Poll: Xbox Live's Dilema

[Raikazu]

So with the news that Sony are offering free games as a return on the PSN being down for almost a month, Xbox owners are now feeling slightly cheated. And understandably, in some respects. Xbox Live has so far remained a study network, but you'd expect it to at an annual cost of around £40. And that's where the new problem is coming in.

Despite it's pitfalls, PSN is free. And with free games for the downtime, you can't really be too angry at Sony anymore. Then there's Steam, the biggest gaming network for PC gaming. There's something in common here: they're both free. And the Wii, despite your reserves is the exact same.

Microsoft are starting to feel a strain after the news of Sony's 'Welcome Back' package, as many Xbox users are now claiming that despite Xbox Live never having significant downtime, they deserve something for their loyalty in the face of a monthly subscription.

I'm inclined to agree.

EDIT: After reading the posts, I have realised that I did not understand the gravity of the situation. I was simply in a bored ranty mood that led to this post and I regret the 'flaming' it led to. I understand that my argument was unjustified and inaccurate.

 

[AndrewC]

"But Microsoft offer the Xbox Live Rewards program!" *slap*

Yeah I do totally agree with you I mean, loyal customers do deserve to be rewarded. Sure they do weekly deals and things like that but still...hell I'd settle for some free avatar gear

 

[Kalak]

Actually I wont get a gold account due to the issues with the system. Why should I have to pay to use the services and also have to pay for DLC that I cannot download unless I have a gold account as well...then again im a bit of a linux fanboy as well and only play on friends 360's not liking giving monies to the corperation that really puts a vice on free software but thats another rant altogether there.

 

[squid5580]

Ok lets set a couple things straight here. First XBL gold does reward its customers. How many weekly specials do gold members get that silver don't? Not to mention the contests only available to gold and the early access to demos.

Second a few years back XBL went down for 2 days over X-mas. And what did MS do? Nothing? Pshaww not good ole MS. They rewarded us with a free game. Undertow in fact, at the time a pretty popular game. Or if you already owned it they offered you another game or 800 points (how much Undertow was worth). For a 2 day outage that is not bad.

Anyone whining because XBL is stable so they don't get free stuff are just entitled little brats pure and simple.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

I wish they'd remove the price of Gold and maybe replace it with Platinum or something which works in the same way as PS Plus. I don't see the point paying for services I can get for free elsewhere.

 

[Aphex Demon]

We should get a reward for loyalty, or something of the like.

Xbox Live shouldn't be free because we wouldn't have such a refined online service like we do now.

 

[GiantRaven]

Xbox owners are now feeling slightly cheated. And understandably, in some respects.

In what ways do Xbox owners have any right to feel 'cheated'? As a 360 owner myself, that doesn't make the slightest bit of sense.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

So with the news that Sony are offering free games as a return on the PSN being down for almost a month, Xbox owners are now feeling slightly cheated. And understandably, in some respects. Xbox Live has so far remained a study network, but you'd expect it to at an annual cost of around £40. And that's where the new problem is coming in.

Despite it's pitfalls, PSN is free. And with free games for the downtime, you can't really be too angry at Sony anymore. Then there's Steam, the biggest gaming network for PC gaming. There's something in common here: they're both free. And the Wii, despite your reserves is the exact same.

Microsoft are starting to feel a strain after the news of Sony's 'Welcome Back' package, as many Xbox users are now claiming that despite Xbox Live never having significant downtime, they deserve something for their loyalty in the face of a monthly subscription.

I'm inclined to agree.

Your arguement is totally flawed, good sir. Saying that you pay for Xbox live and that PSN is free is comparing two totally different things. Both Xbox and Sony have free and pay for accounts. Xbox has Silver (free) and Gold (pay for), and Playstation has PSN (free) and PSN Plus (pay for). I could therefore counter your arguement by stating that since Xbox (silver) is free then PSN (Plus) is a rip off.

Also, I don't require free games to mollify me. I am quite satisfied that my personal details have remained exactly that. That's all the compensation I'll ever need.

 

[Baby Tea]

Ok lets set a couple things straight here. First XBL gold does reward its customers. How many weekly specials do gold members get that silver don't? Not to mention the contests only available to gold and the early access to demos.

Second a few years back XBL went down for 2 days over X-mas. And what did MS do? Nothing? Pshaww not good ole MS. They rewarded us with a free game. Undertow in fact, at the time a pretty popular game. Or if you already owned it they offered you another game or 800 points (how much Undertow was worth). For a 2 day outage that is not bad.

Anyone whining because XBL is stable so they don't get free stuff are just entitled little brats pure and simple.

THANK YOU.
I can't say I'm Microsoft's biggest fan, but XBL Gold DOES have perks.
As mentioned above: Early access to demos, contests, weekly specials, etc.

Yes, PSN is free to game on. So is Steam, and Nintendo's online system.
But I prefer XBL over PSN's 'sign up for everything' and Nintendo's friend code system. Steam is excellent, but I don't game online on my PC much. I game on my 360, and I find value in my XBL Gold account. Plus it's less than $5 a month for a year. I find that price hard to argue with.

 

[kasperbbs]

Not so long ago xbox owners were bashing the ps3 for its psn outage and now they are jealous of their free games and complaining about it not being free.. Maybe its just me but its kinda funny to read. I doubt microsoft would give up that cash without a serious reason, maybe if they lost a significant amount to its competitors, but till then i doubt anything will change unless they announce some new services at E3.

 

[Catchy Slogan]

Xbox owners are now feeling slightly cheated. And understandably, in some respects.

In what ways do Xbox owners have any right to feel 'cheated'? As a 360 owner myself, that doesn't make the slightest bit of sense.

Same here. PSN got hacked and tonnes of data stolen, XBL have stayed the same. Obviously, XBL are the victims and deserve compensation. What?

The only complaint I have with Gold is that it has adverts, and I'm not too fussed with that.

 

[Moriarty70]

Microsoft are starting to feel a strain after the news of Sony's 'Welcome Back' package, as many Xbox users are now claiming that despite Xbox Live never having significant downtime, they deserve something for their loyalty in the face of a monthly subscription.

I've been rewarded for my loyalty to Xbox. The reward is that my information hasn't been hacked and stolen.

You have to remeber that Sony isn't offering this up as a way to appologize for the downtime, but for the hacking and private information leak.

 

[DEAD34345]

Despite it's pitfalls, PSN is free. And with free games for the downtime, you can't really be too angry at Sony anymore.

Well sure, now random strangers on the internet have the personal information of thousands of people, but hey free games!

Overall I disagree, just because from my experience Xbox Live has always been the better service. Playing games online has always been a lot smoother and easier on the Xbox, plus you get a bunch of random other perks so overall I'm perfectly happy with spending a small amount of money to keep it.

 

[CaptQuakers]

A free game ? Well fuck me sideways till next Sunday.

I would rather know my details are safe and when I turn my Xbox on XBL Is going to work 99% of the time.

I think the poster Is making something out of nothing. I haven't heard of anyone complaining of a free game and most of my mates are just making fun of people who can't play their Ps3 online when they would like too...........


I pay about £5 a month for XBL stop making It out to be some massive hindrance because lets face It,It just isn't. If you can't afford that then you surely cannot afford broadband of even a tele.

And never make It free because when It comes to online things such as this free=worse.

I'm just getting the feeling that people are moaning for the sake of It........

 

[Ranorak]

This is just another case of gamers being self entitled and greedy.
Why would anyone even think that because PSN gets hacked, XBL users should get compensation.

We should get a reward for loyalty, or something of the like.

Why?!
Why should we be rewarded for using a service that is there to entertain us in the first place?!

 

[Aphex Demon]

This is just another case of gamers being self entitled and greedy.
Why would anyone even think that because PSN gets hacked, XBL users should get compensation.

We should get a reward for loyalty, or something of the like.

Why?!
Why should we be rewarded for using a service that is there to entertain us in the first place?!

Perhaps a few years running paying £40 a year and we don't really see a dime of it back other than playing online. Shops do it, ever heard of a loyalty card?

 

[RADlTZ]

I hate having to pay the same amount for a gold subscription as someone in America and other countries when they get so many more features to play around with. Maybe that isnt the case now but it was that way for a while when they started bringing in netflix and other such things.

Its also frustrating to watch the Operating System for xbox rapidly degrade every time microsoft forces out an update, if im paying a god damn subsription fee ill thank them to not waste money and take up excess room on my hard drive for a dashboard that SLAMS ADDS IN MY FACE ON STARTUP with the spotlight channel and otherwise inhibits accessability and useage to features I might actually want.

 

[JoshGod]

Xbox Live has so far remained a study network, but you'd expect it to at an annual cost of around £40.

Sturdy?
OT
If people don't like Xbox live they should stop paying for it or not have gotten a 360. It's not like people went into it unaware of the cost.