I'm a n00b all over again: Xbox Live and Halo 3 online

(tags game, online, Xbox 360, FPS)

Last night I used the Ethernet cable to hook up the ol' Xbox 360. I made a new account in the Japan region, because I want Idolm@ster stuff. Unfortunately I won't be able to get the TMNT Arcade game without an US account. So how to beat the system? I asked my Xbox 360 expert and he said, google the words "US account" (「北米アカウント」). I'll try this later, not now.

I spend most of the first two hours online download stuff for the Xbox Dashboard. There are a lot of demos to try, but I deleted some pre-installed demos and videos already. I'm just not interested in those things. I expected the Xbox Live Marketplace to demand you to pay stuff for frivolous things, but seeing it for the little icons for your profile (game pics) is still shocking. I will get some Xbox Live points but not now.

And yes, I tried Halo 3 multiplayer. I played Deathmatch mode, which is called "Slayer" in Halo. I also played Big Team Matches which include Assault/Defense (like UT Domination but less dynamic), Team Slayer, VIP, and CTF. It's not fun for me. :-( I'm lagging and I need voice chat to understand team movements. I did win a Slayer game but it was a fluke because the top guy left. Some people say that the additive part of Halo is the online multiplayer. However, after years of playing UT online, I don't think this is my kind of game.