Go for Gold

Making a Friends List

Xbox Live® on Xbox® set the standard for online console gaming, making it easier than ever to meet like-minded players, connect with friends, chat over broadband, and duke it out across vast distances—all from the comfort of your couch.

Behold! The new and improved friends list.

Not content to rest on their laurels, Xbox Live designers and engineers have managed to trump their own achievements with Xbox 360™. They've improved the Xbox Dashboard, making it nearly effortless to make new friends, keep tabs on old ones, and build online communities.

Come Here Often?
Once you power up Xbox 360, you have a host of options to choose from. View your personal gamer card, reputation, and achievements; read and listen to messages; shop or download free content via Xbox Live Marketplace; or see which of your friends are online and check out their latest achievements.

Suppose you just finished a marathon session of Perfect Dark Zero™ on Xbox Live, and you paired up with a talented chap who not only played exceptionally well, but was a nice guy to hang with. You decide afterwards that you'd like to game with him again sometime.

Just leave positive feedback, and the matchmaking system will increase the odds that you'll be dropped into an active server with him again. If you'd rather not leave it to chance and you're ready to become online friends, simply find that player by his gamer card and add him to your friends list. It's as simple as that.

Add your PDZ friends in an instant.

Ping Pals
If you're like me, you like playing with familiar people. It can be a little daunting to jump into a crowded game with dozens of random faceless opponents. Xbox 360 designers sifted through volumes of player-submitted feedback, and as a result it's easier than ever to connect with your friends.

Suppose that, on a whim, you fire up your Xbox 360 and check your friends list. You see your buddy is online, but he's playing Kameo™: Elements of Power™. In the old days of Xbox Live, you'd send him an invite and hope he responds.

On Xbox 360, just call him up—in-game—for a quick one-on-one chat and hammer out the details using your Xbox 360 Headset. He gets a prompt during his game that you're online waiting to talk to him. He can then pause his current game to speak with you directly, and you can both agree to meet up for some online warfare, football, or whatever strikes your fancy.

Taming the Wild
If you're curious about someone else's gaming habits, compare games. Xbox 360 keeps track of all the games you've played, as well as your accomplishments in each one.

Say you're on the fence about the latest Ubisoft game, and some input from your Xbox Live friends would help. Using the "Compare Games" feature, you see that three people on your friends list bought the game already, and have clocked some substantial time with it. Either ask them directly (because you know they've played it) or check out their in-game accomplishments for a window into how they're enjoying the game.

Access everything Xbox Live from this blade.

Xbox Live is about building communities. With the new friends list features made possible with Xbox 360, it's easier than ever to meet new people, reconnect with old buddies, and take your online gaming experience to new levels. Whether you're chatting via the Xbox 360 Headset or comparing game libraries, it's never been simpler to stay in touch.

These improvements are built directly into Xbox 360, so every Xbox 360 game can access them (as long as you have an Xbox Live Silver or Gold membership). It's the same seamless experience no matter what you're playing. What are you waiting for? Get out there and meet your friends!

By Franklin Beans

• Xbox Live feedback.
• Xbox Live matchmaking.
• Xbox Live gamer profile.