Hey, it's working! So what can I play on Xbox Live?

Most new Xbox games have at least some form of Xbox Live functionality, even if it is only the occasional game fix. More common is full multiplayer gameplay from Xbox giants such as Gears of War 2 and Halo 3, to the smaller titles like Xbox Live Arcade's FunTown Mahjong or Uno. Some games also allow friends to work together in cooperative gameplay modes, such as in Call of Duty: World at War's cooperative campaign and Nazi Zombie mode.

Aside from the joy of outshooting, out-driving or out-thinking your friends and strangers alike online, many games also offer downloadable content which often takes the form of extra missions and storylines such as in Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage and Grand Theft Auto IV's Lost and the Damned. Other such downloads can be map packs, such as those on offer for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Gears of War 2, and new weapons and other items available in games such as Skate 2 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

Any game that has downloadable content or multiplayer action for the title will include an Xbox Live logo in the top right of the box, next to the Xbox 360 logo.

So how do I pay for this pleasure?

There are two ways to pay for your Xbox Live Gold membership. Firstly, one-, three- and 12-month subscription cards are available in most gaming and electronic stores for S$13.90, S$34.90 and S$88, respectively. These cards provide you with a code which you enter either online or into your console, granting you Gold membership until the code expires.

The other way is to subscribe via credit card either through the "My Account" menu on the Xbox site or via your console with the same price structure. However, if you don't specifically cancel your subscription after 12 months, it will automatically renew and you'll be charged once more.

When you buy a new Xbox 360 console, you should find a free one month Gold membership trial for Xbox Live in the box. Some games, usually ones made by Microsoft Game Studios, also come with a free trial, and if, heaven forbid, you experience a Red Ring of Death, Microsoft provides you with the same trial to soften the blow you were dealt.

Tags: Microsoft Xbox, Microsoft Xbox Live, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Xbox 360, cable