Your Guide Button

Before the original Xbox® launched, many gamers took note of the Nexus, the shiny "jewel" with the striking "X" logo in the center of the console and controller, which was just crying out to do something incredibly cool. Alas, this was not to be. Xbox 360™ owners, please note that function has finally caught up to fashion in the form of the Xbox Guide button.

Meet your Xbox Guide button (the one in the middle).

Guide Buttons Everywhere

The Xbox Guide button isn't just a feature that sits in the familiar place in the center of your Xbox 360 controller. It's also seamlessly integrated into the Universal Media Remote. So what can it do? Many, many things—some simple, others not so simple.

Use the Xbox Guide button to get to

the Xbox Live Marketplace and check out

cool digital entertainment downloads.

Turn On, Turn Off

To activate my original Xbox, I need to get up and walk all the way across the room and hit a button. And that's no way for a piece of next-generation technology to behave. So, first things first—the Xbox Guide button turns your Xbox 360 on and off, whether you're using the Universal Media Remote or either variety of Xbox 360 controller.

Even the Universal Media Remote has one!

Dashing and Good-Looking

When you're in-game, odds are good there may be times when you want to access your Xbox 360 Dashboard—whether you're looking to change your audio settings, add a friend to your friends list, or just change your gamer picture so you look even more intimidating. What's a gamer to do? Just tap that Xbox Guide button and you're there.

Go to Market

When you're not in the middle of a game, you're still connected to Xbox Live through your broadband Internet connection as long as you have at least a Silver account and your Xbox 360 is turned on—even if you're watching a DVD or listening to ripped CD music. That means you can use the Xbox Guide button to get to the Xbox Live Marketplace to check out cool digital entertainment downloads, game demos, Xbox Live Arcade hits, new gamer pictures, and more, all thanks to the amazing little silver button with the green X on top.

Function has finally caught up to fashion

in the form of the Xbox Guide button.

Keeping Track of the Festivities

One of the key components of the button isn't technically the button itself—it's the little ring of green light that surrounds it. That circle is cut into four quarters, and usually all four of them won't be lit up. This ring can potentially tell you a number of things—some developers may take advantage of it as a health indicator, for instance. But in most cases, it's a simple way to tell which player you are (as in player one, player two, and so on). Because more gamers will be using wireless controllers, this is essential to keep everyone competing in an orderly manner.

The Xbox Guide Button is on the wired controller as well.

These are just the Xbox Guide button features we know about for sure. As game developers get used to working with Xbox 360, they're sure to come up with even more uses for this versatile little silver jewel.

Article by Danny Chihdo

• Controller evolved.
• All in one remote.