5 step guide to Games for Windows – LIVE

It’s not an overstatement to say that Games for Windows – LIVE has the potential to radically alter the way people play games online.

Not only does it enable PC gamers with the possibility of playing against Xbox 360 owners, but simplifies the process of getting an online game up and running to the point that worrying about technical problems like server addresses will become of the past.

The trials of finding your friends online and playing with them have now been all but eliminated, thanks to the sleek interface of Games for Windows – LIVE. To make it even easier, here’s five steps to make sure that you’ll be ahead of the game when you first log into the service.

1. Get in the Game

You’ll need to sign in online to access your Games for Windows – LIVE account. All compatible games support signing in to ensure no achievement goes unrewarded.

2. Guide Menu

This pops up whenever a signed-in player hits the Home key. It’s a one-stop-shop for coordinating and playing games online. At the bottom you can see one of the useful pop-up notifications.

3. Friends List

This tells you what your mates are up to. To the right of their tags, you can see what game or activity they’re participating in. There’s also an icon that shows the Xbox 360 players on your list.

4. Get the message

Sending and receiving messages is a cinch. Short text messages, or even voice clips, can be created. If you receive one while you’re online, a pop-up notifi cation will appear.

5. Head to head

You can compare your gamer score and unlockable achievements directly with your friends’. Hit Compare Games to see your scores and achievements side by side.

Mike Channel contributes to Windows Vista: The Official Magazine, and works on PC Format.

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