Microsoft KB Archive/818370

= Xbox: How to set up a system link or multiplayer game, and determine which games support this feature =

Article ID: 818370

Article Last Modified on 4/25/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Xbox

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SUMMARY
This article describes how to play system linked games.



MORE INFORMATION
To determine whether you fulfill the requirements for system link play:
 * 1) Verify that the game you want to play supports system link play. View the back of the game box to determine whether it has the &quot;Xbox System Link&quot; icon. Many games only support split-screen multiplayer mode. For split-screen multiplayer mode, you must plug multiple controllers into one Xbox console. For system link play, you must have a separate Xbox console for each player.
 * 2) You must have one TV for each Xbox console. The Xbox video game system can support up to sixteen linked consoles. View the back of the game box or view the game manual to determine how many players the game will support. For example, Halo has both the system link icon and the 1-4 Player icon on the box. This means that Halo can support up to four linked Xbox consoles and up to 16 players at the same time. However, Blood Wake has the 1-4 Player icon, but does not have the system link icon. This means that Blood Wake supports only one console and up to four players.

Connect two Xbox consoles for system link play
Note System link play requires a System Link Cable. A System Link Cable is the same as a crossover cable.

To connect two Xbox consoles for system link play:
 * 1) Connect each Xbox console to a separate TV.
 * 2) Connect one end of the System Link Cable to the Ethernet port on the back of each console.
 * 3) Follow the specific game instructions for multiplayer gameplay to start playing your game.

Connect more than two Xbox consoles for system link play
Note To connect more than two Xbox consoles for system link play, you must have an Ethernet cable for each console and a network hub, a switch, or a router. Contact with your local computer retailer for more information about networking hardware.

To connect more than two Xbox consoles for system link play:
 * 1) Connect each Xbox console to a separate TV.
 * 2) Connect a straight-through Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port of each console and then connect the opposite end of each cable to the network hub, the switch, or the router. Make sure that you plug the hub, the switch, or the router in the power outlet and that you turn on the device.
 * 3) Follow the specific game instructions for multiplayer gameplay to start playing your game.

Games that support system link play
Many Xbox game titles support different multiplayer modes. Split-screen game mode uses multiple controllers plugged in one console. System link play uses multiple Xbox consoles each connected to a separate TV. Make sure you view each game box to determine which multiplayer game modes your game supports.

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