Microsoft wants to enlist your help in testing the Xbox Live network, rewarding volunteers willing to donate up to six hours of Xbox 360 time with crazy mad scientist goodies once the testing’s done. Here’s how to participate.
Xbox Live Labs is really a brilliant idea. Microsoft needs to test its network, so why not recruit a portion of its gigantic US user base to get the job done? The program runs from March 10 through March 27 in the United States, after which Microsoft will consider rolling it out to other regions.
To participate, simply scroll to your Xbox 360′s community section and download the tiny Xbox Live Labs app from the ad there. Once downloaded and installed, you just turn it on and leave it running.
The app does warn that it will be eating massive amounts of bandwidth while running, so make sure you aren’t anywhere near your cap, should your stupid internet provider have one (Hi, Comcast!).
The three levels of testing – 30 minutes, one hour, and six hours – are each associated with zero point achievements that will score testers three Xbox 360 avatar items: A lab coat, a brain helmet, and crazy mad scientist hair.
Seems like a fair deal to me. I do have some spare bandwidth, and I do need a lab coat to go along with my Xbox avatar’s monkey, so why not?
Xbox LIVE Labs [Major Nelson]
Daniel Harkin
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 8:25 AMWhy do you guys bother posting stuff like this? It’s an aussie site!
Jimu Hsien, DQIX is my Lover
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11:24 AMIt does mention that after they are done they may be expanding to other regions…
Daniel Harkin
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:49 PMYeah but I think that some how Australia won’t be included. I for one wouldn’t care if they didn’t include Australia in this; my net speed are slow enough without Microsoft soaking up half my bandwidth just so they can see what their network is like.
James Mac
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:04 PMBut if they can see their network speeds in Australia and say… “hey, this is shite” then they may start working on local network optimisation.
Karachi King
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:45 PMWe get all the US news, plus some specific to us. It clearly says that it’s US only, so I don’t really see a problem.
Denaz
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 2:56 PMWe get the US news plus our own. Check to see if there is a aussie flag next to the authors name.
706
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 9:57 AMYeah, this is cool and all, but it’s kind of a tease to tell us about it.
James Mac
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 10:49 AMPreperation testing for streamed games maybe?
Blayde
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11:07 AM“The app does warn that it will be eating massive amounts of bandwidth while running, so make sure you aren’t anywhere near your cap, should your stupid internet provider have one (Hi, Comcast!).”
Hi, every single ISP in the whole of Australia! -__-
Karachi King
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:46 PMYou might be ok if you’re with iiNet, as Xbox Live is in their freezone (most of it anyway).
v4next
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11:26 AMNot worth it – shitty prizes. How bout Microsoft Points!