Thirty Helens Agree: Xbox Live gaming should be free
- August 18th, 2008
- 9 Comments
I, along with 30 Helens, agree with Don Reisinger on the subject of Xbox Live. Xbox Live Gold memberships should be free. I actually can’t speak for the aforementioned Helens, so let’s just say that Don and I are in complete concurrence.
The basic argument is that if Xbox Live Gold memberships were free, instead of $50 per year, Microsoft would have a lot more online players, which they could sell advertising against, which would make up for the loss of revenue. Plus, playing multiplayer online games on the PS3 and the Nintendo Wii is free, making the Xbox the only major console that charges for the privilege of playing online – Reisinger makes the argument that Microsoft would sell more consoles if online play were free.
The people that Microsoft is missing out on are people like me. I own an Xbox 360, I play it sporadically, and I’ve resisted paying to upgrade my Xbox Live Silver membership to Gold. Know why? Because the only game I actually wish I could play against other people is “Catan,” which I bought from the Xbox Live Arcade for $10. All of a sudden, I have to pay $50 per year to play against other human beings. I can afford $50 per year, but the game was ten bucks. It’s the principle that stinks.
Then there’s this Netflix thing that’s going to be rolling out on the Xbox 360 this fall. I would have joined Netflix just to use this service to stream movies to my Xbox 360 except that in order to use it, I arbitrarily have to have a Gold account. Again, another $50 per year. I might as well just buy a Roku box for $99 and get it over with. I’ll probably just end up buying a big pile of nothing, though. Bad news for Netflix.
Finally, if I really want to play online, I have a computer and a Nintendo Wii. I know it’s comparing apples to oranges, especially as the Wii stacks up against the Xbox 360’s horsepower, but guess which platform I’ll be buying Tiger Woods ‘09 on? It’s the only other game I really want to be able to play online.
If Microsoft sticks to the $50 per year charge for Gold memberships, I think it’d be nice to perhaps at least let people who buy games through XBLA play those online for free. That, or make a Bronze membership for free, a Silver membership for $20 per year containing just basic online play, and then keep the Gold membership at $50 per year. I don’t care about the other perks that come with the Gold membership – early access to demos, TrueSkill, friends lists – I just want to play Catan online.
Shawn
3 months ago
I think the $50/yr. keeps out some of the riff raff. I mean, I already have to play COD4 against a bunch of smack talking 14 year olds; imagine if *all* of them could get online and play. No thanks.
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Drav
3 months ago
Have you compared all three networks thoroughly? Ever tried downloading stuff from the PSN marketplace and noticed the agonizingly slow speeds that are not there when downloading from the XBL marketplace? There is a reason Microsoft charges. They go that extra step to make sure the entire experience is a cut above the rest. Unfortunately, those who don’t understand that only see it as more money to shell out. Personally $50 a year is a one time commitment that I forget about for 12 months until the money comes out of my account again.
The Wii’s network is hit and miss, it totally depends on the game’s code itself to build the back-end for the online play. If the developers slack off and don’t write good code for the online play, you will get a horrible experience no matter who you play against. Case in point: Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Wii.
The PSN fares a little better by having a back-end built into the system itself. However, they still leave the game servers up to the individual developers (like they did with the PS2). Therefore, each game could be hit and miss.
Xbox Live offers unified Microsoft-based servers to any developer that wishes to use them. And honestly, Microsoft knows how to build servers since they have always been a computer company. Why wouldn’t you want to make use of that generosity?
In the end it all comes down to your personal choice, but just know that your $50 goes towards a lot more than filling up Microsoft’s pockets.
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mustafa
3 months ago
360 sucks its programming language is weak, when a patch(a programming update specific for a game) is loaded to modify the system and ready it for the game it usually changes the entire interface. This is by default inconvenient and a ROYAL pain in the ass. The system istself is poory made it broke down and needed repair 3 times in the 2 years that I owned it. Honestly thats pathetic! But most of all it is a Microsoft product and I am SERIOUSLY sick and tired of MS products and software. Im tired of having to upgrade with only their software. Im sick of being forced to browse the net with their crappy search engines and server systems. Im tired of their under bidding and Mexican producing crappy made products Im tired of the Gates foundation working to cure AIDs in Africa but side stepping poor, hu8ngry Americans to get to the sick and weak in other country’s.
And having to pay for online service is so selfish and greedy it’s sickening! Thats classic Microsoft, take something the world gets for free and come up with a way to charge them money for it. Just another way to fuck over the common man and woman.
Thats why I hate Microsoft and thats what drove me to purchess a PS3. Honestly I don’t use blue ray its far to expensive. But when I load a patch the interface doesn’t change, its never broken down, not once and the interface, programming and design are far FAR superior!
The free internet service,free online gaming and free downloadable demos are just another sign of Sony’s power and greater understanding of these markets.
When and if IBM and Oracle come out with new Microsoft free operating systems Im buying them and NEVER looking back.
Microsoft is no longer that innovative cool amazingly original company.
It’s just a tyranny now, and I’m over it!
M / Seattle WA, Gaming capitol of the world!
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mustafa
3 months ago
I wrote an entire comment and its no where to be seen I’m not writting it again.
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mustafa
3 months ago
Fuck this site!
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mustafa
3 months ago
Screw this site!!
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mustafa
3 months ago
Whomever is reading this Fuck you!!
The first amendment still exists in this country!
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Bill Gates
3 months ago
Try refresh dumb-ass ( all browsers have it - even the vastly superior IE) It sounds we at Microsoft are doing a great job keeping riff-raff such as yourself of our network.
We are considering raising rates because more dying children in Africa need the help than you getting more free stuff - you over privileged insolent prick. Freedom of speech is one of those privileges - not to be abused.
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Bill
3 months ago
Doug, I think you are part of a very small minority on this issue. Everyone that I know that has an Xbox has a gold account, and has ever since they bought the console. I have never heard anyone complain about the subscription fee, except back during Christmas when no one could log on.
People should remember that if you shop around, you can usually find good deals like this one for Xbox Live subscriptions… that’s 13 months for $40, with free shipping. That comes out to $3/mo.
I am of the opinion that $3/mo. is money well-spent given the superior quality of Microsoft’s online service.
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