Guide to using, personalizing, and enjoying Xbox Live

Guide to using, personalizing, and enjoying Xbox Live~~By Zzack13

Overview

This guide will explain how to use, personalize, and enjoy a newly made xbox live account

There are two types of Xbox Live accounts: "Live Silver" and "Live Gold". We will be going over the features of each subscription and I will explain how to customize and use each one in detail.

Your New Account

Your new Xbox Live account has just been made. You have created a "Gamer Tag" of up to 15 characters and you have connected yourself to the internet. You are now ready to enjoy your new Xbox Live account!

You either have a free Silver account or a subscription with a Gold account.

The Silver accounts have limited features that include:

Voice Chat that is limited to 2 users at a time
An Xbox Live avatar
Access to "downloadable content"

Gold accounts have access to the following features:

Voice chat with 3+ players
Video chat
An Xbox Live avatar
Access to "downloadable content"
Multiplayer gaming (Which many players consider "Xbox Live")
Xbox Live parties
Netflix movie streaming (Only available to Netflix members)

Your Account Features: What Can You Do?

Xbox Live Avatars

When you create your Xbox Live account you have the option to create an avatar. This is a cartoon-like character that will represent you and your xbl "Gamer Tag". You can customize your avatar by choosing from hundreds of different hairstyles, clothes, and accessories (similar to the Wii's miis)



You can create and edit your avatar by:

1. Going to the Xbox dashboard
2. Move up to "My Xbox" and over one to your account and select that
3. Next click on "Customize Avatar"

Once you are here you have the option to:
"Change your features","Change your clothes", or set up a "gamer picture".

Under the "change your features" tab you have the option to change your avatar's hairstyle, eyes, eyebrows, face, nose, ears, chin, mouth, skin color, and body

Under the "change your clothes" tab you can change your shirts, headwear, makeup, pants, shoes, accessories, formal wear, and save your outfits.

The "Gamer Picture" option takes a picture of the head of your avatar that represents your Gamer Tag.

Friends List

Whether you met someone new playing a ranked match or Call of Duty or your friend at school told you their Gamer Tag you can add them to your "Friend's List"! You have your own personal list you can fill with 100 friends.

By clicking the middle button on your controler and selected the "friends" option you can access your friends list, messages, and your current party. From your friends list you can add/delete a friend, view the game your friend is playing, and much more by selecting a friend's name and viewing their profile.

You can add a friend by selecting the "add friend" option at the top of your friends list and typing in their gamer tag.
once your potential friend has accepted your request you can view his Xbox Live profile and invite him to games, chats, and more.

Video and Audio Chat

While signed into your Xbox Live account you have the option to voice chat with someone on your "Friends List". You can enable your communications settings by following these instructions:

• Go to My Xbox and open your profile.
• Select Edit Profile, Privacy Settings.
• Select Voice and Text, then choose either Everyone or Friends Only.

There are three forms of chat for Gold members:

A "Private Chat" which is a private conversation between two friends. This form of chat quiets all in-game talk between team mates and enemies alike. You and your partner can be doing seperate things on your Xbox while you talk to eachother.


To start a private chat:

• Plug in your Xbox 360 headset.
• Press the Xbox Guide button and select Chat & IM.
• Select an available Private Chat Channel, then select or enter the Gamertag of the person you'd like to chat with.
• Select Send Invite. Your invitee will have five minutes to accept your invitation, after which the system assumes the other party is unavailable and cancels the invite. You can always send another invitation later!

*If you or another recipient declines a chat invitation, the cancellation is invisible to the sender. That is, the sender isn't told whether the invitation was declined or expired.

A "Party". In an Xbox Live party you can invite multiple people from your friends list. You can chat with up to 7 players at a time making it ideal for team games and large conversations.

You can also invite players on your friends list quickly to a party by:

• creating your party by pushing the middle button and selecting "party".
• selecting "add recipiants" and selecting 1 friend
• Next select "add recipiants and check off all of the friends you would like to add.

In-Game Voice Communication

Every Xbox LIVE-enabled game that supports multiplayer gaming also supports in-game voice communication. There's nothing to switch on or activate beyond setting up your Xbox 360 console and plugging in your headset.

This means you can taunt opponents, strategize with teammates, groan in despair, and exult with a war cry—all in real time! And if other players get obnoxious, simply mute them and continue gaming.

Downloadable Content and the Xbox Live Marketplace

This section of Xbox Live is available for both Gold and Silver members. With the Xbox Live Marketplace you can download xbl arcade titles, xb360 game demos, game expansion material (extra maps, vehicles, and sonds), trailers, games pictures and themes, tv shows, music videos, movie rentals, and more.


*This is the older version of the Xbox Marketplace, but you still get the point

Some xbl marketplace material costs "Microsoft Points" which can be bought via. Xbox Live. Basicly each thing will cost a certain amount of points 200, 1000, 10000, etc. or will be "FREE". Everything you download will be saved to your hardrive that came built in with your Xbox.

There is also a "Video Marketplace" and the "Xbox Live Arcade" which often times also costs "Microsoft Points".

Multiplayer Gaming

Multiplayer gaming is the main reason XBL players buy a Gold subscription (Priced at about $50 a year). Xbox Live is the only form of console internet that requires a monthly or annual fee.

With your xbl account you have access to the "Multiplayer" and "Xbox Live" sections of your Xbox360 and Xbox games. While you are signed into your account you will automaticly be connected to the game server and you will be able to play online with players across the world or across the living room.

With a headset your are able to communicate with other players in a game and you can add them to your Friends List for further chatter.

Conclusion

Xbox Live is a feature created by Microsoft. A Silver account can be created free via your Xbox360 dashboard and upgraded to Gold from there. There are tons of features included in your Xbox Live membership that will keep you entertained for hours.

I hope I summarized Xbox Live well and I hope everyone has a good time playing online.

If you would like to chat or play online you can add my gamer tag to your friends list. My gamer tag is: ZackTheBeast

or if you have further questions you can talk to me on Sythe or on MSN at: [email protected]

 

http://support.xbox.com/support/en/us/xbox360/xboxlive/xboxlivecommunity/chat/chat.aspx

Enjoy your 1 month ban.