Thats probably why the COD numbers have grown on the PS3. People have become aware of what they are getting on the PS3 and the availability of COD is still there free from online charges. The veil is dwindling but I dont think it is in the US.

Well of course it wouldn't be scientific, but it would be interesting. Although I could still argue that, regardless of whether it would be the result of different cultures or regions, given enough participants, it could still be seen as a reasonable indicator of an average.  And please, don't give me dictionary definition or use words like 'capiche' as if in some what that makes you superior. It makes you pedantic and damned rude.

I live in the US and most people I know who are 360 fans don't care about ANYTHING Sony offers. I try to explain that they are missing out on some great experiences with exclusives and that PSN+ is actually a really great service but they literally just don't care. A lot of them are my friends too and we end up getting into arguements all the time. They still use tired and old arguements of "Playstation has no games" or "360 has better online". I show them all the exclusives and they just scoff. I know for a fact they are pretending they don't care since i've shown a few of them trailers/gameplay from certain exclusives and they get super excited. Then I tell them it's a PS3 exclusive and they go straight to hating it. It's kind of ridiculous and actually upsets me since a fair amount of these people are my friends.

I have no idea why their hatred for Sony outweighs their love of videogames. I still feel like  most of the people who prefer the 360 only do so because it's popular atm. The media loves Microsoft and loves to hate Sony, especially at the beginning of the gen. People here still associate Sony with all that negativity from its launch. Which astounds me because if you were a REAL gamer you would realize that things are way different now compared to back then.

I really feel like Microsoft could only make barbie and sesame street games from now on, but as long as the media and microsofts marketing makes people believe they are the best, people would still say 360 > PS3. It's a shame and I wish a lot of those superficial "gamers" would simply leave.

No, I disagree that it could be a reasonable indicator of an average.  It would be like just polling republicans on whether or not we should raise taxes... 

Also, I gave you a dictionary defintion because you didn't seem to understand what anecdotal meant and capiche is a commonly used slang term that if anything makes me seem stupider, not smarter.  I apologize though if you thought I was being rude as no rudeness was meant.  

Honestly, at this point, I see little use in comparisons between Live on the 360 and PSN on the PS3. People have made up their minds one way or another (even if it requires a bit of self-delusion).

The more important question is, if PSN on the PS4 has cross-game chat and top level networking from the start, and it launches within a few months of the 720, would people still pay for Live as it is now? If so, then why? Brand loyalty? Halo and Gears?

I can only speak for myself, but all else being equal, there is no way I'd pay for Live. Perhaps if I lived for multi-player, but I don't. That they'd put Netflix and Amazon Video behind a pay gate honestly pisses me off. For me, in my personal, single-player-centric situation, PS+ trumps Live by about 7.452 miles.

What I really don't understand is why the people who are Xbox fans aren't turning to Microsoft and demanding better. That's what confuses me. They should be saying, "hey, we want more value, too". Let yourself be gouged if the service is that important to you, by all means, but you don't have to smile about it. This is the perfect chance to coerce more from Microsoft. Being good consumers isn't about taking what you're given and liking it, it's about being honest--and honestly, right now, you should be telling Microsoft that you expect more from Live next generation.

Well that's fair enough. It was just a suggestion for fun and wasn't in any way considered in all seriousness. I still think it ould be interesting though. We'll just have to agree to disagree

Playstation Plus is hands down the best thing about the Playstation eco system besides its big 1st party exclusives.

If MS doesnt substantially increase the amount of services Xbox Live Gold offers next gen I could see PS+ being a big weapon in Sonys arsenal

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I don't pay any tax on PSN purchases. The card costs me $20 in the store and my purchases on PSN aren't taxed either. This is a whopping 13% savings in Ontario. 

Ive downloaded Bioshock 2, Shank2, Outland, NBA Jam, Darksiders, Super Street Fighter IV, KOFXIII, InFamous 2, Scott Pilgrim vs the World, God of War: Ghost of Sparta within the span of two months for $20. I only paid $17.99 for my Plus Subscription, so if Sony asks me for more money they are getting it. Now this is a service worth supporting (not to mention they are adding three months to Plus for a limited time).

PS

The other non Plus sales Sony is having right now are crazy. I almost forgot how much money they are taking off of the old Assassins Creed games and other titles.

Yeah i completly agree with you that LIVE is an overall better service in terms of features, I think the "free" games and heavy discounts Plus offers are a pretty big deal.  

Hands down at the end of the day if I had to pay for one of them it would be LIVE, becaus3 as you said it just feels more complete and has a better s3nse of community.  But PSN is starting to catch up.  Next gen MS really needs to blow open even more features to distance itself from Sony as Xbox Live has been a pretty big selling point this generation.