There are quite a few games that I would love to play that reside on the 360, not to mention the shear number of market place games that I wouldn't mind trying also. But the idea has been planted in my head that the 360 may only have a year or 2 left.
The original Xbox was released at the end of 2001 but then Microsoft basically rendered the Xbox useless at the end of 2005 or during 2006 as they decided to focus all their attention on the 360. If you follow that kind of time line, then the 360 will be finished and a new Xbox 480 will be out in 2009 or so?
But there is another conspiracy theory that if you follow the monetary price drops, it will be a little later than that. The Xbox was released at $299, first price cut was in May of 2002 down to $199, at the end of 2005 it was at $129. Which is kinda strange that Sony is still selling the PS2 well at that price, if only Microsoft could handle their strategy as well as Sony. Microsoft basically abandoned the Xbox in favor of the 360, which if fair since it is a better system, but they started selling the low end use-able system (Premium/Pro system) at $399 in 2005, subsequently it has lowered to $350 in August of 2007. So doing my gut calculations, because I am too lazy to actually figure it out, the 360 could be around for about double the time that it's father was. Does this whole idea seem crazy? Maybe, but then again MS isn't exactly known for it's consumer friendly tactics, they are all about what will make them the most money.
The Original Xbox was a decent piece of machinery, it does up to 1080i, but more importantly it does 720p very nicely, if they would of updated Live on it, so that it was closer to the new version. Maybe they could of stretched it out for a another couple of years and like the ps2 still been selling well even with it's current system was out there.
I'm just saying it might of been nice and less worrisome that they are going to be another Sega...

Apologizes to those that read my last post. I more often than not, do a stream of conscious that makes sense to me and am able to understand. What I hope to be able to do is to flesh it out a little better as I write down.
I just wanted to touch on my last post, I believe that most of my incomprehension at the cost of things stems from a couple of things. One obstacle to my game and system cost aversion, speaking for the PS3 and the 360, is my age. I was born in 1971 which means I saw the introduction of the Atari Video Computer System or 2600, I didn't get one until around 80. Which as I look back was the beginning of never being an early adopter to new systems and maybe I just naturally think things should be cheaper than $350. And the second obstacle that might be affecting my judgment on system cost is 3 children, cause apparently they cost money to take care of (who knew?). So with 2 of my kids being around 10 months and the other 4 years old, I have had my funny money funds sapped to provide for a family. I am pretty sure that one of these 2 reasons have some affect on a few other of the numbered points I posted in the first post.

Sorry to unleash this shit on any of you unlucky enough to read this :)

I decided to finally make the first post.
I have a few concerns that I hope to get out my head someday and this seems like a good place to do it.
1. system/game cost.
2. game length.
3. getting older/having kids and trying to game (relates to game length).
4. what I am actually missing by not having a 360 or ps3 and if I get a 360 now are they just going to cut me off like they did with my old xbox?
5. Why did achievements take off so well, and gamer scores? I feel like a missed a memo somewhere. I came to play and have fun, not compare some arbitrary number that if I play Avatar is going to get me labeled as a whore.
6. about a million other things, but since my lunch break is over should really get back to figuring out that VB that someone else wrote...