On the original Xbox®, you couldn't learn much about the other gamers you challenged on Xbox Live®. You could find out their level in a particular game (if you were playing the same one, and online with it), maybe you could infer something about their play style from the Gamertag—but more often than not, fellow gamers were a mystery. No longer. With the Gamer Card, a quick summation of style, skills, and stats, it's a snap to learn about other gamers. It's even easier to customize your Gamer Card and strut your own stuff.
Strut your stuff with your Gamer Card.
From Profile to Card Your Gamer Profile is where you enter most of the customized information that appears on your Gamer Card when other Xbox Live players decide to check you out. That information includes:
Gamer Picture: Gamer Pictures are small icons that appear next to your Gamertag. Initially, you can select from more than 50 free pictures preloaded on the Xbox 360 Hard Drive, ranging from a tough little punk dude to the stylish "360 Rings" seen in the above image. Another source of Gamer Pictures will be bonus content on game discs. After launch, even more Gamer Pictures will be available in the Xbox Live Marketplace, and I've heard many rumors of a future feature that includes player-created Gamer Pictures.
Gamerscore: The Gamerscore (your overall rank at all the games you play) grows over time, and so do your skills. At a glance, other gamers can check out what games you've been playing and your rank in each—you can even compare your own performance with others to see how you stack up. You can also display (and see) various Achievements, a miniature trophy case that's linked directly to your profile and shows off your biggest victories and accomplishments.
Gamer Zone: Another way to display the style of gamer you are is through your selection of a Gamer Zone. There are currently four different zones for four different styles of play: Recreation, for those that are just there to have fun; Pro, for gamers that know skills—not trash talk—are all that matters; Family, the zone customized for the younger set; and Underground, the kind of free-for-all that original Xbox gamers know very well, with no holds (or words) barred.
Reputation: This score is indicated by a certain number of stars next to your name, and is based entirely on feedback from other gamers. If people send in positive feedback about you, that score will go up—if people send in negative feedback (for example, if you go into the Family Zone and start cursing up a storm like you're in the Underground) that score is going to plummet.
Motto: Images and scores are all well and good, but everyone deserves a tagline. Your motto appears near your country on the Gamer Card, and it's your chance to throw even more personality into your persona.
Your Choice: The information displayed on the Gamer Card is also customizable, and for younger gamers, parents can customize that information even further to protect strangers from seeing too much. There are also privacy settings (independent of parental and family settings) that allow you to hide your games and achievements, your motto, or both.
Your Gamer Zone says a lot about your style.
More Than a Tag Xbox 360 gives you the chance to strut your stuff with ease and personalize your persona far beyond a mere Gamertag. Heck, for a tiny, almost microscopic fee, you can even change your Gamertag on the new console. Don't forget to customize your Gamer Card!
