Just purchased Xbox 360..question

[dairyou]

We purchased the set that has the hard drive and the equipment for XBox Live.

We have 2 teen boys and they want to try the one month free XBox live that comes with it. I guess I'm hesitant to let them sign on.

Any of you that sign on..can you give some advice or tell me what you can do besides play games on it. If it was just playing a game, I would be fine...but, what other things can get you into trouble?

TIA!

Deb

 

[Kimberly]

I think they can just play games. Me and my older sister pitched in and bought one last Christmas for my little brother with an XBox live account. I'm pretty sure all they can do is send i.m.'s and play games.

There is probably a service number you can inquire about for this, probably somewhere in the box.

 

[Ava83]

They can play the games and chat with the other players in the game. I also think they can leave messages for other players.

Here is the nice thing about XBOX live...they ban players and they give reputation points..the more negative, bye bye live.

Also if anyone is out of line..you can kick them out of your game, make it private and all that.

The only way DH plays XBOX is live (with old friends) He gets very annoyed when I tell him to say hi to whomever he is playing.. not very cool I guess.

 

[ceiligh1]

Word of warning they can also download games. I am not sure what the point value to $ ratio is but my DH has a friend who had to pay a lot of $ because the kids downloaded a bunch of games on his account. Some downloads are free and some are not. They will ask that you imput a cc number when you set it up so they will be able to download if they choose to . YOu can also download movie trailers and I think 1 or two music videos.
For the most part though live allows you to talk with other players in a game or not. YOu can talk to friends in a lobby area and do not need to be in a game or even the same game. YOu can play coop games with people and you can compare game scores and points earned.

 

[Papa Deuce]

We purchased the set that has the hard drive and the equipment for XBox Live.

We have 2 teen boys and they want to try the one month free XBox live that comes with it. I guess I'm hesitant to let them sign on.

Any of you that sign on..can you give some advice or tell me what you can do besides play games on it. If it was just playing a game, I would be fine...but, what other things can get you into trouble?

TIA!

Deb

Mostly play games and chat, but be aware, the language used by some players on XBOX live is BRUTAL. I do think though, that now you can assign yourself to only playing with people who agree to keep it clean. I haven't been on "Live" for ages, but it used to be really nasty.

I do think things have changes. I say just watch how you set up your account.

 

[ceiligh1]

Mostly play games and chat, but be aware, the language used by some players on XBOX live is BRUTAL. I do think though, that now you can assign yourself to only playing with people who agree to keep it clean. I haven't been on "Live" for ages, but it used to be really nasty.

I do think things have changes. I say just watch how you set up your account.

YOu can do this, you select the type of player you are for example hard core gamer vs. out for fun. (This is just an example I cant remember what the actual names are.) I think then the xbox will put you into games with people with the same selection allowing you to edit out a bit of the language if you so choose.

 

[N.Bailey]

I see another poster stated you can download games. I'm not aware that that's a possibility. You can download additional content for games you currently own though. If patches and such are released for a game, normally you can download that free of charge. When new maps are added however, downloads can run roughly $5.00 per download. You have to click to download it though, so you choose if you wish to make that purchase. What happens is, the developers keep working on games that have already been released and they add additional levels and such. It just works out well because for a small additional fee, you get much more benefit from the game and the developers make a little more money, so they've got incentive to keep working on the title too.

One thing I will suggest however is, make sure when you sign up to live that you include your email address. Every time a download is made, MS will email you and tell you that $5.00 (or whatever amount) will be charged to your credit card. This allows you to keep your kids in check. We've purchased 3 Xbox's (old ones, not 360) and my son has downloaded this additional content on all 3 consoles. I get SO darn angry at him!!! We have roughly 60 Xbox games and while they're not all Live titles, several of them are, and it adds up!!!!

We don't have the 360 yet, but I read something about it working on a point system. Perhaps you buy the points and then the kids can use those points for their downloads? I'm not too sure about that. Maybe it was just something MS came up with for users who don't wish to use or don't have a credit card. When you're talking lots of younger people, many fall into that bracket.

Either way though, you need to set the rules up with your children. Maybe make it a rule that before they download anything, they must inform you. Just remember that many of the downloads are free. If you get the email that they've downloaded without your permission, perhaps at that time, further disciplinary action is in order? IMO, you do need to set up some sort of system.

 

[ceiligh1]

I see another poster stated you can download games. I'm not aware that that's a possibility. QUOTE]
YOu can download online games. Zuma and the like, there are also other games and these do cost money. THey are not the big games such as Halo but they are games and you do pay to download them.
I spoke with my DH and he said that there is a parental control feature that allows you to limit the downloads, what rating of movies they can watch on it ect. So that should help you a little.

 

[dairyou]

Thanks for all your responses!

I see the boys on AIM all the time which is fine. I don't mind them chatting with their friends. We know the people on their AIM list, but I guess I'm concerned with them chatting with strangers on line. With hormones raging at this age that is what really concerns me. I guess I'll need to try it out and see first. Once I sign up, I guess I can take the phone line away and have them only use it when I am there to keep an ear open

Thanks!

Deb