Online Gaming With Xbox Live Special @ Gaming Target

Written by Nick Doukas on November 06, 2002

Special: Just moments away from online console gamingЕ

On November 15th, 2002 Microsoft will take the wraps off of its online gaming network, Xbox Live. To say the editors here at Xbox Target are excited would be a huge understatement. We're so psyched about the online experience, we're already discussing clans for Unreal Championship and Mechassault, and making plans to shoot everything that moves as soon as it's possible. For the lucky few who are beta-testers, the experience is already here. I must admit, I've been playing Tribes: Aerial Assault on my PS2 for a few weeks now (yes, I managed to score one of the highly coveted network adapters) and the online competition is fierce (not to mention a complete blast). As fun as it's been though, there's a length of Cat5 cable with my Xbox's name on it, ready and waiting for the 15th. Xbox Live will be a definitive experience, as online gaming comes to consoles in a huge way.

So exactly what am I talking about here? Well, by this point most of you are familiar with exactly how Xbox Live will be implemented. The voice communicator (which will allow you to speak with other gamers while playing, as well as team chat with your friends to strategize without giving away your battle plan), the friend's list (which will allow you to see gaming friends whenever they're online, regardless of what game is being played) and the matchmaking service, which allows players of equitable skills to hook up and play each other. Your unique gamertag will track your stats and allow you to build up a reputation amongst your fellow Live subscribers (whether it's a good rep or a bad one will be entirely up to you). Blasting your friends and neighbors has never been so much fun (not that I've ever blasted my friends and/or neighbors mind you. Well, there was that time I lost all my money in a poker game, and my dad, Tom Bosley, had to get it back for meЕwait, that was an episode of Happy Days, sorry. You see what I mean? I'm so psyched for online gaming, you'd think I had a crayon lodged in my brain). Anyway, you get the idea (I hope).

So what's it going to be on day one? You'll have your choice of some sweet Live titles to choose from right away. FPS fan? Nothing like fragging your buddies repeatedly while you taunt them in real time. Unreal Championship should fit that bill nicely. Again, stat tracking is big here, as the game will log your points, deaths, specials, games played and efficiency rating. Of course, because of the Xbox hard disk, you'll be able to download free additional content soon after launch. Additional weapons and, more importantly, new maps, should exponentially expand the replay value considerably. How about Mechassault? This is looking like the game to have as Live launches. I know I definitely want to pilot a 40-foot tall mech complete with jump jets, cannons, missiles and other assorted implements of mass destruction. Drop me into a 31st century war zone (cities, as well as organic, natural environments) and turn me loose with a bunch of other maniacs and I'm good to go. Every building is fully destructible, so if you're feeling particularly obnoxious, go ahead and drop a heavy structure on your pal (Ryan, I'm looking in your direction). Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon will put you into a realistic special-ops simulation, and should satisfy those who crave team based combat action. Sports fans are covered as well, with choices that include NFL Fever 2003, SEGA Sports NFL 2K3 and NBA 2K3. So now you can play a whole seasons worth of games with that guy at work who never shuts up about his favorite team. Fortunately, you can stomp him good, courtesy of Xbox Live. That ought to clam him up (unless he stomps youЕhey, Live can do a lot of things, but making you a better player is not one of them, though the old adage applies here: practice makes perfect). Round it out with Whacked! or MotoGP and we're looking good for launch day. Additionally, look for the Xbox Live logo on many more games the will be coming in the near future.

So there you have it. Obviously I'm very pleased that online gaming is coming to the console format, and Microsoft is putting some serious work (and cash) into insuring that Xbox Live is a hit. Whatever your preference is, it's sure to be covered, if not now, then certainly in the immediate future. Not only will you be able to compete online, but even single player games (Splinter Cell for example) will have additional downloadable content available through Live (such as huge new levels and other goodies gamers everywhere will just have to get their grubby little mitts on, myself included). Just to whet your appetite, I'll leave you with a quote from Shane Griffith of Day One Studios, who's the Technical Art Director on Mechassault. I think this pretty much sums up our expectations of what Xbox Live will be like: УAs I sit at home tonight playtesting Xbox Live with colleagues, I can't help but grin at just how cool this really is. This is truly a revolutionary experience! It's just like the evening LAN parties at work or in the dorms, but way better! You get to lounge on your couch, sippin' your favorite beverage and listening to all the cries and groans when you pluck someone off from 400 meters. Ahhhh, it doesn't get any better than this. This is such an addicting experience. Every game will be the last one for the night, but hours later the battles continue. I like this constant competition between making sure your name is at the top of the leader board and waking up in time for work the next day.Ф Good luck getting up in the morning, I have a feeling sick days are going to increase in the near future.

Closing Impressions
I love it. So much competition, team based fun, and tons of downloadable extras that will take console gaming into a whole new realm. I hope to see you all out there and I promise to post my Gamertag in the first article I do after launch. Look at it this way: all of you out there that don't agree with my reviews can now hunt me down and kill meЕ.virtually of course. Unless I kill you first. See you online.