Is Xbox LIve required?

[holaback]

I'm going to be purchasing a xbox360 and have a few questions.

I am not going to play online at all.

I am planing to download super street fighter II turbo HD remix and maybe downloadable content for future games. Do I need to run xbox live for those options? I also plan to mod my xbox also.

[Pullmyfinger]

You will need LIVE to download Street Fighter, but you get a free month, so you can download it and mod afterwards. I don't think you'll be able to download additional content on a modded console though.

[Gamerforlife]

Also, you only need Xbox Live Silver(which is free)to download stuff. Xbox Live Gold is for people who want to play stuff online and requires that you pay for a subscription.

[andythebadass]

Also, you only need Xbox Live Silver(which is free)to download stuff. Xbox Live Gold is for people who want to play stuff online and requires that you pay for a subscription.

that is correct.

[dsheinem]

As someone who owns a PS3 but has considered picking up a 360 at some point down the line (when I can get a reliable one on the cheap), I've always wondered: is there any real reason to pay for the XBLA Gold service? Other than the ability to play 360 exclusives online, what am I paying for that I don't already get for free with the PS3?

[sakicfan84]

I'm going to be purchasing a xbox360 and have a few questions.

I am not going to play online at all.

I am planing to download super street fighter II turbo HD remix and maybe downloadable content for future games. Do I need to run xbox live for those options? I also plan to mod my xbox also.

You don't need to worry about Gold at all. All you need is the silver subscription (yes, its free) to be able to download content and games from the marketplace. Gold offers online play and some exclusive content which is basically some free downloads and early access to market place content.

[Jayson]

Also, you only need Xbox Live Silver(which is free)to download stuff. Xbox Live Gold is for people who want to play stuff online and requires that you pay for a subscription.

^^^If you don't want to play online, the only thing you will be missing with staying with the free silver is the new demos that they release for gold members only (silver members get them, just not right away) and the Netflix streaming if you are a member there. For some odd reason they require you to have a gold subscription to use that feature.

[holaback]

Can i get banned off xbox silver also for a modded xbox or only gold? I don't care about gold at all.

[Jayson]

As someone who owns a PS3 but has considered picking up a 360 at some point down the line (when I can get a reliable one on the cheap), I've always wondered: is there any real reason to pay for the XBLA Gold service? Other than the ability to play 360 exclusives online, what am I paying for that I don't already get for free with the PS3?

The matchmaking and the way it's implemented is really leaps and bounds better than the PSN. I don't really play many console games online, but I did miss it when my 2nd 360 died. I haven't got another yet, I figured I would wait for a better revision. I guess time will tell on those new Jasper units that have been shipping.

[MrPopo]

If you have both a PS3 and a 360, here's what you get for Gold:

Ability to play multiplayer
Netflix
Occational early demo

Supposedly the matchmaking is better on Live as compared to the PSN, but having played a lot of SF4, Soul Calibur 4, SSF2THDR, and Rock Band 2 online on the PSN, I can say that the PSN is just fine.