What is Digg?424 Comments
- btschul, on 08/18/2008, -21/+156I will gladly continue paying $50 a year to keep Xbox live from descending into ***** and becoming like the wii/ps3 online services.
- GutterMoo, on 08/18/2008, -31/+147Xbox Live Service > any of the others. Hands down. Home isn't out yet, even though they said it would be. I'll bet if they had some more money lying around that it would come out sooner. But since no one would pay for crap they won't charge. Yes I have seen PSN and and Wii's online. They are both horrible compared to the screaming kids on xbox live. But man do I love my mute.
- kinseyincanada, on 08/18/2008, -21/+113i just got a PS3 about 2 weeks ago, and i can easily say that the 360's online service is completely better than Sony's. Microsoft can charge $50 for it yearly because its worth it, i dont feel cheated out of my money, until Sony really catches up with Mircosoft they have no reason to do it.
- SifooD, on 08/19/2008, -9/+72"If you're good at something, never do it for free."
- AdmiralKarelia, on 08/19/2008, -9/+61I've noticed that most of the people complaining about the fees for XBL are people who haven't ever signed up for it for more than the first free month. Those of us that pay the annual $50 and utilize it enough to know what's what tend to agree; it's easily worth it when you consider what you get against the PS3's or the Wii's services. And I'd actually rather it remain as a paid service, because that constant cashflow ensures that Microsoft considers XBL to be a viable source of income, and therefore deserving of good upkeep.
When it comes to online gaming services... you really do get what you pay for. - nmanguy, on 08/19/2008, -27/+73Once again, I am so glad to be a PC gamer and not have to deal with fees...
- pcnerd37, on 08/18/2008, -37/+81This is what I hate most about the 360. I rarely play it, so its hardly worth paying the $50/yr compared to the free service I can get with the PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS or anything else.
- 9x6is42, on 08/18/2008, -23/+65The couple cents a day doesn' t really hurt my bank. I wonder how people who think this is out of their price range afforded the system or games. I thought xbox live infrastructure was one of the things that made developing multiplayer games for the xbox attractive. How do the free services matchmaking and friend lists compare to the 360 cause the only "service" I have seen is the wii and it didn't really highlight the wonders of a free online multiplayer experience. The author called it basically the same experience. Granted, I haven't seen how the PS3 works online, but I don't really trust the author as a critic of a multiplayer experience.
- fsufanizzle, on 08/19/2008, -10/+50With the new dashboard update coming with all of the new features. Our $50 spent will be even more worth it.
- CDWMobile, on 08/18/2008, -32/+72It would give me a reason to finally buy one...
- btschul, on 08/19/2008, -31/+66PC - Not too bad, but not all games are free
PS3 - ***** online service
DS - ***** online service
psp - Never played it online, but haven't heard good things about it
Wii - almost nonexistent ***** online service
Xbox 360 - Fantastic online service
Hmm.. nope, nothing wrong here. - viveknarain, on 08/19/2008, -9/+43When can we digg an article to plea for Sony to make us pay 50 bucks a year to make their service better?
- ExRe, on 08/19/2008, -13/+41I know this'll hurt you guys, but it is true. Stop being whiny bitches.
Sometimes you have to pay for things. If you don't think it is worth it then DON'T BUY IT. If you have a hard time coming up with $5 a month, you can't possibly afford an Xbox 360 or a fast enough internet connection to even use Xbox Live. - silence7, on 08/19/2008, -5/+31I've been a console gamer since I stopped using my Amiga. And since the days of disk based gaming systems the only way us console gamers could get game demos before the games came out was to buy magazines that came with a disk, at $9.99 and up per issue with only a couple demos per disk and a bunch of fluff.
$50 a year to me means I don't have to go and buy a magazine to get my demos, I have reliable online play ( 99% of the time :-) etc etc.. I really don't feel ripped off by LIVE like I did when I paid 10 bucks for 3 demos in a magazine. - HibikiRush, on 08/19/2008, -7/+30People need to get over this. Is it still really an issue? It's not even $50 if you shop around, I got mine for about $33 on eBay or Buy.com, and I just told my friend about a 13 Month membership on sale at NewEgg for $40. Big whoop.
- FriedTurkey, on 08/19/2008, -5/+26Agreed. I am not a big multi-player guy. I usually try multi-player after I finish single player and usually get bored with it quickly. My gaming time is limited so I may play multi-player like twice a month which isn't worth $50 a year.
- grimfandango, on 08/19/2008, -5/+25this really pisses me off. bash microsoft all you like, but your xbox live subscription goes towards making the service better, adding content, and giving you a great game playing experience. the next xbox update is about to change the arena again, and I'm glad I'm a paid up member. if you don't like it, don't pay for it.
- xino, on 08/19/2008, -3/+23I think a lot of people need to realize that different people have different principles and that it's wrong to call people cheap just because the cost of Live is against their principles. You also have to remember being able to afford some thing and justifying the cost are two different things even though a lot of people justify the cost by realizing they can afford it. I remember thinking for years that paying to play games online was wrong, but then I changed my mind when my friend game me a 2 month free trial for Xbox Live back in 2003.
- DefaultGen, on 08/19/2008, -0/+19Yeah, when you have Xbox Live, your ISP drops your monthly fee to $0.
- Tony611, on 08/19/2008, -0/+17Mr. Darksoul, , what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this thread is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no diggs, and may God have mercy on your soul.
- btschul, on 08/19/2008, -4/+20Especially the Netflix Watch Instantly stuff.
- OrdinaryPanda, on 08/19/2008, -2/+18I stopped at "But by being able to boast that Microsoft has hundreds of millions of users..." This guy is a dolt, and is talking out of his ass. From what I understand, the gold fees is the milk that MS sold systems at a loss to get. Why would they give that away, too?
ps- I'll echo what some other people are saying, too: If you can't afford 15 cents a day for stable online gaming, maybe this hobby isn't for you. - DefaultGen, on 08/19/2008, -10/+26Not all the games are free? What? The only games with monthly subscriptions are MMOs. MMOs on Xbox 360 have ADDITIONAL monthly fees on top of Xbox Live subscription (Phantasy Star and FFXII). How is PC "not too bad" either? Can you name one thing wrong with it that XBL does better?
Somewhat of a fanboy are we? - Equinox1, on 08/19/2008, -6/+22Every other console has online capabilities, but the Xbox 360 does it RIGHT. $50 is a small price to pay for fantastic service and those who bitch need to get a ***** job or shut up.
- 33PercentGod, on 08/19/2008, -3/+18"you're paying for them to keep developing and upgrading the service, and adding content (new game demos, game addons, etc)."
But all that's available with the Silver account,which is free. - CommanderEFG, on 08/19/2008, -4/+17It's $50 a year, a game is $60. It's not a lot people, and if it keeps the 13 year old kids out for just a little longer then ever cent was worth it. I cringe at the thought of kids clearly too young to be playing games like Call of Duty 4 or Halo 3 and swearing at me more than a drunken sailor would. I can't imagine how bad it would become if it actually became free.
Also I always wondered if people complaining about paying for Xbox Live also complain about spending WAY more on say.......World of Warcraft, where you pay more for playing one game instead of the whole Xbox Live library.
Seriously, if you can't afford $50 then how did you even manage paying for a system in the first place? - Falldog, on 08/19/2008, -6/+18Yeah, equate breathing to playing video games online. Great comparison there, buddy.
- DeadlyCouncil, on 08/19/2008, -2/+13and *you're* an idiot for not learning proper contractions... maybe throw in a comma or two for good measure.
- bmdubya, on 08/19/2008, -0/+11It is $50 a year, champ. But anyway, this is an interesting situation. Because you do get a great online service from Microsoft, yet I've seen the same features from the PlayStation for free. But I really don't think it is having that significant effect on hardware sales. I work for a major electronics retailer (Best Buy), and when I tell people about free online for the PS3, they don't really get that interested. But you know what does interest them? The Blu-Ray player. If anything has sold more PS3s, it is the built in Blu-Ray player, not a free online service. The gamers that play the most multiplayer on Xbox Live don't care about paying $50 a year.
- Supergaxx, on 08/19/2008, -1/+11what does that have to do with anything?
- Xenonyte, on 08/19/2008, -3/+13Why are people crying over the littlest things ..50$ a year.. A YEAR! It's not like were paying monthly for this *****.
- NaziHatinChimp, on 08/19/2008, -4/+14You get what you paid for in this world and I prefer Xbox live's easy service as apposed to having to sign up for three accounts to play Metal Gear Online and deal with all the server problems. However I like the PSN store better than the live store (better games) and I wish MS would at least let you play as a guest on more games or at least make some of the features more accessible.
- LumenMelano, on 08/19/2008, -1/+11Being from Australia, not only do we pay 80 bucks a year, we don't have video store at all. I do agree that Xbox Live is a great service, but I think us Aussies shouldn't be paying an inflated fee if we aren't getting the same service as other places in the world.
- latova, on 08/19/2008, -4/+16PC is a platform too, which it's online is generations ahead of consoles. I'm getting a free TF2 update with new achievements, maps, environments, gametypes, etc all for free this afternoon. Xbox won't allow free DLC, so console owners are getting shafted by Microsoft.
- inactive, on 08/19/2008, -5/+15Sorry I dont want it to be free.
I dont like gaming with poor people. - chispito, on 08/19/2008, -2/+12Unless you're an MMO guy, like I was for the first two years of WoW or so.
- rgersmrk, on 08/19/2008, -3/+13I find it funny that PC users have no problem with spending $12-14 dollars a month to play a MMORPG like WoW but have a problem with spending $50 dollars a year for XBox Live. Both fees are used to pay things like server maintenance ect. I also find it funny when I read articles that make it sound like the 360 is getting killed by Sony and Nintendo unless you look at software sales where it's the complete opposite. You also have to take into consideration that Microsoft had a year head start on selling consoles which would mean they are in bound to have a slowdown in hardware sales having a console out for 3 years.
Sony is selling alot of PS3's right now because people are using them primarily as blu-ray players. Nintendo is still having problems with good 3rd party titles and making things more compelling than Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Cart. I got rid of my 360 for a PS3 since I don't game very much anymore and wanted a decent blu-ray player. I find the PS3 network to be incredibly bland compared to what the Microsoft has done with XBox Live. Nintendo I think is more interested in people playing together in the living room with Wii than playing online which is why the Wii Network is so weak. - btschul, on 08/19/2008, -2/+11It costs money to keep the service running, so I am sure they would have to remove some features, maybe fire some of the support staff, plus all the ***** whiny ***** screaming singing kids who aren't on xbox live now because their parents won't let them use their credit card will join up.
- MWeather, on 08/19/2008, -2/+11"I tend to be the other way, to me console gaming has always been a multiplayer thing."
Always? God, that makes me feel old. - Shaflugi, on 08/19/2008, -1/+10@mattlohkamp: And if a debit card doesn't work, just buy a VISA gift card from the store, they work just like credit cards.
- zerobackup, on 08/19/2008, -6/+15Sorry, I come from computer based online where playing a non-MMORPG is free. I won't pay for a gold membership because I can get all of the same stuff for free on the computer/PS3/Wii so why exactly is it suddenly not "cost effective" to offer free online play? Pffff
- inactive, on 08/19/2008, -2/+11@mattlohkamp: Debit cards. I've had one since I was 16 and I've only had one job my whole life. Save your pennies.
- ASSASSYN360, on 08/19/2008, -5/+14You can send messages,do private chat,etc on the PS3 just like you can Xbox Live. So what,being able to view a profile during the game is worth $50 to you?
No you can't. You can not call billy in metal gear to play gtaIV with an invite message while typing a message to tom and sitting in private chat with lisa at the same time. On xbox-live you can psn not so much. Try acting like people are actually informed about both services. Enjoy your manual patch installs and deticated isolated servers. Xbox-live is an interface that crosses all games without restrictions. Xbox-live has had 1 friend lists and voice chat since day 1. I know I beta tested it and play it to this day. Gt: ASSASSYN 36o - clutch88, on 08/19/2008, -4/+13For the roughly 4 dollars a month Xbox Live is it has been worth every bit of it. It blows every other console (of which I all own) out of the water. Its a fine price for a great service and I think eliminating it really doesn't help the Xbox cause any.
- oDGuardian, on 08/19/2008, -7/+16I think that this whole 'Xbox LIVE should be free' topic is pretty ***** old and I am starting to get sick of hearing people whine about how $50 isnt worth it to them. Well dumbasses thats why they offer 1-3 month subscriptions as well. How is Sony gaining ground? Their games still suck, online still sucks, and Final Fantasy is not exclusive to their system anymore. Sony has yet to give me any reason other than Metal Gear to buy such a ***** system.
- xelloss, on 08/19/2008, -3/+12I pay for Xbox Live so I can bitch at Microsoft when they screw up. Can't do that when something is free.
- dandonia, on 08/19/2008, -6/+14It's funny because when you don't pay for PSN they keep developing and upgrading the service and adding content (new game demos, game addons, etc) except you also get a lot of other stuff for free. Like themes which are vastly superior on the PS3 as they skin all the buttons and everything, picture packs, mod support, home when it comes out. I mean come on, even if home is extremly crap - it is still a huge piece of content for free and I would bet money that it won't be the worst thing I have ever seen.
- dandonia, on 08/19/2008, -1/+9Yeah multiplayer is the way forward but it still should be free. You can't bitch about stupid AI if it is a real person on the other side of the game.
- chaosblade77, on 08/19/2008, -9/+17Does it really make a difference if the 360 has done it longer? If PSN offers a service that works as well, or even nearly as well, for free then Microsoft is at a huge disadvantage. Their service might be "worth it" now, but there is no way online play will come at a cost next generation unless both Sony and Microsoft charge for it.
- CollapseControl, on 08/18/2008, -17/+25Would I like it to be free? Hell yeah I would.
Am I going to complain about? Nope, not at all.
If I can afford to get a new $60 game every 2 weeks and every week spend $10 to $15 on arcade games, $50 a year = nothing.
The PS3's online service is the closest contender to XBL right now, even tho most of what it does is just an alteration of what the 360 has been doing since launch. -
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