2OLD2PLAY
Search

Xbox live...a rip off?

C
ConvenientTruth

 I keep thinking about Xbox live Gold and I wonder…”what am I paying for”

Playstation Network offers pretty much the same services, but they are free so what am I paying for (You could say I’m paying for security with the recent failure of PSN, but countless individual live accounts have been hacked)

It seems like I’m paying for a lot of things that Microsoft doesn’t provide.

Netflix – How many of us use the Xbox for Netflix? It a service you pay for separately from Xbox Live, but you still need a Gold Membership to access it... I’m already paying 8.95 a month for Netflix, $15 a Month for internet and yet I still need to pay $60 a year just to have access to it. Now I’m paying three times for the same service…that in my book is a rip off. 

Online Gaming – This is another service that has to have an xbox live Gold account, but Microsoft does not control or do any work to provide. Most of the online games will do one of two things. (1) Have their own dedicated servers to host games on. These are run by the gaming companies or the developers, not Microsoft. (2) Peer 2 Peer hosting, code written into the game that allows the game to select on person to "host" the game (this is where the infamous hast advantage come into play). This is yet something else that is not provided by Microsoft yet we are charged for access to it. Both of these things go through the internet or the individual game companies, not Xbox Live, and what does Microsoft do? Charge You!  They make you pay to access a service (internet) you already pay for!

My problem isn’t necessarily paying for Xbox Gold, if it is for a service that Microsoft provides such as the ESPN package, Hulu Plus and party chat, but requiring the “Gold” package for services I am already paying for (internet, Netflix). The Gold package should be an upgrade and not a requirement to enjoy all aspects of a game you have already spent $60 on or a service you spend $9 a month on. Make it an option, if you want to access Facebook, ESPN and Party chat then buy a gold subscription, but for people who want to just game online or watch Netflix it is a rip off. It’s almost like they are simply charging gamers “because they can”.

Comments (7)

B
BlowMonkey·
I can tell you as an avid PS3 owner and enthusiast that I would pay 60 dollars on the PSN to have party chat and the easy of use and \"common\" tools available to you in all games for sending invites and playing with your friends online.\r \r The PSN is a cowboy environment - no two developers make the system by which you join friends or invite friends the same - some don't even put it in at all. It can be challenging ;)\r \r I don't use that other crap either but I still think the communication tools and ease of use that XBL gives you is worth the 60 clams.\r \r Conversely I'm really happy being a PS+ member as well. I get free games, exclusive beta invites, free themes / avatars, full game trials, saved games to the cloud, automatic updates for all firmware and games while I sleep at night etc. a lot of value for the money.
C
ConvenientTruth·
I agree with the paying for party chat...I love the feature and one of the main reasons I do all my multiplayer gaming on the xbox.\r \r The tools are worth 60, but I still feel they should offer a basic service for free...like online play and netflix...most games come with an online multi-player and the only way to access it is to pay? I would just prefer options. \r
B
BlowMonkey·
oh I agree with that aspect is a complete fleece job lol I mean you already pay for the netflix service and your connection to the internet....and that shouldn't coast you a dime (like it doesn't on the 360 or Wii or PC).
B
BlowMonkey·
**errppp doesn't on the PS3 or Wii or PC lol :)
B
Biznass·
The thing with Microsoft is they are damn good at monetizing shit. It will never change with so many people willing to pay to play.\r \r I have a 360, I still have the original 20gb and I refuse to pay the online tax. It makes no sense to me to have to pay x amount (I know, it's like 3 cent a day or whatever) on top of $60 to play the entire game. Unfortunately, I expect the \"free\" psn to go the way of LIVE if there is a ps4. I might be part to blame, I did buy PSN+ and I'm happy with the service for all the extras that BM expressed. LIVE is built better from the ground up than PSN but it's still not worth my money. If Microsoft were to offer a free games only gold service of sort they would lose a lot cash unless the offered some real value for a top tier gold account.
N
NormalGuy·
Apparently, you can pay $60 for a service that is working right now and that won't give your credit card numbers to hackers. :-)\r \r That's reason enough to sign up.\r \r As a 7-year gold member, I can't foresee any possible scenario whereby I would let my gold lapse.\r \r One other thing, if you look around you can usually find 12-month cards for around $40/year. Terrific value if you ask me. \r \r NG
C
ConvenientTruth·
I wouldn't let my gold lapse either...I love live, but I feel there should be a free option..\r \r Last time they had the 39.99 deal I bought 3 years worth of live...I'm good until march of 2013 :)