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Hardware and Software Requirements for Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
In this section I will discuss the necessary hardware and software requirements to play Steel Battalion: Line of Contact on XBox Live®.
XBox Live® requires a broadband Internet connection by default, which may be either xDSL, cable modem, or T-carrier. Relevant to this discussion are the rather demanding broadband connection requirements that the game needs due to its heavy bandwidth usage.
I will not go into detail regarding the various XBox Live® connection types as thorough examples and advice are already available from Microsoft here.
Required Hardware and Software for Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
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Microsoft XBox® Console
Seemingly very obvious, but Steel Battalion: Line of Contact is an XBox only game and is not available for other game consoles or PCs. Steel Battalion: Line of Contact makes full use of the consoles' capabilities, with Dolby Digital 5.1 discrete surround sound, 480p and 720p hi-definition video modes and some very impressive lighting and texture effects.
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Steel Battalion Controller
The famed/infamous controller from the original Steel Battalion game. The controller is plugged into Controller Port 1 on the XBox console and is used for all piloting functions within the game. There have been two variants of the controller released, a green button version and a blue button version. The green variant is considered to be the "first" version with the blue being considered the re-release. There have been reports of an increased number of quality defects with the blue button re-release series but quantifiable numbers are not available. With proper care and maintenance the controller will last hundreds of hours.
The game absolutely requires this controller and WILL NOT WORK without it.
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Standard XBox Controller
Steel Battalion: Line of Contact requires that a standard XBox controller be present in one of the other XBox controller ports to allow for menu navigation, login to XBox Live (cannot be done from a Steel Battalion controller) and to provide a port for the XBox Live headset and communicator interface. The standard controller also allows access and management of Live friend lists and player feedback responses.
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Live Starter Kit & Headset Communicator
Steel Battalion: Line of Contact is an online only game. Although the game may be played via System Link, the majority of the game content is NOT unlocked by default and there is no other way to accomplish this except through functions available while connected to XBox Live. The game may be played without a communicator, but as the majority of the game is team based cooperative strategy, the lack of verbal communication is a serious hinderance.
A note regarding 3rd party headsets. Several other manufacturers produce headset units for XBox Live usage. Many of these are cheaply made and can result in a lot of background noise and static, which only other players can hear (and get annoyed at).
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Suggested Optional Hardware for Steel Battalion: Line of Contact
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Surround Sound Speaker System
Steel Battalion: Line of Contact makes full use of the power of the XBoxs Dolby Digital 5.1 discrete surround sound capabilities. Using a digital optical connection to a surround sound receiver or speaker system allows for direction specific audio information to be provided to the pilot during missions. Like the original, the game audio in Steel Battalion: Line of Contact is utterly immersive and creative. Using the directionality of sound is vital in some situations; as in locating an enemy position "behind" you, or discerning the sound of a specific VT type by its unique aural signature.
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Widescreen Hi-Definition Display
Steel Battalion: Line of Contact is capable of 480p and 720p hi-definition display modes (progressive scan), as well as standard 480i widescreen formatting. The game actually re-renders the display area (instead of simply stretching the display) giving a wider view area. Additionally, progressive scan modes allow for much greater detail, allowing a pilot to pick out enemies at greater distances or against dark backgrounds much more effectively than on a small standard television screen.
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Playing Surface or Cockpit
The large controller required by Steel Battalion: Line of Contact requires a much larger space for setup than any other console type game. It is recommended that a stable surface be used to support the controller at a comfortable height to ensure ease of access to all of the controls. A "cockpit" may be as simple as a folding card table, or may involve much more elaborate custom manufactured cockpit solutions.
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Quality Interconnects
Though not absolutely necessary, I am a big believer in quality cables to interconnect audio components. Many players who have made the significant investment in Steel Battalion and Steel Battalion: Line of Contact, an XBox console, XBox Live service, and broadband Internet service in order to play this game also have respectable audio/visual environments in which to play. It goes without saying that having spent a great deal of money on quality components and then scrimping on the cables just doesn't make sense. My personal preference is the Monster Game XBox series of cables, which includes the Gamelink 400x component video cable and the Lightwave 100x optical digital (Toslink) audio cable. Though expensive, they offer unparalleled performance.
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