Xbox live..?

[andyoxon]

My impression is that you buy membership - plug a code in, and it enables you to do the online gaming thing and also download stuff? Is it worth getting? I've done a bit of Halo/Forza, but never online before. Mini ao reckons she'll be able to chat or summat with here friends who have xbox?

 

[Piemaster]

That pretty much sums it up.
Buy membership, either via the xbox + credit card or buy a scratch card in a shop. Your 'gamertag' is what you will be known as on xbox live. Your gamertag is connected to a Windows Live id, think you can play around with family settings as a parent/child via the Live account as well as via the xbox.

Halo/COD/Battlefront/Forza are a hoot online. Halo players are much more sneaky than the game AI ones and its very satisfying that someone, somewhere is cursing you for shooting them.

With a headset you can chat in-game or just with the xbox on, send text type messages to friends. WARNING: On the public servers the language can be a bit fruity at times.
You can play in parties on games with friends (assuming they have the same game).

Some games (eg COD) come with a code to download extra content for free. For some downloads you will need to buy 'microsoft points', again either via CC or scratchcard codes from shops. Son buys the points himself with saved pocket money (and membership come to it)

Facebook is also available. You really do need a hard drive on the xbox for the extra content.

 

[gbb]

As Piemaster says, its a hoot especially if you've friends online. My son plays Black Ops and with his mike/earpiece...the language does get 'fruity'.
It brings a whole different experience...for instance, once i caught my son laughing like a gutter while he was playing. Apparently if you jump about on the spot while playing Black Ops / Modern Warfare, from another viewers eyes, it looks like you're dancing. So he got his team to meet in a particular are and they all started 'dancing'. They all got killed one by one of course...but as he said...the other team must have wondered what the hell was happening. It did look mental.
Another one he favours is 'tea bagging' an opponent. He tells them he's going to do it...kills them (hopefully) then squats over the body, supposedly dangling his 'nuts' over the opponent, i assume as a mark of disrespect. They all laugh like hyenas while its going on.
Online gaming looks so much more fun..i know my sons addicted.

 

[fossyant]

If you've just got the xbox, watch out for the online deals - don't go paying £39.99 for 12 months.........

Ours was registered last month, so 'Gold' runs out on Xmas day........... didn't press buy, or purchased a card (the cards can be got from amazon for about £30) and got offered a 1 month Gold for £1 and 2 free games............. Once renewed, I've been offered monthly renewal for £2.50 - so can do this shortly, and only pay MS £30 per year............ (to run from late Jan) not £40 - so still get the discount.............

So don't go mad renewing, and wait for an offer via your login page, otherwise buy a prepay card.

Got about 10 games now, and aiting for Sonic racing game - that should be fun online (PS my kids are 10 and under so Halo Reach is mine only)

 

[gaz]

Xbox Live is all about PWNING n000bs!!!!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

sorry i've just been playing call of duty.

 

[MrGrumpy]

If you've just got the xbox, watch out for the online deals - don't go paying £39.99 for 12 months.........

Ours was registered last month, so 'Gold' runs out on Xmas day........... didn't press buy, or purchased a card (the cards can be got from amazon for about £30) and got offered a 1 month Gold for £1 and 2 free games............. Once renewed, I've been offered monthly renewal for £2.50 - so can do this shortly, and only pay MS £30 per year............ (to run from late Jan) not £40 - so still get the discount.............

So don't go mad renewing, and wait for an offer via your login page, otherwise buy a prepay card.

Got about 10 games now, and aiting for Sonic racing game - that should be fun online (PS my kids are 10 and under so Halo Reach is mine only)

my advice is don`t go paying for anything on Xbox Live with your CC, buy a prepaid code etc from elsewhere, far too much fraudulent goings on on Xbox!! Other than that if younger ones are playing you can adjust settings so they don`t hear the fruity language from non friends in game! Other than that I think its a hoot online, have dumped COD in favour of Battlefield

now though! Just waiting on the Vietnam expansion coming out today.

 

[fossyant]

I've only just started playing Halo Reach in single player - getting used to 'mouse' look with a controller - been used to PC games far too long - very tricky for an old geezer.

I'd be a cannon fodder noob on Live at the minute.

 

[fossyant]

Santa has our Fifa 11 - no use me playing it on-line - too many button combo's !!

 

[andyoxon]

I've eventually finished Halo Reach as a single player - playing for an hour here or there. Good escapist stuff - Xbox (or any console) has passed me by until recently. The minis aos have been playing Lego Harry P. recently. Anyway, we got a two day Xbox live trial card with a game, so may try this at the weekend, and see if we want to then buy membership for longer (prolly from amazon: 3mths gold - £11).

 

[soulful dog]

It definitely prolongs the life of games if you can play multi-player online, but be aware that it takes a heck of a lot of getting used to.... to start with playing games like Halo or Call of Duty (even after completing the single-player) can be incredibly frustrating, prepare to get killed a lot! Also, I know someone who thinks he's pretty good at Forza, but he kept coming last when he played online - you really need to persevere to get the most out of it, but if you like a game, it will give you the chance to get a lot more playing hours out of it.

 

[andyoxon]

Thanks s-d.

On family settings...

my advice is don`t go paying for anything on Xbox Live with your CC, buy a prepaid code etc from elsewhere, far too much fraudulent goings on on Xbox!! Other than that if younger ones are playing you can adjust settings so they don`t hear the fruity language from non friends in game! ...

Anyone know how settings for bad language are adjusted?

 

[andyoxon]

[QUOTE 1272321"]
I know that during the game you can block people.

Go into the dashboard and have a look at the chat settings. There should be something in there about who you can chat to and who allows a chat invite. Select friends only.
[/quote]


Thanks.

 

[andyoxon]

On Xbox live... re. the points system for purchasing downloads, buying a gamer name change etc etc.

Is it possible to end up with a big bill for something without realising, or can one not download without the necessary points? Just concerned that e.g. mini ao maybe able to download something that we'll get charged for.

I don't intend to give xbox my cc details, but you do have to enter a 'billing address' - presumably this is only if you do buy something on a cc.

 

[Piemaster]

Just stick to 'microsoft points' cards if you need any. You MiniAO can only spend the points you have in credit then, if the points aren't there you can't buy from the marketplace.

 

[marinyork]

Just stick to 'microsoft points' cards if you need any. You MiniAO can only spend the points you have in credit then, if the points aren't there you can't buy from the marketplace.

+1. You can get the cards in quite a few shops for not much more than they are sold on-line. You'll save a bit of money but some cards bought from on-line will take a few days to arrive in a large box which holds a credit card sized piece of card that just has a code on. Blockbuster sell them as do other places.