Opinions on paying for Live?

[MonkeyBrains]

Originally Posted by hk1108

The way I see it is would rather have free, crappy service or paid, amazing service. Just think, how many times have you been on Live and had horrible game-killing lag? The reason they make you pay is so that they can keep the servers up and running at ful speed.

Need I mention Christmas 2007 and January 2008?

I pay for the service and it was terrible then. I get lag a lot as well.
The service isn't perfect, others aren't charging at all for it. For those who just want to play online against friends and haven't got a console yet, I'd see them going the PS3 route, unless a lot of their friends have a 360, or unless live - playing against others, becomes free. Then it becomes an even playing field again.

[QueenB]

I've had a few complaints about XBL. I've wondered why I pay when I have had horrible service but, overall, I have no problem with the cost of XBL or the service we get for the cost. I'd rather pay than risk the quality of XBL being reduced to be honest.

[1UPGamer]

Well heres what Microsoft said recently:

A Microsoft spokesman explained to MCV: “For only a few pounds a month Xbox Live Gold members already get access to the best online gaming network in the industry, the ability to play and watch countless demos and trailers before the rest of the gaming community, and video chat and messaging.

“With the new Xbox experience coming this Fall, we plan to give even more reasons why Xbox Live Gold is the best bargain in the industry."

[Cegaiga]

I have been a playstation gamer all my life. I recently went to my cousins in China for a month. He had a xbox 360.

Now I played live, and I was thinking, why on earth would I pay to go online? I mean, you dont just pay the live fee, you also pay the internet connection fee also.

Xbox live is more popular, but i prefer playing online for free. I mean most games on the pc comes with no extra cost, so what makes the xbox 360 so different? I find xbox more laggy than ps somehow :P

[fanpages]

Originally Posted by Cegaiga

I have been a playstation gamer all my life. I recently went to my cousins in China for a month. He had a xbox 360.

Now I played live, and I was thinking, why on earth would I pay to go online? I mean, you dont just pay the live fee, you also pay the internet connection fee also.

Xbox live is more popular, but i prefer playing online for free. I mean most games on the pc comes with no extra cost, so what makes the xbox 360 so different? I find xbox more laggy than ps somehow :P

Don't forget the internet infrastructure in China will be different to your own region, so it is unfair to compare the Xbox 360 online experience unless you have both the Sony & the Microsoft consoles side-by-side.

That said, you raise a good point...

Why doesn't Microsoft offer a bundle deal for monthly internet connection & Xbox Live?

Probably because they then wouldn't be able to suggest that any online issues were due to your Internet Service Provider & it was not their fault!

This whole "why do I need to pay for Xbox Live" debate does seem to be a popular topic this week!

BFN,

fp.

[1UPGamer]

Indeed its a very popular topic and quite rightly so. I have to agree with cegeiga though that if you're a PC gamer going onto XBox Live seems less fascinating. I mean the PC market is leaps and bounds ahead of the console market when it comes to online experiences and definitely I agree its more laggy.

I always find Live games to be much more laggy than play a similar game on my PC. I don't really want to draw any overall conclusions but thats been my experience too.

I can't wait to try the PSN when I hopefully get the PS3 in 2009.

[MonkeyBrains]

Well, whatever your opinion on it is, it seems we'll still be paying for it.
I can't find the link/info right now, but I read earlier that Microsoft have stated that they have no intentions of changing the price for Live. But are making more PC games free to play online............

[QueenB]

Microsoft may be scrapping charges for Games for Windows Live, but the company will not be making its Xbox Live Gold services free.

This was confirmed to MCV UK by a Microsoft spokesperson. An Xbox Live Gold membership currently cost GBP 39.99 (around US$ 80) a year in the UK. The twelve-month Premium Gold Pack in the U.S. goes for around US$ 60.

Microsoft announced at XNA Gamefest 08 last week that it will be scrapping the charges for Games for Windows Live in order to "improve Windows gaming". The announcement fueled some speculation that the same thing will happen to its Xbox Live counterpart.

The same spokesperson stressed that Microsoft plans to "give even more reasons why Xbox Live Gold is the best bargain in the industry" starting with the upcoming Xbox Live Experience dashboard update

Doesn't seem fair for PC gamers to game online for free (especially considering the amount of piracy in PC gaming and how much money companies are losing) when 360 gamers are paying for the service but, we will be paying so I'm not complaining.

[MonkeyBrains]

Thanks for finding that QueenB.

And I agree completely with what you said. Considering the amount of piracy in PC gaming [compared to 360], it would make more sense for PC gaming to have a fee and perhaps not for 360 live.

I'm sure most PC gamers, will also use their PCs for other things as well, and that being able to game on it is an advantage.
Where as 360 gamers, will be specifically buying a 360 to game on it (where as more people will already have a pc to game on). Which is another reason why I think it should be free for live and perhaps not PC. I mean, take WoW for example.

Ah well, I'm sure I've waffled enough Still have to pay either way.

[Silph]

I have both a PS3 and an xbox 360 and i would have to say that the xbox 360 online service is a lot better then that of the PS3.

I pay every month i think it's $11? Not much for how much fun you get out of it.