I've been waiting for a digital version too. 15 or so gigs is a lot for your typical cable connection, and definately an all nighter, but that's only about 3x as big as my SupCom purchases were, and those babies (like most digital downloads) came via a dedicated download server, and with any torrent or accelerator (segmented, simultanious downloads) you can cut that time drastically. I don't know about any 8Mb/s but definately better than the 700kb/s to 1.2Mb/s your typical comcast subscriber will get around these parts. It wouldn't possibly take more than 12 hours on any broadband connection and most PC's can download a large file and still operate at near max capacity without much trouble. Plus, most programs resume downloads where they left off, so timing out isn't much of a concern.

Also most digital retailers retain your download rights and usually your keys for a year or more so storage is hardly an issue. And like it was suggested, a seperate drive to keep your installer files isn't a bad idea for any pc program, not just large games.

These xbox controllers are cheaply custructed, I've broken all 3 of mine. They're durable, all in working condition still, but the chassis are held together with rubber bands and superglue. Subby is right on with the thin plastic theory in my case. Rumble doesn't work in two of em and the other makes loud noises. To their credit they do still work.

What I hate is microsoft used those damn security pins with their screws on the wireless controllers so you cant take 'em apart. This means you can't rebuild a new controller out of the remains of those which came before, and i had gotten very good at doing just that with ps2 controllers (so long as they were the same generation, the pcb has different dimensions on oldschool dualshocks). The wired controllers have regular philips screws, but who still plugs their controllers in these days?

Just open your door.

I'm under the impression that the silver membership is free. You only pay for the gold service. (which you get free for a month).

So far as I can tell you can play your games online with the silver service. Don't ever pay extra to play something you've already bought, it just enables more companies to pull crap like this with every title or service that comes along. It's your willingness to bend over and take it that keeps these kind of business practices afloat.

My Xbox is not my cell phone. It is not my cable internet provider. It is not a credit card. I will not pay every month to use it's 'service'.

Whomever made the point about the ADs is spot on as well. They make enough off of advertising to support whatever 'service' we pay for, or that microsoft claims to provide.

GTA /London/GTA2

Duke Nukem 3D

Wing Commander/Mechwarrior

Baulders Gate/Planetscape

I'm not proud of this, but if I was really getting it handed to me, and I was at the breaking point, then a little pest of some sort (i doubt the girl just waltzed in and kicked over the xbox all of a sudden, kids tend to be little hurricanes and take out everything in the room systematically) caused my game to freeze or break; I may just snap and swing away. Still, I'd like to believe I would have the self control to quit, perforate the wall, or hurt myself long before lashing out at something or somebody I care about.

A grown man can strike with enough force to kill another grown man. A little girl just has no chance.

I want to say I've seen that message before. But my box isn't doing it right now (turok demo dl'ing as I post this).

I didn't know these boxes were so fragile. I got a halo edition with a broken usb panel out of the box. Is the RRing exclusively a heat problem? I have my box sitting right next to my pc, about 10 inches apart. I'm not worried now since its winter and I'm in Michigan. Open a window and it's 11 degrees in about 15 mins. Our rediculous humid summer on the other hand....

Swapping to a ps3 is a good idea. Both of my old playstations are still in game shape right now.

Also worth mentioning: I broke a controller already (3 1/2 weeks) which is nothing unsual for me. Suprisingly (well, not really) Microsoft used torx screws with freakin' security rods so I can't fix the thing myself. Had to do it oldschool, break it all the way (usually multiple peices, messy work) then glue the sucker back together. I've built entire controllers out of old broken ones for ps2, and theirs don't cost 50 bucks.