Notes

Old Console New Tricks, Old Techniques: How to make the most of Your Xbox 360

If you're hoping for the Kinect-less Xbox One or you've already unpacked a new system, there's still plenty of life left in the Xbox 360. Microsoft will have its new system properly on the right track after another half dozen or so software updates, but for now it's all about getting everything possible out of the older equipment. Nearly nine years ago, here's how you can make sure your Xbox 360 is aging gracefully.



Cancel your Xbox Live Subscription



Microsoft is changing the method by which Xbox Live Gold works. But if your 360 is more like an Netflix machine rather than an online gaming platform you can save money today. If you cancel your Xbox Live subscription before August 31st, you'll receive a prorated refund for the time remaining This FAQ contains more information.



Keep your Xbox Live subscription



But wait! Before you hit that button, maybe it's time to see if you've been getting your money's worth with Xbox Live Gold. It's about more than just multiplayer gaming or apps like Netflix and Vudu. The first way to save money is to look for deals on the subscription itself. The standard price for Xbox Live Gold is $10 per month or $60 for the year. Ms Madrid Keep on the lookout for offers from retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, eBay or even the Microsoft Store that reduce the entry fee by $10, $20 or even $25. Next, check out this chart that outlines the options available to everyone, and what's required Xbox Live Gold after June.



Protip: Take a look at our deals news for an alert, or keep an eye on websites such as CheapAssGamer, FatWallet or SlickDeals to find out when sales are happening. Be sure to double-check any new games you purchase. They usually come with bundles that cut down costs or come with an initial trial that can 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's a major benefit over the XB1 or PlayStation options: You get to keep your games. You don't have to log in twice per month (on the 16th and the 1st) and then you can download the latest offer. It's yours forever, even if you decide to end Xbox Live Gold. The only issue? The only issue is that they have so far included lower-profile titles and older titles in comparison to the competition. You can view the complete list of titles here. The games this month were Dust: An Elysian Tail and Saints Row: The Third and in June, subscribers can get Dark Souls, Charlie Murder and Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition -- not an awful deal at no extra cost.



Protip: There's an added benefit to Deals with Gold that adds the opportunity to rotate monthly discounted games, videos and DLC -- check Major Nelson's blog to learn what's going on sale and when.



Xbox 360 SmartGlass



In the years since the Xbox 360 launched, Microsoft introduced a new method to interact with the system that isn't limited to gamepads or remotes: your smartphone or tablet. The SmartGlass app (formerly called My Xbox Live) can control apps, games and movies on the Xbox 360, and even search for content using Bing. It is best to use it with Xbox Live. It's much quicker to send messages to friends and check their Xbox Live status from the second screen, rather than using an add-on controller for the 360. These apps are free to download and are available for Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows 8 and Windows Phone.



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



Clear your cache



Clearing the cache may help solve issues with your Xbox 360 (glitch in the dashboard, sign-in issues, problems with certain games). On the Xbox clearing the cache only deletes temporary downloaded game updates, but it doesn't affect system update and game files or any other files on your hard drive. After clearing the cache, you'll be asked to download new game updates each time you log in to Xbox Live. Go to the Settings page, and highlight any storage device (cache is cleared on all devices) and then press Y. Select clear, and then select "Yes." See how easy that was? It was so easy.



Xbox Live Arcade



Microsoft might have thrown indie games with the big boys on Xbox One, but on Xbox 360, there are likely to be a few lesser gems you haven't played yet. More than 600 games have been added to XBLA at the time of the launch date, including well-known classics such as Braid, The Walking Dead, Castle Crashers, Limbo, 'Splosion' Man, and Minecraft. Plus, they have demos, and probably only cost a few dollars to try out. After an unspecified 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 on your watch for new titles like AirMech Arena or Slender: The Attainment. Have you discovered some gems that we've missed? Send us a message on the forums to tell us about it.



[Image credit: momo_leif / Alamy]


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