Xbox 360 (Live and Live Arcade) questions
 

My brother is wanting to get an Xbox 360 and play some Xbox Live Arcade games. He can't get broadband access at his apartment, but I have it at my house. I have an Xbox Live account (with the original Xbox).

What he wants to know is, could he bring his console over to my house and download the Live Arcade games to his console? I assume I could just set up his console with my account, but what if I want to get a 360 also? Could I still use my account with my system to download content? I would understand that the games are tied to a particular console, but if I wanted a game on my console, could I pay for my copy separately?

We're not wanting to use one account for both of us to play online; we just want to know if I could use my account to get content for his console without it affecting my access to the same content on my console.

I guess another question I would have is: do you have to be online to play the XBLA games after they have been downloaded? What about the backward compatibility patches? Could he bring his system over, download the emulator for the game, and then go play it at his apartment?

I don't think that he needs your account for marketplace. Every console comes with Live Silver (Gold is needed for online play). I may be mistaken because I have Gold, but I believe that Silver will allow marketplace downloads. Also, if you put your account on his XBOX you can still use it on yours as long as both boxes aren't online at the same time. The only XBLA games that need internet (after download) are the multiplayer demos. Most demos have a single player mode and you don't need to have internet access. And finally, yes he can bring it over anytime and download demos, video and patches, but it will be a pain in the ass to keep doing so.

I think you also get a free 30 days of gold when you sign up with silver

Yep, it will be a pain in the ass, but it will be his pain, not mine. :)

I guess we'll just set up a Silver account for him then. Thanks!

Download the games with HIS silver account. The games are tied to the gamertag, not the harddrive/memory unit.

If you d/l the games while logged into your account, he'll go home and won't be able to play them.

Yeah, I wouldn't let anyone use my Xbox Live account on their 360. Everything gets too entangled and the rights management is a PITA.

Have him bring over his 360, download the arcade games on his new Silver account, and off you go.