I decided to test the MSN function on Xbox LIVE today, so I sounded Aristotle out.



"Hey, Aristotle, buddy, let's play MSN today!"

"Wow! Sounds like fun!"

"Okay, let's MSN the Goonfather."

"I don't want to MSN the Goonfather. Can we MSN Bubbles, instead?"

"We can't MSN Bubbles."

"Why not?"

"Bubbles is an iPod Nano. She can't MSN."

"I'm an Xbox 360 and I can MSN."

"Yes, that's because you're special."

"Oh!"

It's quite easy getting on MSN as long as you're connected to your network and have an Xbox LIVE account.

It's also recommended that you get a Chatpad attachment for your Xbox controller or you'll die trying to type on the digital keyboard.

The Chatpad attachment:

Getting on MSN on the Xbox 360

1. Select "Chat and IM" in the Xbox LIVE blade.

2. Select the "Messenger" tab and Sign up for Messenger.

3. Follow instructions. Your Xbox LIVE e-mail address will be used as your Messenger ID. Once it's activated, you can start a conversation!

4. I don't have any contacts on this account because my regular MSN ID is another e-mail address, so I was prompted to add a contact.

5. Key in desired MSN ID.

6. I invited the Goonfather to my MSN and he accepted, so I was able to start a conversation with him.

The Goonfather's name and personal message have been mosaic-ed because it's NSFW.

7. I sent him a message asking him what he was doing, which was quite a facetious message considering that he was just sitting right beside me.

8. He replied!

9. While I was trying to figure out how to type a message without having to go into the keyboard interface, he replied again.

Idiot.

Next, I decided to test if I could keep the conversation while playing a game, so I started up Gears of War.

While you're in a game, press the Xbox button in the middle of the controller. The game will pause automatically and this box will slide out.

Select "Chat and IM" to go back to the MSN conversation.

The stupid Goonfather had left me a message.

...!

It's so hard to test stuff when your helpers are a goon partner and a delinquent gaming console.

Anyway, you can have multiple conversations at once with different people. Each person will have a separate conversation tab.

Hah. I added myself on MSN, too.

Chatting with myself and all that... I think I might become as crazy as Aristotle soon. 

"I HEARD THAT!!"