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[plugh]

I recently purchased a 'previously played' xbox with the intention of running XBMC. I personally don't have any interest in game playing, but my kids (with their own PS2) are now asking about playing xbox games (sigh).

It appears to be a V1.0 system, K:4034, D:5960, and I'm currently reading about various softmods wrt putting xbmc on it. At the moment, to be on the safe side, I've got my router blocking ports 88 and 3074.

Various topics in here talk about a 'gamertag', and I see on the xbox live web site that it requires a paid subscription. I have absolutely no intention of enrolling. Period.

I also see comments about downloadable content and game updates as well as dashboard updates. It isn't clear to me if these aspects of xbox live require a subscription as well, or if they are more analogous to windows updates (ie bug fixes / enhancements provided free of charge). And there is lots of discussion about boxes being banned.

Given I won't be subscribing and getting a gamertag, what features / services of xbox live will still be available?

I'm trying to understand the availability and evaluate the desirability of any 'free' services offered, in order to make a judgement call as to whether allowing / excluding access to these free services is important enough to factor them into my xbox modding plans.

For example, I can see some value in being able to download free game bug-fixes and enhancements, so I would want my xbox mod and network setup to allow doing this. However, I also see this as being an infrequent activity, so I don't mind if I have to take extra steps to do it "safely". And if this ends up being the only 'free' service of interest, I'd probably just leave the ports blocked on the router except during those carefully controlled downloads, and ignore the complex softmods that offer fancy multi-boot modes. (I'm a firm adherant to the KISS principle).

So... What free network based functions are included under the 'xbox live' umbrella?

Thanks!

[Alex548]

No xbox live subscription = no freebies (including downloadable content, gamertag, new maps & levels for certain games, etc....)

This is M$ we're talking about... nothing is free.

There are free alternatives if your kids want to play online against other people.
Look into Xlink Kai and XBConnect

[plugh]

Thanks for the reply.

I am *not* trying to be argumentative, but...

I had the impression from my reading that some games automatically tried to check for updates (if the ethernet port was active), and were quite insistent about downloading them. Or is that behaviour something independant of 'xbox live'? ie the game talking to its manufacturer's servers perhaps??

And I was also under the impression that dashboard updates were pushed down to people even if they didn't have 'xbox live' accounts. Or does this only occur via newer game discs?

Yes, I read about xlink kai and xbconnect software for network play independant of 'xbox live'. And from what I can tell there are no concerns about 'xbox live' banning via those services, correct? And since they are tunnelling based, I can leave my 88/3074 filters in place at my router?

If there really are *no* FREE update / bugfix / enhancements services offered via 'xbox live', I'm inclined to just leave ports 88 and 3074 blocked at my router and choose/configure a softmod accordingly. Comments?

[matt987]

Live is not really essential unless your a real gamer. Many games I have dont offer many updates(if any), and these are only popular and successful games. I would say for casual gaming, you shouldnt bother with live and getting banned and all that jazz for a couple "updates"  As for modding and XBMC, Xbox Live is not important at all. You can get MANY xbox apps and programs all over the internet.  Ive been kept content(and then some) just searching and finding new apps and stuff without live for about a year.  The Xbox system is so advanced you really dont even *need* gaming to be kept busy with it.