XBOX 360 E User Guide

							
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Fernando Bueno, Ray Padilla
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Get the most out of
your  Xbox 360
™
!
In your hands is everything you need to know to turn your
premier gaming system into the nexus of your home
entertainment system and maximize its gaming potential.
> Coverage of every option in every dashboard blade to maximize
performance.
> Detailed instructions to use every multimedia facet, including
Windows® Media Center, Windows XP, music, TV shows, etc.
> Learn how to build your own library of music to listen to
while you game!
> Coverage on expanding usage beyond the Xbox 360, including
Xbox.com, and more details on HD-DVD, Xbox Live® Vision Camera,
and the Microsoft® Zune ™
.
> Information on XNA ™
compatibility and use with the Xbox 360.
Learn how to turn your Xbox 360 into your very own video
game development kit!
> In depth look at the evolution of the Xbox 360 from concept
design to bringing it home.
> Foreword from Paolo “WildChicken” Malabuyo, Lead Design
Program Manager for the Xbox Platform Experience.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and/or other Microsoft products referenced herein are
trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. The names of actual companies and products mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The example companies, organizations, products, people and events depicted herein are fictitious. No 
association with any real company, organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be inferred.
Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.

The Official User ’s Guide
Xbox 360
™
HANDBOOK
Xbox 360
™Handbook :  The Official User ’s Guide  
						

							
Xbox 360
™
HANDBOOK
The Official User ’s Guide
Written by
Fernando Bueno
Raymond M. Padilla
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expressly prohibited.  
						

							
Prima Games
A Division of Random House, Inc.
3000 Lava Ridge Court, Suite 100
Roseville, CA 95661
www.primagames.comThe Prima Games logo is a registered trademark of
Random House, Inc., registered in the United States
and other countries. Primagames.com is a registered
trademark of Random House, Inc., registered in the
United States.
© 2007 by Prima Games. All rights reserved. No part of this book
may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
by any information storage or retrieval system without written
permission from Prima Games. Prima Games is a division of
Random House, Inc.
Product Manager: Jason Wigle
Editor: Amanda Peckham and Alaina Yee
Design & Layout: José de Jesús Ramírez
Manufacturing: Stephanie Sanchez
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and/or other
Microsoft products referenced herein are trademarks of the Microsoft
group of companies. The names of actual companies and products
mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
The example companies, organizations, products, people and events
depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company,
organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be
inferred.
Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
All products and characters mentioned in this book are trademarks
of their respective companies.
Please be advised that the ESRB Ratings icons, “EC,” “E,” “E10+,” “T,”
“M,” “AO,” and “RP” are trademarks owned by the Entertainment
Software Association, and may only be used with their permission
and authority. For information regarding whether a product has been
rated by the ESRB, please visit www.esrb.org. For permission to use
the Ratings icons, please contact the ESA at esrblicenseinfo.com.
Important:
Prima Games has made every effort to determine that the infor-
mation contained in this book is accurate. However, the publisher
makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy,
effectiveness, or completeness of the material in this book; nor does
the publisher assume liability for damages, either incidental or
consequential, that may result from using the information in this
book. The publisher cannot provide any additional information or
support regarding gameplay, hints and strategies, or problems with
hardware or software. Such questions should be directed to the
support numbers provided by the game and/or device manufac-
turers as set forth in their documentation. Some game tricks require
precise timing and may require repeated attempts before the
desired result is achieved.
ISBN: 9780761555421
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006937778
Printed in the United States of America
07 08 09 10 GG 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Acknowledgements
At Home
It seems to be a common
theme in many of my books
that I thank my fiancée, Leslie.
She deserves it. Without her
patience and understanding,
my long hours would be
much longer. 
At Prima
Jason Wigle, Amanda
Peckham, and Jill Ellis, what
an awesome team. Jason, any
time you need a travel buddy,
look no further. Amanda and
Jill, you two need to come to
Vegas soon.
At Microsoft
This book could not have been
written without the help of a
few key people at Microsoft.
Michelle Ballantine, thanks
for being so hospitable and
accommodating. Brian Yeung,
Adam Ebel, and Ryan Gunn,
thanks for making time to talk
to Jason and me. Paolo
Malabuyo, thanks for provid-
ing all the support we needed
to really understand how the
Xbox 360 came to sit in my
entertainment center.
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Xbox 360™Han dbookThe Official User ’s Guide
00: Foreword  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .i
01: Coming Full Circle—The Xbox 360 ™
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .1
Full Circle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
More Than a Game Machine  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
02: Get Started  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Gaming Outside the Box  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
03: Four Blades, Infinite Possibilities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .31
It’s Not a Dashboard, It’s a Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
04: Identify Yourself!  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Establish Your Online Presence   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
05: Making Your Mark  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Overachieving  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
06: This Little Gamer Went to Market  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .69
The Xbox Live ®
Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
The Departments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
07: Arcade Action, Zero Quarters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .87
Plug Into Xbox Live ®
Arcade  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
08: One Website, Everything You Need  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . .99
Enhancing Your Xbox 360 ™
Experience With Xbox.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . .100
09: Lean, Mean, Multimedia Machine  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .13 3
Expanding Your Playground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
10: Your System, Your Style  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 9
Personalized Gaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
11: Welcome to XNA ™
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
Do-It-Yourself Gaming!  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
XNA Requirements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Connecting to Your Xbox 360 ™
with XNA Game Studio Express   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . .158
Your First Game: Microsoft® XNA Game Studio Express in 2-D  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . .161
Going Beyond—3-D Models  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169
Going Beyond—Making Your Model Move Using Input  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . .  . . . . . . . . .176
Going Beyond—Audio  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
12: What Is Old Is New Again  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .19 5
Looking Back While Moving Forward  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
Glossary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Xbox.com’s Glossary of Xbox Live ®
Terms  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 7
Take Control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215

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FOREWORD
Most of us in the game industry have been playing video games for most of our lives. We have spent
countless hours trying to finish one more level, complete another row, save the princess, rebuild a city
block, capture a flag, and explore a new universe. We have grown up with this new form of entertainment,
and we have experienced its evolution every step of the way. Not only were we improving our hand-eye
coordination, but we were solving difficult problems, participating in fantastic storytelling, manipulating
complex systems, and working together as teams. 
Little did we know that we would be ushering in the new generation of home entertainment consoles using
the same skills that we developed playing them. We couldn’t have done it without solving some amazingly
difficult problems, telling some fantastic stories, building complex systems, and working together as one
team spanning hundreds of people across the world. We spent countless hours trying to finish one more
design document, complete another line of code, file another patent, rebuild another prototype, capture
someone’s imagination, and allow them to explore new universes. 
Creating Xbox 360™
and Xbox Live ®
was more difficult and more fun than we could have imagined, and we
couldn’t be more proud of what we were able to unleash upon the world on November 22, 2005. 
Welcome to Xbox 360. Jump in.  Paolo Malabuyo (a.k.a. Wildchicken)User Experience Lead, Xbox 360
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Xbox 360™Han dbookThe Official User ’s Guide

01 :
Coming Full Circle—
The Xbox 360
™
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FULL CIRCLE
Ever wonder why the Xbox 360 is called “360”? Why not Xbox 2 or Xbox Next? Believe it or not, it’s a name that
evolved just as the system evolved. The creation of the Xbox 360 name, sphere logo, Ring of Light, and even
packaging is an interesting story about the organic evolution of your Xbox 360.
Problem Solved
Early in development, the Xbox 360 team knew that it
would have to be wireless ready, from wireless Internet
connectivity to the very controllers that you have come,
or will come, to love. Faced with the problem of making
a wireless controller functional while aesthetically pleas-
ing, the team found that attaching a “wireless dongle”
simply wouldn’t do. However, by making the wireless functionality an
internal process, they then faced the problem of visually
identifying the controller in port one, port two, etc.
Basically, they were left wondering, “How can I tell which
is first player, second player, or third?” Before, you would know, either by a small number on the wireless dongle
that corresponded to one on your controller, or simply by a row of small lights that were coded to your controller. The Xbox 360 had neither. And so the Ring of Light was born. A small ring was placed around the power button
and separated into four quadrants. Each quadrant would represent a controller. The top right quadrant was player
one; top left was player two...you get the idea. Because the circle is only complete once all four controllers are
being used, players are encouraged to “complete their circle.”
The Xbox® Evolved
One of the things that the original Xbox ®
had done best was to bring people together
on Xbox Live®. The Xbox Live user’s experience was no longer shared with a limited
circle of friends in the neighborhood, but became a large global sphere. It had created
a real community. And we haven’t even touched on Xbox.com yet.  While the original Xbox helped create the community, Xbox 360’s logo would rep-
resent it. Its sphere logo represents the global community while the green “X” atop
the logo represents more than just the Xbox moniker. It represents power. The
same raw power that once burst out of the original Xbox is now  harnessedinside the Xbox 360.
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Xbox 360™Han dbook
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3
Coming Full Circle—The Xbox 360™
“Powered by Human Energy”
Keep in mind, though, that you are at the core of your own community. You’re at the heart of your little sphere—
you’re at the heart of the Xbox 360 sphere. That makes you the power. A common theme used around the
Microsoft offices is that the Xbox 360 is “powered by human energy.”The Xbox 360 would be nothing without its user. That is why the user is simultaneously the center of the sphere
and the power harnessed within. Pretty cool, no? In a rather fitting fashion, the Xbox 360 name has come to
embody all of these things: the sphere, the community, the evolution, the very way that the Xbox 360 harkens
back on the original Xbox’s qualities. The Xbox 360, in one fell swoop, has come full circle while at the same time
pushes the circle to expand.
A Unified Experience
While the Xbox 360 logo and name are a result of the original Xbox’s evolution, they are also the result of some-
thing the Xbox 360 team calls a “unified experience.” Designing the Xbox 360 takes a lot more than just making
something that brings gamers together. It creates a unified experience both for a gaming community, but in
experiencing the Xbox 360 itself. Sound confusing? It’s not, really. Everything from powering on the Xbox 360 to picking up a controller is part of one unified experience. Think
about it like driving a car—a very powerful and sleek sportscar. The console itself is the car. The car’s steering
wheel and pedals are the controller. And the car’s dashboard is...well, the Xbox Dashboard. When driving a car,
drivers don’t think,  I’m going to push the pedal and steer to the store. Its just “driving.” That’s the same unified
experience an Xbox 360 user feels. From joining an online game to sending a buddy a chat invitation, it’s all
one experience.
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Out of Box Experience
The experience doesn’t
begin with the power but-
ton. Nope. It begins the
moment you pick up an
Xbox 360 box. The very
weight of the Xbox 360’s
tiny packaging makes the
power contained within a
tangible experience. You
can feel the power inside,
even though it’s a small,
sleek package. Once it’s open, the
immediate impact is felt.
Large as life, there it is.
The Xbox 360 is the first
thing you see. That’s not
an accident. It being the very first thing after opening the box keeps the experience from drowning in an
anti-climactic sea of cardboard and bubble wrap. Who wants to dig through endless forms and packaging to
get their brand new system out of a box? It’s just not fun. And the bags...yes,
even the bags are a part
of the unified experience.
Twelve different languages
describe what’s inside
every bag. Why so many
languages? Because if it’s
written only in English, it
is lost on multi-lingual
people. The unified expe-
rience dissolves into
solely an English-speak-
ing one. Even the color of
the packaging bags is
coded to tell you some-
thing about what is inside.
Transcending even lan-
guage, the colors of the bags represent the purpose of its contents. If it is green, it’s a necessary piece of
hardware. If it’s orange, its necessary for Xbox Live use.
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Power Restrained
Perhaps the most commonly asked question is, Why does the Xbox 360 look like it’s bent?That is called an
“inhale” design. Take a deep breath and hold it as long as you can. Go ahead. Try. Chances are, within seconds
your mouth will burst open in a gasp for air. Powerful, isn’t it? That is the same idea behind the Xbox 360’s
unique design. Whereas the original Xbox’s design was an overt expression of hulking power (its case seemed
to be ready to burst as the X on top looked like it had just ripped open) the Xbox 360’s design is concave, like a
deep breath just before the power inside is released.  The curvature of the system implies a power, under control, ready to be harnessed. You’d have to carve into it to
really see the difference. Just look at the power button where the system’s faceplate is carved out. The difference
between the rest of the faceplate, white, clean and matte, is very different from the glossy shine and brilliance
of the carved-out button. The controller design is
an even better example of
the harnessed power
inside. Take a look at the
bottom of any official
Microsoft® Xbox 360
Wireless Controller and
you will see a small lin-
ing— it’s not an accident.
Just as the console is
carved inward, so is the
bottom of the controller,
revealing a hint of the
power inside. And because
that power is now in  your
control, you become the center of power. If it feels like it is a bit much to take in, that’s OK. Just know that the Xbox
360, from the moment it was thought up to the moment you turn the power on, was designed for you, the gamer.
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Coming Full Circle—The Xbox 360™
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