Microsoft has gone into extreme chest-beating mode today with a release dedicated to how awesome Xbox Live has performed over the summer. Joking aside, the firm notes that 1 vs 100 was downloaded nearly three million times during the 13 week pilot season, "making it one of the top 10 most downloaded pieces of gaming content on Xbox Live to date."
Here's the release:
"It's clear that we've had an incredibly successful summer, and the Xbox LIVE community loves the innovative gaming experiences we deliver" said Scott Austin, director of digitally distributed games on Xbox LIVE. "We are the leader in digitally distributed games, have the best partners in the industry and work closely with them to offer the best in downloadable content and entertainment."
Xbox LIVE delivers a new genre of entertainment: "1 vs 100"
A pioneering achievement in interactive entertainment, "1 vs 100" was downloaded nearly three million times during the 13 week pilot season, making it one of the top 10 most downloaded pieces of gaming content on Xbox LIVE to date. In fact, on average, more than half a million unique contestants competed in "1 vs 100" every week. And, up to 114,000 people in North America and 81,000 people in the UK and Republic of Ireland competed simultaneously in "1 vs 100 Live" shows. Featuring a live host, real prizes and regularly-scheduled programming, "1 vs 100" is a brand new genre of entertainment on Xbox LIVE. Get excited to hear more about season two...
A record breaking summer for Xbox LIVE Arcade
Xbox LIVE Arcade continued its tradition of industry-leading downloadable games with the second annual Summer of Arcade. This year's Summer of Arcade delivered a lineup of blockbuster titles that smashed nearly every record for the service, and even set a new monthly revenue record with an incredible 200% growth over last year's program. In fact, of the top five highest opening week sales ever on Xbox LIVE Arcade, three were from this year's Summer of Arcade, including "Shadow Complex, "Trials HD" and "Marvel vs. Capcom 2."
What's more, blockbuster breakouts "Shadow Complex" and "Trials HD" both eclipsed previous records for most downloaded single-player game in their opening weeks. Winner of more than 20 Editor's Choice and E3 Awards, "Shadow Complex" set a new standard for quality and depth in downloadable games, offering an immersive story and setting on par with full retail titles, at the value and convenience gamers have come to expect from Xbox LIVE Arcade. To top it all off, "Battlefield 1943" joined the leading ranks as one of the best selling Arcade games of the summer.
A brand new way to download with Games on Demand
Announced at E3 and launched just two short months later, Games on Demand on Xbox LIVE delivered a brand new way to access and download full Xbox 360 titles. Games on Demand provides convenient, 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular game titles. With more than 40 games in the global library, for the first time the community can browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games from the comfort of their living room.
Get ready for "Joy Ride"
Xbox LIVE industry leadership doesn't stop there. This holiday, "Joy Ride" will debut an innovative free-to-play business model on Xbox LIVE and deliver an exclusive revolutionary gaming experience to the Xbox LIVE community. "Joy Ride" puts players' Avatars behind the wheel, offers rich customization options through micro-transactions to suit every personality, and is fun for people of all skill levels to jump in and share. Unlike any other gaming experience on Xbox 360, the world of "Joy Ride" will grow and change the more people play.
As much as i love Live its getting to the stage where if Sony implement a few more things into their service, like cross game invite or chat or updating the PSN daily, that MS cannot really justify charging for it.
As much as i love Live its getting to the stage where if Sony implement a few more things into their service, like cross game invite or chat or updating the PSN daily, that MS cannot really justify charging for it.
I think that will be the case soon. I guess they will look at the sales, and the percentage of subscribers and make a call based on that.
If they make it free, then great, but I was aware of the charges before I bought my 360.
Although with the RRP of the Elite and slim much closer now, the short term 'saving' of paying less for a console and then paying for xbl isn't as apparent anymore.
As much as i love Live its getting to the stage where if Sony implement a few more things into their service, like cross game invite or chat or updating the PSN daily, that MS cannot really justify charging for it.
It's more likely to be the other way round ... And Sony will start charging for PSN ...
Really makes me laugh when people think they should get XBL for free ... It works , and it works really well, I would rather pay for something that works than for something that is free and has issues.
Never had a problem paying for XBL and never will.
intergrating existing free applications into a paid for service aint the best idea ive ever heard.
Er why? yeah they are free on the PC, but if they are also available on live then so what? i suppose you think the fact that PS3 has iPlayer isn't a good idead, too? Oh no, hang on, wait, it's on the PS3 which means it is awesome and totally infallable..
Really makes me laugh when people think they should get XBL for free ... It works , and it works really well, I would rather pay for something that works than for something that is free and has issues.
Never had a problem paying for XBL and never will.
I couldn't agree with you more. I think Live is a fine service for £28 a year. I don't care what anyone says, I honestly think it is miles ahead of PSN. Also, once PSN starts to get a few more apps and sorts out it's infrastructure and solidifies the online play aspect, Sony will start to charge.
As much as i love Live its getting to the stage where if Sony implement a few more things into their service, like cross game invite or chat or updating the PSN daily, that MS cannot really justify charging for it.
It's more likely to be the other way round ... And Sony will start charging for PSN ...
Really makes me laugh when people think they should get XBL for free ... It works , and it works really well, I would rather pay for something that works than for something that is free and has issues. Never had a problem paying for XBL and never will.
But what if it was free and it was good?
You pay for the console, you pay for the game, you pay for your internet....now why the heck should you thenhave to pay again to use all those things you just paid for?
It's like buying a yogurt with a spoon then having to pay to eat it...
I had a great time playing 1 vs 100, the only thing that brought it down in my eyes was the fact that you didn't just have to be right all of the time, you also had to have lightning reflexes too if you wanted to stand a chance of placing highly.
PS, the episode with Felicia Day hosting was my guilty little pleasure of the week...
sony wont start charging for PSN. millions have already signed up in good faith. making it paid-for will only repel customers. it remains to me the biggest trump over a 360. better than BR drive even.
who will want to continue subscribing to XBL when the games start to dwindle?
its great the way somebody states something as fact on this website and then when their copped onto they just say its "what they believe" or "its their opinion" haha
oh god so funny haha and im not being sarcastic it is thoroughly entertaining. no offense intended.
monty_79 an svd_grasshopper and others just using ye as an example stop this website from being a dull commodity as you strongly defend your console of choice. haha thanks
psn needs more love in europe. live as far as i know is at the standard of the us. but i could be wrong never got bothered setting up a us account on 360
although i wouldnt pay €20 for a game on demand where i could go around the corner to game and get it second hand for a fiver
M$ cant go online free this gen! think about, they go free now and they'll lose alot of money, people will start saying, why charge us all this time and now go free, i want my money back from the last 3 years of subscription and so on and whatever and court cases left right centre!the next xbox though, noone can say nothing about it!
I really don't want to sound like a fanboy but if Xbox Live is so much better then why doesn't it have games supporting more than 32 (I think that it is as big as it goes) players online at one, when the PS3 can support 60 at the moment and will soon get a 256-man game?
Don't get me wrong, Xbox Live is a great service from what I have experienced with it but I really don't see how they justify the subscription fee when Sony, Nintendo and numerous PC games/applications all offer the same for free. I could play Last Remnant with an Xfire room open and chat to someone on, say, Empire: Total War.
And yes, Sony won't give in one of their biggest draws and XBL won't be free as long as people are still willing to pay for it.
Tired of seeing s**t about making xbox live free. All I am going to say is, "Do you want PSN-Graded Servers to play on?", "Do you want DLC on nearly every big game", "Do you want exclusive title deals that allow you to play a game before others for a year, or a few months, or even permenantly", ..yes to all?, Pay for f**king live, no to any of them? Get a ps3 fagboys.
Xbox live subscriptions are to pay for the servers you play on, the exclusivity deals, the exclusive DLC's, and even natal and facebook, twitter, sky, etc.. If you would rather go and not pay for games on demand, sky, avatar clothing, themes, videos, xbox live then go get a playstation 3.
If paying £29 a year gets me exclusive GTA content, the ability to have a laugh with my mates in an 8 player party, lag free games & new stuff to check out on the dashboard everyday, I'm happy!
Having used both a lot. I still think Live is head and shoulders above PSN. I do think that PSN will get better with time, but so will Live. I honestly don't mind paying for it, I would obviously prefer if it was free. However sometiem you get what you pay for.
Of course PSN is free, even the deluded pr1cks at Sony haven't got the bottle to charge for that s**te service ffs, and don't get me started about the abortion that is "Home" or should that be "Homeless and destitute!"
"Live" is a brilliant service that just keeps getting better and better, long may it continue!!
As much as i love Live its getting to the stage where if Sony implement a few more things into their service, like cross game invite or chat or updating the PSN daily, that MS cannot really justify charging for it.
It's more likely to be the other way round ... And Sony will start charging for PSN ...
Really makes me laugh when people think they should get XBL for free ... It works , and it works really well, I would rather pay for something that works than for something that is free and has issues. Never had a problem paying for XBL and never will.
But what if it was free and it was good?
You pay for the console, you pay for the game, you pay for your internet....now why the heck should you thenhave to pay again to use all those things you just paid for?
It's like buying a yogurt with a spoon then having to pay to eat it...
Its actually more like buying a TV and then a TV licence and then SKY and then pay per view.
Which many people do.
If you don't agree with charges then don't pay them.
Alright Tonyb, chill out mate! Certain members of this site exist for the sole reason of ranting about stories like this. You know it, I know, CVG knows it and Steven Hawkings football boots know it- let them scream and shout all they like, who cares? If they're so happy with PSN then they wouldn't feel the need to spout rubbish all day. Every day- insecurity 101 that.
I don't mind paying for LIVE- I haven't had any problems so far. Other than people disconnecting when they get the a**ses kicked... And Sonic 2 multiplayer- what the hell is going on with the lag in that game?? On the whole, it's great. I even managed to have several games of Halo this afternoon with (get this) nice Americans! I know, I know! I was as shocked as you are!
Alright Tonyb, chill out mate! Certain members of this site exist for the sole reason of ranting about stories like this. You know it, I know, CVG knows it and Steven Hawkings football boots know it- let them scream and shout all they like, who cares? If they're so happy with PSN then they wouldn't feel the need to spout rubbish all day. Every day- insecurity 101 that.
I don't mind paying for LIVE- I haven't had any problems so far. Other than people disconnecting when they get the a**ses kicked... And Sonic 2 multiplayer- what the hell is going on with the lag in that game?? On the whole, it's great. I even managed to have several games of Halo this afternoon with (get this) nice Americans! I know, I know! I was as shocked as you are!
LOL...I'm perfectly chilled MrP, it's just a bit of banter!
But Halo and "nice Americans!"...now that's something to really start a rant about!
Tired of seeing s**t about making xbox live free. All I am going to say is, "Do you want PSN-Graded Servers to play on?", "Do you want DLC on nearly every big game", "Do you want exclusive title deals that allow you to play a game before others for a year, or a few months, or even permenantly", ..yes to all?, Pay for f**king live, no to any of them? Get a ps3 fagboys.
Xbox live subscriptions are to pay for the servers you play on, the exclusivity deals, the exclusive DLC's, and even natal and facebook, twitter, sky, etc.. If you would rather go and not pay for games on demand, sky, avatar clothing, themes, videos, xbox live then go get a playstation 3.
DLC content on every game. same with ps3.
deals that allow you to play a game before others for a year. when was the last time this happened.
servers that was already mentioned to only be able to hold 32 players max however not the biggest fan of resistance 2. waiting for MAG though
yeah natal looks good and im sure to get it for the novelty same with the wands for ps3 if their implemented well in the games.
facebook, twitter, iplayer i can get for free on my mobile, laptop and ps3.
games on demand that you can get for 2 for 20 in your nearest game.
and id rather watch my sky hd on its own box under my tv thank you.
the only exclusive dlc i bought for the 360 was gta 4 dlc. whereas the exclusive batman stuff is free on ps3.
xbox live is miles ahead of psn and you can get a years subscription for £25 at amazon , ffs ive got more than that in loose change down the back of my sofa..
xbox live is miles ahead of psn and you can get a years subscription for £25 at amazon , ffs ive got more than that in loose change down the back of my sofa..
Yeah but you're forgetting that after forking out 400 quid for the shiny black "Blu-Ray player", sorry games console, Sony realised that charging for a third rate on-line service would be a p**s-take too far, even for the mugs, sorry, early adopters in the UK!
I think you all forget the infrastructure behind XBL there are much more consistant and speedy services in comparison with the free PSN, it can take a small age to download on PSN yet using my connection on XBL a similar sized download only takes about 10th of the time if not less. We pay for the better servers and the better conections during gaming. So many times games drop out on PSN when I'm playing, compared to the rarity of that happening on XBL. Sorry but thats what it comes down to.
Personally I find the tips / strategy and achievements videos on XBL a waste of time. As for that lass, she's pretty but she wears too many clothes. There's not much else to XBL if you ask me.
Out of interest, does anyone on here subscribe to Qore? And if so is it any good?
Qore, a Sony endorsed magazine produced by Future Publishing. Where everybody knows the exclusive demos are only timed exclusive!
Sony's "Pulse" show is free. Use a US account - or just look it up on the web . Christina Lee is a nice looking lady.
gotta agree 100% XBL is a truly fantastic service!! it just does everything sooooo right! been a member for over 6 years since the beta phase and has just got better and better!
"MS says Xbox Live is awesome". And here was me thinking that Bill Gates and co thought it was an advert-crammed, useless waste of space. OF COURSE THEY THINK IT'S AWESOME. You don't get a new and excitable MS exec tiredly saying "You know what guys, just migrate to PSN and Home, it's really much better, just cancel your Live account. Peace out dude".
I think you all forget the infrastructure behind XBL there are much more consistant and speedy services in comparison with the free PSN, it can take a small age to download on PSN yet using my connection on XBL a similar sized download only takes about 10th of the time if not less. We pay for the better servers and the better conections during gaming. So many times games drop out on PSN when I'm playing, compared to the rarity of that happening on XBL. Sorry but thats what it comes down to.
Yep .. Agreed ... Thanks saved me from typing all that ...
"MS says Xbox Live is awesome". And here was me thinking that Bill Gates and co thought it was an advert-crammed, useless waste of space. OF COURSE THEY THINK IT'S AWESOME. You don't get a new and excitable MS exec tiredly saying "You know what guys, just migrate to PSN and Home, it's really much better, just cancel your Live account. Peace out dude".
If paying £29 a year gets me exclusive GTA content, the ability to have a laugh with my mates in an 8 player party, lag free games & new stuff to check out on the dashboard everyday, I'm happy!
Wouldn't agree on the lag free bit. The Yanks lag all the time!
intergrating existing free applications into a paid for service aint the best idea ive ever heard.
Er why? yeah they are free on the PC, but if they are also available on live then so what? i suppose you think the fact that PS3 has iPlayer isn't a good idead, too? Oh no, hang on, wait, it's on the PS3 which means it is awesome and totally infallable..
technically it's no "on" it's just a hyperlink, and no that ain't a good idea either if just for the fact BBC sucks monkey balls and we have to pay them regardles of whether we watch it or not doesn't even have to be tuned in (I have sky so I ain't even bothered with the built in freeveiw) overwise they take your tv off you and fine you.
Same old faces on hear banging on about whether Live is free or not, yawn...
Let me ask you something. How many Xbox owners who pay for Gold membership complain about their gold membership? None. How many PS3 fanboys use the fact Live isn't free as a stick to try and beat Xbox owners with? All those who don't have two brain cells to rub together. We don't complain because the service is top notch. You pay for what you get. PSN is free, and my God it shows. Every week I jump in, hoping to find something that makes me go 'wow'. It hasn't happened yet, in the 2 years I have owned the machine. Xbox Live by contrast I am pretty much always happy with, always new stuff being added, new content, and it's solid as a rock.
The old adage 'you get what you pay for' has never rung more true. I still hold out hope that Sony will catch up, but let's face it, online networking and services is what Microsoft do.
The fact all the Sony fanboys can come up with as a jibe against Xbox Live is the price is fairly indicative of how poor Sony's service is in comparison. Perhaps when you can spout a list of features Xbox Live doesn't have, or a plethora of DLC games that trounch Trials HD, Shadow Complex etc in terms of quality, you may get taken seriously.
Same old faces on hear banging on about whether Live is free or not, yawn...
Let me ask you something. How many Xbox owners who pay for Gold membership complain about their gold membership? None. How many PS3 fanboys use the fact Live isn't free as a stick to try and beat Xbox owners with? All those who don't have two brain cells to rub together. We don't complain because the service is top notch. You pay for what you get. PSN is free, and my God it shows. Every week I jump in, hoping to find something that makes me go 'wow'. It hasn't happened yet, in the 2 years I have owned the machine. Xbox Live by contrast I am pretty much always happy with, always new stuff being added, new content, and it's solid as a rock.
The old adage 'you get what you pay for' has never rung more true. I still hold out hope that Sony will catch up, but let's face it, online networking and services is what Microsoft do.
The fact all the Sony fanboys can come up with as a jibe against Xbox Live is the price is fairly indicative of how poor Sony's service is in comparison. Perhaps when you can spout a list of features Xbox Live doesn't have, or a plethora of DLC games that trounch Trials HD, Shadow Complex etc in terms of quality, you may get taken seriously.
Well said. And it should be noted that this model started off several years before the 360 was released (and hasn't increased in cost at any point) and has been perfectly successful. I see no reason why that shouldn't continue as long as the service they provide is worth the money - which it always has been.
...and so many people seem to also forget about the 60 quid it costs for a wireless adaptor.
The total cost for taking your 360 online is almost 100 quid - as much as a Wii
Well that's just bollocks, isn't it. You have a perfectly good ethernet port on the back of your 360 and an ethernet cable included (therefore you can get online with no extra cost). Even if the router's not in the same room as the 360, if you have a clue at all you can get products that will do the job a hell of a lot cheaper.
...and so many people seem to also forget about the 60 quid it costs for a wireless adaptor.
The total cost for taking your 360 online is almost 100 quid - as much as a Wii
Well that's just bollocks, isn't it. You have a perfectly good ethernet port on the back of your 360 and an ethernet cable included (therefore you can get online with no extra cost). Even if the router's not in the same room as the 360, if you have a clue at all you can get products that will do the job a hell of a lot cheaper.
Well...in the flat where I live it is not viable to have a wired connection. Furthermore, I doubt my landlord would want me chopping the carpet.
What I should have said is that it costs 100 squid to do on the 360 what I am able to do on a PS3 for free.
I apologise if I come across as looking for a fight but I really just despise Microsoft tbh. I really do. It's not the 360 or its games really...it's their arrogant attitude and the way they have dealt with what is effectively a huge design error on their part.
I previously suffered the RROD three separate times and was actually foolish enough to buy a second console - I convinced myself that I didn't mind shelling out for an Elite when in retrospect I wouldn't have if my Premium hadn't repeatedly fried.
Final straw was them sending me a replacement that wouldn't read half of my discs and then refusing to take it back due to the problem not being RROD related - although the one they were supposed to be fixing/replacing did have the RROD.
Having spent over a grand on MS gear and then being left without a console and having them say they wouldn't replace it was the final straw.
It really annoys me to think how many muppets repeatedly pay for a new console from them and if I can stop just one person it will be a victory...
You seem like quite a hateful person - searching to dislike something because it completes you. You need to chill out a bit.
Seeing MS go into liquidation due to a big fat RROD law suit is the only thing that would complete me!
Seriously though, my tongue is usually firmly placed in my cheek.
If it makes you feel better think of me like the nuclear deterrent - a little disconcerting but entirely necessary to keep the infidels at bay...
I do hate the PS3 fanboys, so it's quite refreshing to see one who can at least slag things off with a sense of irony
That said I like games. I bought a PS3 for the blu ray, but it's not my gaming console. So even when games that I have no intention of buying come out that Sony fans rave about (see Uncharted 2, Killzone 2), I see it as a good thing that someone nudges the bar higher and keeps the quality of games across all platforms improving.
"Xbox LIVE community loves the innovative gaming experiences we deliver"
Could someone please explain what is supposed to be innovative about Live. No offense to the asswipe that works at Microsoft who wrote this drivel, but Microsoft are one of the least innovative companies in the electronics or the computer industry that I'm aware of. I could accept them boasting about being good at copying other people.
I'm a 360 owner and love the games I play, but I think Microsoft mistake that as a love for them or their Live service. They couldn't be further from the truth.
sony wont start charging for PSN. millions have already signed up in good faith. making it paid-for will only repel customers. it remains to me the biggest trump over a 360. better than BR drive even.
who will want to continue subscribing to XBL when the games start to dwindle?
they will taste PSN and jump ship.
Hey, I forgot how mcuh of a tit you are!
PSN isnt fit to wipe Live's bottom. I have both, use both and can comment. I would pay double the £28 for 13 months Live cost me.
"Xbox LIVE community loves the innovative gaming experiences we deliver"
Could someone please explain what is supposed to be innovative about Live. No offense to the asswipe that works at Microsoft who wrote this drivel, but Microsoft are one of the least innovative companies in the electronics or the computer industry that I'm aware of. I could accept them boasting about being good at copying other people.
I'm a 360 owner and love the games I play, but I think Microsoft mistake that as a love for them or their Live service. They couldn't be further from the truth.
OK ... well show me a service in the world that actually compares to XBL and is as good ... Gamespy? Xfire? PSN (LOL) Ninty's WIFi Connect? (Even bigger LOL)... Give me a break .. The only thing that comes close is Games for Windows, and even that is fairly crap compared to XBL ...
The statement is at least true .. As others have pointed out why shouldnt M$ blow their own trumpet ... At least they don't go out of their way to mislead customers like Sony do with the PR drivel they make up most of the time.
Right so M$ are one of the least innovative companies are they? I dont disagree that sometimes it takes them a little while to catch with things, but with XBL in particular they are well ahead of the curve, and always have been since it came out.
Not to mention the fact that Windows 7 comes out next month, an OS that is built around Touch interfaces, is that not innovative then?
Lets compare that to Sony then shall we? The pad design for the PS3 is based on a 10 year old design, wow that was innovative? Their so called 'motion control' is remarkably similar to the Wii's controls. Where's the innovation in that?
I'm no M$ fanboy, but I can at least see that they are trying to be innovative, like for example with Natal.
I haven't seen anything in the last 3 years from Sony (other than LBP) that makes me want to buy a PS3, you want to talk about innovation go ahead ... But as far as I am concerned M$ are far more innovative from a gaming point of view than anybody else out there at the moment ...
"Xbox LIVE community loves the innovative gaming experiences we deliver"
Could someone please explain what is supposed to be innovative about Live. No offense to the asswipe that works at Microsoft who wrote this drivel, but Microsoft are one of the least innovative companies in the electronics or the computer industry that I'm aware of. I could accept them boasting about being good at copying other people.
I'm a 360 owner and love the games I play, but I think Microsoft mistake that as a love for them or their Live service. They couldn't be further from the truth.
OK ... well show me a service in the world that actually compares to XBL and is as good ... Gamespy? Xfire? PSN (LOL) Ninty's WIFi Connect? (Even bigger LOL)... Give me a break .. The only thing that comes close is Games for Windows, and even that is fairly crap compared to XBL ...
The statement is at least true .. As others have pointed out why shouldnt M$ blow their own trumpet ... At least they don't go out of their way to mislead customers like Sony do with the PR drivel they make up most of the time.
Right so M$ are one of the least innovative companies are they? I dont disagree that sometimes it takes them a little while to catch with things, but with XBL in particular they are well ahead of the curve, and always have been since it came out.
Not to mention the fact that Windows 7 comes out next month, an OS that is built around Touch interfaces, is that not innovative then?
Lets compare that to Sony then shall we? The pad design for the PS3 is based on a 10 year old design, wow that was innovative? Their so called 'motion control' is remarkably similar to the Wii's controls. Where's the innovation in that?
I'm no M$ fanboy, but I can at least see that they are trying to be innovative, like for example with Natal.
I haven't seen anything in the last 3 years from Sony (other than LBP) that makes me want to buy a PS3, you want to talk about innovation go ahead ... But as far as I am concerned M$ are far more innovative from a gaming point of view than anybody else out there at the moment ...
What about Steam? They don't charge for that service...
What about Steam? They don't charge for that service...
What about it?
Steam is just a donwload service with some added functionality ... Yeah it has some of the functionality of XBL (like friends list and more recently 'achievements') but thats about it.
Steam is probably the closest thing you will get to XBL on a PC though, and it is good at what it does I won't deny that. Even I use it for some of my PC purchases.
Why they dont charge? Who knows maybe they will one day. Comparing Steam to XBL though is like comparing PSN to XBL, they are just not in the same league.
It's not about what each service gives in terms of functionality which is in question here. If you look at the functionality of something like Steam compared to XBL they are pretty close. Even PSN is catching up with most of the functionaility of XBL. As stated before though, XBL just does it a hell of a lot better.
In fact I would as far to say that PSN = Steam pretty much from what I have seen of PSN.
I agree that xbl is a better service in its entirety but I just don't think MS need to charge for it - I think they have seen the opportunity to do so...
TBH, I have only played CS:Source on Steam but I found it to be extremely smooth and it beggars the question why the heck is xbl the only service of its type where you have to pay?
Correct me if I'm wrong (I may well be) but which other platforms make you pay like xbl does - not including MMO's and that type of thing...?
The only other service I can think of is Gamespy off the top of my head that charge for some sort of premium content.
I suspect the reason why the others are free is that they are getting sub'd by the publishers for things like adverts etc. But that would be just a guess.
Don't get me wrong i'm not saying there isn't a case for XBL to be free, at some point in the future it may well end up being free, although I doubt it given the extra functionality being put in each year. It may well be cheaper at some point but I doubt it will ever be free IMHO.
I just don't understand why 'some people' (and I think we know the group of people I am refering to here) seem to think thats its their god given right for XBL to be free, because 'X' service is. It doesn't work like that.
You could argue for example that you should be able to go to Fileplanet and not sit in a queue waiting for something to download, without having to pay for it. But in the end someone has to pay for the backend infrastructure. Trust me I work in IT and most of this stuff aint cheap!
XBL has been around for over 6 years, if people didnt want to pay for it, then there wouldnt be anyone on it, and as stated previously its not exactly expensive. Not compared to some of the crap that some people pay for month in month out. (For example Sky TV!)
Xbox live is great and playing against friends is great and other people, but having the horrible way it is now, im not finding anything i want anymore through the system, thats my only bad thing to say about it, why not have shops where you can go and buy stuff from, instead of endless windows which leads to nothing.
"Tired of seeing s**t about making xbox live free. All I am going to say is, "Do you want PSN-Graded Servers to play on?"
Not sure that I agree with that at all, seeing as all games on the Xbox Live service use the Peer-to-Peer network topology! There are no "paid for superior connections" when playing online via Live. Just as there arent any superior connections when playing the port of the same game via PSN. But some Sony exlcusives such as Resistance, Warhawk and Socom to name a few, do use dedicated servers which provide exceptional network performance. I mean 60 man combat on Resistance 2 without a hint of lag is impressive!
At the end of the day, you go for which console has the best games. I prefer the games on PS3 so i bought the PS3. I can play all multi-format games for free as appose to paying, and with the spare money I can buy an extra game or two. Happy days really.
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) you have to rave about the add-ons...
