[callmediva]

I got my first console in ages at Christmas, my last one being a PS2.
Firstly, I;m amazed at how much they've developed, it found my wifi router in seconds and before I know it, i was connecting to x-box live.
I signed up to it, but not knowing too much about it, I stayed on the free section.
So, although I'll doubtless have loads of stupid questions about it, the first one is, what can I do with the free live account, and what are the differences between the paid for and the free one?

[bob2005]

Basic's are you can't play online but you can download arcade games and DLC.

[Schmiznurf]

You can't use any of the apps they have with a free either.

[2Dshmuplover]

Without gold you are really quite limited on what you can do. It's cheap to buy if you shop around at Ebay for 12 months, though you can choose to pay in all manner of ways including per month which is the most expensive method. You should have a free month with your console if you bought it new (voucher inside your console's box).


With Gold you are able to play online and access all of the apps, including web browser, Netflix, Napster, Sky, Lovefilm and countless other services. You also get some game demo's earlier and special offers which can save you a lot of money.

[fluffed]

You can try gold for free for a month, used to be you got this automatically with the first 2 accounts associated with the console, maybe you have to opt in now? Not sure, my 360 is ancient.

http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/Live/Join/

[MemphisJaxx]

Hi callmediva,

Welcome to the Xbox community. I have had my Xbox since release and it has so much more to it now than when it first started out. First off, to use alot of the 'internet' side of the console i.e BBC iPlayer, etc you will need to have a live gold account with subscriptions as short as 48 hours (which you can get free with some games) to a full year (12 months). With this you can play any game you own or plan to own online, with or against, other Xbox live players.

A few things to note before signing up.

1.a) If you do purchase a subscription to live gold through the console itself, which you can do, be aware you will be paying the full price for it. You can often find the same term for less, either in shops or on the internet.

1.b) If you decide to sign up through your console using a debit or credit card, be aware that once this term, be it 1 month or 12, has finished, microsoft will automatically renew your term. They will of course email you first to tell you but you will need to visit their website to turn off this auto renewal.

2) By signing up to live your current gamer name or 'gamertag' may not be available so think about what you want to be called as it will cost you to change it in future once it has been set.

3) I assume you have internet at home already. If you do decide to game online you will be eating into any download limit that your internet package allows. It isn't a great deal in all honesty but if you want to watch downloaded movies or play downloaded demo through your console you may find that you will eat into this quicker.


I hope this helps and that I am not patronising you. If you have any questions feel free to ask me and the rest of the folks on this forum. Also if you want any help while on the Xbox and connected to either gold or silver you can add me to your friends list. My gamertag is: MemphisJaxx

[callmediva]

ta for all the info and, jaxx, you're not at all patronising

I'll look into the gold membership - I think I did see something about 1 month free

[Burton768]

Originally Posted by callmediva

I'll look into the gold membership - I think I did see something about 1 month free

If you do end up getting it I highly recommend ebay, if you have an account, as the place to pick up a subscription at the cheapest price. I have bought my last 2 year subscriptions (RRP £40) for £25 for 12 months. There will be other lengths of subscriptions available.

The codes can either be posted in their original packing still sealed or they can be sent to you via email so you can use straight away. All above board. Just make sure if you choose this option to buy from a trusted seller.

[callmediva]

brilliant.

Thanks for the great advice, I'll nip off to ebay later, after I've checked out the 1 month free thing. (I was at a late Burns Night last night so couldn't do anything - at least not after a few whiskys )

[Ladyxxmacbeth]

If you are a woman you should add me to ur friends list I've never played with a woman before.

[DSWNSM]

Originally Posted by Ladyxxmacbeth

If you are a woman you should add me to ur friends list I've never played with a woman before.

Oh really

[callmediva]

Originally Posted by Ladyxxmacbeth

If you are a woman you should add me to ur friends list I've never played with a woman before.

No, I'm not, but my wife is (shocker, I know ) and she plays on it sometimes.

[callmediva]

Originally Posted by DSWNSM

Oh really

[SellotapeLiz]

Newbie here too.... may I hijack slightly?

Bought a second hand console from a friend. Connected to XBox live to my Virgin router no problems. But when I've opened Xbox Live on the console it still has my friend's Gold membership details. I have deleted his 'profile'.

On my laptop I opened up an Xbox Live account. How do I use the account I've opened via the Xbox console, as when I try to log in it tells me the email account is already in use. The laptop account has given me a gamertag to use but I can't pick it up on the console.

God I'm so confused it's given me a headache

[XxBlaKOuTZxX]

Originally Posted by SellotapeLiz

Newbie here too.... may I hijack slightly?

Bought a second hand console from a friend. Connected to XBox live to my Virgin router no problems. But when I've opened Xbox Live on the console it still has my friend's Gold membership details. I have deleted his 'profile'.

On my laptop I opened up an Xbox Live account. How do I use the account I've opened via the Xbox console, as when I try to log in it tells me the email account is already in use. The laptop account has given me a gamertag to use but I can't pick it up on the console.

God I'm so confused it's given me a headache

The same thing happened to me when I used my laptop to sign up to XBL so I just went on the xbox and did it that way instead. was so much easier. I couldn't figure out how to use the profile i'd created on my laptop at all

[SellotapeLiz]

Figured it out - you have to 'download profile' which brings your laptop gamertag to your console.

[callmediva]

I had problems with that bit, too. Ended up just doing it all on the x-box.

[Adam_Mortimer]

gold subscription is not bad for £40 year

then you get unlimited apps and you can play games online

[DSWNSM]

Originally Posted by Adam_Mortimer

gold subscription is not bad for £40 year

then you get unlimited apps and you can play games online

A lot of that needs to also be payed for.

And you would be nuts to pay £40 a year for Gold when you can get 12 months plus 2 for £28 on ebay.

[DJGM]

Originally Posted by MemphisJaxx

Hi callmediva,

First off, to use alot of the 'internet' side of the console i.e BBC iPlayer,
etc you will need to have a live gold account

Slight misinformation there. BBC iPlayer on XBox 360 doesn't require Gold. AFAIK it's the only video app that doesn't.

[callmediva]

Still not got round to trying Live properly yet

Anyway, I have another question........

I'm playing a game (F1 2012) when suddenly it'll stop and a message comes up saying "Please re-connect the controller"
So, I press the middle button and it'll re-connect, but only for a second or two then the same thing happens.
Is it a fault, or do I just need new batteries?
I've tried taking the batteries out and popping them back in again and it seemed ok for a while but then started doing it again

[Speedloafer]

Originally Posted by callmediva

Still not got round to trying Live properly yet

Anyway, I have another question........

I'm playing a game (F1 2012) when suddenly it'll stop and a message comes up saying "Please re-connect the controller"
So, I press the middle button and it'll re-connect, but only for a second or two then the same thing happens.
Is it a fault, or do I just need new batteries?
I've tried taking the batteries out and popping them back in again and it seemed ok for a while but then started doing it again

Batteries are dead, I have a charger and 6 batteries (rechargeable) which I rotate. You can do that or get a wired controller, or get a plug and play kit, which is a lead that plugs into the xbox and charges your batteries while you play. You also need a special battery pack, which comes with it.

[bob2005]

plug in and play works best cheap now as well.

[callmediva]

Ta for the info - I'm still learning