Xbox Live
Nick McCrea returns from X02 with news of Microsoft's 'Live' service.
If there was one overarching goal of X02, then it was this - to convince the gaming and wider press of the potential of Xbox Live. The event saw a number of announcements on the subject, as well as providing the opportunity to play the launch titles first hand in an Xbox Live environment.
Xbox Live will beta in the UK, France and Germany from November 1. These countries were chosen because they represent the vast majority of the gaming audience MS hope to capture, and because online gaming has had a better history in these countries, providing a better-informed quality of beta tester.
The Xbox Live full launch will occur on 14th March, exactly a year to the day from the original European Xbox launch (the US Xbox Live will debut in November, exactly a year to the day also - clearly MS has thought this out for a while!). Rollout will occur in waves, with eight countries comprising the first wave. These countries will be : UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden. It will, for those of you who don't already know, be a broadband only service. MS don't provide you with the internet connection, simply access to the Live service. This is achieved through the purchase of the starter pack, which also contains the voice communicator. This is simply a headset and attached microphone, and it will be the only method of communication in Xbox Live games - MS have not yet sanctioned the use of typed communication (though I expect this position to change when the voice com is established). The starter pack will cost 59 Euros so expect a UK price tag of around £39. Microsoft did not announce the countries in the second wave, but Jay Allard (Xbox Director) did reveal later that users in other European countries could still use the service, but would not be covered by tech support in their own language - implying that they could still use another language support service, perhaps?
The starter pack will ship with two games, Whacked and MotoGP. Whacked is a strange combat game show-style affair, featuring weird looking and occasionally naked contestants. Moto GP is a graphically stunning motorbike racing title, and while it does look like fun, the real appeal will lie with Mech Assault, Unreal Championship, and Ghost Recon, also to be released on the Xbox Live debut.
Mech Assault is an arcade multiplayer mechwarrior style game, and having played it extensively in Seville I can say I'm thoroughly looking forward to it. The premise is quite simple - take a number of big stompy robots, tell each of them that the others called him a mummy's bot, and then release them all into a variety of arena's to duke it out like irate bulls. This game was destined to be played with a voice communicator - talking trash to an opponent you've just vaporized is incredibly fun, and to all those who voiced doubts over the communication system, don't knock it until you've tried it. The graphics are first rate too - I was firing at an enemy who then fled behind a building, and as my line of fire passed in front of his hiding place I could see my tracer bullets slam into the edifice, and a line of explosions tore across its front, knocking out the windows of several floors.
Comments
Xbox Live = Great idea. Completely agree with the article; I'm glad MS is trying something revolutionary like this. Hopefully it will change console multiplayer gaming for the better.
will X-Box Live work with ISDN?
I think so, yes.....can anyone else confirm that?
Its gonna be Cool Xbox LIVE, i hope Counter Strike comes to XBOX LIVE
idsn will work with xbox live. any connection except for dialup WILL work.
X-Box live will kick ass ! It's not becouse you will be able to play on-line games that you won't be able to play regular games anymore. I'm now looking forward to this evolution and I hope it will be fun ! Microsoft I love you and I hope they will make X-Box the best console of the year !
X-Box live will kick ass ! It's not becouse you will be able to play on-line games that you won't be able to play regular games anymore. I'm now looking forward to this evolution and I hope it will be fun ! Microsoft I love you and I hope they will make X-Box the best console of the year !
Does Anyone Know when the Xbox Live Release date is in the Uk... Exactly... And yes you can use ISDN Cos it is a Braodband Connection Evan though it is the Slowest One... Hope some one can give me an answer... CHOW
Can you play Halo for xbox live?
Can you play Halo for xbox live?
Can you play Halo for xbox live?
Can you play halo for xbox live?
The launch date is in the article - 14th March. As for playing Halo, then I would guess yes, since it is already possible to play online by hooking your Xbox up to PC LAN and playing via gamespy.
The launch date is in the article - 14th March. As for playing Halo, then I would guess yes, since it is already possible to play online by hooking your Xbox up to PC LAN and playing via gamespy.
You cannot play Halo on Xbox Live currently, but goto GAMESPY and could play it online right now for free, hopefully they will have downloadable upgrades for halo at least. Xbox Live is better than PS2 network whatever...PS2 is crap with a blue light. wow.
Hey, im testing it atm and its very good.
The voice comms is nice, the masking gets a bit annoying though!
**Spelling problems with previous post**
ear = year
aout = out
P.S. omg means *Oh My God!*
The official retail date for Xbox live is the 14th MArch 2003 but you can get your hands on it at the end of November as Test Drive Subscriber, just go to the Xbox Uk Website, sign up for the newsletter and they will let you know when you can purchase the pack. Also you yearly subscription won't start until March so you get 3 months free.
what games can be used for xbox live
NBA 2K3, NFL 2K3, NHL 2K3, MechAssault, Whacked!,
MotoGP,Unreal Championship, Ghost Recon, NFL Fever 2003
Of coure you can paly halo on Xbox live or it would not be the giant succes that it already is.
Well you will have to use 128K preferably to connect to Xbox live i have connected my ISDN using the gamespy tunnel application, 10/100 Ethernet card, and a CAT5 cable. I am yet to try Xbox live out. But my experience on most games through the gamespy tunnel at 128K has been impressive :). 64K will be ok for games such as Time Splitters 2 and Unreal Championship though.
Will a 128K broadband connection be good enough for the majority of games, notably Ghost Recon??
XBOX Live is a vacation in your own home dozens of games to play hundreds of people to beat XBOX live is number 1 ( Bring It To You All )
Well keep in mind that none of the games except Unreal Championship I have, have been developed for net play. I guess that with the improving of the XBox live service and the quality rather than random Hostings on GameSpy TUnnel will render 64K ISDN perfectly fine for Xbox live.
I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY I NEED TO GET HOOKED UP ON XBOX LIVE
I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY I NEED TO GET HOOKED UP ON XBOX LIVE
where do you get the xbox live starter kit
I cant wait 4 xbox live, im gettin broadband just 4 that! If I order the starter kit from the xbox site how long will it take to get to me in the uk?
x box live
does bt broadband work with xbox live.
it comin in ####### 14th of march 2003!
Can you get downloadable content for Halo yet
Fozzy,
I can't get mine to work from Set Top Box. Do I need to use the cross over connection or something. Thanks your help.
Jim
x-box does exsist al reaqdy
No
what games work on xbox live?
does halo. that would be kick ass
Even Pipex?
why won't my xbox connect?
hi all
think x box live is a great idea but i have got 2 questions about it
1. can you run any game of it with 64k?
2.if i can run any games with 64k i have a bt digital acces box which i am running it through. it goes to the pc through usb but has a connector the same as the x box one. will it run through that without stopping the pc going on the internet?
all help would be much appreciated
I was thinking about getting ISDN because DSL and Cable aren't available in my area. Has anybody actually hooked up to Xbox Live through ISDN?
Has anyone played with 128/128 connection? I have been connecting through my cell phone and so far all I've done is pissed off a lot of people with my lag.
make games affordable...will ya.... then i will let you know if i have good comments.... ;)
does x-box live work with american online.
I think A MALDIVIAN is right why not making it at a price lower then $100, I mean come on!
YO! BIG D PS2 has Grand Theft Auto!!! That is way beter then Splinter Cell or Halo!!! PS2 has the best garphics then Xbox will ever have!!! P.S. small minds work in small cricles!!!
I dont have x-box live, that or my x-box wont log on to it
ya its a good game if you can get it updated to your xbox console its been two months and no matter what i do I cannot get it updated. can you help me?
I agree... by the way, SwordStalker do u like yu-gi-oh?
what in-put do I put the cable for XBL on my modem?
i think that halo two is going to be much more levels and much more guns and i am pre ordering soon
I'm a huge super modle
i cant hook up my xbox live to the computer
hi there, i just purchased XBox live but i have a ISDN internet connection. Will it run well as i have not opened it yet as when i do i can not take it back.
thanks
make more fighting games
make more fighting games
make more fighting games
l ilke it
l ilke it
will xbox live work with aol
will xbox live work with aol
will xbox live work with aol
I want to have XBOX LIVE to play with others and I"m going to be there best friend please let me have XBOX LIVE.
can somebody tell me does xbox live work with aol b/band, or is it gonna or what , who knows
thx
hey
how do I hook up xbox live to an computer
u peole need to sleep
i cant get the xbox live to come on
how do you order xbox live today
I REALLY LIKE THE NEW UNREAL 2 BUT THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS. FOR INSTINTS,WHEN PEOPLE ARE TEAM KILLING ON PERPISEYOU CANT BAN THEM . ALSO THE LOAD TIME, BUT IM SURE YOU KNEW THAT.
t you donthere me breagging my ubv
will xbox live ever work on aol braodband
what web site do i go to, to play halo on x box live
when does manhunt come out on Xbox
X - Box live will kick ass hope that it comes out from were I come from Lance au Clair
what do it mean by network devices.
:> :) can u e-mail me back love hayzbabe
how can i play or get the original halo on live
i need # 4 tech support
will xbox live work with an isdn conn.
aol doesnt support x box live ,, y not ??
is is possible to connect to xbox live through my cable tv?
WILL XBOX LIVE WORK WITH DIAL UP!!!!!!!!!!!
WILL XBOX LIVE WORK WITH DIAL UP!!!!!!!!!!!
if some one robbed your xbox can you get your account back and put it in a new xbox
if some one robbed your xbox can you get your account back and put it in a new xbox
came any one help me to connet my xbox live
if i have aol 9.0 optimized can i play x box live some one plz awnser me and coolio :-p
conter strike does come live
all you people that have xbox live with yahoo dsl IM at aka_night_stalker and tell me if it works plzz and thank you
How do i hook up xbox live
i have an xobox 360 but dont know how to get xbox liveso i can play halo on line