Guide to Messaging with Xbox 360

The wonderful world of Xbox LIVE at your fingertips, yet you can't log on, send or receive a message properly, or God knows what else. Not to worry, this here guide will help you every step of your way to text/voice-messaging your friends and will even give you a few tips about how to use your Vision Camera while you're at it.

MESSAGING WITH XBOX 360

Xbox 360 offers a range of convenient and flexible communication options including game invites, voice and text messaging, instant messaging with Windows Live Messenger, Tell a Friend, and picture messaging.

Game Invites
Game invites are a fast and easy way to rope your friends into multiplayer action. You don't have to exit your game to extend an invite. Just call up the Xbox Guide from wherever you are to fire one off. Invitations let your friends know, whatever they're doing, that you want them to join your game.

Note: An Xbox LIVE multiplayer-enabled game must be running on your console in order for you to send or accept a game invite. Xbox 360 users will always receive invites whether they're playing a game or not.

To send a game invite:
1 - Sign in to Xbox LIVE and begin playing an Xbox LIVE multiplayer-enabled game.
2 - Press the Xbox Guide button.
3 - Select the Messages icon (the box with the envelope icon in Community).









4 - Select Create New, Game Invite.
5 - Select or enter a gamertag, then select Send Invite.
6 - Create another invite if you want (or send a voice or text Message, a Private Chat Invite, or a Friend Request). When you're finished, press the Xbox Guide button to return to your game.

When your invitee accepts your invite, his or her gamertag will appear.

Voice Messaging

Note: Only Xbox 360 gamers can receive voice messages.

All you need is a gamertag and an Xbox 360 Headset.

To send a voice message:
1 - Connect your Xbox 360 Headset to your controller and put it on.
2 - Go to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and sign in to Xbox LIVE.
3 - Select Messages, Create New, Message.
4 - Select or enter a gamertag.
5 - From the Message screen, select Add Voice.
6 - Select Record Message and speak into your headset's microphone. The recording will conclude after 15 seconds; select Stop to end the recording sooner.









To listen to your voice message, select Play Message.

7 - When you're ready, select Done, Send Message.

Text Messaging

If you're not inviting someone to a game or if you don't have an Xbox 360 headsetâ€"or if you'd simply rather type than speak your messageâ€"send someone a text message.

To send a text message:
1 - Go to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and sign in to Xbox LIVE.
2 - Select Messages, Create New, Message.
3 - Select or enter a gamertag.
4 - From the Message screen, select Add Text.
5 - Enter your text message. You can use your controller and the on-screen virtual keyboard or you can plug any USB keyboard into an available controller port. When you're ready, select Done.
6 - Select Send Message.


Instant Messaging with Windows Live Messenger

You can instant message your Windows Live Messenger contacts right from your Xbox 360 console. When you sign up for Messenger on Xbox LIVE, your friends list combines your Xbox LIVE friends and Windows Live Messenger contacts on your console, and shows you where they overlap.

Tell a Friend

Use Tell a Friend messages to boast about your achievements and promote your newest favorite game. Each game generates a slightly different Tell a Friend message. Each message includes a link directly to the game offer and another link to the Game Store.










To send a Tell a Friend message:
1 - Go to the Games area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Games Library.
2 - Select My Games.
3 - Select a game to play.
4 - Select Tell a Friend.
5 - Select a message to send.
6 - Select a gamertag or a friend to send the message to.
7 - Click Send.

Picture Messaging

If you have an Xbox LIVE Vision camera, you can attach a picture to your message.

To send a picture message:
1 - Go to the Xbox LIVE area of the Xbox Dashboard and sign in to Xbox LIVE.
2 - Select Messages, Create New, Message.
3 - Select or enter a gamertag.
4 - From the Message screen, select Add Picture.
5 - Position yourself in front of your camera. If you want to zoom in, select Zoom in.
6 - When you're ready, select Take Picture. After a count of three, it'll snap your photo.

Note: You must have an Xbox LIVE Vision camera connected to your console to take a picture.

7 - If you want, select Add Effect, then select an effect.
8 - Select Accept Picture.
9 - Select Send Message.

Note: If you send a message to someone not on your friend's list, they'll see a message warning them of this before they open the picture.

If your Xbox LIVE messages are missing or you can't reply/send messages, visit Microsoft Technical Support right here.

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, right?