XBOX Live hardware questions...

[dave4shmups]

How does XBOX Live work on the 360 and on the original XBOX? Do you need to have your XBOX near your PC, so you can hook it up to the modem? And if so, to which port would you hook it up?

Also, I've heard that you can go with Wireless Ethernet for the 360-how expensive an option is this? Because if I get a 360, I'd want it in my room, not attached to my PC.

[elvis]

XBox Live connects to a central server with your credentials. Any home internet connection that doesn't firewall outbound connections will work fine.

Just plug your XBox into a standard broadband modem/router, or use a wireless bridge to connect to a wireless unit if you don't want to run cables across your house. Routers with DHCP servers are recommended so that your XBox configures itself for web access automagically.

[dave4shmups]

XBox Live connects to a central server with your credentials. Any home internet connection that doesn't firewall outbound connections will work fine.

Just plug your XBox into a standard broadband modem/router, or use a wireless bridge to connect to a wireless unit if you don't want to run cables across your house. Routers with DHCP servers are recommended so that your XBox configures itself for web access automagically.

Thanks for that info! How expensive is the equipment required to construct such a wireless bridge?

[Vexorg]

There is a wireless bridge designed specifically for the 360 (first party accessory) that sells for $99. The main advantage of this one is that it can be configured from the 360 dashboard. Any way you can get a connection to the box will work though, I've had reasonable luck with using a Linksys WET11 wireless bridge, although you would need to configure that from a PC before it could be used on a console. The one caveat I would have on using wireless with Xbox Live is that there are some routers that have compatibility issues with Live. this page provides a list of supported and non-supported routers.

[dave4shmups]

There is a wireless bridge designed specifically for the 360 (first party accessory) that sells for $99. The main advantage of this one is that it can be configured from the 360 dashboard. Any way you can get a connection to the box will work though, I've had reasonable luck with using a Linksys WET11 wireless bridge, although you would need to configure that from a PC before it could be used on a console. The one caveat I would have on using wireless with Xbox Live is that there are some routers that have compatibility issues with Live. this page provides a list of supported and non-supported routers.

Great, thanks for that info!

[Kollision]

So... I'm a noob on 360 online matters and something is really bugging me.

I'm planning to take my 360 with me to my mother's for Christmas, so that I can play during the following break week (Score Rush, Mamoru-kun, etc etc etc)

My question is simple: why in some games do we have to be online in order to play a game locally? I won't be able to go online because my mom doesn't have Internet at home!
What if my Internet has a huge crash and I'm out of it for days?

Please guys enlighten me on this.
Is it a decision made by the developer or is it an imposition from M$?
Or.... is there something I'm doing wrong?

[StarCreator]

It depends on the game:

Disc games should always work offline, no matter what, though some features requiring it to be online might be disabled.

XBLA games will work offline only if you are on the console it was originally purchased on. Otherwise, you have to be signed in to LIVE to verify you own it. If neither condition is true, it will run in Trial mode.

Indie games do not work offline in any circumstance.

[Kollision]

Tks for the clarification.
I just tested the games and it's exactly like you put it.

Now why the heck can't indie games run offline?
What's the reasoning behind that?