i have. i may not post but i lurk and read. you are incorrect. extortion is illegal. you can try and shoe horn it in as much as you like but its not extortion. You may not like the pricing and may disagree with it, but that does not make it extorion. again, i say if it was extorion, it would be illegal and MS would have been sued by now, or in trouble with the government. seeing as they are not, no government thinks its extortion and i would choose to side with them over your thoughts of what you think extorion is.

Even after my suggestion that the definition was addressed previously...unreal. Well, since you're incapable of reading a few pages back, here it is:

Definition of EXTORTION

See extortion defined for English-language learners »

Examples of EXTORTION

dsgrue3 said: thranx said: dsgrue3 said: thranx said: dsgrue3 said: Both of you are completely incapable of realizing the situation. You are basically being charged for subscription-based multiplayer, only that subscription should be going to the game developers as they are the ones who create the multiplayer aspect of the game and support it. Not Microsoft, yet MS is reaping the rewards. Why do you think COD attempted to institute that subscription pro nonsense? I understand you feel as though the package is worth it, that isn't an issue. The issue is the lockout of content that has nothing to do with MS by MS. What if you had to start paying your Computer maker for online gaming? What if you had to pay your Television maker to use the internet on internet capable TVs? How you can say this model isn't extortion is really beyond belief. Maybe I am just poorly explaining it, but you should be able to see what I am attempting to convey to you. This isn't an attack on Xbox360 owners who pay for Live, it's an attack on Microsoft for extortion. its not extorition becuase there is a clear choice. the facts are known before the system is bought, not after. Its really that simple. Extortion happens when people have no choice, like in a disaster someone racking up the price of needed goods. a $15 bag of bread is only extorion when it happens after a disaster, after choices have been taken away through a natural disaster. with xbox live they have a choice to not buy the system and instead get one that has free online. there is no way you can twist xbox live into being extortion. if it was they would be breaking the law as extrotion is illegal. so the governments of the world do not agree with you either. It's exceedingly tedious to have to address the definition of extortion every other post. Can you guys read the last few pages of a thread before posting something that has already been resolved? Thanks, it would really be beneficial moving forward.   i have. i may not post but i lurk and read. you are incorrect. extortion is illegal. you can try and shoe horn it in as much as you like but its not extortion. You may not like the pricing and may disagree with it, but that does not make it extorion. again, i say if it was extorion, it would be illegal and MS would have been sued by now, or in trouble with the government. seeing as they are not, no government thinks its extortion and i would choose to side with them over your thoughts of what you think extorion is. Even after my suggestion that the definition was addressed previously...unreal. Well, since you're incapable of reading a few pages back, here it is: ex·tor·tion noun ik-ˈstȯr-shən   Definition of EXTORTION 1 : the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property; especially : the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice 2 : something extorted; especially : a gross overcharge — ex·tor·tion·er noun — ex·tor·tion·ist noun See extortion defined for English-language learners » See extortion defined for kids » Examples of EXTORTION He was arrested and charged with extortion. extortion>

do you read your own definitions? see how they use a crime as an example

He was arrested and charged with extortion.

from your link

Definition of EXTORT

ex·tor·tion /ɪkˈstoɚʃən/ noun

[noncount] : the crime of getting money from someone by the use of force or threats
▪ He was arrested and charged with extortion. ▪ committing/practicing extortion

Notice also listed as a crime

From your link again, this time for non english speakers learning english

One entry found for extortion.

Main Entry: ex·tor·tion
Pronunciation: ik-str-shn
Function: noun
: the practice or crime of extorting (as money)

Is it really that hard for you to understand? We "should be able to see" what's you're conveying to us? Maybe you're just wrong? You do understand the concept of opinion, yes? Because that's all you're conveying here, is an opinion. Same as we are. And like any opinion, one can agree or disagree.

Get a clue. There are two definitions listed there. One pertains to legal rammifications and one does not. Ignoring half the definitions listed is willfull obtuseness to facts. Please leave the thread if you're going to do this. It has been addressed and agreed upon by others in this thread already. You're late to the party, slick. So either address my statements preceeding this ridiculous discussion about extortion, or leave. Choice is yours.

I do understand. You believe Live is a superior service to PSN, but you aren't addressing the MS model of restricting half your game's content. Live does not create online multiplayer for your games, nor is it doing anything special to limit latency. This is all decided upon by the game devs.

Do you think that one TV maker charging a monthly/yearly fee to use its online aspect is fair? Do you think one PC maker charging to play your games online is fair? This is exactly as MS is doing. If you do think it is fair, I can't understand, but I will stop this discussion and we can agree to disagree.

before you dismiss my post please read it and your links. the second defintion petains to extorted and i put the definition there for you. in any case all cases of extortion would involve the extortee to not have a choice, and clearly they do. they can choose an xbox 360, ps3, wii, or now wiiU. that is why there is no extortion. Sorry I can't leave the thread becuase you dislike what i have to say. you can choose to read your own facts that you post as that is where i got all of those definitions from.

Your the one who brought up extortion and claims it has to be extortion. not me. do not be mad that i call you on it. if you dont wish to discuss simply dont post it, its your choice.

When I go into a game store to pick up a game I can buy it on PS3, 360, or the Wii (or PC in some small cases, rarely play games there). I have those options available to me. If it is a game heavy on MP I will always go 360 simply because I know the online experience will be better because of Xbox Live. There is no extortion there. MS provides a service and I gladly pay for it. Now, if the difference between the two were negligible to me, or the MP portion does not interest me or is non-existent, I might go PS3. There is choice there, no extortion.

If I didn't believe Live was worth paying for, then maybe I'd look at a copy of Left 4 Dead 2 on the shelf and think extortion. But that isn't my opinion. It's yours, but it's not a fact.

If that TV maker or PC maker designed an exclusive service around the online portion that blew away what the competition was offering, then where is the issue? As a consumer you either agree it's a premium service and pay it, or disagree and shop elsewhere. Again, you made this exact decison.

Choice does not refute extortion. One of the examples involving extortion is "6 dollars for coffee is extortion!" There is a choice in this example of extortion.

The XBL service has nothing to do with the actual networking of games. Again, that's the developer. And in respect to network, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any definitive evidence that XBL has less lag/disconnects what have you.

So you would have no issues paying Sony/LG/Toshiba a monthly/yearly fee to access the internet on their TVs if they had a subjectively enhanced version? I just want to be clear on this.

And if Steam were to be purchased by Dell and a subscription was then instituted in order for you to use it, you would be okay with that even though there's no objective benefit?

So you're saying the aesthetic makes it better. The XMB is probably going to die out next gen but it was more orderly than Xbox Live now. Orderly as in it keeps things in their own quadrant and orderly in the same vein of Facebook vs Myspace. The XMB is quicker to sort through like the blades were on Xbox Live before because they kept tabs on everything. The new Xbox Live is pure aesthetic. Have you seen the new PSN Store? It looks good but just like Xbox Live its all flash and commercialism.