Major Nelson announed today that Xbox Live is looking for help from Xbox Live users for network testing in order to improve service.

In the Community Channel on the dashboard you will find a new “Xbox Live Labs” tab.  You can sign up for the volunter testing from there and with each test you complete, you will receive three different avatar awards that include a lab coat, crazy lab hair,  and a brain helmet.  You will also hear everybody’s favorite “blip” giving you three zero point achievements showing that you completed the testing and have helped out Xbox Live.

While running the network test from your console to Xbox Live you will not be able to play games, watch movies, and download items.  Your internet connection might also be slower during the test.

The Xbox Live Lab testing will last from March 10 – 27 and is only available to users in the US for now.

image Major Nelson

via Major Nelson

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I imagine they'll have plenty of volunteers. Certainly more than enough to gather the data they need.

Doing a test right now, 20 minutes remaining.

I'm a sucker for cheevos, whether they are zero point or not. I hunted far and wide for a Quake 2 disc (came with Quake 4 launch title) just to get those 0 point cheevos. Impossible to find used, had to beg someone on the forums to send me their copy.

Just finished the 6 hours a little while ago. The crazy hair is cool/funny, but I wish it and the goggles were separate.

Pretty neat. May just try this for the heck of it.