Ask Joystiq Xbox: Orbital Drop Sticker Shock edition

Welcome once again to Ask Joystiq Xbox. This week, we talk about hard drive woes, using a router as a wireless bridge, Error 74 and the price of Halo 3: ODST. Fill your eye holes with glorious enlightenment after the break. Alternately, tell us how wrong we are and provide us with some enlightenment of your own.

Got a question for Ask Joystiq Xbox? Maybe you have a story or some information you'd like to share? Send it all to ask [att] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.

Hey All, Can you give some insight into why xbox(Microsoft) and the specific games never say what the updates/patches are actually fixing. I'm referring to the screens from the console itself. It always says "Update Available, would you like to download now?"

Its darn annoying that I then have to go online and look up what the patch is before I accept or decline. As soneone who works for a software company, we love telling customers we fixed broken issues or made improvements. Why not advertise more.Maybe Im missing something.

Thanks,
Brad
GT: nindorion

That's a good question. It would make more sense if title updates actually informed users of what they were actually updating. As it stands, you're simply given a choice: Update or don't play on Xbox Live. It's not like it would be hard to implement a simple list akin to what's shown on Xbox Live Marketplace. Until someone at Microsoft decides to implement such a thing, all we can tell you -- somewhat selfishly -- is that you'll just have to keep reading Joystiq so you can keep up with all the latest title update news.

Hello fanboys !

I recently had a problem with my 360. I was playing fallout3 and all of the sudden the picture went all crazy, and the image got all distorted. So i turned off my xbox and decided to wait for a while. Then i turn my 360 on, and one of the lights in the ring went red (4th control) and i got this message that said SYSTEM ERROR. CONTACT XBOX SUPPORT, and what i suposse is an error code "E74". I have my xbox for almost 2 years now and have never heard about this error (i know of course about the 3 rings of death, but not this). So i got on the internets an read that this could had happened for a million reasons. Also i find out that microsoft doesnt repair xbox with this error, and if i want to use the warranty i have to lie and tell them that i got the 3 red rings so i can send it to them. I want to ask you if you guys know what really is this error about, and why microsoft doesnt answer to this. Also, i been thinking that probably i just have to get another 360 anyway.. but i remember all those downloaded rock band songs, and one time i took my hard drive to a friends house and this songs never loaded, so we couldnt play them. Those this means you can play them from your hd in another xbox ? am i gonna lose all this songs or there is a solution ?

I wish you can help me out guys.

Klaus

Unfortunately, it sounds like you'll have to shell out for a repair from Microsoft. The company may not fix your Xbox for free, but it will fix it. As for E74 itself, it's a mystery -- often defined as a general hardware failure. Just to be sure, you might make sure that all your A / V connections are completely connected. You could also try unplugging and replugging your power supply. There may be some do-it-yourself fixes for E 74, but we never suggest repairing a console yourself. Doing so will void your warranty.

Concerning your Rock Band songs, don't worry. They're still on your hard drive. The reason they didn't work at your friend's house is that they are tied to your console. If you were to pick up a new Xbox (or if Microsoft sent you a replacement), you would only have to use the license transfer tool to transfer the licenses for your DLC to your new console.

Hey Guys firstly congrats on the 100th podcast, now on to business. Long time reader and podcast listener, first time question emailer. My question may of been asked before or the answer may be quite simple and I just can't figure it out. I have a 20gb harddrive with 4.1 gb free. 3.7gb is currently being used for saved games and all of that jazz and there is about another 30mb in gamer pictures profiles and system items. So as you may of already guessed my question is where did all of my space go? I've had numerous friends have their gamertags on my xbox and I wonder if there saved games would be lost somewhere out there in memory dreamland or not. Or have years of updates taken it's toll on my memory that bad? I couldn't imagine that being the case as the NXE was only somewhere around 300mbs wasn't it? Anyway it would be greatly appreciated if you guys or the community could shed some light on my issue.

Thanks always,
Derrick

GT: Lurchy39

Derrick, it's hard to know what the issue is without being able to see your hard drive, but here are a few possibilities. First of all, you should know formatting and system use knock off six gigs right off the bat. That means that a brand new Xbox HDD only has about 14GB of space. Also, if you have any media -- TV shows, music, etc. -- on your box, they will take up a lot of space. The four episodes of The State on our box take up about a gig, for example. Also keep an eye on your DLC, as it can add up fast. All the Halo 3 maps, for example, add up to about a gig. The same applies to demos (the Halo Wars demo is 1.4 gigs!).

If you've checked all these things and you still have no space, then that is weird.

Gamertag: Crazed Massacre

Wazzup Guys,

My question is about this new information I just learned about Halo 3: ODST. I thought it was said to be an expansion for Halo 3. Does this mean that it will be downloadable content or will I have to physically buy it in the store? Second, this expansion pack now says it will have all maps from Halo 3 included and the new Mythic map pack. The first thing that came to my mind is that this is going to be $60. However, I already have all these maps except for the Mythic one of course. Does that mean that when I get Halo 3: ODST that I am paying for these maps again or is this game not going to be at the price I'm thinking? I would hate to think that I am getting shafted with no lube or even a kiss goodnight.

First of all, gross. Second, calm down. Bungie has stated that Halo 3: ODST is an expansion and is not considered a full $60 game, going so far as to call it a "value-oriented" title. In other words, expect it to cost less than $60. Also, while it is considered an expansion, it has only been announced as a retail product thus far. There are no official plans to offer the expansion as a download. Still, to answer your last question, yes, you will be paying for the maps again in some fashion. It won't be full price though and you will also get a new single player campaign, so don't lose any sleep over it.

I have always been interested in hooking my 360 up with wireless internet, just to de-clutter my front room and help kid proof it a bit more. I am unwilling to pay 100 bucks for the microsoft adapter. I have heard of using any wireless router as an adapter you then plug into the ethernet port on the xbox itself. It may be a bit on the larger side, but it would reduce the number of cords I have running around my house. How exactly would I go about hooking something like that up? I have a linksys wrt54g wireless router hooked up to my cable modem. Any help would be appreciated. If you have already answered such a question, a link to the article would be fine. I could not find anything in my quick search. Thanks.

D Boy Flex

DISCLAIMER: We have now stepped outside the realm of our expertise and far outside the realm of simple explanations. As a general rule, messing with routers is about as user friendly as a rabid bear with a mood disorder. Thus, we will not attempt to tell you how to set yours up as a wireless bridge. We can, however, point you to this article, which explains the process. Best of luck. We aren't responsible for any problems, though.

If anyone out there can provide a simpler explanation (or link to one), feel free to do so in the comments.

That's it for this week, folks. Keep sending your questions to: ask [att] xbox360fanboy [dawt] com.