Xbox Live questions

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2007-10-13 06:58am

I'm thinking of getting Xbox Live again, but I have a few questions.

Firstly, do the subscription card have any kind of region locking? I have a 12+1 month gold card from Canada, but I don't want to open the thing if it won't work in Europe.

Secondly, does the Siemens Gigaset SE551 wireless router work with Xbox Live? I plan on just hooking my '360 up to it with an Ethernet capable, not wireless.

Thanks

TheMuffinKing · Post by **TheMuffinKing** » 2007-10-13 10:36am

Your router should work fine, I've had live for about two years with a wide variety of new and old equipment.

As for region locking, it only affects marketplace downloads. My live account is based in the U.S., but I live in Sicily. I have no problem playing online, but I can't download a lot of tv episodes from live.

So overall, you have access to a lot of features and multiplayer should be just fine.

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2007-10-13 10:45am

Ok, thanks. I doubt I'll be using the Marketplace at all so that's no problem for me.

Thanks again

Count Dooku · Post by **Count Dooku** » 2007-10-13 12:00pm

[R_H] wrote:Ok, thanks. I doubt I'll be using the Marketplace at all so that's no problem for me.

Thanks again

The marketplace has some cool stuff (mainly tons of game demos, which have saved me from some horrible games), but it really isn't the world's greatest thing. There are some absolutely awesome Xbox Live Arcade games though (Caracasonne anyone?).

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-10-13 12:24pm

Whilst Carcasonne is great, it's still better to play it face to face with nice clicky cardboard tiles.

There are some other really good games out there though, Outpost Kaloki, Puzzle Quest, Heavy Weapon, Assault Heroes, and upcoming Rez and Ikaruga (at some point).

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2007-10-13 02:04pm

Are those all games that have to be bought with the pointy-mahojits? If so, it definitely doesn't interest me (except maybe for the demos).

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2007-10-13 02:14pm

Yeah, you buy them with points, which is just Microsoft's way of setting a "single" global price for ad copy and the like.

Full games generally cost 400, 800, or 1200 points, which is £3.40, £6.80, or £10.20. Which is absurdly good value for some of them. (Puzzle Quest, which I will continue to bang on about, is the same game that you can pay £30 for on the DS or PSP, but with all the bugs fixed and online play)

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2007-10-13 05:23pm

It also means places like AU get totally raped, as the AUD-MSP rate is not in any way tied to the AUD-USD-MSP rate.

[R_H] · Post by **[R_H]** » 2007-10-14 10:46am

Why is it that when you use one of those 48hr trial cards, you can only play in Social matchmaking games?