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Old Console, new Tricks: Getting the most out of your Xbox 360

There's still plenty of life in the Xbox 360, regardless of whether you're waiting for the Kinect-less Xbox One, or if you've already gotten rid of a new system. Microsoft will have its new system on track after another half dozen or more software updates, but until then, it's all about getting everything that we can from older equipment. Nearly nine years ago, here's how you can ensure that your Xbox 360 is aging gracefully.



You can end your Xbox Live subscription



Microsoft is changing the way Xbox Live Gold works. If your Xbox is more like an Netflix machine rather than an online gaming platform, you can save money right now. If you cancel your Xbox Live subscription before August 31st, you'll be able to claim a prorated refund for the time remaining This FAQ provides more information.



Keep your Xbox Live subscription active



But wait! Before you click the button, perhaps it's time to check whether you've gotten the value you pay for with Xbox Live Gold. It's about more than just multiplayer gaming or apps like Netflix and Vudu. You can save money by looking for discounts on your subscription. The normal price for Xbox Live Gold is $10 per month or $65 per year. Look out for deals at retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and eBay or even the Microsoft Store that could reduce the entry fee by $10-20 or even by $25. Check out this chart to see the benefits open to everyone and what require Xbox Live Gold following June.



Protip: Check out our deals news for a heads-up or keep an eye on websites like CheapAssGamer, FatWallet or SlickDeals to find out when sales are scheduled to take place. Be sure to double-check any new games you buy. They often come in bundles that reduce costs or come with the chance to try a trial version that will allow you to satisfy your weekend Halo cravings.



Games with Gold



Microsoft added Games with Gold to its Xbox 360 bundle following Sony launched an Instant Game Collection that is part of PlayStation Plus, which gives monthly free games. The Xbox 360 version will get the monthly freebies, but there is one major advantage over the XB1 or PlayStation offerings: You can keep your games. That's right, all you have to do is sign at least twice per month (on the 1st and the 16th) to begin a download of whatever is currently being provided and it's yours for life even if you choose to cancel Xbox Live Gold later. The only downside? The games have typically included lower-profile and older titles as opposed to the competition However, you can view a complete list here. The games this month were Dust: An Elysian Tail and Saints Row: The Third In June, subscribers can pick up Dark Souls, Charlie Murder and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition -- not an impressive haul at no extra cost.



Protip: Deals with Gold offers an additional benefit, which includes a monthly rotation of discounted games, videos, and DLC. Visit Major Nelson's blog for the latest details on what's available and when.



Xbox 360 SmartGlass



In the years since the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft added a new way to interact with the system other than just gamepads and remotes: your smartphone or tablet. The SmartGlass app (formerly called My Xbox Live) can manage games, apps and movies on the Xbox 360, and even search content using Bing. The most straightforward way to use it is to use Xbox Live. Sending messages to your friends or checking their Xbox Live status is often quicker from the second screen and your phone has a better keyboard than using an add-on to the Xbox 360's controller. Pirateportal These apps are free to download and available for Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows 8 and Windows Phone.



Protip: You can find the complete list of SmartGlass-enabled applications films, games, and games here.



Clear your cache



Occasionally issues with your Xbox 360 (glitches in the dashboard, sign-in problems or issues with specific games) can be solved simply by clearing the cache. On the Xbox, clearing the cache will only remove temporarily downloaded game updates however it doesn't affect system update, game files or anything else on your hard drive. After clearing, you'll be asked to download updates for your Xbox again the next time you're on Xbox Live. To do it, just go to the Settings page, select a storage device (cache will be cleared on all devices) Press"Y," select clear, and then click "Yes." It was so easy! It was so easy.



Xbox Live Arcade



Microsoft may have added games from the indie genre alongside the big boys on Xbox One but there are still a few lesser-known gems on Xbox 360. Over 600 games were pushed to XBLA from the moment of launch, including well-known titles like Braid, The Walking Dead, Castle Crashers, Limbo, 'Splosion Man and Minecraft. There are even demos available and are free to download. Unfortunately, Microsoft's Destination: Arcade visual browser hasn't been updated since a brief beta test in 2010 however we recommend trying The Bridge, Bastion, N+, Super Meat Boy, Ascend: Hand of Kul and keeping your eyes peeled for upcoming titles like AirMech Arena and Slender: The Arrival. Do you know of any hidden gems that we have missed? Send us a message on the forums so we can test them.



[Image credit: momo_leif / Alamy]


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