Examining Xbox LIVE 51 Examining Xbox LIVE Xbox LIVE is a service offered by Microsoft Corporation that enables online multiplayer gaming and access to various digital media. It was first made available in 2002 and has evolved considerably since then, with new features added regularly, including extension of the service to other platforms, such as Windows Phone and Windows 8. It is available as a free service and as a sub- scription-based service. Joining Xbox LIVE is crucial to getting the most out of your console. Understanding Xbox LIVE Memberships The Xbox LIVE free 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. The latter offers access to considerably more services, as demonstrated in the following table, which compares select features. There is also a Family Pack option, which provides four Xbox LIVE Gold memberships so an entire household can enjoy the extra benefits at a reduced cost. In addition, the Family Pack enables you to gift point allowances to family members, view reports about your family's Xbox LIVE activities, and receive occasional dis- counts on family-friendly games. Although an Xbox LIVE Gold membership makes more features and services accessible to you on your Xbox 360, many of these have additional require- ments (for example, a Netflix subscription to access Netflix content). In addi- tion, much of the digital content on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace is not free. For example, the only downloadable games generally free are ad-supported games. Making purchases from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace requires purchas- ing Microsoft Points. See "Understanding Microsoft Points" later in this chapter. COMPARISON OF SELECT FEATURES AND SERVICES OFFERED BY XBOX LIVE FREE VERSUS XBOX LIVE GOLD* Feature Xbox LIVE Xbox LIVE Free Gold Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Additional Requirements None None None None None Avatar creation and customization Yes Downloadable content Family Settings Free demos and game previews Game Room Yes Yes Yes Yes