Guide to Friends with Xbox 360

One of the best features of Xbox LIVE is finding friends for an online game. After all, playing with your friends, whether they're across the street or on the other side of the planet, is one of the main reasons you want online gaming. But it's not much fun unless you know they're online.

FRIENDS WITH XBOX 360

Your Xbox LIVE friends list is exactly what it sounds like: a handy list of your friends who are members of Xbox LIVE. Actually, it's a list of their Xbox LIVE gamertags. After you set up your friends list, you'll see the same list no matter which game you play. You build your list by sending and accepting friend requests. You can have up to 100 friends on your list at a time.

Note that when you set up Messenger on Xbox LIVE, your Windows Messenger contacts are added automatically to your Xbox LIVE friends list. For more information, see Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360.



You can also set up private games from your friends list. Select your crew, and they'll show up (hopefully on time!).

From your friends list, you can look at profile information about that friend, including motto, name, location, and bio. You can compare game scores, submit player reviews, and invite your friend to chat or play a game. Also, you can see your friend's friends.

All of these features are just a button mash or two away and another step toward being a part of one big family. You can check up on each other, send each other invites, and play the same games whenever you like. That's the way we set it up, to make the games that much better.

To send a friend request:
1 - Go to the Xbox Live area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Friends.



2 - Select Add Friend.
Enter a recipient's gamertag and select Done.

You can enter text using your controller and the on-screen virtual keyboard, or you can type your entry by plugging a USB keyboard into one of the console's controller ports.
Select Send Request.

For a friend request, the message for the person with whom you want to be friends is " wants to be your friend." To send a different message, create a text message instead of a friend request.

After sending your message, you'll be dropped at the Community screen, from which you can view all friends and pending friends requests.

To view a friend's profile:
1 - Go to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Friends.



2 - Select the gamertag of a friend to see that friend's profile information.

Gamer Profile: Invite your friend to chat or play a game, send a message to your friend, compare scores, submit a player review, file a complaint, or remove the friend from your friends list.

Personal Profile: See your friend's gamer card and personal information, including real name, bio, and location. See your friend's list of friends (unless your friend has blocked this option).

Your Friends on the Web
When you link your gamertag to Xbox.com and sign in to the My Xbox Web site, you'll see your friends list and be able to immediately identify who's online and what they're playing. You'll also see whether you've got any pending game invites or friend requests. If you see that your buddies are playing or you've got some invites, drop the mouse and mosey on over to the Xbox for some online competition.

Click HERE for a lengthier list if guides to help you hook up your 360 and use it by the book. After all, who wants fuss with a system purchased for having fun?