Silver, Gold or Premium Gold?
So, you’ve heard about all the different Xbox live features that are new for the 360, but don’t know EXACTLY what each package offers? Here’s the low-down on the three different services available.
Xbox Live Silver
This comes free with all new Xbox 360 console owners who have broadband (required for Xbox Live) and a hard drive memory unit for the 360. So any person who gets an Xbox 360 will automatically get:
- Access to the Xbox Live Marketplace
Ø This is basically on online Xbox shop that’s accessible through Xbox live from what I’ve managed to find so far.
Ø You can buy your points from shops or earn them in some way through buying games, and spend your marketplace points online through the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Ø Think of the points as points you gain from buying DVD’s or games from the shop Game, that you get put on your Game Card.
2. Ability to download xbox live arcade games (downloadable through marketplace)
Ø Yes this means you can download classic arcade games.
Ø Games like Joust and Bankshot Billiards can be downloaded.
Ø All downloaded xbox live arcade games cost, and can be payed for using a credit card, a debit card or via cash at participating retail stores.
3. Create Gamertags and gamer-profiles
Ø Of course, you’d expect this being on xbox live.
Ø You can supposedly change your current Gamertag aswell!
4. Use voice and Text Messaging
Ø Simply like the system on Halo 2, send voice and text messages but much more quickly using the new “Dashboard”.
5. Watch other players playing online games (but not participate in these games)
Ø This looks interesting. Microsoft have introduced this so that people who havn’t bought the gold subscription (check the next bit) will want to get hold of it.
Ø However, this feature will most likely not be supported in all games because it’ll “lag” it all up a bit too much. A 16 player game is all good, but with people watching all the action too might just be a bit too much for complex online games.
Xbox Live Gold
You’ve heard about Xbox Live Silver that comes free with the 360, now what about gold? This is your basic subscription to the xbox live service. Here is what you get:
- Ability to play online
Ø Well that’s the main point of Xbox Live...
- Exclusive privileges and rewards in the Xbox Live Marketplace
Ø Not much is known about the privileges available, but these may just be access to news and more information that isn’t really necessary.
Ø Rewards could include marketplace points after buying so many months of xbox live. Gamers can only speculate at the moment..
Xbox Live Gold subscription length Price
1 month $7.99
3 months $19.99
12 months $49.99
Want to know what these costs are in Sterling?
1 month is most likely around £4.99
3 months is most likely around £14.99
12 months is most likely around £39.99
Xbox Live Premium Gold
This option has subscriptions in either three month or twelve month incretements, and what you get varies slightly depending on which of the three month or twelve month options you chose.
3 months
Ø All of the gold and silver level features, which includes Xbox Live and the Xbox Live marketplace.
Ø Joust, which is an Xbox Live Arcade game for free.
Ø A free Xbox 360 Headset for Xbox Live.
Ø A $10 or around £5 coupon you can put towards any Xbox 360 game.
Ø 100 MarketPlace points that you can “spend” on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Ø This option costs $39.99, or around £30 to £40.
12 months
Ø All gold and silver level features.
Ø Bankshot Billiards free Xbox Live Arcade game, instead of Joust.
Ø Free Xbox 360 Headset.
Ø A $20 or around £10 coupon you can put towards and Xbox 360 game.
Ø 200 MarketPlace points.
Ø This option costs $69.99, or around £50.
If you’re going to be using xbox live on the 360 for at least a year, and want all the free stuff that comes with an Xbox Live Premium Gold subscription, then it’ll cost you less to go for the 12 month option rather than 4 x 3 month options. If however, you want more than just 200 MarketPlace points and are prepared to pay that little bit more (around £50 more), then you can get about 400 points instead for the year and around £20 worth of coupons off games (although these are most likely not available for use altogether on one game).
These subscriptions will be available in participating retail outlets, and game is most likely going to be one of these as well as HMV in the UK.
You CAN transfer any old account you have from your original Xbox with Xbox Live subscription so you don’t lose out, and this has been designed to be streamless.
So, if you currently have an Xbox and Xbox Live and are getting a 360, hopefully with Xbox Live as well, I recommend you get the Normal Xbox Live Gold Subscription if you’re not prepared to pay an extra £10 or £20 for vouchers worth less than the extra price you pay. This seems the best option to continue with normal xbox live playing, and as you are able to transfer your current account seamlessly supposedly, you won’t have to pay anything until your current subscription runs out!
Silver Subscription is just a way to get more people to buy xbox live. It allows anyone who can hook up their Xbox to a phone line with broadband to see what service Xbox Live offers. As this Silver Service comes with all new Xbox 360’s, it’s just like it is on your Xbox original but not having Xbox Live; just being able to access some of the features like the MarketPlace coming with the new Xbox Live.
I would say that the Xbox Live Premium Gold service isn’t much different from the Xbox Live Standard Gold service. It has more to offer, but only in the way that you get a bit more money on your coupons and a bit more MarketPlace points than usual. If you just want Xbox Live like it should be, choose the Standard Gold service, as the Premium Gold one is just for people who have lots of cash who don’t really care about spending it wisely. |
