Xbox Live Features: MatchmakingGet Your Game On... LineChances are most strangers aren't like you. At some point in your life, you figured out the world is full of some wacky people. But you have friends, right? (We hope you do. If not, see our Friends article.) Maybe it took years to find the right ones. You'd probably be pretty frustrated if it took that long to find great games online. Ever want to play someone at your own skill level? Or maybe find people to play your favorite map or track? What if you just wanted the first available game? Xbox Live lets you decide.
Why's that useful? Let's say you're a dominating force in capture-the-flag, but a bench-warmer in football. Flip a few options and Xbox Live will pair you with the fastest snipers in the world but keep you learning with the pigskin rookies. Tired of those people who quit your game when they're losing? We know that stinks hardcore. What about the bullies that prey on newbie blood? Xbox Live tags everyone with a reputation, because no one likes a cheater or a poor sport. It's your call how you act—but people will know if you've been naughty or nice. (Yep—Santa's got a day job, and he works cheap!) The possibilities are endless, but one thing's always for sure—we find you fast connections to your preferred games.
Because we have a centralized system, scores and stats are all kept in a single, safe place. It's also where we store other people's feedback about you (Santa's actually got nothing on large databases). We can also tell you who's playing in the games, how long they've been playing, the current score, and how many open slots are left. Dive right in if there's a slot free. If not, there are plenty of other fish in our sea. Of course, maybe you're not so picky. Maybe you just want to find a game—any game—right now! Xbox Live understands your impatience and gives you Quick Match. A couple of button presses and you're playing.
Or maybe you're very specific. You want your friends all on one team to work on your cooperation skills. Who says gamers can't be well-rounded? Reserve slots and slip your friends a private invitation. Your opponents, the unsuspecting bunch, will wander in but won't take one of your friends' spots. (Hint: Use caution if they seem to know each other, too.) Alice Pritikin, program manager for Xbox Live game matching, puts it this way: We've taken the guesswork out of the system. All you have to do is decide who and what you want to play. We'll find you that lag-free, ideal game—it's up to you to stamp your name all over it. |
