Xbox Ghost Recon - speak to the World : Simon Perry: Schemes, dreams & trivia

"You won't win silver medals at the Olympic Games unless you're the very, very best." - Brendan Foster, BBC1 (source:Colemanballs, Private Eye)

Xbox Ghost Recon - speak to the World

7th January 2003 by Simon

I�m on the open-beta program for Microsoft Xbox Live or XBL, as it�s sometimes called � the broadband-only gaming service that enables you to enter a Worldwide gaming extravaganza. Complete with the kit comes the Xbox Communicator headset, which plugs into your controller enabling you to speak to other players online. [It�s supplied with a back-of-the-head headphone band that can get uncomfortable if used of extended time � tip: you can use the hands-free, ear bud and dangling mike from later mobile phones.]

I�ve been playing Tom Clancy�s Ghost Recon which, when you�re connected through XBL, you can pit your wits either with or against other real players. Using the headset, you can speak to other anyone who is playing in the same game as you. The technical quality of the speech is generally pretty good with only occasional break-ups, but frustratingly I found people couldn�t hear me when I spoke.

After a lot of fiddling, testing and trying different mike connections I gave up and figured that the communicator setup had broken, but carried on playing regardless. I then learned the amazing secret, passed on to me by stranger in a game � press the white button on the controller when you want to speak. This totally new use of the white key is not very obvious and not well documented. I�ve read the manual a couple of times and haven�t seen it and I was told it�s just in the German version of the manual (ooo the gossip). The result is a total revelation. I can speak.

I decided that I would liberate this information when I entered a room full of people that was in total silence. The first time I did this the Canadian bloke was really excited and pleased to learn.

The game really comes alive on XBL. There is a different feeling when you know/think the other characters on the screen are actually being controlled by a human.

To twist an old, disparaging 60�s phrase about the Army � You get the chance to meet wonderful, interesting people from around the World, share in their culture � and kill them � but this time virtually.

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