This is my question of the week! I have the money for it, and a $10 off coupon good through next week. It would cost $88 total. I know that Guitar Hero is one of the best games of the year, but I'm not thrilled with the song list. I only recognize about one third to one half of them. How much fun is the game if you don't know the songs?

I just got DDR and I haven't played it much. I'm also receiving games from Gamez N' Flix. Plus I have a huge 360 backlog to finish up. I don't know that it's really worth getting this moment. Can anyone convince me?

Most of you know by now that I'm a huge proponent of the 360. Since launch, I have been constantly impressed by the performance and game selection that Microsoft has offered. Although I bought a Wii at launch, I do not feel as strongly about it. I believe that the 360 has better games in terms of looks, length, and quality.

The recent announcement of the 360 Elite model leaves me in quite a pickle. I don't really care about the color of my system (I'm more interested in what it can do), so the two major differences are the 120 GB hard drive and the inclusion of an HDMI port and cable. The debate has been raging in the forums as to whether these changes warrant a $479 price tag. I've decided to offer up some of my thoughts on the matter, since I will undoubtedly be taking the plunge sooner or later.

The 120 GB hard drive is an indisputable improvement. Anyone who has connected to Live and downloaded content understands the limitations of the 20 GB hard drive. 120 gigs should afford enough room for saved files, downloaded games, and HD content. 20 GB's has not proven to be enough for most hardcore gamers and Live users.

The inclusion of HDMI is a little bit more disputed. Many argue that HDMI is a better quality than component off the bat because component cables require a transfer from analog to digital signals, while HDMI transfers data digitally to begin with. I really don't know if I believe that this effects image quality or not. What may effect image quality is the resolution you can achieve with your TV through these various inputs. Component cables can only carry 1080i signals. Currently the VGA cable is the only one available for the 360 that can carry 1080p signals. The problem with this 1080p signal is twofold: games are upscaled from 1080i instead of being native in 1080p, and many HDTV's don't accept 1080p signals through VGA cables. I'm supposing that the HDMI cable will allow for an image upscaled to 1080p to be produced on most 1080p televisions. Whether the difference between 1080p and 1080i is substantial, especially when the signal is upscaled and not native, is entirely up in the air.

All of that considered, I'm not sure that the Elite system is really all that Elite for current 360 owners. Sure, the 120 GB hard drive is a huge plus, but you could buy that a la carte and deal without the HDMI. The HDMI might not even produce such a huge difference, since 1080i upscaled to 1080p might not be such a huge difference. So really, the hard drive is the only Elite part of the system. It does not seem too Elite to me...

Personally, the decision is pretty simple. Once Microsoft solves all data transfer issues, I will probably upgrade to the Elite system. I have a few reasons for this that apply only to me, and I think it is important that you do your own research when making your decision! My current 360 (which has survived without problem since launch) sounds like it is developing a problem with its disc drive. If I am going to have to replace the system, I might as well get the Elite one. Also, my HDTV's inputs are a major consideration. My Samsung ln-s3251d only has one component input, but it has 2 HDMI inputs. Currently I do not have any HDMI equipment. If I get this HDMI enabled 360, I can use my only component port for my Wii, which desperately needs any help it can get in the graphics department. If I can sell this 360 for a couple hundred dollars, the Elite system will be worth the difference to me.

I am somewhat annoyed that Microsoft didn't get everything right the first time. This better be the last souped up model of the 360 that they release. That being said, as long as they can work out the data transfer issues, I will probably get the Elite system.

According to a recent report released by video game watchdog group Mediawise, violent video games can cause aggressive behavior in children. Although I do not necessarily agree with this view (for some, it is a release of aggressive feelings, rather than an educator), there are a bunch of studies cited that tend towards this general conclusion.

The holiday buying guide for this year is not surprising. For the XBox 360, The Godfather, Saints Row, Dead Rising, and Just Cause all made the list. Round that out with Scarface, Resevoir Dogs, The Sopranos, Gangs of London, Mortal Kombat, and Gangs of London. Who would have thought that these games are violent, especially since they are all labeled "M" for mature by the ESRB.

I'm personally not a fan of the current rating system. Children under 17 can't buy tickets for movies rated R, so why should they be able to buy games that are rated M? A parent should have to sanction the purchase of either, and educating parents is what this group seems to be about. As video games become more and more realistic, the problems only compound. It just happens that games on the recommended list tend to have a "childish" twist. They do recommend Madden 07, and two E10+ games made the list. Lego Star Wars II is one of these games.

I'll play games from both lists, but most likely more from the mature list. I'm 21, I can do whatever I want. Lego Star Wars still appeals to me, but some of the others on that list are just not that interesting (i.e. Nancy Drew). I wouldn't give Dead Rising to my friend's 10 year old brother, but neither should his parents! Ultimately, the responsibility should fall to the parent. Mediawise misconstrues the problem. The problem isn't violent video games, it is a lack of parenting. If Mommy and Daddy buy their 8 year old the violent video game that has a big M on the front, then they probably need to start worrying about their parenting skills a little more. Mediawise does a good job of giving parents an idea of how to engage the material in games, but ultimately the parent needs to judge whether it is appropriate or not. Even after all of that, Mediawise overlooked some hugely popular, highly rated titles. Why they didn't make the cut, I'm not sure? Maybe the ones that made the list were just the most egregiously mature. That being said, here's a short list of games I would have thought should be on this years warning list:
Gears of War -- Can someone pass me that chainsaw, I have a bit of an itch?
Resistance: Fall of Man -- Anything to do with the end of mankind should probably be on the list, don't you think?
Rainbow Six: Vegas -- Ultra-realistic, and directly linked to current political conditions.
Burnout Revenge -- A violent racing game. We better be careful because those teens who play this might get their licenses some day!
Red Steel -- Why not recommend one from the Wii? After all, it's a more visceral way of experiencing a game.
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2007 -- How can they overlook wrestling games every year? They are ridiculously violent, and they constantly degrade women.
Hitman: Blood Money -- You play as an assassin... Need I say more?

Just look at the box before you buy a game for a kid. You don't even need to know about the game, just be responsible.

In the meantime, I'm getting Gears of War and Rainbow Six Vegas for Christmas. Sorry kids!