Poll: Honestly, was Xbox Live worth it this gen? Will you pay for it next gen?

[Aeonknight]

I used to like Xbox Live. Then I got a PS3 and realized I was paying 60 bucks a year to be able to chat outside of the game, cause that's literally the only thing it offers over PSN that I've seen (and something that could easily be added next generation.)

Nope.

 

[Edguy]

Lots of PS fanboys in this thread, I can tell. And btw, you don't have to have gold membership to buy DLCs. That's just for special offers etc.

The service is pretty good, and considering the time I spend on my xbox, it's well worth my money. A lot better and more stable than the PSN, from what I've heard, tho I guess that is fair when the PSN is free.

 

[WanderingFool]

At this point, Im probably gonna buy a PS4 and use the possibly crappy PSN over buying the 720 and paying $50 a year for maybe only a few games that I play for about a month or two and than stop.

Right now, if it wasnt for Blops 2, I probably wouldnt have Gold.

 

[Herminator09]

I wont be paying for it but its not because I hate the service or think its not worth it. I just hate multiplayer in general, if I wanted to be sociable I would fucking go out and be sociable not fire up the old console/PC and play a game or two with some screaming 5 year old who has apparently slept with my mother. That and its seeping into games it shouldn't be anywhere near and is quickly curb stomping single player.

 

[Uncle_Brainhorn]

You get what you pay for. I like the PS3, but hate PSN. I pay for Xbox Live now, and I'll pay for it then, too.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Nope, because I've never paid for it. The whole idea is idiotic. Plus I rarely play games online, and if I do it is on PC.

 

[Sporky111]

Nope. I got XBL for one year, and I haven't had it for three years. Not worth it for me, I'm going to get a PS4 next gen unless Microsoft decides to offer their online service for free.

They're not going to compete with free services like Steam, PSN, Nintendo's service, Origin, etc, unless they can lower the price for their customers. Microsoft got away with it last console cycle because they were the first ones to release their system. They're way behind now, and they're going to pay for it if they try to force their customers to pay over and over again.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I've been an XBL Gold member for about 6 years, and I'm seriously considering not even buying the next Xbox already. The PS4 sounds way better, and PC's still outweigh anything Sony and MS cook up. Or those other consoles that just look terrible already.

But, if something does persuade me to get the next Xbox instead of the PS4 then I'll probably pay for premium membership, assuming they keep the same price.

 

[spartan231490]

Xbox live is a service that charges money to access services that are free or that you are already paying for.

Want to watch Netflix? Yeah, that's going to cost you more than just the price for Netflix. Want to go to Facebook? Yeah, we're going to charge money to do that. Want to check a basic website? Yup, we're charging you for that too.

Valve, Nintendo and Sony all offer free online services and I while Nintendo's service can deal with some criticism I have never had problem with Sony and Valve delivers a better service completely free.

Xbox Live Gold charges me for a service that is just as good or not as good as free services.

Except online play. You can't play your online 360 multiplayer without it. That's what most of us do with our xbox live, far more than the other stuff

By that train of logic Xbox 360 controllers are worse than Nintendo 64 controllers because they don't work on a Nintendo 64. Steam offers a much better experience for online multiplayer than Xbox Live gold. Sure you can't use Steam's online multiplayer on Xbox 360, but Xbox Live's multiplayer has actually prevented me from playing PC games online.

You know, some of us prefer playing games with a controller, on our couch, with a full tv screen, instead of with a keyboard, at a desk, with a moniter. Steam doesn't let me play that way, and even if it did, it wouldn't let me play with my friends. Therefore, for people like me, gold offers an experience that is infinitely better than steam. Also, your argument about controllers is the worst false analogy I've ever seen, and I watch politics.

 

[Dead Seerius]

Not an easy answer for me. In a perfect world Microsoft would make XBL (gold that is) free. I can't say it's necessarily worth the full price, since all the time I spend playing single-player games is time I don't use the service.
Yet some of my favorite moments in gaming were alongside my friends online.

If my friends were to get Nextboxes, I'd probably succumb. If not, I wouldn't pay. Ah well, I'll probably sit out the next gen for years anyway.

 

[Yopaz]

Xbox live is a service that charges money to access services that are free or that you are already paying for.

Want to watch Netflix? Yeah, that's going to cost you more than just the price for Netflix. Want to go to Facebook? Yeah, we're going to charge money to do that. Want to check a basic website? Yup, we're charging you for that too.

Valve, Nintendo and Sony all offer free online services and I while Nintendo's service can deal with some criticism I have never had problem with Sony and Valve delivers a better service completely free.

Xbox Live Gold charges me for a service that is just as good or not as good as free services.

Except online play. You can't play your online 360 multiplayer without it. That's what most of us do with our xbox live, far more than the other stuff

By that train of logic Xbox 360 controllers are worse than Nintendo 64 controllers because they don't work on a Nintendo 64. Steam offers a much better experience for online multiplayer than Xbox Live gold. Sure you can't use Steam's online multiplayer on Xbox 360, but Xbox Live's multiplayer has actually prevented me from playing PC games online.

You know, some of us prefer playing games with a controller, on our couch, with a full tv screen, instead of with a keyboard, at a desk, with a moniter. Steam doesn't let me play that way, and even if it did, it wouldn't let me play with my friends. Therefore, for people like me, gold offers an experience that is infinitely better than steam. Also, your argument about controllers is the worst false analogy I've ever seen, and I watch politics.

It doesn't change the facts at hand though. Steam is more stable. Steam is free. Steam offers a better service.

I have a Wii, a PS3, a Xbox 360, a Wii U and a gaming PC so I have tested the different online systems. Steam offers the best one. It's not my preference. It is what I have experienced through testing them all. There's also nothing with PC that prevents you from playing on the couch with a controller on your TV. With a PC you can choose whatever controller you want. Want a Nintendo 64 controller, an Atari controller, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii or some of the custom PC controllers out there? Pick your favourite, it most likely works.

Yes, I used a false analogy. You did so first and I was merely pointing out your false analogy, but you chose to ignore that. However, I was being completely honest when I said that Xbox Live does in fact prevent me from playing certain PC games online. Say what you will about Sony and Nintendo, they have at least never fucked up PC games online with their systems.

You started out by acting like Xbox had a better service, now you are talking about preference. I think it's clear that when someone who prefers Xbox can't think of a reason why it's objectively better, then it's not better.

Edit: I figured I'd point out your false analogy in case you have forgotten it:

Except online play. You can't play your online 360 multiplayer without it. That's what most of us do with our xbox live, far more than the other stuff

 

[Lieju]

I got Wii for my Nintendo needs, and then had to choose between PS3 and XBOX360 for my other console.

And the reason I chose PS3 is because how XBL works (as well as what I heard about their tendency to break).

 

[FoolKiller]

It started out great and then continually went downhill. Now I don't want it anymore. I won't bother after my most recent two years of renewal are up. It was fun until all the things like advertisements, a focus on everything other than gaming, and online passes became popular.

RIP my gold account.

 

[Kroxile]

Keep in mind those "free" games you get from PS+ are only "free" so long as you keep paying for PS+. The moment you cancel your PS+ service, all of those "free" games they give you are no longer playable.

They warn you of this before you purchase the service.

I like how people still use this like its a bad thing against PS+ and then turn around and defend a pay to play service that gives them nothing for free, nothing superior, and load of ads and other bullshit.

OT: The only time I ever used XBL was back on the original xbox because my copy of Doom 3 came with a 2 month pass. I was more than fed up with it long before the 2 months were up.

I cannot fathom the idea of spending money on a "service" that makes you pay to use other services that you already pay for, gives you nothing in return, and has the same or even inferior online capabilities.

Microsoft is running a scam and I feel real sorry for the saps that fall into it.

 

[Nurb]

I didn't get the 360 because I felt the technology wasn't a big enough change.

With what console gaming has become with its online subscriptions, passes, and all the other garbage publishers are pushing, along with their plans to make it even more restrictive with the new consoles, I'll probably pass again and upgrade my computer.

The best halo was the first one anyway.

 

[General Vagueness]

Like a lot of people on here, I'm not the most social person. Playing on XBL helped me have a lot more enjoyable social experiences, which helped me a little with "real-world" interactions and led to me going on one of the longest trips I've ever been on... to go to a LAN party. It was pretty awesome. All of that could've happened with less money changing hands, but I think it was worth it.
Just looking at it from a time vs. dollars standpoint, particularly time out of any given day or week, it's more iffy. If they keep roughly the setup they have now, I'll probably pay for XBL at least a few times on the next Xbox. If they make things more frustrating, or if they increase the price again in the next 4-5 years, I'll be seriously reconsidering paying for it.

 

[snekadid]

I bought the system, I bought the game, I bought the TV, I bought the controller, I bought the hard drive, I pay for the power, I pay for the internet connection.

I'm not paying them a single dime more so that after I paid for all these things they require for me to play their damn game, they can leech more for such a craptastic and ad ridden service. Hell, they even want me to pay them so I can watch my netflick that I was also already paying for. For that matter, they can keep that giant DRM brick they call the 720 to themselves, my PC games don't charge me extra to play them and there are fewer prepubers shouting in my ear about what they did to my mom.

 

[Spikethebloody]

definitely not, I've had gold for 3 years now and it's just a complete ripe off,my friend who has play-station gets about a game a month for free,and what do we get 20 ms point on Xbox live rewards and we have to fill in a stupid survey.
And the joke is my subscription has just ran out so now it's saying i can't watch NETFLIX even tho i pay for it separably.

So Xbox has just lost another customer,just bought a new graphics card instead of Xbox live.
PC gaming here i come.