XBOX Live...

[kellyg403]

Ok..so the teen ds's have every gaming console known to man. I have resisted the Xbox Live because I am just tired of the video game thing. Seems like every single year that is what I am purchasing for them.

Well..we are at a stalemate. They want Xbox Live. I have NO IDEA what this is all about since I have been so resistent to the whole thing. So school me please. What is it. Is it something that can be done with the Xbox or Xbox 360 they currently have. Do they need internet in their room in order to play it. Etc Etc. Its the only thing on ds15 list. I hate to do it but you know, I think I am going to have to.

So all you guru's out there tell me what I need to know, what I need to purchase without breaking the proverbial bank.

Thanks..
Kelly

 

[mgroshans]

I found this description:

Xbox Live (trademarked as Xbox LIVE[1]) is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service (on consoles) that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002. An updated version of the service became available for the Xbox 360 console at that system's launch in 2005. On the Windows platform, the service is named Games for Windows - Live, which makes most aspects of the system available on Windows computers. Microsoft has announced plans to extend Live to other platforms such as handhelds and mobile phones as part of the Live Anywhere initiative.[2]

Other than that, I don't know anything about it. Good luck

 

[kellyg403]

Add in the fact I can email, post on the dis and go to my coupon sites I am a total computer geek as well. I saw this information on wikipedia and it was like a foreign language to me!

I guess I will just go to Best Buy or something and simply ask one of their computer genius's to school me on this. It seems like the website you go to has parental controls and all that. I was worried about exactly WHO they might be talking to and all that, viruses etc. So, while I am still not 100% convinced it is a good idea..for me anyway...I will go over and ask!

Thanks for your help!
Kelly

 

[java]

Xbox live lets you basically play over the internet. It can match you with players ect.
You can also download games directly. (a think the wave of the future in gaming hence all the cheapo video game deals now)

It let's you chat during play with other players.

Right now DH is HATING it though as they have reset his "rank" on a game accusing him of cheating(which he has no idea how to do anyway) So he's ready to throw the XBOX out the window. And yes he is 46

 

[kellyg403]

Xbox live lets you basically play over the internet. It can match you with players ect.
You can also download games directly. (a think the wave of the future in gaming hence all the cheapo video game deals now)

It let's you chat during play with other players.

Right now DH is HATING it though as they have reset his "rank" on a game accusing him of cheating(which he has no idea how to do anyway) So he's ready to throw the XBOX out the window. And yes he is 46

My oldest ds is 26 and he comes and gets the younger two on weekends sometimes and they sit around playing games until his wife throws them out! They have been totally bummed since he has been in Afghanistan for the last 9 months.

So, I am taking it we hook it up to the computer and not the tv with the xbox console?

Kelly

 

[JLitfin]

My boys have been playing xbox live for years. They are into the sports games and will play with other players around the country. Just have to remember not to add full name/address etc. in any of their discussions with the other players. You will purchase a card with the code in order to register your system. Then they can play with others up till your card expires, at that pt you will have to pay to extend the subscription. My boys kept bugging us several years ago until we gave in also.

 

[msmayor]

You need to either hook your console into an ethernet connection to get internet access, or purchase a wireless adapter and have a router to send and receive the internet signal wirelessly.

Once you have established the internet connection, you need to have an XBox Live account available to you. My son has a one-year subscription that cost $50...we purchased a card with an access code that provided the account access.

My son also bought for himself a headset so he can chat with his friends while he's playing the games.

 

[Millermom0606]

It's a lot of fun, but I will warn you, you talk to people of all ages from all over, and A LOT of what is said is not kid friendly AT ALL. I had to buy my DH a wireless headset b/c I didn't want my kids to accidentally overhear what trash was coming out of some peoples mouths.

 

[kellyg403]

It's a lot of fun, but I will warn you, you talk to people of all ages from all over, and A LOT of what is said is not kid friendly AT ALL. I had to buy my DH a wireless headset b/c I didn't want my kids to accidentally overhear what trash was coming out of some peoples mouths.

yeah...that is what I was thinking to. But then...they are in hs and sometimes when they think no one can hear them I hear some very colorful language coming from their room. So, probably nothing I should think they haven't heard before..but nothing I want to listen to!

Kelly

 

[darrengs]

You can find a Gold subscription for less than $50, here is a card from amazon for $39.96:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=505012651&pf_rd_i=384082011

 

[Malibustyle23]

Everything stays the same as far as hookup you just add the membership and an Internet connection. Like a pp said you either need a wifi connection which costs about $100 for the xbox 360 piece or use an Ethernet cable to connect directly to your router/modem (not sure which one). I THINK Dhs 360 came with that cable.

You will also need the membership which can be bought at a store on a card with a code to put in or on the xbox itself. They can be bought per month, 3 months, or a year at a time.

Sometimes deals can be found on the year subscription so be on the lookout. But now to the budget side when you first set up a profile you enter your information, email addy, etc, etc and do not enter a subscription code or anything you may need to even exit back or try to cancel it will then give you a free two (i think thats how long)week subscrption for free. Also depending on what games he has some of the very popular ones have free 30 or 14 day memberships codes in them which can be stacked and used back to back endlessly.

Good luck. Sorry I was so long winded. As far as the foulmouths I find the majority is actually the minors in their room with no supervision and home training. My only advice is to never allow children to play UNO on live what was a family game live players have made into an x rated free for all.

 

[java]

I have to add the people my DH plays with include 2 ex cons and some former gang members. *they are very very funny guys- who knew I never would have come in contact with them in the real world. But be aware that really you DO NOT KNOW who you are talking to. It took about a year before the details of his team came out in discussion.

 

[sl_underwood]

We have had xbox live for years and love it. As adults, my husband and I enjoy gaming with my brother in law and other friends who live in several hundred miles away. Our kids play online with their friends and watch movies through netflix together. For us, it has been a great experience, especially since we live in a military town and many of our friends are here for only a few years before they move again. We rarely play with anyone we dont know because of the trash talking. The biggest problem we have had so far is that our teenage daughter is a very good gamer and boys just cant handle having their butt handed to them by a girl so they say vulgar and innapropriate things. Thankfully, she plays with her parents too so daddy took care of it and xbox live did respond very quickly with a 24 hour ban for the men.

 

[dturner]

My DS(13) has been on XBOX live for a couple of years now. He has a headset to talk to the other players. He has a list of friends that he plays with, kids his age from all over the U.S. including his cousin who lives a couple of hours away from us. I monitor his friends list so I know who he's playing with.

I pay $8.59/monthly for XBOX live. Other things you can do is use what they call "points" to buy things online like expansion packages to games your playing or video arcade type games. Seems like I'm always being asked to buy DS points. You can either buy points directly from your XBOX or buy a card in the store - 1600 points is $19.99.

 

[xipetotec]

Ok..so the teen ds's have every gaming console known to man. I have resisted the Xbox Live because I am just tired of the video game thing. Seems like every single year that is what I am purchasing for them.

Well..we are at a stalemate. They want Xbox Live. I have NO IDEA what this is all about since I have been so resistent to the whole thing. So school me please. What is it. Is it something that can be done with the Xbox or Xbox 360 they currently have. Do they need internet in their room in order to play it. Etc Etc. Its the only thing on ds15 list. I hate to do it but you know, I think I am going to have to.

So all you guru's out there tell me what I need to know, what I need to purchase without breaking the proverbial bank.

Thanks..
Kelly

No hardware technically required ( though a headset is kinda nice for chatting ). It works with your current XBOX360. What it is, is the online community for XBOX. if the Xbox is connected to the Internet already, they probably have XBOX LIVE Silver, because this is free to sign up and allows you down purchase/download games, demos and add-ons for games. XBOX Live GOLD ( which is likely what they want ) allows you to play head-to-head with other players, so it's obsiously a more immersive experience.

All you need to get ( and yes, you can just ask at Best Buy or GameStop ) is an XBOX Live Gold Membership card and an internet connection for the Xbox. They can then do the rest.

 

[kellyg403]

Thanks so much for all the replies. I now suppose the thing to do is just do it!

I am not opposed to meeting new people but I did want to make sure that it wasn't a free for all. KWIM? So, it helps to know that there are various ways to 'control' it...without them knowing its being controlled.

Thank you again...looks like and Xbox live is in my future!

Kelly

 

[JB2K]

XBox Live prepaid subscriptions can be purchased at most electronics shops/mass merchandisers.

 

[Chelley00]

Both my boys have Xbox Live accounts. I'll agree with the language. DS14 goes "Dude, my mom heard you say that" even if I'm not even in the room and listens to them all apologize!

 

[mickmse]

This was my husbands and mines gift to each other for Christmas we just got it a few weeks early. We had to buy the thing to hook up to the internet which cost around 100.00 and the live card was around 40.00. We already had the headset when we bought the 360. I do have to say we do not allow any of our kids to wear the headsets because of the language that is on there. But we do play more of the adult games. I know its nothing they have never heard before. Also I know there are parental controls too which can help but we don't use them. Good luck and I know your kids will love it. Both of my boys are getting 360's for Christmas this year and if they decide they want the live they are gonna have to save up for it.