Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is Microsoft's online multiplayer subscription service used to play supported games via internet, using Xboxs as servers for multiplayer matches, instead of a dedicated server system. Xbox LIVE subscriptions run for about $50.00 (US) a year and $60.00 (Canada). In Australia, subscriptions are approximately $90.00 (AUS) for both Xbox and Xbox 360 and in New Zealand, 80-90 NZD depending on the retailer.

Originally released in November 2002, one year after the original release of the Xbox, Xbox LIVE was originally made popular by such games as Rainbow Six 3 and MechAssault. Over one million new users created accounts when Halo 2 was released, and it became the mainstay of Xbox LIVE, even with the onset of the Xbox 360. Usually the maximum number of players is 16 or less for original Xbox games.

Special Features

Besides multiplayer, Xbox LIVE can be used for downloading content such as new levels and maps. This feature is much more versatile on the Xbox 360 (you can download non-gaming files), because of Microsoft's push to make it a multimedia machine. All of Halo 2's Multiplayer Map Packs Maps can be downloaded for free. It is unlike Playstation 2's online, just being multiplayer and nothing more, but you can download maps, missions, vehicles, weapons and more. Gamerpoints are achieved by unlocking "Achievements", which are awarded for accomplishments in any 360 game.

Pricing and Subscription

Pricing and subscriptions An example of a prepaid 2100 Microsoft Points card, which can be used on Xbox Live Marketplace or Games for Windows.

The Silver level service is free, while the Gold level requires a paid subscription. Every new Xbox 360 includes a 1 month subscription to Xbox Live Gold if the player is new to Xbox Live (new account). To continue this subscription or to fully upgrade to a 12 month, the user either signs up with a credit card through the Xbox 360 or may purchase one of the pre-paid Gold subscription cards available at retail stores. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions can be purchased directly from the Xbox 360 with a credit card or from retailers that sell subscriptions. When purchased directly from the console, the Gold subscription pricing is as follows:

Country 1 Month 3 Months 12 Months

United States $7.99 $19.99 $49.99

United Kingdom £4.99 £14.99 £39.99

Canada C$ 8.99 C$ 29.99 C$ 59.99

Denmark DKK 59 DKK 159 DKK 499

Mexico MXN 89.00 MXN$ 249.00 MXN$ 599.00

Singapore S$ 13.90 S$ 34.90 S$ 79.90

Sweden SEK 69 SEK 199 SEK 599

Europe € 6.99 € 19.99 € 59.99

Australia AU$ 10.95 AU$ 29.95 AU$ 79.95

New Zealand NZ$ 10.95 NZ$ 29.95 NZ$ 79.95[34]

Japan ¥819 ¥2079 ¥5229

If users associate a credit card with their Xbox Live account, when the current subscription ends, it is renewed automatically. When this occurs, a notification e-mail is sent to the e-mail address registered for the account. In order to cancel this automatic renewal, users are required to phone a customer service number as cancellations cannot be made directly from the console. This procedure has been criticized by some users, particularly with respects to requests made by customer service operators concerning the reasons for cancellation.

Statistics

As of June 2006, players had spent over 2.5 billion hours, playing over Xbox LIVE, a major portion of that time was spent on Halo 2, by far the most popular title on Xbox LIVE with over 710 million hours, spent on it alone, adding up to over five hundred million games. There were over six million unique players who used Xbox LIVE. By May 2007, that number rose to five million Halo 2 players, on Xbox live, with 700 million total games of Halo 2 played on Xbox live (not including guests). By the beginning of 2008, Microsoft announced, that they had over eleven million subscribers, on Xbox LIVE.

Related Links

Internal

• Multiplayer
• Halo 3 Beta

External

• Xbox Live