A huge attraction of owning an Xbox 360 is the opportunity of being a part of the Xbox 360 LIVE community.

As of May 2008 Xbox LIVE is thought to have around 12 million members all of which enjoy online interactive gameplay and the feeling that being a part of a like minded community brings.

Membership is split into a two tier system Silver and Gold.

What’s the difference between Xbox Live Silver and Xbox live Gold?

Here is a quick run through of what each membership offers.

Silver Membership

It’s free and provides you with the opportunity to download content and chat online, however it doesn’t allow for online gaming which is a BIG attraction of the service.

Other features include the ability to create your gamer profile (a unique ID which identifies you on the Xbox live network)

Create and maintain a friends list, chat with Xbox friends LIVE just like any instant messaging system.

It gives you access to Xbox Live Marketplace allowing you to download game demos, game content and mini-games some of which are free and others must be paid for.

Gold Membership

Gold membership costs £39.99/ $50 per year and has all the features that come with Silver Membership PLUS

Video chat.

Multiplayer gaming feature - This is the all important feature which allows you to compete online with fellow members of the community from all around the globe.

There are a host of other advantages such as the TrueSkill matchmaking feature and the fact that you receive new content a week earlier if you have gold membership, of course both require broadband internet access and you need adequate storage space to use XBOX LIVE which rules out the ARCADE edition of the console unless you have purchased an additional hard drive.

Can I try before I buy?

Yes, each new Xbox 360 comes with a one month subscription to Xbox LIVE GOLD giving you an opportunity to get stuck right in and see what all the fuss is about, and with the all new dashboard it seems as though there has never been a better time to jump aboard.

How do I pay for the service?

You have two options, you can either pay using a credit card online from the Xbox Marketplace itself OR you can pay using Microsoft Points, Microsoft points are available from the marketplace too and you can purchase them with a credit card, or alternatively you can buy a gift card from any participating retailer using the number on the card to convert into points (similar to an ITunes voucher).

With the all new dashboard coming into effect shortly there is no doubt that the Xbox LIVE experience will be bigger and better than ever, further enhancing its reputation as THE online gaming community for the true console gamer.