This is a little user guide for all those soon-to-be 360 owners out there - seeing as how there was just a price drop. Feel free to add your thoughts on being a 360 owner, what to buy, what not to buy, yada yada.

Guide #1: To Buy or Not To Buy - Accessories

Note: Always buy the Microsoft brand. The extra bucks pay in the long run. Trust me.

1) 1 Wireless Controller.
Unless you plan on having LAN parties, 4 controllers is absolutely useless.

2) Dual Battery Charger
The play and charge defeats the purpose of having wireless, especially when the batteries run for so long anyways.

3) USB Keyboard OR PS2-to-USB Adapter & Keyboard
This is obviously only if you don't have either of the latter. The keyboard makes everything in the future easier - especially registering or loading music. It's not absolutely necessary so if you're low on budget, spring for the games first.

4) CAT Cable OR Wireless Network Adapter
I'm still directly hooked up to the PC - better internet connection and it's a hell of a lot cheaper. But, if you don't have Media Center on Windows, or the 360 will just be too far away from the PC - wireless network adapter it is.

That's really all you'll ever need for your 360, besides the games of course!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: budash2,

Guide #2: What games to buy?!
Well, it really depends on your taste. What's your favorite genre? Here's a list I compiled of universally well received games in several categories:

Shooters:
1) Gears of War (An absolute must buy)
2) Rainbow Six Vegas
3) BioShock (will probably be one of the best games of all time and redefine what it means to play a video game. 98 on MC)
4) Lost Planet

Racing:
1) Burnout Revenge
2) Forza Motorsport 2 (This is the best racer overall, in my opinion)
3) Project Gotham 3

Sports:
1) Virtua Tennis 3
2) Madden 08
3) Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007

Action/Adventure:
1) Kameo: Elements of Power (Launch title but still a very solid game, doesn't feel out-dated by any means.)
2) Dead Rising
3) Tomb Raider: Legend
4) King Kong

RPGs:
1)The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (I'd wait until the game of the year edition rolls out, tons of content - same price)
2)Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

RTS:
1)Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
2)Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth 2

My top 5 games, in ascending order?
1)BioShock, BioShock, BioShock!!! (Aug 21st)
2)Gears of War
3)Lost Planet
4)Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
5)The Darkness

As you can see, I'm a huge non-tactical shooter fan - so the games you want depends on your tastes.

Finally, I'd play all of the above mentioned games, and more. If you're just getting a 360 it might be a good idea to get GameFly for a month or two and just cycle through all of those games.

P.S. - Forgot XBLA! Original Titles only:
1)Cloning Cylde
2)Wiki: Fable of Souls
3)Prince of Persia Redux (Not really an original, but close enough.)

Guide #3: Where do I get all the latest news for my 360?

Here are some links to some of the best 360 specific sites:

1)Xbox 360 Fanboy
2)Planet Xbox 360

This a list of the best general gaming sites on the internet.

1)Kotaku
My personal favorite gaming blog, sister site of Gizmodo and part of Gawker Media. Not only is it an excellent source of news, rumors, and all things games - it's also hilarious.

2)Joystiq
Another great gaming blog

3)Desctruoid
Again - part of the 3 sites (plus the 2 above) I visit like an addict needs his fix.

4)GameSpot

5)IGN
Sometimes convoluted - it also includes TV, Movies, and comic books.