Hobbies And Interests
Exclusive Games
While the Xbox 360 can play scores of multi-platform titles, it boasts several game franchises that aren't available for any other video game console. Some of the best-selling Xbox 360-only games include the "Halo," "Forza Motorsport" and "Gears of War" series, according to VGChartz. "Perfect Dark Zero," an Xbox exclusive released in time with the 360's launch, received a rating of 9.0 out of 10 from GameSpot. "Halo 3" earned $170 million on its first day of sales in 2007, breaking the record that had been previously held by "Halo 2," reports InformationWeek.
Xbox Live Arcade
The Xbox Live Marketplace features a growing library of games that can be downloaded to the Xbox 360's hard drive. Most arcade games cost about $10, offering more affordable gaming options than game discs, which typically retail for $60. The marketplace includes classic arcade games, such as "Frogger" and "Dig Dug," and versions of board and card games like "Risk: Factions," "Uno" and "Texas Hold'em." The arcade also offers original titles from developers such as NinjaBee and user-created indie games.
Multimedia Capabilities
The Xbox 360 console can play CDs and DVDs. Through partnerships with Zune, Netflix and Last.fm, Xbox 360 users can rent streaming music and high-definition videos through their consoles. Cameras and MP3 players that use USB cables can be connected to the Xbox 360 for media sharing, and the console can be networked with a PC through the Windows Media Center.
Kinect
2010 also saw the introduction of Kinect, previously known as Project Natal. The Kinect is a motion sensor with camera, microphone and depth sensors that attaches to the 360 console. The Kinect allows for completely controller-free game play for select Xbox 360 titles, including navigation through the Xbox Live dashboard. With the Kinect, gaming on the 360 becomes more active, with real-life movements and actions replacing button pushes.