Video Game Consoles Articles

Article / Updated 05-27-2022

Connecting your PlayStation 3 to a wireless network is the first step to joining in the world of online gaming. Almost all versions of the PS3 (all except the 20GB) have a built-in wireless capability. Many of today's most popular games operate entirely over online game servers and those that don't usually have an option for online game play. When you connect your PS3 to a wireless network you can play against other online gamers around the world. Online gamers can participate in tournaments and operate in team with each other for a whole new game experience. All you need to get started is a wireless access point. Turn off all your network equipment (modem and router) as well as the PlayStation 3. Leave all equipment off for two full minutes. Turn on your modem and router. Make sure that your wireless router is connected to the Internet and broadcasting a signal. Use a PC to ensure that all router settings are complete before turning on the PS3. Turn on the PS3. Select Settings→Network Settings on the XMB and click the X button. Now you’ll need to provide your router’s security settings. If the PS3 is connected to a modem using an Ethernet cable, the wireless function will be turned off. Choose Internet Connections and select Enabled. Then scroll to Internet Connection Settings and press the X button. If you receive a message saying that you'll be disconnected from any current Internet Connection, say Yes to move on. Select the Easy option and press the X button. Try the Easy setup first; if that fails then you can always go back and try the Custom settings. Select Wireless and press the X button. Then select Scan and press the X button. The PS3 will scan the surrounding area and produce a list of all the nearby wireless access points. If you have an AOSS (AirStation One-Touch Secure System) router, select Automatic instead and follow the onscreen commands. Select your access point from the list and press the X button. If you're not sure which SSID is yours, check with the person you set up your router. Confirm your SSID and press the X button. Select the security type that your router uses and press the X button again. You may need to ask the network administrator for the appropriate information. Enter the necessary security key information and press the Start button. Press the Right Arrow button to move to the next screen. The security key will always look like eight asterisks (*) regardless of how long it actually is. Enter any additional security information required by your router. When you're finished, press the X button to save the settings. This will store the settings on your PlayStation 3 permanently, so that next time you just have to choose you network and you're ready to go. Press the X button again to test the network. Your PS3 will attempt to connect to the Internet. Hopefully, you'll see Succeeded beside each attempt. If you receive a failed signal, turn everything off and try the set up again.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

With the Xbox 360's outstanding graphics card and a high-speed Internet connection, you have everything you need to stream Netflix videos directly to a TV. No need to wait for a DVD to arrive in the mail. The only other thing you need to get started is a Gold Netflix account. Within minutes you can be watching Netflix’s vast collection of movies and TV shows using your Xbox 360.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

When you add friends on the Wii, you connect your Wii consoles to each other. Adding Wii friends enables you to play games with (or against) them. You can also send messages, chat, share photos, and even talk them (if you both have a Wii Speak Microphone). The Wii allows you to store up to 20 friends in your Wii Address Book by registering their friend codes. Before you can add a friend, you’ll need to exchange friend codes with your friends.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Connect your Wii to a wireless network to play against online gamers around the world or locally. Using the Wii and your wireless network, you can also browse the Internet, share pictures, chat with friends, or read e-mail. All you need to get started is a wireless access point.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

It's fun to take a tour of the Xbox 360 console. In the front, you find memory slots, the disc drawer, and more. Around back, check out the power supply socket, AV cable socket, and Ethernet port. When you're familiar with all the plugs and inputs, including the USB connections, you can plug in all your accessories in a jiffy. The Xbox 360 console can be placed either upright (wide) or on its side (tall) when you connect it. Either way, it works just fine. Checking out the front Figure 1 shows the front of the Xbox 360. Figure 1: The front of the Xbox 360 console, with the ports labeled. The front contains the following console gadgets that you'll use or change most often: Power button Back when Grandpa walked five miles uphill both ways in the snow to rent anime videos, folks called this the on/off switch. Two memory unit slots Two USB ports The front USB ports are for connecting: • A wired controller • An MP3 music player or digital camera • A glowing snowman — hey, you can brighten the whole room from your Xbox 360 USB port! Disc tray (for games, DVDs, and music CDs) Bonding button (so that you can tell your Xbox 360 console which wireless game controller is yours) The front of the Xbox 360 console also has an infrared port that works with Xbox media remote controls. Understanding the back Figure 2 shows the back of the Xbox 360. Figure 2: The back of the Xbox 360, with ports for accessories and connections. The back of the Xbox 360 console is less populated than the front, but the ports are important: Power supply socket This big rectangular port is where you connect the Xbox 360 power supply. AV cable socket Here's where you plug in the console end of your AV cable. Depending on your equipment and cable, the other end can connect to: • TV sets • Computer monitors • Audio systems USB port This rear USB port is intended for use with the optional Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter, but it can also be used for: • A third wired controller • Any of the USB devices suggested in the preceding section Ethernet port This is where you can plug in: • Your home network • A high-speed Internet connection • A system link connection to another Xbox 360 console

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Every Xbox 360 can play DVD movies right out of the box — with no additional parts necessary. Watching a movie on the Xbox 360 is a straightforward process. If you have Xbox 360, you probably don't need a separate DVD player. Console operation It's easy to start a DVD movie with Xbox 360: The movie is loaded automatically if you do either of the following: • Pop the DVD into the tray (like a game disc) • Switch the console power on with a DVD in the drive If you have a movie in the drive when you're using the Dashboard, you can pick the Play DVD option from the bottom of any of the blades. When the movie loads, the movie's menu screen usually appears automatically. You can use the arrow keys and OK button on your remote control (or the directional pad and A button on a regular Xbox 360 controller) to start the movie. Remote c ontrol Although you can watch movies with no additional hardware, you will probably find it useful to have an Xbox 360 remote control. If you're watching a DVD and press the Xbox Guide button (the orb with an X carved into it) on the remote, you're taken right into the Dashboard. The rest of your Xbox's features are never far away. Two Xbox 360 remotes are available: A larger remote (called the Universal Media Remote). Figure 1 shows the Universal Media Remote. Figure 1: The Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote has standard DVD controls. This is sold separately for use with any Xbox 360 console. This remote has more features for your complete home entertainment system, such as: • TV volume control • TV channel selection The Universal control even lights up when you press it. That makes watching scary movies in the dark even better! A small remote known as the Media Remote. This remote is included with some of the first Xbox 360s sold (but it works with any Xbox 360 console). Either of the Xbox 360 remotes can perform standard DVD activities, such as: Using the DVD's menu Pausing the movie Parental control Any parental controls you've set up are in effect when you play a DVD. You need to enter a pass code before viewing content that exceeds the allowed rating. Progressive scan video Progressive scan is a feature of the DVD output in the Xbox 360 (and is a standard feature of most recent DVD players) that produces smoother output when playing movies on televisions that support high definition. Progressive scan video only works when: Your console is hooked up to a monitor that supports a resolution of 480p (such as any high-definition TV, or HDTV). Your cables and connectors can support high-definition display. These are either: • Component video • VGA Quiet mode The Xbox 360 kicks itself into quiet mode when you watch a movie so that the console can slow its cooling system. The result isn't silence, but it's a lot closer to it than the first Xbox (which was loud).

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Xbox 360 allows two types of audio connections: analog and digital.Both analog and digital audio connections can give you surround sound or stereo sound, depending on the sound system that you use with your Xbox 360 console. Remember, your Xbox 360 audio setup applies to both games and DVD videos. The Xbox 360 audio connection that you should use depends on the sound system that you connect to your Xbox 360 console: Digital audio is the best option if you have both of the following: • A sound system with a Toslink digital audio input • A Toslink audio cable (which you can get from most stores that sell Toslink-equipped sound systems) Toslink is the optical version of SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format) digital audio. Analog audio is used for most TVs and inexpensive audio systems. Digital Xbox 360 audio You make an Xbox 360 digital audio connection by using an optical cable (called a Toslink). To connect your Xbox 360 to your stereo using a digital cable, follow these steps: 1. Make sure that you're using one of the following Xbox 360 AV cables that connects digital audio: • Component HD cable. • Advanced Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (SCART) cable (United Kingdom). • VGA cable. • S-Video cable. • S-Video is the only standard TV cable that works with digital audio. 2. Connect a Toslink cable to the connecting plug of your AV cable. Turn the stereo volume down before you connect the cable. 3. Plug the Toslink cable into your receiver. The manufacturer sometimes covers this input to prevent dust from damaging the input. Check your input; it may be covered by either of the following: • A plastic shutter that moves automatically when you plug the connector in • A small square-shaped plug in the input • If the input has a plug, pull it out now. 4. Switch your receiver to the digital audio source. 5. Fire up the Xbox 360 and pick the appropriate digital output type in the System blade. Analog Xbox 360 audio You make the analog audio connection with a pair of RCA jacks. The two analog audio connections are usually two different colors: Red for the right channel White for the left channel This has been the standard connection method since before the original Atari game console was released. Don't have an optical input? Use analog audio and hook up with the RCA cables. If you can't use an optical input, you have two ways to make an analogaudio connection from your Xbox 360: Directly to the audio system (receiver): Connecting directly to the stereo system may improve sound quality a bit. Analog audio usually sounds better when you reduce the number of connections between the signal's source and its destination. Through the TV's audio input and output to the audio system: Extra connections may hurt the sound quality a little. Your TV set can automatically send the matching audio to your sound system when you change video sources (such as satellite boxes and VCRs). Many TVs that have audio outputs have two options: • Variable output: Adjusts its output volume based on the volume setting on the TV (and the TV remote control) • Fixed output (sometimes called "audio out" or "line out"): Volume is not adjustable with the TV remote control Analog output If you use analog Xbox 360 audio output, you can choose between two types of output: Mono (single-speaker sound) Dolby Pro Logic II, which works with most analog sound systems: • Standard stereo TV sound systems • Two-speaker stereo sound systems • Simulatedsurround sound systems (such as Dolby Virtual Surround and SRS TruSurround) • Dolby Pro Logic surround sound • Dolby Pro Logic II 5.1 surround sound • ".1"surround sound systems, like Dolby Pro Logic II, can use a subwoofer. Mono output Mono puts all the game sounds through bothXbox 360 analog audio jacks (red and white). Mono sound technology When you use mono, it doesn't matter which Xbox 360 audio jack you connect to your sound system. If your TV sound system only has oneaudio jack (usually white), you may find that this the best connection. If you use mono sound with a multispeaker sound system (like a stereo TV or a surround sound audio system), you can hear sound from all the speakers, but you can't tell the directionof the sound: If you're connected to a stereoaudio system, Xbox 360 mono audio doesn't tell you whether sounds are on your left or right. If you're connected to a surround soundaudio system, Xbox 360 mono audio doesn't tell you whether: • Sounds are behind or in front of you • Sounds are on your left or right Mono sound setup If you need to use mono sound with your Xbox 360, follow these steps: 1. Open the System blade of the Xbox 360 Dashboard. 2. Select Console Settings and press the A button. 3. Pick the Audio option. 4. Pick the Analog Output option. Under Analog Output, you have two choices (as you can see in Figure 1): • Mono • Dolby Pro Logic II Figure 1: You have only two options for analog output, Mono or Dolby Pro Logic II. 5. Select Mono and press the A button. Dolby Pro Logic II output You may find Dolby Pro Logic II the best analog audio setting if your sound system has: More than one analog audio input channel. You usually have a red input jack and a whiteinput jack. More than one speaker.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Each parent makes different decisions about what games his or her children play and the movies they watch. If you're worried about your kids making that decision without your input, you might want to investigate the Xbox 360 parental controls. The parental control system blocks access to material rated beyond certain limits by requiring a password. This way, you can watch any movie of any rating yourself and give permission for specific movies or games. Keep these two important rules in mind about Xbox 360 parental controls: Settings apply to the console, not to individual profiles. Restrictions apply to absolutely anyone who uses your Xbox 360 console, including you. You can access any material if you know the code, but you must enter that code every time. If you lose your code, all is not lost. When you set the pass code, you also set a pass code reset question/answer (for example, "What is your favorite color?"). If the parent fails to correctly enter the pass code when trying to enter the Console Settings area, he or she can enter the answer for the reset question to clear and then re-create a new pass code. If the parent forgets the new pass code, too, then he or she can call customer support to get the console-specific reset code that clears the Flash settings. Clearing the pass code doesn't erase profiles, saved games, downloaded content, or any other vital info. When creating your pass code, don't pick a pass code reset question that your children know the answer to (like, "What is your pet's name?"). To get started with parental controls, follow these steps: 1. Open the Xbox Dashboard. If you aren't already in the Dashboard, you can get to it by starting the Xbox 360 without a game or movie in the DVD drive or by ejecting the current disc. You can also get to the Dashboard by pressing the Xbox Guide button on your controller or remote and then pressing the Y button when the Guide appears. 2. Choose the System blade with the controller. 3. Choose the Family Settings option. 4. Choose the Console Settings option. The console settings apply to the entire Xbox 360, not just a specific user. By default, the console settings give you full access to Xbox 360 features and content: • You can play any game. • You can watch any movie DVD. • You have access to Xbox Live. • You don't need a pass code to change any of the settings. Picking a code If you modify a parent control, you must set a pass code. Follow these steps to do so: 1. Access the Console Settings screen. The preceding section tells you how to access this screen. 2. Choose the Set Pass Code menu option. You're prompted to enter a four-button pass code, as you can see in Figure 1. Figure 1: Enter your pass code by using the Xbox controller buttons. 3. Press any Xbox 360 controller button or pull a trigger. 4. Select a pass code reset question and then enter its answer. This question and answer helps you if you ever forget your pass code. See Figure 2. Figure 2: Make your reset question something that you know but your children don't. If you forget your pass code, you can reset it by using your reset question. Movies The Console Settings screen offers the DVD Movie Ratings option, which in turn lists movie ratings. Those ratings match the ratings system in your country. (See Figure 3.) Figure 3: Limit all movies at a certain rating and above. The ability to block movies based on their rating depends on that rating being encoded onto the DVD. Most DVDs sold in the United States and Canada are rating-coded, but a particular movie (or a pirated copy of almost any movie) might not have the proper information encoded. A disc without rating information isn't blocked. Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings, such as G for General, are used in the United States and Canada. Setting a limit in the Console Settings screen means that one or both of the following screens show up when you insert a DVD movie that exceeds your specified rating: A dialog box from the DVD itself: Says that your DVD player (the Xbox 360) has parental controls running and gives you the option to stop playing the DVD (kicking you out to the Dashboard). An Xbox 360 slide-out dialog box: Appears along the side of the screen and prompts you to enter the pass code. The movie plays normally if you enter the code; otherwise, you end up back at the Dashboard. Games Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings control game access in the parent control options. Follow these steps to restrict access to games of a certain level or above: 1. Access the Console Settings screen. 2. Choose Game Ratings. Game Ratings is the first option on the Console Settings screen. When you select it, a list of ratings appears. 3. Choose the allowed ratings. 4. Press the A button to accept your settings.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Each member of your family can have his or her own profile on the Xbox 360. This way, players can keep their own scores, game saves, and Xbox Live information separate. Players can't share an Xbox Live Gold account at the same time. If you want to play on Xbox Live at the same time, you probably need more Gold accounts (unless you're playing a game that allows multiple players on the same home console). Adding profiles To create a new profile, press the Guide button in the middle of the controller to bring up a Navigation blade that contains Your gamer score Your message center A music interface that lets you play background music You can get to this system navigation blade at any time — whether you're playing a game, watching a DVD, or listening to music — by pressing the Xbox 360 Guide button in the middle of the controller. To create a new Xbox 360 profile, follow these steps: 1. Press X. You're prompted to confirm your decision to sign out at the Sign Out blade. 2. At the confirmation screen, you can select either • Yes, sign out (this completes the sign out process) • No, don't sign out (this returns you to the Xbox 360 Dashboard) After confirming that you want to sign out, return to the Guide navigation page, where you can • Sign in again with any of the profiles that will automatically be found on the hard drive • Create New Profile • Recover a gamertag from Xbox Live If you've created a profile with an associated Xbox Live account and you lose that profile, you might need to recover it. You might lose a profile if you're carrying it on a memory unit, for example. 3. Use the left analog stick (or direction pad) to scroll down to the Create Gamer Profile option and then press A. The Select a Device blade appears, where you can • Select your hard drive (if you have one attached) • Select your memory unit (if you have one attached) This is where the gamer profile is saved. 4. Scroll to your chosen storage device and press A. The gamer profile blade appears. 5. Type a name for the new profile and then select Done. 6. Press A to get to the Save Gamer Profile screen. On the Save Gamer Profile screen, you can also • Join Xbox Live. • Customize the profile. 7. Choose Done and press A. The new Gamer Profile is saved. Switching profiles You can switch your offline and Xbox Live profiles on your Xbox 360 at any time. Follow these steps: 1. Press the Guide button in the middle of the controller. This opens your profile blade, where you can view your current profile gamer score, see which friends are online, and set personal settings. 2. Press X to switch your profile. You will be asked if you want to sign out; signing out will lose any unsaved progress in the game you are playing. You have two options: • Yes, sign out • No, don't sign out 3. Use the left analog stick or direction pad to scroll up to "Yes, sign out" and then press A. 4. Select Sign In at the top of the blade and press A. The Sign In screen lists the gamer profiles saved on your Xbox 360. You can also use the Guide screen to • Create New Profile • Recover Gamertag from Xbox Live • Select Personal Settings 5. Use the left analog stick or direction pad to scroll to the profile you want to use and then press A. At this screen you can also • Press Y to create a new profile • Press X to recover a gamertag You will be signed in with that profile's settings.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

When you turn on your Xbox 360, you first need to perform the initial setup. This process lets you: Select your language Create your gamer profile Create an Xbox Live account You're ready to get started. Press the Start button on your Xbox 360 — now! Choosing your language The first choice you need to make is the language you want the Dashboard to use. This page lets you choose what language you see when navigating the Dashboard. Follow these steps to set your preferred language: 1. Select the language you prefer to use in the Dashboard. 2. Press the A button on your controller to set the language. Creating a gamer profile After selecting your language, you automatically switch to the Gamer Profile menu. Your gamer profile is an identity that: Stores your data on the Xbox 360 console (either on the hard drive or on a memory unit) Connects you to Xbox Live The following sections show how to use the right gamer profile option for your Xbox 360. You have three choices: Create an offline profile The offline profile doesn't connect to Xbox Live by default. Use the offline profile if: • You aren't hooking up your Xbox 360 to the Internet • You prefer to play games without Xbox Live I am a member of Xbox Live I want to join Xbox Live Xbox Live requires a high-speed Internet connection. Creating an offline profile An offline profile is an Xbox 360 identity you don't use with Xbox Live. If your Xbox 360 has a high-speed Internet connection, you can create an Xbox Live profile. You can skip to one of the following sections: I am a member of Xbox Live I want to join Xbox Live Your offline profile's scores and other data (such as your preferred controller settings) are stored on a memory unit or hard drive and are available only on the Xbox 360 that you are playing on. Creating a new offline profile is easy. Follow these steps: 1. Press A to use the default option, Create an Offline Profile. 2. Select a storage device and press A. After you press A, a keyboard screen appears (Figure 1) and prompts you to enter your gamer profile name. Figure 1: Create a new gamer profile. 3. Create your gamer profile name and press the Start button. 4. After you've typed your name in, you can do one of the following: • Press the Guide button on your controller • Highlight the Done button on-screen and press A on the controller After you press the Done button (or just press the Start button on the controller — the result is the same), the Gamer Picture screen opens. If you want to use Xbox Live,the following sections show you how. Creating an Xbox Live profile If your Xbox 360 console is connected to a high-speed Internet service, you can create a profile that uses Xbox Live. Before you connect to Xbox Live, make sure that your Xbox 360 console is connected to your home network or high-speed Internet modem to ensure a smooth connection. The Xbox Live setup steps depend on whether you're already an Xbox Live member. I am a member of Xbox Live If you're an Xbox Live member already, you can add your Xbox Live account to your gamer profile after you select the Xbox 360 console's language. Follow these steps to use Xbox 360 with your existing Xbox Live account: 1. On the Gamer Profile screen, use the left analog stick (or the direction pad) to scroll down to I Am a Member of Xbox Live and then press A. 2. Press A to open the Keyboard screen, and then enter your current gamertag. Enter your gamertag exactly the way you're currently using it. (Your gamertag is case-sensitive. If you created your gamertag with capital letters, you must use the same capital letters to retrieve your gamertag.) 3. If you want to use a Microsoft .NET Passport account with Xbox Live, follow the on-screen instructions. I want to join Xbox Live If this is your first Xbox, or if you have never had an Xbox Live account, you can create a new Xbox Live account after you select your console's language. Follow these steps to create an Xbox Live account with your Xbox 360: 1. On the Gamer Profile screen, select I Want to Join Xbox Live and then press A. 2. Scroll to the Join Xbox Live option and press A. 3. Select Yes and press A to continue. 4. Enter your gamertag and press Start. Xbox Live checks the availability of your selected gamertag: • If the name isn't available, you're prompted to try another name. • If the gamertag is accepted, you are automatically prompted to link to your Passport account. 5. Select your current Passport account status: • Yes, I do(you have a Passport account). • After you sign in to an existing Passport account, you can skip to Step 16. • No, Create One(you don't have a Passport account). 6. If you select No, Create One, you can now choose your Locale. 7. Set your preferred language. 8. Set your birth date. 9. Enter your e-mail address. 10. Select a password, a secret question, and a secret answer. 11. Select Next and then press A. 12. Enter your first name, last name, phone number, and contact e-mail address. 13. Read the Terms of Use. 14. To accept the terms, choose Accept and press A. If you don't accept the Terms of Use, you can't create an Xbox Live account. 15. Pick your Xbox Live membership type. When creating a new Xbox Live account, you have two basic choices: • The Gold (paid) account lets you in on multiplayer games on Xbox Live. • The Silver (free) account lets you download game updates and purchase new content through Xbox Live. 16. Confirm your account type choice (and enter payment details if you chose Xbox Gold). 17. Choose a gamer picture. 18. Choose your level. 19. Decide whether you want to subscribe to e-mail information about Xbox Live.