Testing System Link

Networking can be tested with a single Creators Club account (with Xbox LIVE Gold subscription) in one location if a certain set of steps is followed.

Under Normal Conditions
First, run the app once & sign in with a creators club account connected to LIVE & set that to auto sign-in.

Then, each time you run the app:
 * 1) Have one PC run the app.
 * 2) Choose the option in the main menu to get to the Online menu.
 * 3) Press "Home"
 * 4) Sign out of the Creators Club account (must do this after entering the online menu because Local accounts won't be allowed to enter the Online menu).
 * 5) Either create a local account, or sign into an existing local account. (the link to create a local account is just a blue text-link in the create-account dialog... may need to look closely to find it).


 * 1) Have a different computer deploy the app to the Xbox using XNA Game Studio Connect (as with any other Xbox testing).

Easier Testing
This doesn't work: This method requires temporarily modifying the code during testing so that Gold privileges aren't checked.
 * 1) Have one PC run the app.
 * 2) ONE TIME (then this will be automatic)
 * 3) Press "Home"
 * 4) Sign out of the Creators Club account if you are signed into one.
 * 5) Either create a local account, or sign into an existing local account. (the link to create a local account is just a blue text-link in the create-account dialog... may need to look closely to find it).  Set this account up to sign in automatically.
 * 6) Have a different computer deploy the app to the Xbox using XNA Game Studio Connect (as with any other Xbox testing).

NOTE: This works more easily because checking for online permissions is disabled for PCs. If we want to make a released PC version, we will want to add that check back (probably). See HiveMainMenuScreen::OnlineMultiplayer for the code which makes this decision. There is a line in the docs which says "If for any reason a LIVE profile without a Creators Club membership is set to auto sign in to a Windows-based computer, the game will be unable to connect to the LIVE service."... the reality is even more extreme. It seems that you actually NEED to sign in with a creators club account (and connect to LIVE) during any game-session where you want to use the networked code. What a time-waster.

Now you can test as if you have two separate players on System Link with each other.