my PS2)
2) took hours to get started, because of updates after updates
3) was really unimpressed to be honest

Need help with:
1) Can I add a USB stick format it, and use it to download stuff, or does it have to be a xbox HDD?
2) somehow I can find XBLIG, though i got XBLA, so where is XBLIG on the dashboard?
3) I got a 16:10(1440x900) LCD monitor, the 360 shows a letterboxed 16:9 video, can i get rid of the letterbox?

[AntiFritz]

You can use usb sticks and format them for use on the xbox up to 16GB. XBLIG may not be available for you depending on the country, for example we don't have it at all in australia. You can get around this by making a separate american account.

[nasty_wolverine]

Thanks Fritz... was wondering why XBLIG wasnt showing up.

Can I use multiple USB sticks? Can I have 2 16GB sticks plugged at the same time? With multiple accounts, can I play the downloaded games on any account? Also, what about the letterboxing?

Sorry, asking so many questions...

[brentsg]

I think the 360 supports 1680x1050, but I don't recall the 1440x900 ratio being a choice.

I've never used that aspect ratio for the console though, so it's possible there is still some letterboxing with games. I'd imagine they are coded for 16:9 since that's the TV standard.

[BulletMagnet]

I'll add that a handful of the shmups on the system (not sure about other sorts of games) do feature a 16:10 display option, so you can set the monitor to "full" display and the play area will stretch to accommodate it. Some also allow you to simply adjust the length and width manually, though you'll have to experiment a bit to find the proper settings there.

[JBueno MD]

I gamed with my 360 in a 1440x900 monitor just fine, it recognized the resolution as such and added black bars in the upper and lower portion of the screen to keep a 16:9 ratio. Looked great. Also I believe you can use flash drives or external drives up to 32 GB now, per unit.

[Cuilan]

Can I use multiple USB sticks? Can I have 2 16GB sticks plugged at the same time?

You can connect up to 2 at a time, and I believe the size limit per stick has been bumped up to 32gb now, so you can have a total of 64gb of external flash storage at a time. Certain Western Digital 2.5" HDDs can also be formatted with a special program to function as cheap 360 HDDs. I'm currently using a 320gb HDD on my 360 and it works exactly like an official one.

[nasty_wolverine]

You can connect up to 2 at a time, and I believe the size limit per stick has been bumped up to 32gb now, so you can have a total of 64gb of external flash storage at a time. Certain Western Digital 2.5" HDDs can also be formatted with a special program to function as cheap 360 HDDs. I'm currently using a 320gb HDD on my 360 and it works exactly like an official one.

Cool, 32gb should be enough for me for a while. I dont think I will be downloading too many things.

I gamed with my 360 in a 1440x900 monitor just fine, it recognized the resolution as such and added black bars in the upper and lower portion of the screen to keep a 16:9 ratio. Looked great.

What about playing TATE shmups on it. would the sides of the TATE monitor be letterboxed along with top and bottom for the 3:4 shmup being letterboxed?

[Astraea FGA Mk. I]

In games where you can adjust the dimensions of the game screen you can compensate for the difference between 16:9 and 16:10 to get the correct aspect ratio for your shmups. Your monitor is wider than a 1080p monitor in tate, gg 16:10.

[gct]

If you can't find the right kind of WD HDD, what you can do is buy HDDs from the old version 360, people unload them on my local craigslist for pretty cheap. Rip it out of the casing and you should be good to go.

[dave4shmups]

First impressions:
1) felt like those micro ATX towers rather than a game console (unlike my PS2)
2) took hours to get started, because of updates after updates
3) was really unimpressed to be honest

Need help with:
1) Can I add a USB stick format it, and use it to download stuff, or does it have to be a xbox HDD?
2) somehow I can find XBLIG, though i got XBLA, so where is XBLIG on the dashboard?
3) I got a 16:10(1440x900) LCD monitor, the 360 shows a letterboxed 16:9 video, can i get rid of the letterbox?

Nice pickup! I've had my 4gig model since late 2011, have played a lot of games on it, have watched countless hours of DVDs on it, and never gotten the RROD. Very solid build quality, IMO!

As far as memory goes, check out these: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msu ... .253684300 Mine has less memory then the one listed on that website, but it's still great to have!

I wouldn't trust 3rd-party Xbox 360 hard drives; I'd get a Microsoft one. Forget about GameStop; they're much more reasonably priced on Ebay, used.

Happy gaming!

[nasty_wolverine]

I think i will use
1) 19inch 16:10 LCD for 16:9 games and yoko shmups, and 15inch CRT for tate shmups.
2) 32 GB stick should be enough for my needs, if i need more just stick another stick in

Now my dilemma is that I have a 360 but no games, cant buy any till next month...

On my list is:
1) DDP DFK + BL addon (cave catalogue for PAL eventually)
2) DMC HD collection + DMC4
3) Hard Corps: Uprising
4) RSG

I think i ll be out of cash for months..

[trap15]

DFK sucks, don't bother with it. If you want CAVE, get Futari.

[endoKarb]

DFK sucks, don't bother with it. If you want CAVE, get Futari.

Of course not everyone agrees with this.