Kuten moni tietääkin Xbox Live tulee päivittymään jossain vaiheessa, mutta jos asiasta ei ole ennen kuullutkaan niin copy/paste -toiminnolla olen tähän lainannut IGN:n artikkelia, josta selviää mitä kaikkea uutta Microsoftilla on mielessään Xbox Live -palvelua uudistaessaan ja parantaessaan...
Xbox Live Version 2 FAQ
Everything you need to know about the future of Xbox Live.
May 27, 2003 - Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live will be going through some changes over the next several months and into 2004. Everything from the pricing, to the starter kit to the functionality of Xbox Live is being altered to reflect Microsoft's new vision of the Xbox as the center of a digital entertainment lifestyle.
Our Xbox Live FAQ proved to be such a popular one-stop shopping destination for online gaming fans, we figured an all new FAQ for the new Xbox Live goodness was in order.
How much is Xbox Live going to cost now?
The pricing plan was a simple as could be at launch: $50 for a year of service, software disk and a Communicator headset. For year two of Xbox Live and beyond, Microsoft has several pricing options:
* New Starter Kits (year of service, software disk with demos and headset): $69.99
* Renewing Subscribers: $49.99 for 12 months of continued service
* Free Trial: After purchasing an Xbox Live compatible game (and a headset, sold separately), gamers can go online for free for two months. After 60 days they can get the renewing subscriber rate ($50/year) or pay $5.99 per month every month.
Standalone headsets will sell for $29.99 and there's no set date for when these prices will go into effect. November 15, 2003, the one year anniversary of Xbox Live's launch seems like a logical start date since that's when several thousand subscriptions will lapse. The month-to-month rate and any other applicable charges will be automatically deducted from whatever charge account you used when you registered for Xbox Live. Also gamers will also have the option of buying renewal cards at a local videogame retailers. The card will cost $50 and come with a year of service and all you'll do is enter a code from the card into your Xbox to activate your renewal.
What Games Come with Xbox Live?
There are Xbox Live compatible games on the way and there are Xbox Live games that are included on the Starter Kit disk you receive when you purchase Xbox Live. As of last month, the demos included on the Starter Kit disk are MotoGP (the original), Tetris Worlds and a modified shorter version of MechAssault.
What is Xbox Live Now?
Xbox Live Now will change the main interface of Xbox Live so that you won't have to be playing an Xbox Live game to interact with your friends, check messages or manage your downloadable content. It takes the lobby concept of online games and extracts it directly onto your Xbox so you get all of the functionality of communicating with your online buddies and your Xbox Live account itself but without the pressure of knowing you have to hop in a game at any second. Xbox Live Now will be backwards compatible so that you'll be able to manage your downloaded content for MechAssault or Ghost Recon when this new feature becomes available sometime in 2004.
What is Xbox Live Web?
Live Web will allow you to interact with your Xbox Live account from your PC. You'll be able to set up tournaments, check statistics and send messages in a way that's familiar. Dedicated web sites for both Xbox Live Web and XSN (the sports themed version) will be accessible to Xbox Live gamers using their gamertags to log on. This feature should work hand in hand with Xbox Live Alerts, the messaging service that will allow you to send instant messages to your online gaming buddies over a variety of devices using MSN Messenger technology. The idea here is to get the trash-talking started over IM and PDAs before you get to the main course online. Expect Live Web and Alerts to hit in 2004.
What is XSN Sports?
XSN Sports is the new way to set up tournaments and leagues in first party sports games like NFL Fever, Inside Drive and Amped 2. XSN will function similar to online rotisserie or fantasy leagues in terms of organization and features like stat tracking, setting up playoffs and crowning champions. The only difference is, you'll actually have people playing football, tennis, hockey and other sports against each other online. There will be a dedicated website where all participants will be able to keep an eye on the league and see how they're doing week to week. This feature is expected to begin later in 2003.
We'll be updating our Xbox Live Version 2 FAQ with more information as we get it. For now feel free to voice your opinion on the enhancements to Xbox Live and what other changes you like to see by visiting IGN's dedicated Xbox Live Message boards.
-- IGN
Xbox Live Version 2 FAQ
Everything you need to know about the future of Xbox Live.
May 27, 2003 - Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live will be going through some changes over the next several months and into 2004. Everything from the pricing, to the starter kit to the functionality of Xbox Live is being altered to reflect Microsoft's new vision of the Xbox as the center of a digital entertainment lifestyle.
Our Xbox Live FAQ proved to be such a popular one-stop shopping destination for online gaming fans, we figured an all new FAQ for the new Xbox Live goodness was in order.
How much is Xbox Live going to cost now?
The pricing plan was a simple as could be at launch: $50 for a year of service, software disk and a Communicator headset. For year two of Xbox Live and beyond, Microsoft has several pricing options:
* New Starter Kits (year of service, software disk with demos and headset): $69.99
* Renewing Subscribers: $49.99 for 12 months of continued service
* Free Trial: After purchasing an Xbox Live compatible game (and a headset, sold separately), gamers can go online for free for two months. After 60 days they can get the renewing subscriber rate ($50/year) or pay $5.99 per month every month.
Standalone headsets will sell for $29.99 and there's no set date for when these prices will go into effect. November 15, 2003, the one year anniversary of Xbox Live's launch seems like a logical start date since that's when several thousand subscriptions will lapse. The month-to-month rate and any other applicable charges will be automatically deducted from whatever charge account you used when you registered for Xbox Live. Also gamers will also have the option of buying renewal cards at a local videogame retailers. The card will cost $50 and come with a year of service and all you'll do is enter a code from the card into your Xbox to activate your renewal.
What Games Come with Xbox Live?
There are Xbox Live compatible games on the way and there are Xbox Live games that are included on the Starter Kit disk you receive when you purchase Xbox Live. As of last month, the demos included on the Starter Kit disk are MotoGP (the original), Tetris Worlds and a modified shorter version of MechAssault.
What is Xbox Live Now?
Xbox Live Now will change the main interface of Xbox Live so that you won't have to be playing an Xbox Live game to interact with your friends, check messages or manage your downloadable content. It takes the lobby concept of online games and extracts it directly onto your Xbox so you get all of the functionality of communicating with your online buddies and your Xbox Live account itself but without the pressure of knowing you have to hop in a game at any second. Xbox Live Now will be backwards compatible so that you'll be able to manage your downloaded content for MechAssault or Ghost Recon when this new feature becomes available sometime in 2004.
What is Xbox Live Web?
Live Web will allow you to interact with your Xbox Live account from your PC. You'll be able to set up tournaments, check statistics and send messages in a way that's familiar. Dedicated web sites for both Xbox Live Web and XSN (the sports themed version) will be accessible to Xbox Live gamers using their gamertags to log on. This feature should work hand in hand with Xbox Live Alerts, the messaging service that will allow you to send instant messages to your online gaming buddies over a variety of devices using MSN Messenger technology. The idea here is to get the trash-talking started over IM and PDAs before you get to the main course online. Expect Live Web and Alerts to hit in 2004.
What is XSN Sports?
XSN Sports is the new way to set up tournaments and leagues in first party sports games like NFL Fever, Inside Drive and Amped 2. XSN will function similar to online rotisserie or fantasy leagues in terms of organization and features like stat tracking, setting up playoffs and crowning champions. The only difference is, you'll actually have people playing football, tennis, hockey and other sports against each other online. There will be a dedicated website where all participants will be able to keep an eye on the league and see how they're doing week to week. This feature is expected to begin later in 2003.
We'll be updating our Xbox Live Version 2 FAQ with more information as we get it. For now feel free to voice your opinion on the enhancements to Xbox Live and what other changes you like to see by visiting IGN's dedicated Xbox Live Message boards.
-- IGN