Xbox Gaming in South Africa

Earlier this month, Microsoft revealed that Xbox LIVE will finally be launching in South Africa on 10 November, but while the announcement provided some much needed details on the local service, it also created a fair amount of confusion in areas such as pricing, migration and DLC. XG has obviously been pushing these questions through to Microsoft, and while we've yet to receive feedback on all of our submitted questions, a Microsoft SA representative has provided us with a short, pre-compiled Q&A in the meantime, which attempts to answer common questions regarding Xbox LIVE South Africa:

If I don't migrate, what will the implications be?

If you connect to LIVE today through a different region you are doing so via an unsupported method. In November you will be able to join the official LIVE network in South Africa which will offer tailored content and local support.

If I migrate, will I still be able to play with friends from the US or UK?

Yes and you will be a part of the local Xbox community.

How will Microsoft enforce the R599 price tag, if online shops sell worldwide subscriptions for half the price?

While the full Xbox LIVE feature set will vary by region, we’re confident that Xbox LIVE represents the best global value in home entertainment. In every region, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership provides access to a world of friends and fun, with the industry’s best online gaming network, and unique ways to share the fun with friends around the world.

Why won't gamers be able to re-download their content once they migrate?

Our goal is to allow members to re-download all of their purchased content after migrating accounts, and we’re actively working to address this. However, at this point in time, once you migrate you will no longer be able to re-download content. Members should re-download purchased content to their hard drive or USB flash drive prior to migrating.

Why won't certain functions be available? (i.e Facebook, Twitter and Zune)

We realize that Xbox 360 customers around the world want enjoy to the full breadth of features Xbox LIVE has to offer. We don’t have any announcements right now, but we are actively working to scale the service internationally.

Besides for local servers, what other motivation will there be to migrate? What are the benefits of migrating?

Firstly, no servers will not necessarily be all be hosted locally.

Xbox LIVE is first and foremost a community. We think people will take pride in building their own country’s Xbox LIVE communities, and will also enjoy the tailored content they receive. Additionally, those who currently access Xbox LIVE through an unsupported method can have negative experiences as they don’t have access to local support. We think the community in  South Africa will opt for the best experience possible.

Will SA get their own MS Points (region locked), or do we need to buy UK points (not region locked) once we migrate?

Microsoft Points cards purchased outside of the country are not guaranteed to work.  We recommend that you purchase Microsoft Points cards in the country of your account from trusted local retailers or online at xbox.com.

Where will the subscriptions and MS Points be on sale?

In store at select retailers and online at xbox.com

The initial Live roll-outs seems like a fairly reduced service to what's available currently. Do you think that will influence people to not migrate?

Xbox LIVE is first and foremost a community. We think people will take pride in building their own country’s Xbox LIVE communities, and will also enjoy the tailored content they receive. Additionally, those who currently access Xbox LIVE through an unsupported method can have negative experiences as they don’t have access to local support. We think the community in South Africa will opt for the best experience possible.

What type of bandwidth will be needed to play online games without significant lag?

You will need a broadband connection to join Xbox LIVE.

Will the SA servers be hosted in South Africa?

No servers will not necessarily be all be hosted locally

It might seem like an obvious question, but why should gamers migrate?

If you upgrade to an Xbox LIVE Gold membership, you will receive access to everything the best gaming network in the industry has to offer, including multiplayer gaming, cross-experience voice chat, video chatting with friends via Video Kinect and exclusive discounts to content.

Let's be honest here, some of those answers are rather vague, while others don't really answer the question at all. Nevertheless, there's one or two in there that do give us further insight into the local launch.

In addition to the above Q&A, the latest communication noted that our "tailored" marketplace will include the Games on Demand channel, as well as "the latest Game Add-ons, which include map packs, levels, characters and songs".

Xbox LIVE is set to launch in South Africa on 10 November.