Multiple Levels of Service:
On Xbox 360, you'll have a choice of service level. The Xbox Live Silver service means you can connect your Xbox 360 console to a broadband Internet connection and get functionality right out of the box. The premium Xbox Live Gold service delivers the complete online connection package. The breakdown is as follows:
Xbox Live Silver level:
• Create an online Gamer Profile
• Access the Xbox Live Marketplace
• Engage in voice and text messaging
• Talk to a single friend at a time using voice chat
• Receive video messages from Gold level members
• Access massively multiplayer online games (additional fees may apply)
Xbox Live Gold level:
• Paid level of service
• All the features of Silver level, and additionally:
• Play multiplayer games online
• Video chat
• Multiplayer online tournaments
• Participate in Xbox Live online programming, such as Game with Fame, Play and Win, and Prime Time activities
Xbox Live Marketplace:
The Xbox Live Marketplace will provide a one-stop shop for consumers to download new game trailers, demos, and episodic content, along with new game levels, maps, weapons, vehicles, "skins," and other types of new content on demand. The Xbox Live Marketplace is accessible to everyone who connects their Xbox 360 console to a broadband connection and creates an Xbox Live account.
Ubiquitous Voice Chat:
You can now chat with your friends anytime, while doing anything on your Xbox 360 system, regardless of subscription level. You no longer have to be playing the same game or be in the same game session to communicate; you can be playing a game while your friend is watching a movie, for example.
Gamer Profile:
On Xbox Live, every member will have his or her own gamer profile, which is a summary of their preferences, achievements, and online personality. Your gamer profile can be used for everything from deciding if the person who just sent you a friend request is worthy of addition to your Friends List to creating online matches between players who are more similar in background, styles, and skill. Elements of your gamer profile include the following:
• Gamer card: Get a quick look at the key stats for your friend or that new player who just challenged you to a multiplayer match. Like a personal identification card, the gamer card gives you a quick overview of other personalities on Xbox Live: their Gamertag, Gamerzone, Achievements, Reputation, and Gamerscore. Gamer cards let you instantly connect with people with similar skills, interests, and lifestyles, as well as maintain bragging rights over your achievements and scores.
• Gamerscore: A cumulative score of all achievements allows you to quickly compare profiles between other gamers.
• Reputation: A rating provided by the community indicates how you are perceived by other players. Think of it as the Xbox Live equivalent of a reliability rating.
• Gamerzone: Your Gamerzone indicates your style of social gaming. The choices are R&R, for those who just want to hang out and play without undue competitive stress; Pro, for those who are fiercely competitive and must win at all costs; Underground, for those who take an alternative approach to gaming; and Family, for those who want to make sure the environment they play in is kid-friendly.
• Achievements: Whether offline or on, you can earn achievements and accolades in all Xbox 360 games to indicate progress, skill, and accomplishment. Taking achievements online lets you compare what you've accomplished with your friends, or use them as indicators of skill to new friends. Achievements are bragging rights redefined.
Intelligent Matchmaking:
Using profile data such as location, Reputation, Gamerscore, and Gamerzone, the matchmaking system on Xbox Live will help ensure that you are matched with the users you want to play with.
Feedback:
With Xbox 360, Xbox Live lets you provide feedback on other players that will determine how frequently you are matched with them. Give them a good rating, and matches will happen frequently if you're both available. Give them a bad rating, and you're far less likely to play with them online again.
User Safety and Security
The new, more robust safety and security features in Xbox 360 help parents control the online and offline game experiences of their children by determining whether they can play online and whom they play with, and by locking the console to play only games that meet a certain rating.
The Xbox Live Service:
Xbox Live remains the paramount leader in online games and entertainment-it's the world's first global, unified online console games service that quickly and easily connects friends around the world.
More than 85 broadband providers in 24 countries offer broadband plans that are certified as "Xbox Compatible." The Xbox Compatible program helps gamers identify broadband packages and equipment that let them connect to Xbox Live quickly and intuitively, making it even easier to enjoy Xbox Live.
Xbox Live offers the only comprehensive, high-performance unified online console gaming service without the hassle of wires. The Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter offers a simple setup process that easily configures the adapter to a network, and powerful security through an exclusive Xbox interface on the dashboard. Premier security features, including Wired Equivalent Privacy, help protect the network.
In addition to the parental controls (family settings) available Microswoft has implemented a range of adjustable parameters to control the connected experience, too. So, for example you can prevent a user from chatting online, or onlyallow them to speak to people on their frineds list, stop them from playing games online or play but not chat etc etc.
Xbox LIVE Arcade:
Xbox Live Arcade is your destination to find, download, try, and buy smaller games for your Xbox 360 console. Discover a variety of genres, including puzzle games, card and board titles, retro arcade faves, and action games. It's easy to get started. Just go to your Xbox 360 Games Blade and choose the Xbox Live Arcade option.
• Sample all Xbox Live Arcade games for free before you buy.
• Games are small enough to fit on your hard drive or memory unit.
• Xbox Live Arcade games support high-definition output, achievements, gamerscore, and leaderboards.
• Multiplayer play is supported by most games (including some retro titles) via Xbox Live.
Xbox Live Camera:
The Xbox Live Camera for Xbox 360 opens up a new world of gaming and entertainment on Xbox Live, the world's premier online video games service. With the Xbox Live Camera, video chat and video messaging with your friends becomes more than just a feature set; it is an integrated part of the Xbox Live experience. Connect and communicate while playing the same or different games, watching movies, listening to music, and more.
The Xbox Live Camera also takes personalization to a whole new level and allows you to customize your gaming experience by putting your face on characters in your games, all while being able to video chat with your friends as you play online. And with next-generation online motion-detection-enabled games, the Xbox Live Camera puts you entirely in the game and in control of the on-screen characters over Xbox Live.
• High-end online camera supports up to VGA 640x480 video at 30 frames per second and takes 1.3-megapixel still photos.
• The camera includes a microphone that connects to the controller, so everyone in the room can chat online with their friends.
• The camera supports built-in video chat and video messaging on Xbox Live.
• Your face can be imported into games and can also be placed next to your name on leader boards for even more recognition or fame.
• Chat with your friends while you play online in Xbox 360 games as well as in the Xbox Live Arcade.
Xbox 360 Headset:
The Xbox 360 Headset heightens the experience of the unprecedented online gaming community, Xbox Live, allowing you to strategize with teammates, trash-talk opponents or just chat with friends while playing your favorite games. You can record and leave short voice messages for friends or family through the free Xbox Live Message Service or connect with buddies online using the headset in place of the phone. Turn it up or turn it down, and experience the most intense gaming experience possible.
• Boom microphone can be adjusted for optimal sound quality.
• In-line volume control and mute switch let users adjust the headset volume or switch mute on and off easily.
• Noise-canceling microphone improves game response to voice commands, and provides crisp and clear voice communication.
• Lightweight, over-the-head design enables comfortable use.
• The headset plugs directly into either the Xbox 360 Controller or Xbox Wireless Controller for easy use.
Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter:
Designed for versatility and ease, the Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter enhances your Xbox 360 experience in the digital home, seamlessly synchronizing with the Xbox 360 system. You can easily transfer videos and music to your Xbox 360 system from your Media Center PC, chat with your friends, play games via Xbox Live, and more-all without the clutter of wires.
• The Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter is highly versatile and supports 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a.
• The Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter is powered seamlessly by your Xbox 360 gaming console, so there's no external power adapter to plug in.
• You can transfer high-definition video and CD-quality music from your Media Center PC to your Xbox 360 via 802.11a wireless media support.
vRequirements:
To experience Xbox Live on Xbox 360, you will need an Xbox 360 system and a broadband connection.
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