I completely agree, right now we pay too much for XBL.

The main public of the 360 is considered as being "hardcore" and I really don't appraciate the fact that our "Avatars" look like Wii-Style at all. I mean, if we look at the best sellers (Halo 3, CoD: MW, CoD:WAW, GoW, etc) it doesn't make sense. Why do they spend our $$$ on these Wii-Style Avatars, do my 360 looks like Wii? Did they think they would attract Wii users with Wii-like Avatars? Seriously, I think it is ridiculous and rpoves me they have absolutely no clue of how they should use the budget. Where are the cool games with Avatars? Why isn't there new cool and free Clothes for my Avatar? If I don't get my badass Avatar... how do you justify the price I pay for XBL?

Why isn't my Gamerscore rewarding me in any ways? How do you justify the price I pay for XBL?

Game Developers such as Epic Games were giving DLC for free in the past, but now everything comes with a price, but how do you justify the price I pay for XBL?

Game Developers such as Bungie (in association with Microsoft for Halo) are limiting the amont of Gametypes among my multiplayer Playlist, because I didn't download most of the DLC (not free). Why isn't it like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - if you don't have the map, the system will only match you in other maps, so how do you justify the price I pay for XBL?

Since the beginning of XBL, it took the 360 to finally get Party Chat. I really think it's dumb and took way too much time. Where is the so cool "clan feature" offering us a secondary Friend List and a lot of fun with our friends? How do you justify the price I pay for XBL?

NOTE: The first post complained about P2P, however... I do have a nice Ping around North America and I will tell you something: I usually do not play with Europeans or far away guys, because we would get a very bad ping. Usually, the Matchmaking matches us... and also try to get us the best internet connexions (not always true, but usually it's fine). P2P works totally fine with my Internet Connexion, but when I play on (by example) Valve Servers... it's the opposite, just like if I was playing with an average internet speed. I do pay a lot for my Internet Connexion, because it is a priority for me to spend my money on that to get a better gaming experience. If your connexion sucks and you do complain about lag issues, then the only person you can blame is yourself, because you also make worst the experience of others. P2P rules...

Microsoft is simply using our money (XBL) to build their next Online Market - pay XBL to pay more.

 

 

Well, I have already stated my opinions on why MS charges for their services in several other threads. Much the same as Quake Live for pc is having to offer a premium service to offset the costs of their servers. As ad revenue is not covering them. Now imagine services like XBox Live that cost a hell of a lot more to upkeep than Quake Live.

Now look at PSN. They are paying for those costs from somewhere else. Developers, etc.

Just different business models.

Adjudicator said: My point has always been that if you feel the extra features and content is worth it then more power to you, but I have yet to be convinced as to why online MP can't be included in the silver membership. This is the real main point to me when compared with Wii and PS3. If all the other features are what make it better then that is what you should pay for.

truth right here.

all these bells and whistles are what people trot out to justify it.

all i do is play online.  and thats free everywhere.  if i want the rest, let me pay for that.

PSN is better for me simply because... IT'S FREE :D

richardhutnik said: Justin said: Only suckers pay $50 a year for Live. Greater suckers than those who pay for content on Home for the PS3? Reality of the 360 is, due to Live, I get a LOT more downloadable demos.

I think what he meant was if you actually pay the full $50 a year for live your a sucker cause you can get it for much cheaper.

The complete and irrevocable reality of the situation is this:

You can bitch and moan all your little hearts desire. But the only thing that speaks about this sort of thing is money. If you don't want the service and don't feel it is worth it, don't pay. If enough people don't pay, and go to the other side, then MS will change things. But that doesn't look to be changing anytime soon as Live is doing extremely well and growing at a very nice pace.

, Words Of Wisdom said: Feylic said: Win. Online should be free, you already pay your ISP. This is like saying that McDonalds should serve free food because you're already paying for gas to drive there.

No, no it is actually nothing like saying that. Let me add something for you to make it more clear. You already pay for your ISP, AND your game. The current setup of live is like paying for gas to drive to McDonalds (paying for ISP), buying a burger (buying a game), and then the manager of mcdonalds telling you you have to pay 50$ a month to actually eat the burger.

Feylic said: , Words Of Wisdom said: Feylic said: Win. Online should be free, you already pay your ISP. This is like saying that McDonalds should serve free food because you're already paying for gas to drive there. No, no it is actually nothing like saying that. Let me add something for you to make it more clear. You already pay for your ISP, AND your game. The current setup of live is like paying for gas to drive to McDonalds (paying for ISP), buying a burger (buying a game), and then the manager of mcdonalds telling you you have to pay 50$ a month to actually eat the burger.

I think the best analogy would be to pay to drive to McDonald's, buy your food, and then have to pay extra to sit down in the restaurant. Certainly sitting down in a restaurant is nice, but it seems odd to pay for it. At the same time, sitting down in a restaurant does cost the restaurant money (cleaning, the extra room, napkins, etc.)
Now the question is this: Would it be stupid to pay to sit down in a restaurant? Maybe. It depends on how much they charge. I surely like sitting down in restaurants, and this particular Mcdonald's is more comfy than the Taco Bell next door. For me, I don't really like Taco Bell and the extra charge for sitting down seems reasonable.

 

Feylic said: , Words Of Wisdom said: Feylic said: Win. Online should be free, you already pay your ISP. This is like saying that McDonalds should serve free food because you're already paying for gas to drive there. No, no it is actually nothing like saying that. Let me add something for you to make it more clear. You already pay for your ISP, AND your game. The current setup of live is like paying for gas to drive to McDonalds (paying for ISP), buying a burger (buying a game), and then the manager of mcdonalds telling you you have to pay 50$ a month to actually eat the burger.

Funny, I never noticed Halo 3 charging anyone I know "50$ a month" to play singleplayer.

@WoW

thats why my analogy was the tightest

you can eat the food alone, but to eat inside with 3 friends you pay.