I just bought an oXbox for the first time (sorta)

[Jagosaurus]

Love the custom 3D printing. Worth noting, I pointed my OGX to a public SNTP server to fix the time issue without a clock cap

Thought I'd mention 2 other notable HDMI solutions:

Chimeric Systems

EON XBHD

Love the form factor on the XBHD, looking like the console. I'd watch MVG's video before buying.

[Ziggy]

Worth noting, I pointed my OGX to a public SNTP server to fix the time issue without a clock cap

I saw the ability to do this in various dashes, but I guess my preference is to always set the time locally. Those caps are like $1 so it's not a big deal.

Thought I'd mention 2 other notable HDMI solutions:

Chimeric Systems

EON XBHD

Love the form factor on the XBHD, looking like the console. I'd watch MVG's video before buying.

I don't think the Chimeric products are available any more. The site goes to a 404 page. And IIRC I recently read a forum post that came up in a Google search for something that the guy behind that site is going through some troubles. I don't remember if they said the site is down temporarily or indefinitely, but I think it's the later.

I did see that MVG review, but I forget what the takeaways from it are. Still, my own takeaway is that I don't think it's worth the money unless you are planning on taking advantage of the extra features. IE, streaming or some other dual output need, and LAN parties. That, and I'm not a big fan of the huge devices hanging out the back of AV ports. They put too much strain on it. This one might be a little better since it uses the AV port as well as the LAN port, but still. Busted solder joints!

That's one thing I really like about the Xedusa+, specifically the new "+" revision, is that it has a normal AV plug with a short wire to a breakout box. So no more strain than any normal plug would be. Although I'm not a huge fan that it doesn't have a proper enclosure. Now that I have a 3D printer I might try and make a custom case for it. At least I can make a rudimentary case for better protection, then maybe make a better one down the line after I hone my CAD skills.

The ElectronXout looks like it will add a little more strain, but the device looks pretty small. So I think I will just be careful with it and it should be alright.

[Reprise]

Just had notification that my Xbox should hopefully be delivered today

Games are on the way and should be coming over the next few days. I now have Panzer Dragoon Orta, Jade Empire, Dead or Alive Ultimate, Unreal Championship 2, Fable: The Lost Chapters, WWE Raw 2 and Shenmue 2 on the way. I plan to go into town today on my lunch break and pick up some cheap titles. Hopefully I will be able to get Halo 2 (they sold out of Halo 1 according to their website), the two Project Gotham Racing games, Splinter Cell and maybe a couple other cheap games.

What are some multiplatform games that are different or better on Xbox? I already have a Gamecube and PS2 and so I plan to buy some games I already have on those platforms if the Xbox version is different or better in a meaningful way. I know the Splinter Cell games were very different and stripped down on PS2 and Gamecube. I plan to get the Max Payne games too, because the PS2 versions were barely playable. XIII is one of my favourite games from that generation and the Xbox version is 60fps (it's 30 on PS2 and Gamecube) and also has a multiplayer mode called Sabotage that the PS2 and Gamecube lack (but it lacks The Hunt, which PS2 and Gamecube have, so swings and roundabouts), so I will get that at some point.

[Ziggy]

Awesome!

Some games probably have other differences between ports, for example the Xbox port of Soul Caliber II has Spawn as an exclusive character (other consoles have their own exclusive character). But just in general, most PS2 games are 480i while most Xbox games are 480p. This wasn't really a concern back when we were gaming on CRTs, but it definitely makes a difference these days on HDTVs. In addition to that, the Xbox version of a game usually looks or plays slightly better than it's PS2 counterpart. For example, slightly improved textures or framerates.

[Reprise]

Awesome!

Some games probably have other differences between ports, for example the Xbox port of Soul Caliber II has Spawn as an exclusive character (other consoles have their own exclusive character). But just in general, most PS2 games are 480i while most Xbox games are 480p. This wasn't really a concern back when we were gaming on CRTs, but it definitely makes a difference these days on HDTVs. In addition to that, the Xbox version of a game usually looks or plays slightly better than it's PS2 counterpart. For example, slightly improved textures or framerates.

Thanks, that's useful to remember. I actually recently got into the 480p scene on PS2 and it sucks how few games actually support it.

My Xbox arrived!

I managed to get Jet Set Radio Future too and for a decent price! I set up an alert on eBay and one came up (complete with manual) BIN for £37 including free postage (someone bought the £100 one I was watching the other day, which shocked me ). The one I mentioned I got the other day got cancelled as I speculated would happen.

Just been into town to pick up some games in my lunch break so I have something to test tonight. I got these:

[marurun]

Thanks, that's useful to remember. I actually recently got into the 480p scene on PS2 and it sucks how few games actually support it.

I always found the poor 480p support on PS2 confusing given just how well-supported 480p gaming was on Dreamcast.

[Reprise]

This EvolutionX crap is shite. There's no options like the default dashboard has. Why the hell did people use it? I know it was an old mod, but this is garbage. People used this basic thing just to add games to the hard drive and pirate them?

How do I access the hard drive to delete files? I can't seem to be able to.

How do I select 50hz and 60hz? I can't seem to be able to do it (I am on a PAL Xbox and I seem to recall we had it as an option in the default dash). Maybe it is already outputting in 60hz, but I have no idea. You need the option to switch anyways, as not all PAL games run properly at 60hz. It has a video output thing, but it's stuck on PAL. I can change region, but I assume that just changes what region discs I can load.

How do I play audio CDs and rip them? I can't seem to access a media player or anything.

All I have on the menu is:

- launch disc
- settings

Settings is full of so much crap, like hard drive partitions and all sorts.

Ugh.

I assume I can put something better on instead or put the default dash back on, but the stuff online sounds soooo complicated.

Anyways grumpiness aside, it does work

I put a game in and it works. So yay! I might not be able to rip my music CDs so I can have a sweet custom playlist on Project Gotham Racing or access the hard drive/file manager to delete files to make room, but I can play some games at least.

Oh and I can't seem to get audio discs to work and there's no disc ripper?

Edit: Ok, this is interesting. My Project Gotham Racing file when I go to load my game informs me that the video output is set to 60hz. That's good to know at least. I was worried I was stuck on 50hz.

[Reprise]

Ok, looking into it, I should have other options perhaps, such as an option to boot the original MS dashboard, something about trainers (what the hell is "trainers"?) and other things, but I just have launch disc and system settings. That's it. I'll post a photo some time tomorrow to show what I mean.

I have been googling this most of the evening and none the wiser. I can find one freaking link on the whole of Google of someone saying they messed something up and now only have those two options and no one helped them. Someone explain it to me like I am 5 yeas old

What am I supposed to do? Everyone's like "oh yeah, just go to your FTP and edit your thing and then install this and then download that and then edit this file.... Or just burn Slayers 4564 onto DVD and run through the installation... Jesus Christ

I mean it does play games, which is all I really want, but I don't want to not get the full functionality out of the thing. The stock dashboard has basic settings like changing the time, date, video settings, media player and file manager etc that I am missing.

Connecting my Xbox to my router with an ethernet will be a bitch, because it's about 4 miles away from my television. I have no idea how to get it online. I don't understand how to connect to it via FTP (I meddled with that stuff like a decade ago, if not longer, on other devices), and have no idea what I am supposed to be doing.

Oh and I don't even own a decent computer, don't even have a DVD burner or disc drive, so that's no good if I need to do anything with that.

All I want is full functionality from my Xbox without needing to do anything complicated. Any ideas?

[Ziggy]

This EvolutionX crap is shite. There's no options like the default dashboard has. Why the hell did people use it? I know it was an old mod, but this is garbage. People used this basic thing just to add games to the hard drive and pirate them?

I've never used EvoX as my main dash before, I've only used it once for the BIOS flash function, so I can't really comment on it overall. But yeah, just from my limited use with it, I think there are better options. FYI you should be able to boot into the original MS dashboard from EvoX, it should be one of the options.

You should be able able to install something else without much effort. Trust me, I know there's a lot of info out there to sort through and to catch up with. But there are install discs these days that make it really easy.

How do I access the hard drive to delete files? I can't seem to be able to.

I would install the latest UnleashX dashboard, that has a file browser. And it's better all around. On the stock MS dashboard, you can really only access save game data. On a custom dash like UnleashX, you have a file browser and can access the HDD in full. But be careful, you can brick your console if you delete the wrong files.

How do I select 50hz and 60hz?

To be honest, living in the USA, I tend to ignore any info I come across regarding switching video modes. That said, I'm not sure if you can switch between 50 and 60hz output. At least, on the Gamecube I know that is software controlled. On the Xbox, I know you can switch between NTSC and PAL output. But if you can ouptut 420p then a previous owner might have already switched it. But yeah, you just need an app that can change the video output for you.

https://consolemods.org/wiki/Xbox:Enigmah-X

How do I play audio CDs and rip them? I can't seem to access a media player or anything.

IIRC, on the original MS dash if you insert an audio CD it'll auto load it and you have the option to rip it to the HDD from there. I'm not sure about custom dashboards, because I have yet to rip an audio CD.

I assume I can put something better on instead or put the default dash back on, but the stuff online sounds soooo complicated.

Yeah, go with UnleashX for now. I think it's the perfect blend of easy to use and features available. FYI, there is a really easy way to restore the console to stock but have the needed game save files to run an exploit should you want to re-soft mod it in the future. But I would just install the latest UnleashX and leave it like that.

https://github.com/Rocky5/Xbox-Softmodd ... me-ov-file

The above link... Scroll down to "download prebuilt version" which is a Google drive link. Click on the Extras Disk folder. Then download that ISO and burn it to a DVD. Put the DVD in your Xbox and boot it. One benefit of the EvoX dash is that it'll load burned DVDs. When that disc loads, you will have a menu.

Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zdg9-ydqt8

After watching this video, you will see that it's really easy using this disc to update your softmod and install the latest UnleashX dash. Aside from making it easy, there are other benefits of using this disc. IIRC, it set up your Xbox with a "shadow C" drive, meaning if you go to the file explorer it will be impossible to delete any files that would brick your console. The disc also has extras like apps, including Enigmah-X mentioned above.

I know the modding scene has a crap ton of info and it's kinda daunting for a newcomer. But luckily for you, I just recently went through this myself. I don't know everything, but what I do know is still fresh in my mind. So if you need any help with anything, just ask!

[Ziggy]

Connecting my Xbox to my router with an ethernet will be a bitch, because it's about 4 miles away from my television. I have no idea how to get it online. I don't understand how to connect to it via FTP (I meddled with that stuff like a decade ago, if not longer, on other devices), and have no idea what I am supposed to be doing.

Oh and I don't even own a decent computer, don't even have a DVD burner or disc drive, so that's no good if I need to do anything with that.

All I want is full functionality from my Xbox without needing to do anything complicated. Any ideas?

I'm sure we can figure this out for you.

IIRC there are ways to use a WiFi adapter with the Xbox. But as I don't have the need for this, it's not something I've looked into. That said, I don't think it's really that hard to set up if you wanted to go this route.

Do you have a laptop? If so, you can bring it close to your Xbox and use a crossover cable to FTP to it. Very easy to do.

If you don't have a DVD burner, you can get a USB one to use on any desktop or laptop. But if you have a laptop that you can use to FTP to your Xbox, then you can update the softmod/dash that way and forgo the DVD. But the DVD is definitely easier. Do you have anyone you know with a burner that can burn the disc for you? Worst case scenario, I can mail you the burned DVD if you can't figure anything else out.

FYI, the "Slayers disc" is one of many setup discs available. But for your needs, I think the Rocky5 disc I linked is what you want.

Here's a video on how to use that extras disc without having to burn the disc (requires the ability to FTP): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ipCwkM6Hqo