Online Play (via Live)

1 - What is XBox Live? 2 - Connecting your Xbox 3 - Getting started on Xbox Live 4 - Live Play 5 - User Made Game Modes 6 - Tips 7 - Downloadable Content    1 - What is XBox Live? Xbox Live us a means to connect XBoxs together via a broadband internet connection and play multiplayer games online. You must have ADSL or cable.  2 - Connecting your Xbox To play online, you need to have Xbox Live, a broadband connection (cable, DSL, etc.), and a game compatible with Xbox Live. There are three common ways of connecting your broadband connection to your Xbox that I will cover here. They are: direct connection from your modem to your Xbox, using a router to connectyour PC and/or other consoles and your Xbox using a wireless network. A great place information on all aspects of Live and connecting is www.xbox.com/live http://www.xbox.com/LIVE/connect/choose.htm To meet other online gamers, and to schedule games and tournaments, go to www.ocgn.com a. Using a direct connection Connect the Ethernet cable from your modem (end looks like a wide telephone cord tip) and plug it into your Xbox. After the cable is plugged into the back of your Xbox, turn off your modem and unplug the power supply. After five minutes plug the power supply back in and then turn the modem back on. Go to section  3 for information on setting up Xbox Live. b. Using a router If you already have a router setup, it should be as simple as getting another Ethernet cable and plugging it into your Xbox. To set up your new router, first unplug your modem from its power outlet. Connect an Ethernet cable from your modem to your router and from your router to the computer, Xbox and/or other devices. Plug the router in, the plug the modem in and turn it on. If this does not work, then read the router's manual and do not ask me for help. Go to section  3 for info on setting up Live. c. Using a WAP (wireless router) Go to this page: http://www.linksys.com/splash/wetxbox.asp for everything you should need to know about adding your Xbox to a wireless network. A tip though, if your Xbox is close enough to the WAP, if the WAP includes a router, and if it is not a hassle to connect the Xbox to the router with an Ethernet cable, then I would recommend doing this, as it should reduce lag. Go to section  3 for instructions on setting up Live.  3. Getting started on Xbox Live *Note* You must be over 18 to sign up for Xbox Live. If you are between the ages of 13 and 18, have a parent sign up for you, because you need to provide a credit card. Insert the Xbox Live disc, and follow the instructions. To find your subscription code, you must scratch the foil on the inside of the CD sleeve (and why they don't mention this anywhere I do not know). Select your gamertag, be careful to spell everything correctly, and note that spacing and Capitalization counts (i.e. myname is different from MyName and My name). Your gamertag is yours for life, or until you buy a new Xbox Live kit. You must also provide credit card information, but it shall not be charged yet. For those under 18, do not use your parent's credit card without their permission. The credit card will be automatically charged one year after you registered, but the amount to be charged is not known at this time.  4. Live Play Once on Live you have a menu with six options: Quick Match, Optimatch, Host Game, Friends, Stats, and Download Content. Quick Match puts you in the first open game it finds. Optimatch lets you search for games based on type Host Game, obviously, lets you host a game. You can choose the type of game, and the number of public slots and slots reserved for friends. Friends shows your friends list. Annoyingly, you cannot scroll through the list, but must go through it one by one. Friends who are online are at the top or under any friends who have not yet accepted. When you have friends online, it will only show them online, and not tell you they are playing, but if they are hosting an open room it allows you to join them. You can also accept invites here. Stats Download Content lets you download any content that is available.   Types of Games on Live Destruction - Compete for most kills. every man for himself. Team Destruction - Same as Destruction, but with teams. Last Man Standing - You only get one Mech, and try to destroy everyone else and be the last Mech alive. Team Last Man Standing - Same as above, but with teams. Whichever team the last man standing is on wins. Not It - One Mech starts the game as 'it' - they have a yellow arrow over their head. Find whose it by looking for the yellow arrow on the edge of the radar. If you are not it, you try to kill the Mech that is it. If you are it, you try to kill everyone else. Winner is the Mech that has the most kills while it, including killing the Mech that was it.    6 Tips Press and hold the black button to talk to only your team (Team Chat) At least play Grinder before you go online, and learn the controls. Better still finish the campagain You will suck when you are new. Accept it. It's ok. Don't trash talk. While playing online does present anonymity, you should always respect your fellow gamers. Try out each Mech to find the one you like. A Mad Cat is probably the best starter Mech. Everyone was a newb at one time. Unless they are idiots or rude help them. Elementals are fun to play around with with friends, but you should probably not use them in a team game  online. Don't stand on top of or near destructible buildings. When hosting, stay in the game until it is finished. If you have to leave in the middle of a game, its fine, but make sure to give a reason. Don't camp spawn points. Unless they don't grab them after killing, powerups are the person who killed the Mech's. Don't switch between enemies. Attack one until he is dead or you are. In not it, killing people who aren't it serves no point unless you are it. Unless you are only playing the game with your friends, NEVER use a voice filter, it just annoys people  and possibly slows the game. When hosting, be courteous. Wait until people are ready, and realize your room might not fill up right away. To avoid missiles, step to the side then move forward when they curve toward you. Especially in Team modes, there is no such thing as kill stealing.  7 Downloadable Content The content is downloaded to your hard drive, and can be deleted just like saved games. After the content is available for download, it will be available for those without Live, likely through the Official Xbox Magazine. After downloading them, you can use the Mechs, maps, and game modes in single system multiplayer. The Raven, the Corvus, Hell's Kitchen, and Stone Cold were the first available for download. Following this the CTF game mode and the Loki and Hellbringer were made available. The lobbies, dropping, and other issues also might be fixed in subsequent patches. It is unlikely there will be any more downloads for MechAssault 1.