- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Yes, you sign up for a Gamertag at xbox.com. By placing the E-mail address you're using for your Bungie.net username, it will automatically link your Gamertag to your B.net name. If you have Xbox live already, you needn't make another Gamertag/Gamercard, as you will be able to use them interchangably on both Xbox Live and Windows Live. In other words, you sign up for a single Gamercard/tag, and you will be able to use it for Halo 2 Vista, as H2v uses the new Windows Live system. Make sense? If not, you can go here to read the H2V FAQ (sticky thread btw).
To quote from the FAQ:
Q: How will online play work if XboxLive is no longer the system that Halo 2 Vista will use?
A: Bungie is implementing a new system called Live Anywhere, which is, supposedly, a service similar to Xbox Live and will bring matchmaking to H2V players. It is stated that we will be able to do all the things we could do before; system links for local connections, global online play, and dedicated servers. Bungie has stated that there will be no ranking or player stat tracking systems for Halo 2 Vista, nor will it offer clan support. It will still offer some options that should be recognizable to anyone, such as inviting your friends or having others join.
Q: Will we have to pay to play Halo 2 Vista?
A: For a free Silver membership, no, you won't. With a Silver membership, you will be allowed a single gamertag, a common gamerscore and and gamer profile, single player achievements, private chat via text and voice, a common friends list and online presence, and a browsing list. With a Gold membership (which you do have to pay for), you have everything the Silver membership offers, matchmaking, and multiplayer achievements.
So basically, even though it's on Xbox.com, the systems are somewhat linked. Make a Gamertag/card on the site linked earlier in the thread, and you will be able to sign into H2V multi-player when it comes out using that name.
One last note, you can also go to the official H2V site , and click on multiplayer for more info on Windows Live (bottom right corner).
Also, you can go here for a very good (official) informational site for Windows Live.
Hope this helps :-)