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Forums - Microsoft - Xbox UK chief doesn't believe Sony's 20m PSN figure

nightsurge on 09 March 2009
WiiStation360 said:
nightsurge said:
WiiStation360 said:
I don't trust either number.

Both Live and PSN numbers are padded with people who have multiple or unused accounts. Sony counts PSN forum ids and MS counts Windows Live ids as XBox members.

The Microsoft 17 million figure is just 360 users.
..
- This does NOT include Windows Live accounts.
..

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?

 

 

You said Windows Live, not Games for Windows Live.  I assumed you meant Windows Live accounts which includes Hotmail users.

Games for Windows Live really doesn't even exist   It's basically just an extension of Xbox Live onto a very small few PC/360 multiplatform titles and Halo 2 PC, but I am sure they do count those Games for Windows Live accounts now that I see what you meant by Windows Live.



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perpride on 09 March 2009
badgenome said:
Euphoria14 said:
badgenome said:
perpride said:
PSN is free...why is it so hard to believe it would surpass live members?

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

 

Can't you make a PSN account on a PSP? That is like another 45M potential accounts there right?

Yes. Plus there's a lot of dupe accounts thanks to stupid things like the North American Killzone 2 demo debacle and this situation where OutRun Online Arcade is to be released only on the European PSN. Plus forum members are counted, and this undoubtedly includes thousands of people who just went to troll Killzone 2. So I think PSN numbers don't really mean the same thing as Xbox Live numbers at all.

No, they do not...and its interesting to see that you understand this but the idiots at MS don't seem to. This report should not be taken as the number PSN users as compared to Live users... I have 4 PSN accounts! The number of PSN accounts was bound to become larger than Live accounts for two reasons:

1 - PSN is free.

2 - PSN is accessible from the Internet and PSP.



outlawauron on 09 March 2009
NJ5 said:
Reasonable said:
Does only PSN have duplicate accounts? Can this happen on Live - i.e. one console with multiple accounts registered?

Silver accounts yeah, but I doubt many people would have several Gold accounts (since they're not free).

But you get a free account of XBL with the creation of a new account. Great for cheapos!



"We'll toss the dice however they fall,
And snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
Then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
To dance with Jak o' the Shadows."

Check out MyAnimeList and my Game Collection. Owner of the 5 millionth post.

Ryusuken on 09 March 2009
CGI-Quality said:
@ Ryu

In other words, it's pretty pointless.

 

Yup, but this is a forum, on the internet, where arguments can be either serious or jokes. The worst is that, as it seens, the PR machines that work to some corporations think it is serious business to look like a bunch of 5 year olds arguing about who has the better network service....



Lafiel on 09 March 2009

*yawn* so the news drought let's the network subscriptions discussion ressurect with all the claims, hypotheses, conspiracy theories and accusations we heard before .. wow it must be really bad

thank god GDC is comming later this month and we finally will be able to go back to discuss games

@ topic )

If that means PSN has at least 10 million "real" accounts, then I'm happy for them and think that's a really good achivement.

I think that Xbox UK guy is pretty ignorant in (not literally) saying "I don't believe the 20million number", because Sony very likely counted 20mil accounts for real, but they never claimed these were "individual" or "active" or whatever.

"Microsoft has proven we are probably the only company in the world that can offer great online experiences for millions and millions and millions of people" - pretty boastful line in my opinion



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Soul_tech10 on 09 March 2009

That is the jealousy of a company that can't stand the word "defeat". PSN accounts span PC, PS3 and PSP, not just PS3, and duplicate and inactive accounts are still registered accounts and are valid accounts. Me for example My PS3 recently broke so obviously I can't use PSN does that mena it doesn't count.

M$... GET A LIFE AND PLAY FAIRLY LIKE THE REST OF THE WORLD DOES!



 


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LTD SALES OF CONSOLE BY DEC 31ST 2009:

DS: 120,000,000; Wii: 60,000,000; Xbox 360: 38,000,000; PlayStation 3: 34,000,000; PlayStation Portable: 60,000,000

PLAYSTATION®3 is the future.....NOW.......B_E_L_I_E_V_E

colonelstubbs on 09 March 2009

Next Sony will say they dont believe MS, and so on...



I hope my 360 doesn't RRoD
         "Suck my balls!" - Tag courtesy of Fkusmot

drpunk on 09 March 2009
Euphoria14 said:
drpunk said:
Euphoria14 said:
I checked a thread on this site with the article and they said

"With more than 17 million active members, a majority of whom are paying members, Live is a rich social entertainment and gaming experience that is unmatched in the industry."

It sounds to me like they mean subscriptions, since I don't think you need any Credit Card information in order to get the free trials. So maybe Microsoft's numbers are actually much better and trust worthy.

I don't think it makes it any clearer because even silver members can be paying members if they are buying DLC or buying films.

 

 

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.

What I'm trying to say is that ""With more than 17 million active members, a majority of whom are paying members" could mean "8.6 million members have bought something on Live" and Silver accounts can spend on Live.

I'm not saying that is what they mean, just that it doesn't clarify the situation in relation to Live any more than Sony's comments about PSN.



C8 on 09 March 2009
Reasonable said:
Does only PSN have duplicate accounts? Can this happen on Live - i.e. one console with multiple accounts registered?

 

Sure, I have an account on my Xbox and so do each of my kids - that's 3 accounts.  But those 3 accounts represent three actual gamers who use Xbox Live.  I've created a few extra profiles for vistors - but those are offline.  The fact that online accounts need to be connected 1:1 with Live IDs strongly discourages you from creating extra online accounts - it's too much of a hassle.

On the PS3 side there's the known fact that many US gamers created EU accounts to get the KillZone demo - and that's just one example.  On Xbox this sort of strategy for accessing content intended for other regions does not work because they validate more than just the account locale - they also confirm where you are really connecting from.



outlawauron on 09 March 2009
KylieDog said:
NightAntilli said:

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....

There are good reasons why more PS3s would go online.  The PS3 is an expensive console for one, the type of people buying it are probably more likely to have internet access, and since the PSN service is free also are very likely to create an account.

 

The 360 however is a lot cheaper, so more less wealthy people are likely to be buying it.  Given the arcade SKU makes up a majority of 360 sales this supports the less wealthy claim (as opposed to liking the 360 more as an example).  I would bet that less 360 owners have internet access than PS3 owners, which reduces the number of possible accounts, they are less likely to want to pay to play online if they go for cheap options, reducing the number of accounts more, then there is the fact that to make use of a lot of XBL options the arcade SKU isn't really good enough due to lack of memory that the pro/elite SKUs have, even further reducing numbers.

 

 

-------------

 

On topic, both PS3 and 360 accounts numbers are crap anyway.  The PSN combines PS3 and PSP numbers and many people have multiple acconts for different regions of PSN store.  XBL has a bunch of accounts created with free 3 day new account trials and such that people have various uses for and windows accounts are included in the number, who knows if silver accounts are counted or not.

We know silver accounts are counted and whatever active Xbox Live (the original xbox) accounts are left still playing Halo 2.



"We'll toss the dice however they fall,
And snuggle the girls be they short or tall,
Then follow young Mat whenever he calls,
To dance with Jak o' the Shadows."

Check out MyAnimeList and my Game Collection. Owner of the 5 millionth post.