Finally, I purchased an Xbox 360. After I bought one last week already just to find out that the damn thing couldn´t read any discs I now purchased a new one (60GB, traded it in of course) and plugged it into my HDTV.

First of all: I really like the console, it has a nice style, the controller is great and I love it how sharp my DVD movies look when I play them from my 360.

I´ve got a load of questions now, though

First of all, I got two games: Lost Planet and Viva Pinata because the big RPG´s will be released later this year and both are 30 euro. I´ll definitely buy Oblivion and I just bought Fable from Xbox Live.

Now, on to the questions.

Braid or Geometry Wars?

Both games look interesting, I played both demos and I liked them but I´m not sure what to get: Braid is fun and my girlfriend likes it but I´m not sure if I like "puzzle" games. Geometry Wars, on the other hand, looks great and is one hell of a fast game but I´m only a silver member on Xbox Live currently and I think a lot of the game´s motivation comes from beating other´s highscore, right?

Halo or Call of Duty?

I hate World War II shooters (or rather: I got tired of them) but World at War looks really interesting - just like Halo. I´m not sure which one to get but I´m leaning towards Call of Duty. Again, I´m only a Silver member currently and I don´t play a lot via Nintendo Wifi connection either so I´m not sure if a great online mode would enhance my experience a lot. Any ideas? I definitely want to get a "traditional" shooter.

Which RPG to get?

I like Fable so far but I´m not sure yet if I like it enough to purchase the sequel. There are also the last remnant and Infinite Undiscovery on the horizon. I think I´ll wait for the reviews but maybe some of you guys have good ideas.

Is Xbox Live Gold worth it if I´m not a big online player?

I´d really like to know that. I don´t play a lot online because I´m not that core anymore. Is it true that there are free weekends for Silver members?

Okay, that´s all for now.

One of my friends and I will play some of his 360 games now (I have to pick him up with the car in 10 minutes so I should hurry ) but I´ll stay online most of the day. Would be great if some of our experienced 360 owners could give me some advice. I really like the console so far!

1. Braid is my personal game of the year so far, but it sounds like Geometry Wars is more to your liking, so it's tough to suggest one or the other. For what it's worth I never really paid attention to the leaderboards on Geometry Wars, as it seemed like most of my motivation was coming from topping my own previous high score.

2. I'm not a big shooter guy, so I can't really say. But I'd probably go with Halo just because of the online community (if you do go Gold) and the fact that I, too, am sick of WWII shooters.

3. If you like the Final Fantasy games (pre-XII), I'd really recommend Lost Odyssey. It's very traditional, which may or may not be a good thing to you. But the memory sequences are really beautiful and... well, memorable.

Also, you should consider Fable II or starcraft will cut off your ears!

4. I'm not a huge online player myself, but for what amounts to a few bucks a month I find Gold to be generally worth it if for no other reason than getting early access to demos. Not sure about free weekends, sorry.

5. Congrats on your purchase!

Get lost oddyssey and call of duty 4.

Looks like I´ll have to go with Geometry wars... guess I´ll get Braid later

Thanks for your suggestions so far!

@Toastboy: LO looks interesting maybe I´ll get it as well.

halo is mostly fun online so i guess call of duty but you cant go wrong with halo
other games to keep in mind:
CoD4
Gears Of War or just wait till 2
Dead Rising
Orange box

From what I have heard (though I haven't played it yet) Braid is amazing. That said, you can't go wrong with Geometry Wars. So either way you won't be disappointed.

World at War looks good, but then again it is made by the team that made Call of Duty 3 (though they didnt have long to develop it). I don't play online, and I enjoyed Halo 3. If CoD: WaW is only the same length for single player as CoD4 was, it will only be worth a rent.

Fable will get better and better, and the sequel is looking to do everything they aimed for (and missed) in Fable and then some. Thus far, I am yet to see a pessimistic preview of Fable 2. Obviously I am biased, but the title truly looks excellent. Then again, it depends what you are after. Given the way Fallout 3 has gone, I think Fable 2 will be the best WRPG of the year hands down. But if you are after a JPRG, you may want to look at Last Remnant (and DEFINITELY pick up Lost Odyssey cheap).

Most online heavy games come with 48 hours of free Xbox Live Gold to give you a trial. This will help you decide if Gold is something you need. (Apparently Fable 2 will have 48 hours free gold to try out the co-op )

Replies above.

The decision between Halo 3 and Call of Duty:World at War is easy.
Halo 3

Well looks like you live in Germany. So forget ToV. But I did miss one future RPG that is Fallout 3. And there is exclusive substantial 360 DLC in the works from Bethesda - and from their history with the Elder Scrolls series expansion, this would indeed be substantial.

starcraft said: From what I have heard (though I haven't played it yet) Braid is amazing. That said, you can't go wrong with Geometry Wars. So either way you won't be disappointed. World at War looks good, but then again it is made by the team that made Call of Duty 3 (though they didnt have long to develop it). I don't play online, and I enjoyed Halo 3. If CoD: WaW is only the same length for single player as CoD4 was, it will only be worth a rent. Fable will get better and better, and the sequel is looking to do everything they aimed for (and missed) in Fable and then some. Thus far, I am yet to see a pessimistic preview of Fable 2. Obviously I am biased, but the title truly looks excellent. Then again, it depends what you are after. Given the way Fallout 3 has gone, I think Fable 2 will be the best WRPG of the year hands down. But if you are after a JPRG, you may want to look at Last Remnant (and DEFINITELY pick up Lost Odyssey cheap). Most online heavy games come with 48 hours of free Xbox Live Gold to give you a trial. This will help you decide if Gold is something you need. (Apparently Fable 2 will have 48 hours free gold to try out the co-op )

The one problem I have with Fable is that I don´t really feel involved in the game. It´s nice and all but the story so far is more or less laughable (or rather the way the story is told) and it´s way too typical to impress at this point. I played the Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata Demo already: Both games are okay but not exactly what I´m looking for. I´m looking forward to Oblivion, though.

@Eagles: thanks for your suggestions. Actually, I´m really impressed by the Bioshock demo. I just have to get the game now.

In general I hope to find a game that impresses me so much it makes the purchase of the consoles worth it all alone. I bought my N64 with Super Mario 64, my NES with Mario Bros., the PSX for Resident Evil and later Final Fantasy and my first Gamecube game was Smash Bros. Melee. I just need a true masterpiece and I think Bioshock is what I´m looking for. Next year Resident Evil and Final Fantasy XIII should definitely be worth a purchase but I need something big now