Well i was thinking about it for a long time, Wii brought me back to gaming big time in 2007, time to expand my gaming library with different system. Funds were the problem in the past, but ive just found out that i got a good payed job for the summer (which should help me with Uni mainly) so i can finally buy another system. Probably in the end of May beginning of June.

Beetween 360 and PS3, 360 is a clear winner for me, mainly due to the huge price difference of it and also the western RPG's released for it.

To save money  im really tempted just to get an Arcade or a Used Pro (i know the RROD but it will have at least 12 month warranty) since it will be my secondary system (for WRPG's, JRPG's, some fighters and RE5) next to the Wii .

Just to ask few questions:

If i buy an Arcade can i still use all the features? (apart from stuff that requires the HDD)

If after buying an Arcade i buy used Harddrive will my Xbox be able to use DLC like PRO or Elite?

Or should i just save some more cash (wanted just to get few more games instead) and get a Pro?

Games that im planning to buy in near future (bolded the ones im getting straight away):

Mass Effect (got a PC version, but yet to play it, im more likely to start after buying new system)

Fallout 3 (love it, im separated from my PC at home, so that would enable me to play again and play the DLC)

Lost Odyssey

Tales of Vesperia (when it releases in PAL)

Blue Dragon

Resident Evil 5

Fable II

New Fight Night

Any other games that you think would interest me? Are there any Zelda like games on the 360 worth trying?

viva pinata,kameo, and banjo nuts and bolts.

they are all great games and they are cheap

You can still use all the features with Arcade. The main features you will miss are any DLC and XBL Arcade games.

Just get a used harddrive like you said, should work.

You seem to be heavily RPG adventure favoured like me so Ill say you got almost all of the best in your list. Ill recommend adding Star Ocean TLH (releasing in PAL on June 5), Kameo and Oblivion. You mentioned RE 5 so I think youd like Gears of War 1&2, Halo 3 and BioShock for starters.

Check my list in my sig for more ideas. ;)

Arcade does not comes with the cables, also get Star Ocean, Gears, Left4Dead and Castle Crashers to name a few.

Wait, you already have Mass Effect for your PC? What are you waiting for? Hurry up and play it!

Also, you may want to look into Dead Rising. XBL has a free demo.

Get a pro.

an arcade version is £129.99
pro is £159.99

for the sake of £30 your best off with the pro simply because buying a 60GB HDD seperate will cost you a lot more than £30.

Theres deals around where you can get the 60GB with 2 games (i think PGR 4 and Sega superstars tennis)

your in the UK right, so just check what deals places like Gamestation and CEX are offering.

PC world somtimes do some decent deals on 360's aswell where they will throw in a game for good measure.

Edit: i just looked on amazon UK and they offer a 60GB with a selectable game for £166.

As for games............ well, with you buying a 360 now some of its older games are dirt cheap..........

Prey £4
Crackdown £8
Saints row £8
Condemned: Criminal origins £6 ect ect.

You will build up a collection in no time and it won't burn your pocket too much either.

I see nothing wrong with buying an arcade unit first you will always have an extra 256MB of internal memory no matter what size HDD you manage to buy later. As for additional games I would recommend Burnout Paradise, PGR4 or Dead Rising they should be easy to find and pretty cheap.

get a hard drive then and then check out the hundreds of demos, arcade games, and community games on XBL. all arcade games and community games have trial versions as well.

Vesperia is a very good idea.. sorry to hear that it hasn't been released in PAL yet.. Have you considered just getting an American 360? We usually get games quicker than Europe does.

Unless your goal is to piss money away, don't buy an arcade. It (and it's precursor, the Core) is called the "Tard' Pack" for a reason.