[Update: We have added the steps you need to take to migrate your account over]
This post marks the exact moment that Xbox Live is officially available in South Africa.
It’s just hit midnight and as announced at the Xbox Live / Kinect Launch event, the services are now officially available to Xbox 360 owners. Owners who have Xbox 360’s in South Africa and have wanted to get onto Xbox Live can now sign up using the Xbox.com website or their Xbox 360 dashboard.
More after the jump.
Existing Xbox Live members are now also able to migrate over to a South African account as well, and to entice them to do so, Microsoft has added a little bit of an incentive. Anyone who migrates over to Xbox Live South Africa from their existing account will be given either 800 or 1600 Microsoft Points, depending on their download history.
One of our readers has also sent us the Q&A with regards to how to migrate your account over. Here are the steps:
Q: How do I migrate my account?
1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE and go to My Account page
2. Click on Account Region
3. Select your country
4. Follow the steps outlined. Remember to re-download your content to a USB flash drive or your hard drive before continuing
5. Read and accept the Terms of Use
6. Your account will now be migrated to the LIVE offering in your chosen country
7. Select membership level: Silver or Gold
8. For Gold membership you will required to enter your billing information
9. You are now a member of the official LIVE in South Africa. Congratulations!
We will be posting more news and information about the Xbox Live / Kinect launch as well as additional details later in the day.
Stay tuned.
Last Updated: November 10, 2010
ManesanZA
November 10, 2010 at 00:06
Nice, any info on how to get this done?
ManesanZA
November 10, 2010 at 00:20
Nevermind found it, need to get all my content downloaded onto a flash drive before I attempt this.
Q: How do I migrate my account?
1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE and go to My Account page
2. Click on Account Region
3. Select your country
4. Follow the steps outlined. Remember to re-download your content to a USB flash drive or your hard drive before continuing
5. Read and accept the Terms of Use
6. Your account will now be migrated to the LIVE offering in your chosen country
7. Select membership level: Silver or Gold
8. For Gold membership you will required to enter your billing information
9. You are now a member of the official LIVE in South Africa. Congratulations!
AC!D
November 10, 2010 at 01:05
Thanks for the info Nick!!!!! Much appreciated.
Gavin Mannion
November 10, 2010 at 01:45
Hmm these steps don’t work for me online and my account is UK based..
AC!D
November 10, 2010 at 02:12
Im also having problems with my UK account.
Gavin Mannion
November 10, 2010 at 07:15
Ah a new menu option has arrived on Xbox.com for me called “Manage Account Region”. Will try that later when I have time to read the fine print
Crash510
November 10, 2010 at 07:40
I also tried migrating my Liva account 12am this morning but I saw nothing and I waited another half an hour but still nothing so I decided to go to sleep and I just migrated my account Whoohoo! :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
AC!D
November 10, 2010 at 09:38
Thanks Gavin! Its amazing how empty the XMB got suddenly :biggrin:
WeezyZA
November 10, 2010 at 10:17
How does the Re-Downloading work? Do you have to download EVERYTHING in one go?
Gavin Mannion
November 10, 2010 at 10:20
Apparently you cannot redownload after migrating… :blink: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2424862
WeezyZA
November 10, 2010 at 10:25
So if I already have it saved on my hdd I should be fine?
Am I missing something?
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 10:44
That sucks, but will they eventually fix it so that we can re-download all our dlc? I created a test account last night, and I guess everyone has mentioned how empty the marketplace is. I would have thought they’d at least make an effort.
Meh! Thoroughly disappointed! :getlost:
James
November 10, 2010 at 10:51
One correction: you don’t log into Xbox Live. You log into Xbox.com. There is nothing called ‘My Account’ on your Xbox.
AC!D
November 10, 2010 at 10:54
Yeah Nick screwed the pooch on that one. I was looking for my account for about half an hour. I felt like a noob on the XMB that didnt know where the hell my account was 😆
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 10:58
Hahahaha he just told me on gtalk that if he checks on his Download history, nothing shows up, except dates. I know I’m guilty of schadenfreude, but he should have known better.
All his dlc is gone. :za:
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 11:02
James, Go to My XBOX (in the green horizontal bar), click on Accounts, and just scroll down, you’ll see Account Migration on the right hand side.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 11:04
Accounts is below Family Center (in the My Xbox green popup), and account migration is under Membership Option (once you’ve clicked on Accounts).
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 11:10
My South African account can’t watch zune videos because the Zune player says Zune Marketplace is unsupported in your country.
G’dammnit.. all I want is the Guild Microsoft… *slams head on table*
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 11:22
I just realised (and bear with me on this one) that those who have migrated over to the local Live, are actually worst off than those who hang on to their UK/US accounts. The restrictions on Zune are even more severe now, and we don’t even have the option to redownload dlc. Of course, does this mean we’ll eventually get access to all the dlc that was region-blocked to us because of the Krauts? Who knows? Maybe, but there’s really no guarantee, in fact, I’d venture a guess that much like what’s happening on the Indian xbox live is going to happen on ours, we’ll get the bare minimum of updates (system updates), the occasional game/kinect advert, a few demos but in terms of meaningful content…? Not on your life.
But then, Live is all about the multiplayer and less about the trinkets..
Uh..
LOL!
MigrationNoob
November 10, 2010 at 11:27
Step 4 states:
4. Follow the steps outlined. Remember to re-download your content to a USB flash drive or your hard drive before continuing
As I am doing the “migration” on my PC, do I have to redownload all the contect to my PC before continuing? It is all still on my XBOX HDD…so I dont see the point of this :wassat:
Fox1
November 10, 2010 at 11:28
I signed up for a new account this morning and I noticed Live automatically picks up our region.
The Zune Marketplace would be interesting to see what happens there because Windows Phone 7 also relies heavily n Zune features and integration.
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 11:34
I have probably 15gigs of DLC (that I’ve accumulated over the last 4-5 years), so there’s no way in hell, I’m going to re-download all of that… onto a flashdrive or back onto my harddrive.
MigrationNoob
November 10, 2010 at 12:15
Migration DONE…but… no extra points awarded?
“Anyone who migrates over to Xbox Live South Africa from their existing account will be given either 800 or 1600 Microsoft Points, depending on their download history.”
Geoffrey Tim
November 10, 2010 at 12:16
It might take a while for the points bucket to be added; no word on time frame, but could be a few weeks,
MigrationNoob
November 10, 2010 at 12:20
Cool…will be a nice surprise when it does come through.
Thank you Lazy Gamer!
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 12:25
Lol, admit it, it’s just a ruse to get people to migrate. 😀
FSRich
November 10, 2010 at 13:44
I migrated this morning on the site, it got as far as “updating my billing information” and then an “Uh oh… that shouldn’t have happened.” error message.
Now when i try log into my account online that’s all i get?!!??
Did i do something wrong? Anyone else have that issue?
PCivati
November 10, 2010 at 15:04
@FSRich I had excactly the same problem and have tried to contact Xbox support to no avail. Their phoneline is permanently engaged, and I havn’t herd back yet from their email response service. I can still play online, but not access my account information on my console.
Prehaps there was little to no buildup of this release for a reason.
FSRich
November 10, 2010 at 15:15
@PCivati So it’s not just me! Thanks for the response. I also sent an email. I got the “your account has been migrated” email… but to make sense of the MS billing and account page is a ‘mare! Just holding thumbs that everything will sort itself out i guess. CODBO sitting in my desk and really hoping i get to play it tonight. Would be EPIC fail to get the game and break my account on the same day :ermm:
AC!D
November 10, 2010 at 15:32
So since everyone is migrating how does it feel to be imigrants 😆 ???
I thought the illegals were the ones who get shitty pay and no benefits. Us migrants got screwed. 😆
PCivati
November 10, 2010 at 15:34
@FSRich Just saw the email now. Followed the link to https://billing.microsoft.com/home.aspx, but is lists my accout as cancelled, not moved. I tried gong to the “contact support” and then “xbloe live accounts and billing” page, and got another errer. Really hope they can sort us out. Got CODBO yesterday and was playing. I can still play on my account though, so I suppose that’s alright.
FSRich
November 10, 2010 at 15:49
Yeah, on the billing/accounts page mine now has the old sub as cancelled and the new one as active. Haven’t been home yet to test it on my xbox yet, but concerned that it didn’t ask me to update my payment details and it won’t let me add a payment method on the billing page…
*holds thumbs* hopefully just hiccups that will sort themselves out
Hadlee
November 10, 2010 at 16:32
Yep FSRich, I’m getting the same problem as you! Exactly dude.
Bobby Kotick is a doos
November 10, 2010 at 17:13
does anyone know how the re-downloading thing works?
Bobby Kotick for Dummies
November 10, 2010 at 17:18
:whistle:
Kerial
November 10, 2010 at 17:32
Hey guys… I think there must have been an pile up at microsoft this afternoon… 🙁 FSRich, I also got that error, but with redeeming an 3 month membership code. You guys can try logging in with your xbox then trying xbox.com while logged in. I am as of 4pm an imigrant :getlost:
One question. Does anyone(migrated) seen a noticable differance in pings??
Kerial
November 10, 2010 at 17:35
Also, I am pretty sure that you keep all previously downloaded content. If you wish to read more. Visit:
Please add me :tongue: Gamertag: KerialSillerZA
Kerial
November 10, 2010 at 17:38
An extract from FAQs XBOX live SA:
“Will I keep my download content e.g. games, videos, music and apps?
Yes. You will get to keep all the downloaded content stored on your hard-drive.
Will I be able to re-download purchased content prior to migration e.g. games, videos, music and apps?
Yes, you will be able to re-download purchased content prior to migration and you should store the content on a hard drive or USB flash drive.
Will I be able to re-download purchased content after migration?
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.”
PCivati
November 10, 2010 at 19:20
Well, it seems that they’ve sorted out my problem. See you all online.
Hadlee
November 10, 2010 at 20:02
My problem is sorted, and despite Indie Games not being supported yet, I Made A Game With Zombies In It is working perfectly.
lans
November 10, 2010 at 20:05
@Hadlee personal question, erm is your game selling/downloading ok? how hard is it to advertise there?
is it worthwhile making those indie games or is it better making cell phone games
Nick de Bruyne
November 10, 2010 at 20:31
@lans – Dude, this is just precious. PRECIOUS.
lans
November 10, 2010 at 20:36
@Nick wth man get a grip!
Noodle
November 10, 2010 at 21:36
Lans I don’t wanna spoil the fun but I would suggest google.
It seems the minute you step out of the GT world your knowledge of games is zip. Rookie mistake there bud.
lans
November 10, 2010 at 21:57
@Noodle dood thats why im asking za questions!
i need to inform myself, so im kind off trying to make small talk first.
Anyways i like to appear weak and vulnerable sometimes, i get to learn interesting things
lans
November 10, 2010 at 21:59
@Noodle sorry man i just realized that im posting in the wrong thread :/
Hadlee
November 11, 2010 at 06:28
@ lans
“I Made A Game With Zombies In It” is a popular Xbox Live Indie game. 😉 I’m no developer.
James
November 11, 2010 at 10:21
I really hope so, since nothing was mentioned about a time delay. Still, it’s not like they HAVE to give us points, so I’ll wait patiently…
FSRich
November 11, 2010 at 15:21
Yep, everything seems fine now! Immigrants FTW!
Black ops was laggy as hell last night :/ So I guess no REAL benefit yet…
dylbobjohnjoe
November 11, 2010 at 17:05
I guess I should have read this before spending half an hour trying to figure out how to do it on the sexbox…….Does anyone know if this will improve our online gaming at all?
Nick de Bruyne
November 11, 2010 at 17:15
No it shouldn’t