XBox Live Gold - $30 at Walmart
Estimates put the # of Gold subscribers in the US around 9-10 million. Let's say MS grosses $2.50/user/month ($30/year). That's $250-300million/year in revenues. Nintendo and Sony give away their online services, but their online services, comparatively, suck ass. Especially Nintendo's. Since there's no additional revenue, there's little motivation to make it good.
My issue was always the price. But $30 for 13 months ($2.30/month) is almost nothing.
My issue was always the price. But $30 for 13 months ($2.30/month) is almost nothing.
It's not me, it's someone else.
I think it was $25... but you may have waited too long, I want to keep it now.... sorry.
No big deal, I wouldn't use it now anyway. It'd it until September probably.
I heard the idea of "Here, pay for something that up until now you've gotten it for free" was such a flop that they fired the person at Microsoft responsible for it.
Actually, the make a freaking fortune on it.
You're both right.
MS makes a fortune off of console users.
PC users? Not so much.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
I believe you are thinking of the guy involved with the PC side of Live. That was a huge flop because it didn't offer anything more then what others were giving for free.GORDON wrote:I heard the idea of "Here, pay for something that up until now you've gotten it for free" was such a flop that they fired the person at Microsoft responsible for it.
Like catt says when just looking at the consoles there is an actual value to the Xbox Live service. Compared to the wii where you still have to fucking call people to see if there are online and then want to play a game. PS3 is better but still not as smooth and integrated as Live.
Although, it should also be noted that Sony Home, which is the PS3's Live equivalent is free. Ditto for the Wii's, I believe.
Some say that plans are in place for MS to drop all charges on Live IF they have to due to the competition.
Some say that plans are in place for MS to drop all charges on Live IF they have to due to the competition.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
That is why I think the descriptions for the wii should be free but shit, ps3 free and ok, and 360 cost but really good. The wii is so bad that I don't even have any interest in playing online.Leisher wrote:Although, it should also be noted that Sony Home, which is the PS3's Live equivalent is free. Ditto for the Wii's, I believe.
Some say that plans are in place for MS to drop all charges on Live IF they have to due to the competition.
From the numbers I have seen the 360 has a 1.5 to 1 or 2 to 1 sales advantage in multiplatform games. If the PS3 base grows and more people buy PS3 games because they can play them online for free I see Live going down in price.
Kotaku had a story awhile back about how when the time came silver members would be able to play games online but those that kept paying for the gold membership would get priority over the silver members when it came to open game slots and other benefits.
I still think it's complete horseshit that one has to have a Gold account to do something like update rosters in Madden.
That should be free for everyone. End of story.
That should be free for everyone. End of story.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
$33.99 at buy.com with free shipping.
Finally went ahead and bought one. Not as cheap as the $30 you see sometimes but $4 over the course of the year isn't going to ruin me.
Finally went ahead and bought one. Not as cheap as the $30 you see sometimes but $4 over the course of the year isn't going to ruin me.