This week our Editor Joel Szerlip had the chance to be among the lucky Xbox owners that got to beta test Xbox Live, the online gaming service for the Xbox console. Here is what we found out.

Introduction

It is really amazing when you sit back and really think about how far we have come from the great days of the Atari, to the brilliant NES & SNES, to the disappointing N64 and to the fun filled Sony PlayStation/PS One, and Sega Dreamcast. And then we ushered into the next stage in videogame console evolution with the introduction of three next-generation consoles - Sony PlayStation 2, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.

They all boast great graphics and excellent developers support, but the one feature that really seeks to change gamers' perception of home-based consoles is online capabilities. The PlayStation 2 had the first strike with their release of the Network Adapter/Ethernet Modem in August, and Nintendo is about ready to unveil their online plans of the Gamecube. But in the months leading to November, the hype is on of Microsoft's Xbox Live service.

So is the hype justified? I had the chance to test-drive this online service, and here's what I found out.

What is Xbox Live?

Xbox Live is a broadband-only service, which really allows gamers to have "lag free" gaming experience, along with the ability to talk to the gamers who you are playing against using the wonderful Xbox Live Communicator. If you have played SOCOM before, the headset is much better built and works a lot better. The ability to "mask" your voice is also another great feature for all of you who are not thrilled about your real voice.

The Features

One of the best features of the Xbox Live service is that you get only one unique name for all your games, called Gamertag. This means that you won't have to remember different passwords for different online games, which makes this feature a very useful one. Secondly it's great to get rid of the cheaters, quitters, or the people who like to make your online experience not such a pleasant one.

Another really nice feature is the Friends List feature, which is pretty much another name for a buddy list. Where you can track down your gaming buddies and see if they are online or not, and if they are, what games they are playing. The Friends List also allows you to invite them to play a game with you.

In addition to those two features, Xbox Live also has a matchmaking engine. By this we mean that the service can find fellow online players for you, based on your specifications. You can select according to game type, connection speed or even skill level. Xbox Live is also great as it extends the replay value of current online game, by providing the ability to download new levels, weaponary, vehicles etc.

The Games

I've talked about the nifty features, and now we turn our attention to more important matters - the games themselves. How do the games with online capabilities fare during online play? Well I am here to tell you that it is a great online experience. The beta test came with Moto GP, Whacked!, and NFL Fever, and trust me I have played them all for numerous hours.

I will start with talking about how NFL Fever performs. To be honest this game can have some trouble if people have a low ping to you. This is really the only game that I ever got slow down. The game is a lot of fun because so far every match I have had, the people are great, and fun to talk to. There is a ranking system (as a side note I am in the top 800) which I was pretty excited about. Fever does a pretty good job of making it easy on you to find and create games. I was also pleased to see that really no one seems to be quitting, which is a problem I saw happen a lot in the PS2 version of Madden NFL 2003.

Whacked! is the second game I will tell you how it performs. Gameplay aside this game really never has any slow down, and can be fun if you get in a game where everyone is really into it. For the most part this is just a lighthearted game that everyone seems pretty friendly on.

As for Moto GP this is one where I have found a lot of quitters but a lot fun. This is really a challenging moto game but can become addicting (trust me). This game can have up to 16 people and with very minimal, if any, slow down. So this is a good sign for all the massive multiplayer games to come.

Final Impression

To be honest I really love the Xbox Live service. Although the games could be better the service is really a nice addition to the Xbox console. With future games such as Unreal Championship and Mech Assault coming soon, the service could only get better.

Love or hate Microsoft, either way when Xbox Live launches in mid-November, it will be prove to be a popular service among broadband users. Anyone with an Xbox and broadband connection should try this service out - its certainly not to be overlooked.