Xbox 360The Xbox.com Xbox 360 FAQ
The System
A. Xbox 360 offers a wide range of multimedia features, letting you instantly stream digital media stored on your portable music player, digital camera, Windows® PC running Media Center, or any Microsoft® Windows® XP-based PC directly to your Xbox 360. Xbox 360 is the best way to:
Learn more: Mass Media | Media Center Connectivity | Metadata Services Q. Can you tell gamers more about the wireless capabilities of the console and peripherals? A. Xbox 360 connects automatically with up to four Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers, with an impressive range of up to 30 feet. Multiple consoles and upwards of 20 controllers won't interfere with each other—gamers can organize LAN parties with ease. The Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adaptor makes connecting to Xbox Live® a snap, with support for the most popular wireless frequencies. Learn more: The Power of Wireless Q. What's the voice headset like? Can I use my current Xbox Communicator, too? A. We've eliminated the "puck" on the original Xbox controller, so your Xbox Live headset now plugs directly into your Xbox 360 controller. You can use your original Xbox Communicator headset, but you won't have direct volume control or mute capability. Q. Do the controllers have vibration? A. Yes, each controller features vibration feedback. You can turn the vibration on or off to match your personal preference. Learn more: Controller Evolved The Games
A. From Call of Duty® 2 to Perfect Dark Zero™ to Kameo™: Elements of Power™ to Madden NFL™ 2006 to Gears of War™ to Blue Dragon to Project Gotham Racing® 3, Xbox 360 will have the greatest games lineup ever in part because we've put the most powerful and programmable next-generation system into the hands of the world's greatest game designers. In designing Xbox 360, we created a complete development platform that harmonizes powerful hardware, powerful software tools, and the awesome power of the Xbox Live online games network. This complete platform lets developers focus on creating games rather than wrestling with technology. Learn more: Power Play Q. Aside from the high-definition graphics, what new functionality does Xbox 360 hardware bring to games? A. Beyond the jaw-dropping graphics, gamers can expect cutting-edge gameplay, astounding audio fidelity, a leap forward in online communications, an abundance of on-demand content to enhance their entertainment experience, and much more. Explore the links below for more information. Learn more: Artificial Intelligence | Physics | Audio Revolution | Graphics | The Guts Q. What are the Xbox 360 exclusive games on the way? A. Microsoft Game Studios is bringing Perfect Dark Zero, Kameo, and Project Gotham Racing 3 to Xbox 360 this holiday. Also exclusive to Xbox 360 is Call of Duty 2 from Activision, Inc., and QUAKE™ 4, which they developed with id Software. You'll also see Dead or Alive® 4 from Tecmo® and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion™ from Bethesda Softworks/2K Games, among many others. Learn more: Launch Games Roundup Q. What is the most innovative new game (or feature) on Xbox 360? A. There are way too many new features and games to choose just one. Check out our console page and the Xbox 360 titles in our games catalog. Q. With last November's Halo® 2 and upcoming QUAKE 4, Gears of War, and Perfect Dark Zero, there seems to be a big emphasis on shooters lately. What can you tell us about next-gen development in other areas, like roleplaying games, fighters, platformers, sports titles, etc.? A. With more than 200 Xbox 360 games in development from a wide range of companies like Electronic Arts, Activision, and Microsoft Game Studios, there's a variety of games for every enthusiast. For example, role-playing and action fans will enjoy The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Kameo: Elements of Power, sports and racing fans will like Top Spin™ 2 and PGR 3, and fighter fans will drool over Dead or Alive 4. 2005 alone will see more than 25 games hitting Xbox 360, and, while shooter fans will find much to love, there's something for everyone. Plus, every Xbox 360 provides a portal into the world of Xbox Live Arcade, where everyone can enjoy their favorite retro titles—without the hassle of quarters or waiting in line. Learn more: Games Catalog | Xbox Live Arcade Q. We've heard very little about the gamer party favorite: system link and LAN parties. With all the wireless talk going around, what do you see in the future of LAN parties? A.Your Xbox 360 console will seamlessly integrate with your friends' Xbox 360 consoles and wireless accessories for clutter-free LAN parties the likes of which have never been seen before. Consider the 30-foot range on the controllers and the trouble-free plug-and-play (or unplug-and-play as the case may be) capability of all the Xbox 360 accessories. And with the sleek design of the console, Xbox 360 travels with ease. Learn more: The Power of Wireless Xbox Live
A. The next generation of Xbox Live will revolutionize the global Xbox community. There are way too many upgrades and new features to list them all. A few of the major changes include Xbox Live Silver, a new free level of service; and Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop shop where gamers can acquire hot new content for their favorite games and access free trials, demos, and much more using the new Microsoft Points system. Xbox Live Gold members will also be able to use a brand new matchmaking system called TrueSkill™ Matchmaking which lets them challenge others of a similar skill level. Learn more: Message Center | TrueSkill Matchmaking | Microsoft Points Q. Can I use my existing Xbox Live account on the new system? A. Yes. Current Xbox Live subscribers will be able to seamlessly activate their account on Xbox 360. It's a ubiquitous service across both Xbox and Xbox 360. Learn more: The Silver Age | Good as Gold Q. Let's say I just purchased an Xbox 360 and brought it home. Will I have access to Xbox Live right out of the box? What's free and what do I have to pay for? A. The Xbox Live Silver Membership is free to all Xbox 360 owners, and includes access to the Xbox Live Marketplace where you can download demos, trailers, and more. Plus you'll get access to voice chat and voice messaging. For a monthly fee gamers can upgrade to the Xbox Live Gold Membership which includes multiplayer gaming, video chat (coming soon), and more. Learn more: The Gold Standard Q. Tell me more about Xbox Live Marketplace. I don't understand how this differs from the current range of Xbox Live services, as you can currently download and buy content. A. Xbox Live Marketplace will be your central portal to a huge variety of demos, trailers, game downloads, and even user-created content. Access to Xbox Live Marketplace will be very convenient through the Xbox Guide button (on both controllers and the Universal Media Remote). Learn more: Xbox Live Marketplace Q. What other new online gaming features are available? A. Again, there are too many to list. Some of the big ones are spectator mode, which, in games with it enabled, will let you watch your friends play; video chat (coming soon); and voice commands. Learn more: TrueSkill™ Matchmaking| Enhanced Friends List | Spectator Mode | Chatting It Up Q. Will I be able to contact my friends through the phone or MSN Messenger with Xbox Live? A. At this time no plans have been announced regarding such a feature. Media
A. Every Xbox 360 also works as a Media Center Extender—which means you'll be able to access recorded TV (including high-definition shows) and digital movies (including high-definition films), music, video, and photos stored on Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PCs through any Xbox 360. What's more, you can stay connected to Xbox Live and still receive game invites and messages from your friends while watching your favorite TV shows or movies. Learn more: Media Center Connectivity Q. What is the DVD format? A. Xbox 360 supports 12X dual-layer DVD-ROMs, playing progressive-scan DVD movies right out of the box. Here's the full list of supported optical media formats: DVD-ROM, DVD Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-ROM XA, CD-R, CD-RW, and CD-Extra. Learn more: More Than Games Q. We hear a lot about the "HD Era" and how it's going to revolutionize gaming on Xbox 360. What tangible aspects of this will gamers experience with launch this holiday season? A. The HD Era of games is about more than just more powerful pixels. It's about entertainment experiences that are always connected, always personalized, and always in high definition. We will see a shift towards more immersive and integrated consumer experiences, illustrated by a powerful leap to hi-definition graphics, where character movements and expressions are intensely vibrant and highly believable; multi-channel, powerful positional audio fidelity so clear and precise that players will hear the faintest enemy footsteps sneaking up from behind; richer online communications; and an abundance of on-demand content for game consoles. |
