http://www.destructoid.com/how-microsoft-ruined-fun-for-everybody-141220.phtml

http://www.destructoid.com/how-microsoft-ruined-fun-for-everybody-141220.phtml#comment

This has got to be one of the best articles I've read lately regarding the direction that gaming is heading.  And the comments were pretty good too.

I remember when MS & Sony tested some game with extra content to see if people would be willing to pay $60+.  And laughed when it sold like wildfire.  Here we are years later in a new console era and every game release is now $60 for those consoles.  One reason for me to not be an Xbox 360 owner has been the idea of paying for online play and all the other extras that are sold.  I buy a game and that's what I want.  Online play is a selling point to sell the game.  If COD:WAW was online and The Conduit was LAN only, then I would have passed on Conduit and bought COD:WAW.  It's a selling point.  This Pay to Play is silly when you've already PAID for the game.  I could go on thought but don't want to waste time with it.  The article says plenty and I think it's a good read.  I agree with it and will add only one note to it...  As much as it faults Microsoft it neglects the fact that Sony is doing their gamers the same almost because they are trying to keep up Microsoft.  I'm glad to see their online gaming is free (for now anyway).  The Wii has lousy online features compared with Live, but as simple as it is... it works damn well with what it's for.  Please don't bash each other in here.  Just some honest opinions is all I'm interested in.

Dont bash something until you have experienced it..

There is a huge difference between the wii and a 360, and you have no idea what you are missing out on.. same with a load of wii only gamers.

Trust me what you are paying for on XBL is really worth paying for..

Comparing the Wii online to the 360 online is like comparing Water to champaign, you get what you pay for. I would rather pay for Wii online to get to the standard of XBL. Wheras PSN theres not as big a difference but there still is a difference.

I bash you!!!!! lol, jk.

eh, I honestly don't mind paying for additional features. Not a big deal for me. Especially xbox live. I would gladly pay for it. The psn is ok, I play on it quite a bit too, but live is much better. The wii online is a joke. It isn't even a selling feature for me on my wii, because the whole friend code for each game thing is just plain retarded.

If loving my 360 is wrong, I don't want to be right... (haha).

I agree whole heartedly with the article. 360 - great console, shame about the horrifically bad company behind it.

I know the differences between the two as far as online offerings.  My friend keeps trying to get me to get a 360 and a live subscription but I just can't get myself to feel comfortable paying for something that I think should be free when you buy into the whole deal.  Some of you got the idea I was trying to put out there but another way of looking at it is what do you think about paying considering you pay $60 for a game and probably $500+ for the console and experience.  Do any of you think that the online and extras should be free after all you've spent already.

And as far a friend codes and Wii, I don't see how that really interferes considering that I don't have any codes entered for MOH:Heroes 2 or the Conduit and I can just play online with anyone anyway.  I've never fully understood what was wrong with a friend code system?  To me it's like getting the user name of your friend to meet up on another console.

Does the person that wrote that article get paid to write or was it just a random blog? Because that was the most rediculous waste of space I have have ever had the displeasure of reading half of. It's like someone just went online and distilled every fanboy anti-MS flame into one long rant and called it an "article". I know I'm new and don't have any right to ask this, but please lock this thread.

It's Destructoid. If you take them seriously, there's something wrong with you. For example: http://www.destructoid.com/how-prototype-is-blatantly-better-than-infamous-135979.phtml

just another Microsoft hater....