All I have left to say is this: I have high speed internet. I have a PS3, a (pretty weak) PC, a Wii and an Xbox 360. The 360 is the only Microsoft console I've ever owned so I'm not a fanboy (at least I don't think I am). There has to be a reason I do all of my online gaming on the 360 and there has to be a reason why I pay $50 to do it.

They get to pretend that its the best online service because it costs more than the rest, therefore it must be better. Anyway, the consoles could never compete with PC for online gaming because the PC has so many different programs to use while consoles are limited to whatever system their company makes for them.

Can we get a mod to change the title to, "Why are XBLG subscribers paying only $50 a year?"

Because you couldn't do any online gaming on your 360 without paying to do it?

Yes but there's no other way to play these MMO...

Psh, who pays $50 a year for Gold?

The way I see it the 360 is more expensive then the PS3 as the 50 dollar fee isn't made up for by extra features of quality. Maybe it is a little better but definatly not the 50 dollar difference.

But Microsoft is atleast being honest to themselves, they knew console sales and software weren't going to be enough to make things profitable. You can argue that they are here for the long run and therefor shouldn't care about a negative return on investment right now but offering a free service only to take it away when the xbox gains popularity isn't smart either.

Maybe Sony was so arrogant that they actually thought they would gain 80% marketshare and become profitable on console and software sales alone. Or they simply thought to demolish Microsoft by offering free online and once Microsoft left the market switch to a pay to play model. Whatever it was, it didn't work and I'm convinced the PS4 will have a fee for online.

Steam I am not too familiar with, I guess that software publishers have to pay a percentage on every game sold to Steam to keep the servers running. Is it better then XBL? Probably but not everyone can afford it. Keep in mind that most people only get 4 or 5 games per console so having to buy a new / upgrade their PC to buy one game each year isn't an option.

Oh lord not again.

Steam fucking blows, XBL > Steam!!

I used to play lots of Steam games with VAC, and VAC didnt do shit to ban the players who hacked the game. It just gives you that false warning at the Begining.

As for Psn and XBL, Im paying for a Superior dashboard,online and just about everything else, online wise.

MMO subscriptions are another story.  Matchmaking servers don't host the games.  MMO servers host games with up to thousands of players on at any particular moment.  MMO developers also have to continually add content to the game to keep people interested, where as the games for XBL and PSN are sold by other publishers (or first party, but either way you are paying for content separately that then connects to that service).  Now, some MMOs have chosen other routes to try to pay for these servers, selling in game items, etc., but either way, their operating costs, per player, are higher than XBL or PSN.  Now, if you are super successful, like WoW is now, how Everquest was, and how Lineage is in Korea, you can rake in big cash.  If your subscribitions take a heavy hit or never take off at all, you can be in dire straits real fast.

I give that post a 9.5.