The Gadget Geek's Guide to Your Xbox 360

by Harbour, Jonathan S.

• ISBN13: 9781598631739
• ISBN10: 159863173X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-03
• Publisher: Cengage Learning Ptr

Summary

Microsoft's Xbox 360 takes high-definition gaming and entertainment to the next level! "The Gadget Geek's Guide to Your Xbox 360" shows readers how to harness the power of the Xbox 360 digital entertainment console. Starting with the basic features, games, and capabilities of the Xbox 360, the book goes on to explore how to add to your hardware, how to hack into popular games, and how to engage in live gaming and connect with the Xbox community. The book features helpful tips, expert advice, interviews with gamers, and more and the author is an experience Xbox enthusiast who brings insight and expert advice to the book.

Table of Contents

Firing Up Your Xbox 360	1	(18)
Generations	3	(4)
Hello, 360!	5	(1)
Timing Is Everything	6	(1)
Three Modern Contenders	7	(1)
Xbox 360 Hardware	7	(2)
Central Processing Unit (CPU)	8	(1)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)	9	(1)
Powering Up Your Xbox 360 For the First Time	9	(10)
Family Settings	12	(4)
High-Definition Settings	16	(1)
Xbox Dashboard	17	(2)
Xbox 360 Media Player	19	(30)
Rich Multimedia Experience	20	(2)
Thinking Too Hard?	20	(1)
Xbox 360 Dashboard	20	(2)
Playing Music with Your Xbox 360	22	(14)
Playing Music from a Portable Device	23	(5)
Playing and Ripping Music from a CD	28	(3)
Accessing Music on the Hard Drive	31	(3)
Streaming Music from a Windows PC	34	(1)
Using the Media Remote	35	(1)
Viewing Digital Photos With Your Xbox 360	36	(9)
Viewing Photos on a Portable Device	37	(5)
Viewing Photos on a Data CD or DVD	42	(1)
Viewing Photos on Your Digital Camera	43	(2)
Playing Video with Your XBox 360	45	(4)
Xbox 360 Games	49	(30)
Featured Games	50	(11)
Project Gotham Racing 3	50	(4)
Kameo: Elements of Power	54	(4)
Perfect Dark Zero	58	(3)
Playing Original Xbox Games on Your 360	61	(18)
Installing the Original Xbox Games Support Update	65	(2)
Playing Crimson Skies on the 360	67	(2)
Problematic Emulation	69	(4)
Playing Ford Mustang on the 360	73	(2)
Playing Original Xbox Games on Live	75	(4)
Gadget Geek Gear: Xbox 360 Accessories	79	(14)
Controllers	80	(2)
Standard Controller	80	(1)
Wireless Controller	80	(1)
Voice Communication Headset	81	(1)
Remote Controls	82	(3)
Premium Media Remote	82	(1)
Universal Media Remote	82	(3)
Storage Devices	85	(1)
Memory Unit	85	(1)
Hard Drive	86	(1)
Audio/Video Cables	86	(3)
Composite ``RCA'' Video Cable	86	(1)
S-Video Cable	87	(1)
Component HDTV Cable	88	(1)
VGA Video Cable	89	(1)
Networking	89	(1)
Cosmetic Accessories	90	(3)
Connecting Your Xbox 360 to Your Home Network	93	(20)
What is a Network?	94	(1)
Network Gear	95	(7)
Network Cards	96	(1)
Routers, Switches, and Hubs	97	(3)
Broadband: Cable and DSL	100	(1)
Wireless Adapters	101	(1)
Networking Your Xbox 360	102	(7)
Configuring Your Xbox 360's Network Settings	103	(3)
Manually Setting Your Network Configuration	106	(1)
Testing Your Network Connection	107	(2)
Hosting Your Own Lan Parties	109	(4)
Supporting Wireless	110	(1)
Network Cable Nightmare	111	(1)
``Switching'' Connections	111	(2)
Sharing Media Files over the Network	113	(24)
Connecting to Your Windows PC	114	(5)
Windows XP Media Center Edition	114	(1)
Using the Media Remote	115	(2)
Launching the Media Player	117	(2)
Setting Up Your Windows PC	119	(9)
Installing Windows Media Connect on Your PC	120	(3)
Configuring Windows Media Connect	123	(1)
Testing the Connection to Your Xbox 360	124	(2)
Testing Windows Media Connect	126	(2)
Sharing Files with Your Xbox 360	128	(9)
Sharing Music Files with Your Xbox 360	128	(4)
Sharing Photos with Your Xbox 360	132	(5)
Going Online with Xbox Live	137	(24)
Creating Your Xbox Live Account	138	(19)
Signing Up	138	(1)
Updating Xbox Live	139	(1)
Connecting to Live	140	(9)
Selecting a Payment Method	149	(3)
Entering Your Address	152	(1)
Choosing Your Gamer Zone	152	(2)
Xbox Marketing	154	(1)
Completing the Account Creation Process	154	(3)
Testing Xbox Live	157	(4)
Downloading a Movie Trailer Video	157	(1)
Watching the Movie Trailer Video	158	(3)
Xbox Live Marketplace: Game Demos, Trailers, Themes, and Microsoft Points	161	(22)
Xbox Live Marketplace	163	(16)
Game Downloads	165	(4)
Memberships	169	(1)
Demos and Trailers	170	(2)
Themes and Gamer Pictures	172	(5)
Download History	177	(1)
Redeem Prepaid Card or Promotional Code	178	(1)
Featured Downloads	178	(1)
Microsoft Points	179	(4)
Xbox Live Arcade: Downloading ``Casual'' Games	183	(24)
Casual Games	184	(3)
Predicting Best-Selling Games	185	(2)
Casual Hype	187	(1)
Downloading Casual Games	187	(9)
Your Arcade Games	188	(1)
Downloading Games	189	(4)
Purchasing Games	193	(3)
Playing Casual Games	196	(11)
Gauntlet	196	(3)
Joust	199	(1)
Mutant Storm Reloaded	200	(1)
Hexic HD	201	(1)
Zuma	202	(1)
Geometry Wars	203	(2)
Smash TV	205	(2)
Xbox Live Community: Ranking, Reputation, Voice Chat, Friend Lists, and Instant Messaging	207	(22)
Gamerscore and Achievements	208	(10)
View Games	210	(3)
Edit Gamer Profile	213	(3)
View Rep	216	(1)
Game Defaults	217	(1)
Account Management	218	(1)
Disable Auto Sign-In	218	(1)
Your Gamerscore and Reputation	218	(3)
Improving Your Gamerscore	219	(1)
Improving Your Reputation	220	(1)
Playing Online with Friends	221	(5)
Voice Chat and Instant Messaging	223	(3)
Xbox Lan Parties	226	(1)
Epilogue	227	(2)
Index	229