If needing broadband doesn’t do it, a $60+ router is almost always sure to break the deal with my friends, and it’s kind of boring playing with a bunch of people I don’t know, or playing games (Outlaw Volleyball) that no one is ever on.
You can get a hub for $6 from pricewatch though.
You’ll need to clarify your question. I don’t understand it at all, and I’m not unknowledgeable about computers, consoles, or networking.
Well, I’ll take a stab at it anyway. I’m gonna guess that you want your friends to get Xbox Live and play online with you from their respective houses. As opposed to directly linking the machines and playing (which I think is possible, but I’m not sure, since I don’t know much about the Xbox). Anyway, took a quick glance online and it looks like all you need is an account, a “starter kit” (which just has a buncha fluff it looks like), and broadband. So…, I don’t see why one would require a router to play on Xbox live. On the other hand, if you’re gonna want to browse the web on your computer at the same time as using XBox Live, then yes, you would need a router to do so. But there are cheap routers online as well, definitely cheaper than $60. Considering I’ve seen quite a few deals for $30-$40 wireless routers lately, you can probably get a non-wireless for that price or less.
That has got to be one of the funniest posts I’ve ever read in GQ.