Customer Reviews

Microsoft Xbox Xbox Live Kit 3

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

So you'd like to enter the world on online console gaming? The Xbox Live Starter Kit is the place to start because it has everything you need to get online except for the actual high speed internet service. Make sure you have already contacted your phone or cable provider for a high speed internet connection such as DSL or cable. Without one of those connections, you won't be able to play on Xbox Live. Unfortunately, you also have to pay a monthly fee to Microsoft on top of your monthly internet bill so while Xbox Live is a fun way to play games, it can be expensive, especially if you don't use your internet connection for anything other than the Xbox. The Xbox Live Version 3 comes with a one year subscription to Xbox Live, a headset that connects to your Xbox controller which allows you to talk with other online gamers, and a copy of MechAssault which is one of the more entertaining games on Xbox Live. You'll still need to enter your credit card info when you subscribe to Xbox Live even if you have a one year subscription so make sure you keep track of your renewal date because you will automatically be billed once it ends. With Xbox Live you'll be able to play many games online against gamers around the world. It's always interesting to play a game and hear people with Southern accents, Brooklyn accents and Australian accents talk smack. Many games also offer downloadable content which provide more missions, weapons, maps, vehicles, and other fun stuff for your chosen game. Check around the internet or ask friends that play on Xbox Live which titles are the "must buy games" because some games have larger online communities than others. Right now, if you don't play games on the PC, Xbox is really the only console worth owning for online gaming. Many of its titles are designed with the online portion given as much attention as the offline portion. If you can afford it, definitely check out Xbox Live, it enhances your games and makes them enjoyable for a longer period of time.

Xbox live version 3 is an attempt by Microsoft to "force" you into purchasing a game you may not want. The other versions of live were only 49.99, which got you the headset and a 12 month subscription to live itself. Version 3 costs you an extra 20.00 for the included game, (Mech Assault), which if you were to buy it seperately would cost you 20.00 anyways. So if your not interested in getting the game look for the cheaper version's of live, provided they are still avaliable, and save the extra money to get a game you like better. Just make sure it's a live game because........ Xbox Live Rules.........Merry Christmas

If you own an Xbox and Xbox Live enabled games, then you should have this. It comes with Mechassault which is in the top 5 played Xbox Live games in the US. I also recommend Rainbow Six 3 which is number 1 in both the US and Europe in terms of online activity. I would advise parents who have younger children, players do sware, curse, and whatever else people from ages 15-50 do. No ears are safe, but if you can get past that point or if it doesn't offend you, then this is easily the best way to enhance your Xbox experience. WARNING!!! You must have broadband internet to use this product.
About the Xbconnect suggestion. Yes you can get online with Xbconnect but it is a real pain. You have to be connected through your computer, meaning that to look for games to play, you have to be by your computer. On Xbox Live! everything is handled on your television, right in front of you. With Xbox Live! you get to download new content for you games. Just this week, they released 3 new levels for Rainbow Six 3. Mechassault currently has around 10 downloads for it. This you can not get with Xbconnect. Xbconnect isn't bad, after all, it is free, but it isn't close to what Xbox Live! is.
Also, you get a friends list. You can join a friend's game, invite them to your game, and you can also see what game your friend is playing. Xbox Live! also keeps track of statistics so you can see how well you stack up against the competition(not available on Xbconnect). Coming soon you will be able to send 15 second voicemails to your friends inviting them to games.
Also, you can use this as a way to get around long distance phone bills because you can use the Xbox Live! service to set up voice chats with anyone else who has the Xbox Live! service. So for $50 per year, you can talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Since it doesn't say how much an aditional year cost, I'll say it here: you gotta pay $50 for an aditional year. Unlike Sony, Microsoft does charge every year, but most magazines say that Microsoft's online gaming is better than Sony's. The quantity of games and quality of Microsoft is better than Sony's.

I thought, No way Live is worth the money they're asking. There's nothing really *new* here, you've seen it all on the PC before, which might make you think Live is boring and overpriced. But like a TiVo or iPod, Live manages to do everything better, easier, more accessable. Live has a community, a huge mass that's always there to play some form of game exactly the way you want to. The ways to make friends and get together are plain smart, and as you spend more time on Live, your benefits will far outway the money you've spent.

Many things gel in Live that have never really clicked on the PC or PS2, like leader boards or voice communications. There is some amazing new stuff about to come out that no one has ever seen before- check out a preview of Halo 2 or Splinter Cell 2's multiplayer mode if you want to get really excited. Sports games especially benefit from Live, with leagues and tournaments and champions and all that. Microsoft's XSN network allowing you to play full seasons like they were fantasy leagues. Only problem is, XSN games suck! I can only hope Sega and EA catch up with MS online.

Voice communications is the bomb, a stroke of genius that makes Live unique. Every one has a headset, so everyone uses it. It doesn't lag the games, players generally don't abuse it, and games use it in cool ways, like Rainbow Six 3's voice recognition to command your AI teammates. The headset actually looks cool and is comfortable during long sessions.

Cheating is non-existent. If it exists, I can't find it, compared to the PC where I can't escape it. You also don't have the unfortunate PC side-effect of the people with the fastest connections and most expensive machines also getting an advantage in online play. On Live everyone starts equally, and skill is the only thing that sets you apart. I don't like how no Live game yet is open to the mountain of free maps you can find on the PC. Still, you don't get the hassle of downloading every patch and tweeking your system for hours just so you can get on to play, but I think it's worth it to experience the endless new material that only PC gamers have. Another bonus, modem players are not allowed, thankfully, because they slow *everybody* down, not just themselves.

MechAssault is also included with this package, which I think is a stroke of genius, because not only is it totally fun, but you can go online with a buddy. You don't need a 2nd account or a 2nd copy of the game. It's one of the few games that can do that, and it makes a world of difference.

If you have broadband, and you have an Xbox, you MUST get Live. The package is worth about $110 if you buy everything on its own.

I was never much of an online gamer. I had played a couple of them, but I would much rather get my friends together and play them face to face. It's much more enjoyable because you actually KNOW the person and because of the whole bragging thing. When I played online PC games, I felt unconnected to everyone else, even when playing team games like CTF. You can chat to dudes on your team via the keyboard, but you can't do that on the fly. If your playing a FPS online and are facing say three opposing team memebers, you can't type in a request for backup without getting shot. XBOX LIVE solves this problem with the headset. It is very rare to see someone online without one. You can easily strategize with your team mates and call for backup quickly if needed. Being able to talk to your team makes you feel more like a team.
The friend feature on XBOX LIVE is awesome. You can tell where your buds are at all times, even if they are on a different game. And it's easy to send a friend request. Just click the players bar and scroll down to the person's name you want to send a request to. Or you can type the person's gamertag in at the XBOX LIVE dashboard. Also, say you're playing Rainbow Six 3 and your team is really getting pounded. You can invite your friend to play with you, even if he's not playing the same game as. This ensures that you can contact and invite your friends at anytime you want.
XBOX LIVE also temendously extends the life of your games. I had stopped playing Return to Castle Wofinstien a year and a half ago, but then I got XBOX LIVE. I was on that game for hours and hours of extra gaming time. There's always good competition, you rarely will be the uber killer. On the flip side, you can learn from the better players if your a newb and start wailing on other gamers in no time.
Overall, XBOX LIVE is a purchase that (I think) pays for itself. I have gotten fewer new games because I'm always getting new experiences out of my old ones. It is a very good investment for anyone looking to further there gaming skills or just looking for a helluva good time.

OK, I've been a suscriber for a year now and my experience has been flawless, aside from the occasional tard in a lobby. These problems the other reviewers are having could have easily been avoided via knowing your product and/or your child.

The guy who purchased Live thinking he could play Halo online was just plain ridiculous, I'll leave that one alone. Wait, no I won't, Halo came out at console launch, a year before Live was launched. pssh..As far as his hate for Microsoft goes, I guarantee he is using a Windows PC and loving every minute of it.

And for the single mother who keeps "having" to buy new headsets for her son because they keep magically malfunctioning is nonsense. He got it at Christmas and he's been through 3 headsets. I've had mine for a year, ONE PAIR, and I've been through many a long nights and parties with the ONE PAIR, still going strong. I know, maybe he had it muted, that would be so funny.

Anyways, like I said, I've had Live for a year, I own thirteen Live enabled games, and it's a worth while investment.

You will be able to play online with anyone. You need an ethernet connection to the internet and you go play. This is usually high speed online like Road Runner cable or other providers. When you first use it you need to register for the one year contract, on screen along with your credit card number. After that one year they automatically charge your credit card a year later. Mine expired in November 26 but I haven't gone back in to see if they automatically re-activated my account by charging my credit card. My CC might have expired? Well buy this if you want to play online, it is awesome and worth the price.

i'v played alot of games in my life and on alot of different systems xbox live is the coolest online option you can talk to your buddies and plan stragties to conquer your enemes, me and my friends love to play and chat with each other especially on halo and halo2 you just have to buy xbox live if you buy xbox.

this service is expensive, even for the included headset and game, but it is worth it. it really makes all the games you played by yourself a lot more fun. especially if your friends have the same games. you can create matches and play with and against your friends. many games have a matchmaking service, so that if your friends arent playing at the time, you can still play online with others.

youll need a highspeed internet connection and directly connect that to your xbox, or have a router. if you get this without the headset, you will really be missing out. it makes the games what they are, they ability to talk to your friends while playing to create strategies, ect. this might seem weird, but this is also a pretty good way to make new friends. dont get me wrong. if you have no social life whatsoever, this wont win you 100 friends instantly. what im saying is if you play a good game with a team-mate through matchmaking, you can add them to your friends list (keeps track of all your friends and what they are playing) and play future games with them.

OVERALL- if you have an xbox, a highspeed internet service, some extra cash, and some great games like halo2, get this, you will love it. even better if lots of your friends have it too.