Xbox Live: The Features

Over the next couple of months, we'll be taking a closer look at what makes the Xbox Live service so phenomenal.  We know many of you have been waiting eagerly for the promise of online console gaming to be fulfilled, and this fall, it will be.  We also think you may be tired of hearing dueling press releases and hype.  So we're going to take you inside the Xbox Live team and the hard work that has gone into making the service a reality.  Why would you want to take time to read these articles?  We're glad you asked.  Here's what playing on Xbox Live will mean to you.

First off, you don't need to upgrade your Xbox game system. You don't need to convince your friends to upgrade their consoles, either.  The Xbox console was built from the ground up to be an online gaming system. There's a hard drive and Ethernet port built in another example of how we packed our console with gaming goodness.  Sure, it cost us extra to put them in.  But check out what we're doing with it!

Sign up just once and access Xbox Live games with your unique name, or Gamertag. You don't have to start over with each new game you buy. You don't have to adjust to a different online experience with each game you play. You always join the online community with the same name and the same reputation you've worked hard to get. You'll start recognizing other players and making new friends. Learn from each other and you may even start climbing the rankings together. 

How do you know you're playing a real person? Listen for the taunts of victory and groans of defeat. The Xbox Live Communicator headset allows you to use your voice like never before. The headset allows for games to do really amazing things, like changing the sound of your voice.  Want to intimidate your opponents with a deep, threatening voice?  Always wish you could sound like a robot?  It's easy to do.  Did your parents tell you not to talk to strangers?  Chat only with your friends while you play.  Shout out strategic commands to your teammates it's way faster than trying to type them. (Do try to mute yourself before muttering about their incompetence.)  If your game character is in a cave, your voice could echo off the walls. Catch up with old friends while you play.  Who knew chatting with distant relatives could be this fun?

Xbox Live allows you to add other gamers to your Friends List. Enjoy competing with a particular player? Invite them to be your friend with a couple button presses from the pause menu. It's also easy to see if your friends are online and even what game they're playing. If they're already in a game, you can send them an invitation to join you. Of course, you can always delete your friends from the list if they're not what you expected. No worries, though - you're going to make so many new friends when you go Live that your old friends had better behave themselves.

Playing an Xbox Live game with friends is fast. Just choose an Xbox game that is online-enabled. Start the game and select Play Live. Sign in and have Xbox Live matchmaking find your favorite style of gameplay. It may seem like luck the first time you find a perfect game match. Don't be fooled it's the result of our skilled team sweating the details, all for you. (More on our skilled team in the coming weeks.)

 

Want the first available game so you can play right away?
We've got that.

 

Want to look for a specific map or game type?

 

Don't like laggy, choppy gaming?

Feel like teaming up with friends and ambushing an unsuspecting group of strangers?

Looking for opponents who are your skill level?
Of course.

 

Whatever you choose, Xbox Live takes care of the set-up so you can save your energy for the important stuff having fun, winning games, and talking trash!

Have you ever beaten a game that you really liked and gotten tired of it soon afterwards?  Did you obtain every last item and finish every last quest?  You may have gotten used to waiting a few years for the sequel to come out.  Well, Xbox Live may ease some of that pain.  With the ability to download new content from our servers, games may never get old.  Imagine new cars, drivers, and race courses for your racing game.  Maybe that first person shooter could use a new weapon, character skin, or capture-the-flag map.  Role playing games could continually get new spells, equipment, or quests.  Almost anything's possible.  It's sort of like getting an expansion pack, but you choose only what you want.  Why only get cool gifts on your birthday?

With Xbox Live, you can enjoy multiplayer action with people everywhere.  Thanks to the wonders of time zones, you always have a good chance of finding someone awake and ready to play.  We knew there was a good reason for the earth being round. 

Stay tuned for the first feature article with all the gritty details.  We'll be covering all the cool things you can do with the Xbox Communicator and voiceDon't miss it.