PSN is free...why is it so hard to believe it would surpass live members?

Because it might have a value then (like a facebook for example) and could attract investors and partners.

Any PR/Marketing announcement should always be taken with a grain of salt, I agree with you there.

IN this case though, MS has stated these are active user accounts (the methods of thier identifying what is "active" is still ambiguous) where as Sony seems content in just giving a number (with no real explanation of what that number entails).

I doubt there are only 17 million Live IDs... It's very realistic though to have 17 million ACTIVE xbox Live users, which means, they either have gold and play online, or they either use netflix, or other stuff like that. Sony's numbers are far from realistic though if you base it on PS3 only (not PSP), since they just reached 20 million sold consoles. That would mean, that every single one of them should be active online, and i doubt that's the case....

I agree with him. Microsoft only counts active users.

wow he is so jealous

17 million XBL members they say, but they never mention how many are gold subscribers, so there can be plenty of dupe accounts for XBL. As mentioned before PSN is free and it's not just possible but probable that the online gaming userbase is gaining ground on the Gold subscribers absolutely.

I believe they did : 50% are gold subscribers.

... but don't shoot me because I can't find the link back... I'm looking for it...

PR Wars! Its ON!!!

It would be hard to believe if he said that he completely believed in Sony numbers...so Mr. McGill, I dont believe your Live! numbers either! HA! Beat that!

(waiting for the next round...where some Sony PR guys comes and try interweb debating...)

It isn't. However, the implication behind Sony's claims is hard to swallow when creations of new PSN accounts are outpacing PS3 sales.