Xbox Live - How?

[N3ddy]

Just got my mitts on the XBox360 (:bow: ) and have to say - after YEARS of console-bashing - that my PC may not see me again except for RTS etc. Now I want to play on-line, but don't know what to do to accomplish that? Prices? Service providers? Hardware?
What do I need to do?

[Ruslan74]

Ok.

I presume you already have a ADSL connection being a PC player?

If you do you will need to get your X360 online by either connecting it to your ADSL router or if you wish setting up a ICS connection from your PC.

I find the router the best route as it doesnt require your PC to be on and you can also use PPPoE settings for your X360 if your router supports it.

Once you get your X360 online it will attempt to register your nickname as a valid online character with the MS servers. It will let you know whether your current nick is available or not.

Sadly as of current you cannot purchase an online subscription online seeing that officially SA isnt on the "supported" list. The best way is to either get a buddy in the UK to buy you the Gold LIVE membership, email you the code and post you the voucher. You can also buy it locally if you are in JHB from a couple of places, Animeworx or take2.co.za come to mind.

AFAIK the Gold sub costs around R600 depending on the currency exchange rates. Its a yearly sub so you are looking at around R50 per month for unlimited access to game demos, patches, beta trials, online gaming and the weekly arcade downloads.

Once you are online note that in order to do purchases from LIVE you will need your credit card and add a UK based postal address until SA is officially supported on LIVE.

As per the gaming portion per se, ADSL shaped is well suited for playing against local players. If you wish to play against international players you might want to consider pre-paid unshaped ADSL which you can enable via the PPPoE settings within the X360's network settings tab.

Hope this helps and feel free to pop with any further questions you need answered. ;)

[doobiwan]

There's also guys selling live subs on ebay for about $50 ~ R350 per year. I know someone who bought one and it's fine, I'm not to sure which reseller he bought from though.

I found this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Xbox-360-Live-12-month-months-year-Gold-Membership-Card_W0QQitemZ220065011848QQihZ012QQcategoryZ122517QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Which I might use, at least paypal gives you buyer protection.

EDIT: Neddy, post yout tag!

[N3ddy]

I am still drooling over the shiny new love of my life! Thanks for the gen fellas, I'll get onto it as soon as peeps get back to work etc!

[doobiwan]

No prob.

Also thinking of ordering points from here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/XBOX-LIVE-1600-Microsoft-Points-X-box-360-new-unused_W0QQitemZ320063295528QQihZ011QQcategoryZ122517QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

If you buy via the UK marketplace, 800 points works out to about R100, whereas using $ cards it works out at R70 per 800 points.

[RotoRouterZA]

Welcome to the club Neddy.

Just be careful when buying ms points, they are region locked! I will confirm this though.

[Ruslan74]

you might also consider www.ebay.co.uk as some Gold packs are sold at good prices. ;)

[doobiwan]

Sorry N3ddy, my bad,

I've been looking for UK ones and these are what I found:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-Live-month-Gold-Membership/dp/B000B5KMSE/sr=11-1/qid=1167214892/ref=sr_11_1/026-0866639-8574061

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XBOX-360-LIVE-SUBSCRIPTION-CARD-12-Month-GOLD-UKSELLER_W0QQitemZ120067648387QQihZ002QQcategoryZ112846QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/XBOX-360-12-Months-Live-Gold-Membership-2-Games-12m_W0QQitemZ300062488633QQihZ020QQcategoryZ112846QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'll probably get the 3rd party Amazon one for £28, but I'm still pondering.

[N3ddy]

Must...tear...self...away....from....console....to....buy....points.....Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh.....resistance....is.....futile......

[doobiwan]

Why? you can do it from the dashboard ;)

[RotoRouterZA]

And you dont even need to leave the couch...