Your Gamer Profile

On the original Xbox® and Xbox Live® your gamertag said a lot about you, but it was kind of like a personalized license plate—hardly enough room to express your true personality. Aside from in-game rankings and online leaderboards, there was no real way to let your gamertag speak for you and announce your accomplishments online.

Make way for Xbox 360™ and the new gamer profile—an integral feature that gives other online gamers a look at your history, likes, dislikes, and reputation—all in one convenient package.

From 'Tag to Profile
Setting up your gamer profile couldn't be easier. Hook up Xbox 360 to Xbox Live and you're immediately connected. If you already have a gamertag, all you need to do is enter some basic information and your new gamer profile is up and running. If you're new to Xbox Live, pick your gamertag and you're on your way!

Gamer profile setup couldn't be easier.

Your gamer profile contains all the information you can be proud of, as well as customized features like gamer pictures.

Gamer Card

The gamer card is, as the name implies, an at-a-glance look at your player history on and off Xbox Live. In short, it's the public face you show on Xbox Live. Other gamers can see all of this information at the touch of a button, including your gamertag, your gamerscore, your reputation, the Gamer Zone you prefer, and your achievements.

Personalize your gamer card with gamer pictures, which you get to select from over a dozen initial choices (and eventually you'll be able to customize them).

Gamerscore

This is a numeric representation of your accomplishments and skills in all of the Xbox 360 games you play, online or off. A quick look at someone's gamerscore gives you an idea of how tough a customer that gamer is.

Reputation

Reputation is something that you have some control over, but only secondhand. Your reputation is based on feedback received from other gamers. By playing fairly and treating your fellow gamers with respect, you earn a better reputation as players send in complimentary feedback. Play like a jerk, and you're more likely to get complaints instead, sinking your reputation.

Gamer Zone

Your Gamer Zone is something you select yourself. Your initial choices fall into four categories: the Recreation zone, where casual gamers thrive; the Family zone, where parents and younger gamers alike can enjoy family-friendly gaming; the Pro zone, a place for hardcore gamers who don't want to deal with lame griefers; and the Underground zone, where anything goes (and where Family zone gamers probably don't want to go, if you catch my drift).

Achievements

If you're aiming to be a champion, you're going to need a trophy case. Here is where you can find all of your awards, medals, and high scores (which are also presented in condensed form as part of your gamer card). Achievements cover every game you play on Xbox 360, giving you something to crow about and showing other Xbox Live gamers the titles at which you excel. You can even compare your achievements to other gamers that have the same titles.

Just a few of the gamer pictures you can choose from.

The gamer profile is just one of the cool new features that makes online gaming with Xbox 360 a whole new experience, one more versatile and complete than anything on the current-generation Xbox. Be sure to set yours up right away.

Article by Danny Chihdo