InsaneNutter

Today I bought the Windows version of Shadowrun, what’s special about this game is it’s the first game to be cross platform compatible with the Xbox 360.
This means if you own the PC version of the game and your friend owns the 360 version you can both play online in the same game.
This article is not a review of Shadow run but simply an article about the xbox live features that are available on live for windows.

When the game loads up you can create an offline profile or sign in with you Xbox Live account if you have a gamer tag from the Xbox or Xbox 360.
I signed in to my existing gamer tag I created on the Xbox 360, after this I had to download a title update for Shadowrun just like you do on the Xbox 360, pc gamers will know this as a patch
I then had to download another title update and I was then signed in to Xbox Live on the pc.

Existing gamertag sign in:


Profile Sign in:
Pressing the “Home” button on the keyboard brings up the Xbox Live guide as seen below, if you’re using the 360 controller like I was the controls are exactly the same as they are on the 360. As you can see the guide is almost identical to the Xbox 360.



The Guide:


Friends List:
You can access the friends list just like you can on the Xbox 360.


Messages:
You can read your messages and reply, if you have a microphone on your pc you can also send voice messages.


Connection Tester:
The connection tester is also available on the pc to see if you have an Open, Strict or Moderate connection to Xbox Live.


Audio Input:
You can configure any audio input device on the pc to be used as a microphone, you don’t need an Xbox headset to communicate although i found this does work better than the microphone built in to my webcam.


Achievements:
You can compare your achievements to other Live users exactly the same as on the Xbox.


Sending a txt message:
You can send txt or voice messages just like you can on the 360.


Recent players:
Recent players from when I’ve played online using the Xbox 360, your recent players from playing any of the Xbox Live games for windows also get added to the list.


If you are not signed in to live the game tells you that an achievement has being unlocked but it can’t be added to your gamer score as you’re not on live. So you have to do what ever you did again to unlock the achievement next time your on Xbox Live. This is a bit annoying as on the 360 the achievement is added to your gamerscore and uploaded to live next time you sign in. Although it’s not really a major problems Virgin Media (my isp) have being having some problems lately and my internet has being on and off all day meaning if I get any achievements ill have to get them again when I can sign on to live.

I hope this has answered any questions you might have about Xbox Live on windows, if you have any more feel free to reply and ask.

Also don’t forget to add your gamer tag to the Digiex Xbox Live Leader Board or add myself and other Digiex members to your buddy list for some online action!

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xzKinGzxBuRnzx

I have shadowrun for PC also, It's a great game. I love the fact that you can play with people on the xbox 360. I wish halo 2 or some other live games would do that.

InsaneNutter

I agree, I have since bought Halo 2 and Gears of War for Windows and I think it’s a big shame I can’t play with 360 gamers. I like Gears of War better on the PC but everyone I know plays it on the Xbox 360.

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xzKinGzxBuRnzx

Yeah, gears is much better for the PC than 360. If it had cross-platform play like shadowrun, I would not stop playing it. Gears seems to run much better on the PC, has DX10, more campaign and with the NVIDIA Control Panel you can enable AA and stuff for it, unlike the Xbox 360.

Safinn

Wow! I never knew that existed! Is there any other games where you can play in the same game online with the PC and xbox 360?

InsaneNutter

At the moment just Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault and Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition allow pc gamers to play against 360 gamers.

Some other games such as Halo 2, Gears of War and The Vlub allow you to sign in to Xbox Live on the PC but you can only play against pc users.

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Safinn

Aha. Do you think Red Alert 3 will allow this feature as it is only on the xbox 360 and pc?

InsaneNutter

I’ve not read anything saying that, I don’t think it will do as the beta uses EA/Gamespy for online play and has nothing to do with Xbox Live.

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Revolution

Sadly this got replaced with some nasty blue coloured interface, it would be great if it was possible to switch back to this interface.

Trebor

Only time I have to deal with Games For Windows Live (the official name) is when I play Fallout3 and that's only if I want to sign in to get the achievements and see what my mates are up to. Not had any real problem with the new interface and found it less cumbersome than the old one they had.

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