3. Examining Xbox Live
In this chapter, you learn about Xbox Live and the different membership levels, earning achievements, accessing your account on other consoles, and how updates work.
→ Understanding Xbox Live Memberships
→ Paying for Purchases with PayPal
→ Earning Achievements for Games and Media
→ Accessing Xbox Live Gold Anywhere
→ Connecting to Xbox on the Web
Xbox Live is a Microsoft service that enables online multiplayer gaming, access to various digital media and services, and system and app updates. It was first made available in 2002 for the original Xbox console and has evolved considerably since then, with new features added regularly, including expansion of the service to other platforms, such as computers and mobile devices. It is available both as a limited free service and as a subscription-based service with a wide range of benefits. Joining Xbox Live and maintaining an Xbox Live Gold membership is crucial to getting the most out of your console.
Understanding Xbox Live Memberships
The free Xbox Live service is known as Xbox Live Free (it was previously known as Xbox Live Silver), whereas the paid service is known as Xbox Live Gold, with the latter offering access to considerably more features and services, as demonstrated in Table 3.1. As a bonus, the same Xbox Live account works across other Microsoft platforms, including the Xbox 360.
Table 3.1 Sample Comparison of Features and Services Offered by Xbox Live Free Versus Xbox Live Gold
Games with Gold
Games with Gold provides Xbox Live Gold members with at least two free games each month. Originally a limited-time promotion for the Xbox 360, Microsoft has confirmed that the service will continue and offer similar benefits for the Xbox One starting in late 2014.
Although an Xbox Live Gold membership makes many more features and services accessible to you on your Xbox One, several have additional requirements (for example, a Netflix subscription to access Netflix content). In addition, much of the digital content on the various digital marketplaces on offer is not free. For example, the only downloadable games that are generally free are ad-supported games or online multiplayer titles that offer in-game purchases. Making purchases from any of the marketplaces requires having an existing balance, using a prepaid card or code, or having a credit card or PayPal account on file. See the “Redeeming Codes” and “Paying for Purchases with PayPal” sections later in this chapter for more information.
You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold membership directly through your Xbox One, but you will likely save some money if you shop around. Check other retailers before you buy, such as game stores and online merchants. At Amazon.com, for instance, you can opt to purchase a card that contains a code that gives you access to Xbox Live for a certain amount of time, or you can opt to receive the code via email once you make your payment. If using a third-party retailer, just be sure to use one that is reputable, especially if you opt to receive your code electronically.
Joining Xbox Live
If you would like to go beyond the default free account, you can sign up for an Xbox Live Gold membership directly on the console. Follow these steps to get your Xbox Live Gold membership:
1. Go to the Home screen.
2. Press the Menu button on the controller and select Settings.
Alternatively, you can say “Xbox, go to settings,” from any screen, or select the Settings tile on the Home screen.
4. Press the A button on the controller to select Learn About Gold Membership.
5. Press the A button to continue past the unnecessary promo screen.
6. If you want to select one of the available membership options, select a displayed option and then proceed to step 7. If you have a code, select Use a Code and see the next section, “Redeeming Codes.” If you want to decline signing up, select No Thanks to return to step 4. (From there, you can press the B button to back out of the Subscriptions settings.)
7. If you don’t already have a credit card on file, select Add a Credit Card to enter your credit card information.
Each year, your membership automatically renews at the current rate. To cancel auto renewal, log in at xbox.com/accounts. See the “Connecting to Xbox on the Web” section later in this chapter for more information about accessing Xbox information on the Web.
8. Enter the requested information in each remaining onscreen step, starting with the cardholder’s name. Your Xbox Live Gold membership is now active for the specified period.
Redeeming Codes
Prepaid codes are an alternative to making digital Xbox One purchases with a credit card or PayPal account, and also a way to redeem giveaways and other promotions. These codes are available from a variety of retailers and can be redeemed for digital content in Xbox One’s Games, Movies & TV, Music, and Apps stores; these codes can also be used to start or extend an Xbox Live Gold membership. On the Xbox 360, prepaid codes were limited to manually entering a 25-character code. Now, on the Xbox One, you can choose to manually enter the 25-character code, or you can instead choose to use Kinect to quickly scan a QR code containing the same information.
What Is a QR Code?
QR codes stand for Quick Response codes. These codes are special, two-dimensional bar codes that have become popular with some smartphone users for quickly displaying text-based information or going to a specific web address. Thanks to the Xbox One’s Use a Code functionality and the Kinect’s built-in camera, you can have that same convenient smartphone, camera, and app experience on your console.
Scanning Codes
If your console is on and Kinect is enabled, simply say, “Xbox, use a code.” Kinect will view your room and wait for you to hold up a QR code from a redemption card, printout, or mobile device to its camera. As long as you’re holding the QR code within 6 feet of the camera, Kinect should recognize and automatically redeem the code within a few seconds.
As an alternative to the Kinect voice command, you can select the Use a Code tile in the Games store.
Enter a Code Manually
Besides redeeming a code from the Use a Code tile in the Xbox One Games store, you can also use a web browser. This is particularly handy for older redemption cards that lack a QR code or when you’re away from your Xbox One.
From your computer, smartphone, or tablet web browser, go to https://account.xbox.com/en-US/PaymentAndBilling/RedeemCode and follow these steps:
1. Click the Redeem button.
2. Enter your Xbox Live credentials, then click the Sign In button.
3. Enter your 25-character code, then click the Confirm button.
4. Click the Confirm button.
Although somewhat superfluous, these steps also work from the Xbox One’s Internet Explorer app.
Paying for Purchases with PayPal
PayPal, a wholly owned subsidiary of eBay, is one of the most popular online payment services on the Internet. The service enables users to send and receive money from associated bank accounts or credit cards.
Although you can easily add a credit card and billing address from the Payment & Billing section of Settings right on your console (see “Breaking Down the Settings Screen” in Chapter 2, “Navigating Your Xbox One’s Dashboard and Settings”), if you want to leverage the convenience of a PayPal account, you need to do it from a web browser.
Connecting PayPal and Your Xbox One
From your computer, smartphone, tablet, or Xbox One Internet Explorer web browser, go to https://account.xbox.com/en-US/PaymentAndBilling/AddPayPal and follow these steps:
1. Enter your Xbox Live credentials, and then click the Sign In button.
3. If you already have a PayPal account, select Pay with My PayPal Account and enter the requested information. You’re now finished. If you need to obtain a PayPal account, proceed to step 4.
4. Enter the required information under Create a PayPal Account.
5. When finished entering the information, click on Agree and Create Account.
When you’re finished, and after logging in to your Xbox One, your PayPal account will be listed under Payment Options in the Payment & Billing section under Settings, along with any credit cards. When it comes time to pay for a digital transaction, you can then quickly use your PayPal account or any of the other associated payment options.
Earning Achievements for Games and Media
Achievements are awarded for completing specific activities in a game. The required actions vary by title and could be anything from completing a game without using a certain weapon, to winning a certain number of online matches, to completing a game, or even by dying a certain way. In short, achievements are up to the individual game developer’s imagination and are a great incentive for getting the most out of a particular game or app.
Completing achievements boosts your gamerscore, which is an achievement system for bragging rights, and sometimes provides other rewards, like specific in-game perks. There are also challenges, which are timed events for games and apps that are usually geared toward completing new tasks. Although challenges don’t boost your gamerscore, they can bring other types of recognition and in-game benefits.
Some challenges are tied to media achievements instead of just games, as it was on the Xbox 360. These often take the form of watching specific TV shows and movies or rating content in apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Amazon Instant Video, and Redbox Instant. Like challenges, these media achievements don’t affect your gamerscore, but they do show up in your list of achievements and are a fun way to game-ify your media consumption.
You can see what achievements and challenges are available and what you’ve already earned by doing one of the following:
• Select the Achievements tile on the Home screen (if present).
• If Kinect is active, say “Xbox, go to achievements.”
• Select the Social tile and then Achievements.
The Achievements screen is broken up into three sections. The first section is Featured Challenges, where all of the timed challenges reside.
The second section is Xbox One, where all Xbox One game, app, and media achievements are listed.
The third section is Other Achievements, where your achievements from other Xbox Live-compatible platforms, like the Xbox 360, are listed.
Selecting any of the tiles reveals how far away you are from any goals, what challenges remain, what achievements have already been unlocked, and what achievements remain locked.
Accessing Xbox Live Gold Anywhere
With an Xbox Live Gold account, any other local users of your home console, be they family or friends, will have access to your account’s purchased games, as well as multiplayer gaming and app options, even if they don’t have an Xbox Live Gold account of their own. In turn, if you log in to an Internet-connected Xbox One with your Xbox Live Gold account at a family member or friend’s house, you can still enjoy full access to your profile, digital games, and apps, even if they don’t have an Xbox Live Gold account. As a further bonus, you can be logged in to your Xbox Live Gold account on both an Xbox One and Xbox 360 simultaneously, but not two Xbox Ones.
Connecting to Xbox on the Web
Besides accessing various account and billing information on your console and through the Xbox One SmartGlass mobile apps (see Chapter 11), you can also visit the www.xbox.com website from your favorite browser. After logging in, you’ll see My Account and Profile, Activity Feed, Friends, Messages, and code redemption (Redeem Code) options that apply to your Xbox Live account and any applicable Xbox One and Xbox 360 consoles:
• My Account—Selecting this option provides a summary of your recent digital transactions and active subscriptions, as well as links to adjust payment and billing information, and device-specific options such as console registration and repair status.
• Profile—Selecting this option provides Xbox One SmartGlass download links for Windows, Windows Phone, Apple iOS, and Android platforms. If you would like access to your actual profile information, including recent activity and editing options for your profile and avatar, click on your green profile name above My Account.
• Activity Feed—Selecting this option displays recent activity, including games played and apps accessed.
• Friends—Selecting this option displays pending friend requests and friends who are either presently online and offline, as well as their most recent activity. You can use the Find option to search all gamertags and then either send a message or friend request if they’re not already a friend.
• Messages—Select this option to send a message to one or more friends from your existing list of friends.
• Redeem Code—Selecting this option displays the screen where you redeem a gift card, prepaid card, or promotional code. See the “Enter a Code Manually” section earlier in this chapter for more information on redeeming codes from this screen.
• Sign Out—Selecting this option immediately logs you out. Select Sign In to log in again.
Issues with Xbox Live, Services, or Apps?
If you notice issues with Xbox Live or services and apps for either the Xbox One or Xbox 360, use your browser to log in to http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live-status. Every possible service and app is listed with its current status of either “up and running” or one of several possible error or maintenance states.
Enjoying Xbox Live Rewards
As part of your Xbox Live Gold membership, you can sign up for Xbox Live Rewards. Xbox Live Rewards provides extra incentives, such as Rewards Credits or prizes, for taking surveys, playing games, watching videos, and doing various other activities on your Xbox One. Earn enough Rewards Credits and you’ll be able to convert those credits to money to purchase digital goods from the various Xbox One stores. To join Xbox Live Rewards, use your web browser to go to www.xbox.com/en-US/live/rewards?xr=shellnav and click on the Join Xbox Live Rewards button.
Understanding Updates
With today’s fast-moving technology, updates are inevitable, and that includes updates for both your console and its games and apps. These updates either fix bugs or add new features (sometimes both), and, unfortunately, eventually become mandatory. If you choose not to accept a mandatory update, you will no longer be allowed to connect online. For a particular game or app, this might not be a deal breaker, but if it’s a console update, this means all online functionality will be disabled. In short, unless you have a very good reason for avoiding an available update, as a certain sports apparel company likes to say, just do it.