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Old Console New Tricks, Old Tricks How to get the most from Your Xbox 360

There's still plenty of excitement in the Xbox 360, regardless of whether you're waiting for the Kinect-less Xbox One, or if you've already unpacked a new system. Microsoft will be in a position to get its new system in operation after a few more software updates. But for now, it's all about getting the most value out of older equipment. Nearly nine years ago, here's how you can make sure your Xbox 360 is aging gracefully.



You can end your Xbox Live subscription



You've likely heard that Microsoft is changing the way Xbox Live Gold works next month, but if your Xbox is more of an Netflix machine than an online gaming portal You can begin saving money now. If you decide to cancel your Xbox Live subscription before August 31st, you'll be able to claim a prorated refund for the amount remaining This FAQ contains more information.



Keep your Xbox Live subscription active



But wait! Before you press the button, perhaps it's time to determine whether you've been getting 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 regular price for Xbox Live Gold is $10 per month or $65 per year. Be on the lookout for bargains at retailers such as Best Buy, Amazon and eBay, or even the Microsoft Store that could reduce the entry fee by $10-20 or even by $25. Next, check out this chart that outlines the benefits available to everyone and what will still require Xbox Live Gold after June.



Protip: Check out our deals news for a heads-up or keep an eye on websites like CheapAssGamer, FatWallet or SlickDeals to know when sales are happening. Also, make sure to make sure to double-check the new games you purchase since they're often available in bundles that cut down on the cost, or even include an evaluation card that will help you sate that weekend craving for Halo.



Games with Gold



Microsoft added Games with Gold to its Xbox 360 bundle after Sony launched an Instant Game Collection in conjunction with PlayStation Plus, which gives away free games every month. Sure, the monthly freebies are coming to Xbox One, but the Xbox 360 version has one big advantage over the XB1 and PlayStation offerings that is that you can keep the games. It's true, all you have to do is log in twice a month (on the 1st and the 16th) to begin a download of whatever is being available and you'll be able to keep it for the duration of the subscription even if you choose to decide to cancel Xbox Live Gold later. The only downside? So far, they've usually included lower-profile and older titles as opposed to the competition however, you can find the complete list of games here. This month's games included Dust: An Elysian Tail, Saints Row: The Third and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. Subscribers can also enjoy Dark Souls, Charlie Murder, and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition for absolutely zero additional cost.



Protip: There's a further benefit to Deals with Gold that adds the opportunity to rotate monthly discounted games video and DLCCheck out Major Nelson's blog for details on what's going on sale and when.



Xbox 360 SmartGlass



Microsoft has added a new method to interact with the Xbox 360 over the years. It is now possible to use your phone or tablet to interact with it. The SmartGlass app, previously known as My Xbox Live, can manage games, apps and movies on the Xbox 360. It also lets you search for content using Bing. The easiest method of using it is with Xbox Live. It is much faster to send messages to your friends and check their Xbox Live status from the second screen than to use an additional controller for the 360. These apps are free to download and are available for Android, iOS, Kindle Fire, Windows 8/Windows Phone.



Protip: Get a full list of games, apps and films right here.
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Clear your cache



Clearing the cache may solve problems with your Xbox 360 (glitch in the dashboard problems with sign-in, issues with sign-in, or issues with specific games). Clearing the cache on the Xbox will remove any downloaded game updates. It won't affect your game files, system updates, or any other data on your hard drive. After clearing the cache, you will be asked to download new game updates again when you log into Xbox Live. Go to the Settings page and highlight any storage device (cache is cleared across all devices), then press Y. Select clear, and then say "Yes." How easy was that? It was so easy.



Xbox Live Arcade



Microsoft might have included indie games alongside the bigger boys on Xbox One but there are still some smaller gems on Xbox 360. More than 600 games have been added to XBLA at the time of the launch date, including well-known classics like Braid, The Walking Dead, Castle Crashers, Limbo, 'Splosion' Man, and Minecraft. They even have demos available and are free to download. After a brief beta test in 2010 Microsoft's Destination: Arcade visual web browser has not returned. We recommend that you try The Bridge, Bastion and N+, Super Meat Boy and Ascend: Hand of Kul. Keep an eye out for new titles like AirMech Arena or Slender: The Attainment. Do you know of any hidden gems we've missed? Leave us a note in the forums so that we can test them.



[Image credit: momo_leif / Alamy]


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