Why Steam is Awesome, and How You Can Make Live Free

[Alby_da_Wolf]

Mr Puggsly said:

Alby_da_Wolf said:

Despite what MS would wish, people perceive the difference from paying for things that are usually free.

Perhaps, but that doesn't stop people from paying apparently. Look at CoD Black Ops for example. People could go play it free on the PS3 and PC. Yet more people choose to pay Live fees to play online on the 360.

Paying for use, if the fee is modest, helps acceptance amongst people not playing too often, while a flat rate may be better for heavy gamers.

It all depends on the price difference of by the hour vs unlimited. I doubt the masses spend many hours playing online, so paying a small fee by the hour could be ideal for many.

 

Flexibility is of the essence, and it's a well known quality of Chinese businesspeople. MS OTOH has this old flaw of its of trying to force its business model on people by its sheer power.

This is just bullshit. You should have just left this out.

Not. MS tried more than once to switch from license to yearly subscription also for Windows and Office, most companies refused, as they often preferred to use their internal IT department or third parties for the additional services that MS offered (and more and better taylored ones too) and as they didn't find appealing to be able to always upgrade to the latest MS SW, that was the main selling point of subscription. Transforming its current rich business model in an even richer one based on fees generating a constant stream of money also from existing customers is the old MS dream. The fact that they include in the pay version of Live subscription even the minimum vital service of basic online multiplayer that is free everywhere else, is a clear demonstration that MS wants to force this model on users whenever it can. Unless you show me that 360 gamers just wanting basic online multiplayer and nothing else can get it for free like every other gamer.