Can someone give a brief explaination of Xbox360 online features?

Perrin Aybara · 08-30-2008, 12:02 PM

I'm not interested in paying for any online stuff. But I am curious what they have available for free. Which I'm guessing is the Silver service? What can you do for free with the Xbox360?

I was just wondering before I shelled out money for a wireless ethernet expansion.

-jay

***Booyakasha*** · 08-30-2008, 10:55 PM

The Silver membership gives you access to the XBox Live Store, through which you can download game demos and trailers (all of which are usually free), in addition to Arcade games, add-on content, music videos, TV episodes, and movie rentals (generally not free). It also automatically downloads system software upgrades and game patches--sometimes to fix bugs, sometimes to enable backwards-compatibility for an XBox title (sadly, the BC list still isn't complete). About the only thing Gold has over Silver is online multiplayer--everything else is there.

Personally, I think taking my 360 online was a good decision. In a sense, being able to download demos free has paid for the adaptor by itself (no more having to rent games to see if they're worthwhile)--everything else is just sauce for the goose, as they say.

Robotazy · 09-05-2008, 04:00 PM

Um....yeah, While I'm here. Do I need to buy something to connect to online wirelessly with the 360?

***Booyakasha*** · 09-05-2008, 10:57 PM

XBox360 Wireless Adaptor.

...you'll also need a wireless network in your home.

Lurch1982 · 09-21-2008, 08:48 PM

It technically is possible to use some open source firmware and "hack" a particular router and basically set it up as a bridge or adapter or something, but for wireless you're pretty much stuck paying for the overpriced wifi adapter. I've had one since I bought the system. Works pretty well, picks up signals, haven't had a problem with it at all in 2 years. Check around the net before you buy it. You can find them on Ebay for about half price to 3/4 price, and NewEgg usually has them for about 80-85 (though if they aren't offering free shipping, it goes up to like 90).

You'll def. want to have some form of net access for your box, though if you're not going to constantly d/l demos or buy crap off the marketplace, you could just get away with occassionally moving it closer to a wired connection to d/l title updates and the major dash updates. It also would be alot cheaper to just buy 50' of cable off the 'egg if you don't mind having a wire all over the place.

Also, Amazon has the Gold Subscriptions on sale (and the MS point cards).
Amazon.com: Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card plus 1 Month Bonus: Video Games

08-30-2008, 12:02 PM	#1
Perrin Aybara Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Alone....so terribly alone... Some... where... out... there... dies Gender: Posts: 12,760 Thanks: 194 Thanked 504 Times in 235 Posts	Can someone give a brief explaination of Xbox360 online features? I'm not interested in paying for any online stuff. But I am curious what they have available for free. Which I'm guessing is the Silver service? What can you do for free with the Xbox360? I was just wondering before I shelled out money for a wireless ethernet expansion. -jay

08-30-2008, 10:55 PM	#2
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	The Silver membership gives you access to the XBox Live Store, through which you can download game demos and trailers (all of which are usually free), in addition to Arcade games, add-on content, music videos, TV episodes, and movie rentals (generally not free). It also automatically downloads system software upgrades and game patches--sometimes to fix bugs, sometimes to enable backwards-compatibility for an XBox title (sadly, the BC list still isn't complete). About the only thing Gold has over Silver is online multiplayer--everything else is there. Personally, I think taking my 360 online was a good decision. In a sense, being able to download demos free has paid for the adaptor by itself (no more having to rent games to see if they're worthwhile)--everything else is just sauce for the goose, as they say.

09-05-2008, 04:00 PM	#3
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	Um....yeah, While I'm here. Do I need to buy something to connect to online wirelessly with the 360?

09-05-2008, 10:57 PM	#4
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	XBox360 Wireless Adaptor. ...you'll also need a wireless network in your home.

09-21-2008, 08:48 PM	#5
Lurch1982 Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: DenCo Gender: Posts: 9,850 Thanks: 127 Thanked 365 Times in 192 Posts	It technically is possible to use some open source firmware and "hack" a particular router and basically set it up as a bridge or adapter or something, but for wireless you're pretty much stuck paying for the overpriced wifi adapter. I've had one since I bought the system. Works pretty well, picks up signals, haven't had a problem with it at all in 2 years. Check around the net before you buy it. You can find them on Ebay for about half price to 3/4 price, and NewEgg usually has them for about 80-85 (though if they aren't offering free shipping, it goes up to like 90). You'll def. want to have some form of net access for your box, though if you're not going to constantly d/l demos or buy crap off the marketplace, you could just get away with occassionally moving it closer to a wired connection to d/l title updates and the major dash updates. It also would be alot cheaper to just buy 50' of cable off the 'egg if you don't mind having a wire all over the place. Also, Amazon has the Gold Subscriptions on sale (and the MS point cards). Amazon.com: Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card plus 1 Month Bonus: Video Games