Setting Up Your New Xbox 360

Published December 21, 2007

So you're the proud new mama or papa of a beautiful new Xbox 360®, and as you run your eyes lovingly over your sleek new machine, your first thought is to pop in that copy of Halo® 3, Mass Effect™ or any number of other world-class titles. It's a natural impulse to dive right into the mix, but your new console isn't just a one-trick-pony, so let's explore some of its other formidable features.

Ready to crash your holiday family time.

The following helpful tips will get you set up in style and feeling comfortable with all the functionality you might not even realize Xbox 360 offers.

Out of the Box
Before we get to the good stuff, there are a couple of tips you should bear in mind when hooking up the machine.

1. Plastic Strip: You'll find a clear plastic strip covering the Xbox 360 DVD drive, which should come off immediately. Otherwise, you'll make the mistake I made by hitting the eject button and nearly having your heart stop when you hear your DVD tray go "CH-CHUNK!" as it butts against the protective covering.
2. HD Switch: Underneath your Xbox 360 Component Video Cable is a small switch (it's under the dongle that connects to the back of your console) that toggles between TV and HDTV. By default, this switch is set to accommodate standard definition TV, so make sure it's set to HDTV if you're connecting your console to a high-definition television. What's more, make sure to navigate to the System menu on the Xbox 360 Dashboard, select Console Settings, then Display and choose your high-definition resolution of choice. If you're unsure which resolution to select, consult your HDTV's manual.
3. HDMI Audio: Unless you're planning on connecting your audio to an external receiver for surround sound, there's no need to search your Xbox 360 box for audio cables when using HDMI. The HDMI cable transfers both digital audio and high-definition graphics all on its own.
4. Well Ventilated: It's worth noting that your Xbox 360 as well as its power adapter should be well ventilated. Avoid placing either in a confined, walled off space. They both need plenty of room to breathe.

Celebrate the holidays with Master Chief.

Xbox LIVE Membership
Provided you have a broadband Internet connection, you can take full advantage of a Xbox LIVE® Silver membership free of charge, or purchase a Xbox LIVE Gold membership. Both memberships include the following benefits:

• Xbox LIVE Marketplace: Download Xbox LIVE Arcade games, movies, and TV shows from Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, Xbox 360 Dashboard themes, gamer pictures, downloadable game content, and more.
• Friends List: You can invite friends as well as competitors you've recently played against to your Friends List, but now you can also access your friends' Friends List to help you broaden your gaming community, and allow you to track down folks to add to your own list more easily.
• Voice and Text: Send voice recorded messages or text messages to anyone on your Friends List.
• Private Chat: Enter private voice chat with friends no matter if you're playing a game, watching a movie, or just poking around on the Xbox 360 Dashboard.

The Xbox LIVE Gold member's primary benefit is exclusive access to multiplayer matches over Xbox LIVE, so if you're looking to compete in Halo 3 online, Gold is the way to go. Gold members are also granted early access to downloadable content, game demos, and more.

Capable of so much more than you may realize.

New to Xbox LIVE courtesy of the Fall 2007 update and available to both account types is the Inside Xbox option on the Xbox LIVE menu. Inside Xbox offers quick-hitting news items, content download details, tips, interviews, and promotions so that you can keep up to date on all things Xbox 360-related right from the Dashboard.

If you're having trouble setting up your account, you can find explicit, step by step instructions here.

Media Connect
Provided your PC is running Windows Vista or Windows XP, you can stream your music, pictures, and some videos straight to your Xbox 360. It's quick and easy to set up, and best of all, it allows you to use your PC as a server for your media files while keeping your Xbox 360 hard drive clear for downloadable content from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

The following instructions have been ripped directly from our Xbox.com support article on the subject, and should get you running in a jiff with little to no confusion:

Step 1: Download the Zune software (onto your PC).

Step 2: Launch Zune.

On your Windows XP or Windows Vista-based PC, launch Zune.

Step 3: Turn on media sharing.

1. Click Settings, Software, Sharing.
2. Select Enable media sharing with Xbox 360.
   
   If desired, provide a name for your collection. This name appears in the media source list on your console.
   
   
3. Select the media types you want to stream to your Xbox 360 console.
4. Choose whether you want to share with all of the Xbox 360 consoles on your network, or just specific ones.
   
   If you chose to share only with specific consoles, select the consoles you want to share to.
   
   
5. Click OK.

Step 4: Configure your Xbox 360 console.

1. In the Media area of the Xbox Dashboard, select Music, Pictures, or Videos.
2. Select your PC. The PCs on your network are listed by name. Tip: If a media source is already selected, press X to select a different media source.
3. Select an item to play it.

Media Center
If you're using a Windows Media Center PC or a PC with Windows Vista, you can use your Xbox 360 as a Windows Media Center Extender, essentially allowing you to control Windows Media Center just as you would from your PC on your Xbox 360. Check here for complete instructions on how to get Windows Media Center up and running on your Xbox 360.

Can't go wrong with Mass Effect this holiday season.

Family Settings
Parents and guardians share a common worry when it comes to their children gaming. They wonder who  will their children be able to contact on Xbox LIVE, what content they will have access to, and what tools are in place to monitor their child's time spent playing. With Xbox 360, the power to decide is in your hands.

For example, you can ensure that your child can only chat with those you personally add to their Friends List, and that they can only access downloadable content that you deem appropriate. You can even set their profile so that no one is able to communicate via text or chat. The same basic settings also apply to video chat with the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera.

What's more, the Family Timer can be used to limit the number of hours your child is able to use the Xbox 360 on a daily or weekly basis. Set a time limit, such as two hours a day, and once that threshold is reached, your child will be unable to use the console again until the following day. It's worth noting that the console Administrator can suspend or alter the Family Timer at any time.

Arcade Bliss
It's easy to get distracted by all those glorious, full-fledged next-gen titles staring down at you from your local game store's shelves, but don't forget about the hundreds of hours of entertainment waiting to be downloaded from Xbox LIVE Arcade. These smaller, affordable, and more easily accessible titles often offer gameplay not seen in bigger budget games.

Undertow demonstrates the capabilities of Xbox LIVE Arcade games.

Games like Lumines™ Live!, Catan, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords™, Undertow, and many, many more run the gamut from puzzle games to role-playing epics, board games, and even third-person-shooters, just to name a few. What's more, every Xbox LIVE Arcade game offers a free downloadable demo.

Simply Original
Original Xbox games have finally made the journey from DVD to downloadable content on Xbox 360. Blockbusters like Halo®, Fable®, and Crimson Skies®: High Road to Revenge™ are all currently available, but more importantly, these games mark just the beginning. Like Xbox LIVE Arcade, Xbox Originals will continue to grow over time, allowing those new to the Xbox experience to get both classic and next-gen titles. You can find Xbox Originals by visiting the Xbox LIVE Marketplace menu, selecting Game Store and then Xbox Originals.

See where it all started.

Custom Look
Everything from your Xbox 360 Dashboard to your Guide Button menu can be customized with Themes to match the look and feel you crave. Lots of different game-inspired themes are available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, or, if you're feeling creative, you can create one of your own. Here's how:

1. Select the Pictures option in the Media section of your Xbox 360 Dashboard.
2. Select the device you wish to view the pictures from, such as Computer or Digital Camera.
3. Navigate to the picture you want to use as your background, and press X to "apply as background."

It's as simple as that. If you want to further customize your theme, you can also select your Dashboard Trim and Guide Background:

1. Open the Guide Button menu.
2. Select the Personal Settings option.
3. Select Themes, and then Customize.

I have friends and relatives who've owned their Xbox 360 since launch, and are still surprised when they uncover a new feature or bit of functionality. Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with all that the console has to offer. The power of next-gen entertainment is in your hands. Use it!

Article by Ryan Treit