Comments on: Thirty Helens Agree: Xbox Live gaming should be free

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:35:04 +0000

I’ve given up on my Xbox 360 since the free 30day gold membership run out and I realised that they’re making me pay a minimum of £50 a year to play games like call of duty online!!
If I had payed a little more I could of got a new PC that actually has decent graphics (with enough memory for photo-like textures) , not to mention the ability to play online for free and run any software without restriction .
I’m one of many young struggling working class gamers in the UK who don’t even have credit cards or a telephone line , but I’ve never been called riff-raff before and I can hold my own in a respectable fps game (probably best I get a mouse and keyboard back into my hands) .

I feel like my PC and my PS3 belong to me . I’ve always felt like my 360 was a traitorous whore who would rather fry her own efuse that let me own her like the little bitch she is .

It’s even possible to build a PC that plays Crysis at a steady 40fps at 1024×768 on medium settings for only £225!! (Via nano mATX , PCIx16 + 1GB NVIDIA GPU) .

I’ll never pay a company for something that comes with adverts and makes them money regardless – thats just sick!!!

By: poop

poop — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:33:08 +0000

50$ per year, plus a $2000-$3000 PC, plus the monthly ISP bill.

I myself live in an area where there is only Sprint wireless internet, and XBL won’t work with that. All I want are the new maps for Halo 3, mabey some updates for the console itself, then I’d cancel the membership. $50 a year ain’t worth it when others have it for free.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:31:55 +0000

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.

By: Bill Gates

Bill Gates — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:52:06 +0000

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.

By: mustafa

mustafa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:42:47 +0000

Whomever is reading this Fuck you!!

The first amendment still exists in this country!

By: mustafa

mustafa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:41:29 +0000

Screw this site!!

By: mustafa

mustafa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:40:35 +0000

Fuck this site!

By: mustafa

mustafa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:39:48 +0000

I wrote an entire comment and its no where to be seen I’m not writting it again.

By: mustafa

mustafa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:27:12 +0000

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!

By: Drav

Drav — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:20:24 +0000

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.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:05:07 +0000

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.