Well in their defense, a silver account isn't a "paid subscription", which is what they highlight in the "Majority" comment.

I would have to find the entire article.

oh well, and this is important because.......??

How can you guys say you don't believe, so there are 20 mill accounts, there are a lot of people with accounts for other areas so you can buy the dlc for a game you have from that area. over 20 mill accounts sounds about right to me.

So is XBL silver. And you need that to download demos, use IM features, rent movies, etc.

Microsoft does not count Windows Live ID's as Xbox members.  If it did, there would be over 200+ million "Xbox" users, and that's the safe/low estimate.

I'm sure someone has already said this, but here is the just of these numbers:

The Sony 20 million figure is PS3 users + PSP users + Playstation.com users.
- This includes all duplicates
- This includes all inactive accounts

The Microsoft 17 million figure is just 360 users.
- Of those, this includes both Silver and Gold users.
- This does NOT include Windows Live accounts.
- This ONLY includes accounts that have had activity in the last 30 days.

So, basically Sony could have a lot of inactive users in that figure, as well as duplicates, and spanning to the hand held and Playstation.com for increased numbers.

Now I hate all this back and forth numbers spin, but all I am going to say is Sony's comments this time sound desperate.  If Microsoft released a cummulative amount, including all inactive accounts and duplicates, I have a feeling that 20 million figure wouldn't look so impressive.

I have five accounts on my PS3. 3 are used daily. So 20 million sounds about right to me.

Haha. So Microsoft basically just called Sony a bunch of liars.

What will be the next scene in this melodramatic soap opera?

Tune in next week to Sony and MS PR.

My Games for Windows Live account lists my membership level as: "XBox Live Silver Membership".  I do not own an 360.

These numbers are pointless anyway.  We know how many consoles each sold, why does the number of online IDs matter at all?

Console warz. Duh.

Corporate bragging rights? The power of saying my network is oh so much more popular than yours? Stupidity?

Your choice is as good as any.