So what is it you're actually paying for with Live Gold?

[migo]

I've got the month free Gold subscription that comes with a new account, so I figured I'd try some online play. Uno should have been easy enough to get that going. I try connecting to a friendly game and get dropped several times before finally being able to connect (I've got a 10mbit FTTB ISP and am connected via Ethernet, plus it's Uno, there's really no excuse for the connection dropping). Then a few rounds in some guy joins with a headset and starts trash talking (again, friendly game of Uno we're talking about here, not Gears of War). I also tried the Blacklight Tango Down trial, which turned out to be online only - I realize it's a new game, but given how highly it's rated you'd think I could find some matches. No luck with that either.

On PS3 I remember not being able to find anyone to play Fatal Inertia EX online with when it was only available on the Japanese PS Store - that's understandable with a different timezone of a not well hyped game. I also never had a connection drop despite having a much less reliable ISP at the time and connecting via WiFi.

Where's this better online experience you're paying for with Gold?

 

[Radeonx]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.
I don't have ANY problems with connections on my Xbox, so meh.
And on your part about the player trash talking you, well, that has nothing to do with Xbox Live Gold and is just a way for you to subliminally bash Xbox Live.

 

[Double A]

360's cheaper than the PS3, and now that Sony is gonna start charging for it, we're still cheaper.

Also, there's a mute feature.

edit: as 10 people have already pointed out to me, multiplayer is still free on PSN, but some other crap isn't.

That's great. Now stop telling me please.

 

[grimsprice]

You probably have a shit upload rate for your connection. And it also matters what the other dude has for his connection.

I play games of Gears, ODST, Borderlands, and dozens of arcade games with all my friends on Live and it rarely hiccups. So i don't know whats going on with you.

 

[Irridium]

Essentially the meat of it, at least for gamers, is playing online with others. While thats good or bad is up for debate, but the other things your paying for are Netflix, Twitter/Facebook stuff, and a few other things I never use.

Others may use them, but I don't. I don't use twitter/facebook, my internet is too slow for Netflix streaming, and the other things I have no need for.

 

[Irridium]

360's cheaper than the PS3, and now that Sony is gonna start charging for it, we're still cheaper.

Also, there's a mute feature.

You do realize that PSN as it is will still be free, right?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

I rarely have lag problems except when playing with foreign hosts.

Also trash talking is everywhere on every system. Be glad you have a mute button.

Paying for xbox live you are paying to play online... have online services... some other less interesting stuff.

Honestly as long as you can afford £40/$70 a year then it's fine.
(I do not properly know how much live is in $)

 

[migo]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.

I already addressed that. It's not my connection, I've got one of the best connections available anywhere in the western hemisphere.

And on your part about the player trash talking you, well, that has nothing to do with Xbox Live Gold and is just a way for you to subliminally bash Xbox Live.

It has to do with headsets being included with Live starter kits.

You probably have a shit upload rate for your connection

Nope, 10mbits is my upload. Download's 18-22.

And it also matters what the other dude has for his connection.

Why pay if it's dependent on the other guy's connection?

I rarely have lag problems except when playing with foreign hosts

Sure, but again this problem is with Uno. And if you're paying isn't it reasonable to expect to be connected with other nearby players? I live in the second largest city in Canada and am a couple hour drive from Seattle and Redmond - you'd expect there to be enough Xbox 360 owners nearby to not have to play with someone foreign in the mid afternoon.

Honestly as long as you can afford £40/$70 a year then it's fine.
(I do not properly know how much live is in $)

If it were the only option, sure, but what do I get with Gold that I can't get for PC gaming or with PSN for free?

 

[DazZ.]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.

I already addressed that. It's not my connection, I've got one of the best connections available anywhere in the western hemisphere.

Are your ports open?

 

[Mariakitten]

PS3, its free! Also it seems that some of you are misinformed, their not going to start charging for the PSN but instead charge for extras like exclusive demos and free games.

 

[Xyliss]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.
I don't have ANY problems with connections on my Xbox, so meh.
And on your part about the player trash talking you, well, that has nothing to do with Xbox Live Gold and is just a way for you to subliminally bash Xbox Live.

Yea, I agree. A lot of people trash-talk but that isn't resricted to Xbox Live, it's on PSN as well. So you can't moan about Live for that. Also I sometimes have problems with Live, but that's usually only when my internet itself is having problems...again not aproblem with Live. And if all these bother you so much, just leave it and don't bother buying it. It's that simple

 

[darkmushroomm]

If it's so bad for you don't use Xbox live, no-one is forcing you.

 

[migo]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.

I already addressed that. It's not my connection, I've got one of the best connections available anywhere in the western hemisphere.

Are your ports open?

Good question, how would I test that on the 360?

 

[DazZ.]

Maybe it's your connection, and not Xbox Live in general.

I already addressed that. It's not my connection, I've got one of the best connections available anywhere in the western hemisphere.

Are your ports open?

Good question, how would I test that on the 360?

Not a clue, I don't own one. But the problems you're having could be the result of blocked ports.

Google "xbox live ports" or something and I'm sure it will tell you which need to be opened. It will be changed in your router though not anything through your Xbox (unless you can change which ports to use).

 

[TelHybrid]

Trust me I've tried this thread once before.

Be prepared for a bunch of 360 fanboys bashing you calling you either a fanboy or a troll.

I brought up the fact that running the multiplayer network of xbox live incurs little to no cost towards Microsoft. Why is this? It's peer to peer. No servers at all.

I then questionned why LIVE is charged for, and mentioned that it's a completely unethical business practice, to which I just got a bunch of ignorant consumers commenting with "it's a business, they want to make money, duh", or morons completely disregarding my point with "stfu xbox live rules I enjoy it, stop whining".

The best one... "it's how they afford to keep posting demos and trailers and live arcade games". Yeeeeah... non-paying silver members get demos and trailers for free, and live arcade games are charged per game for any member, we shouldn't be paying for the privilege of having the option to buy them.

Just ignore this thread, and forget about it.

Also if anyone brings up the fact I have LIVE gold, it was a gift, I will not be renewing it. Online should be free, unless it's an MMO or something.

 

[GLo Jones]

If it's so bad for you don't use Xbox live, no-one is forcing you.

This.

Plus, I love xbox live, not so much for the features, but (dare I say it) for the community. A large portion of players are dicks, but that's what you get with online facelessness. I use live for the 8 player party systems, the ease of access to your friends that just doesn't exist to the same degree on PSN.

When I go on my xbox, my first thoughts aren't what to play, it's "who's online?" I'll usually instantly get an invite to a party with around five or six of my 'live friends'. We'll then do our own thing, or play together, whatever we want to do, all the while just having a laugh, and it's so easy to coordinate!

Xbox live, to me, is a selection of different friend groups that I can chat with and have fun. It's knowing that when the next CoD game comes out, they'll all be there with me instantly, sharing the moment and fun times.

If I have to pay £40 for online multiplayer, so be it. I'm more than happy to comply.

 

[migo]

Trust me I've tried this thread once before.

Be prepared for a bunch of 360 fanboys bashing you calling you either a fanboy or a troll.

I brought up the fact that running the multiplayer network of xbox live incurs little to no cost towards Microsoft. Why is this? It's peer to peer. No servers at all.

I then questionned why LIVE is charged for, and mentioned that it's a completely unethical business practice, to which I just got a bunch of ignorant consumers commenting with "it's a business, they want to make money, duh", or morons completely disregarding my point with "stfu xbox live rules I enjoy it, stop whining".

The best one... "it's how they afford to keep posting demos and trailers and live arcade games". Yeeeeah... non-paying silver members get demos and trailers for free, and live arcade games are charged per game for any member, we shouldn't be paying for the privilege of having the option to buy them.

Just ignore this thread, and forget about it.

Also if anyone brings up the fact I have LIVE gold, it was a gift, I will not be renewing it. Online should be free, unless it's an MMO or something.

That's quite bizarre really, that Xbox Live is peer to peer. Now with the PS3 given that the Cell is often underutilised and is used in servers, it would make sense to handle things peer to peer, and there the games being free would also make sense. But this is completely backwards, PSN is free and has servers and you pay for Xbox Live Gold and don't get them.

What I'm really curious is this persistent claim that Xbox Live Gold is better than PSN and that it's worth paying for. Is this just people trying to justify the money they shelled out?

 

[The Procrastinated End]

You get to play online with others by paying $50 a year accompanied with plenty of people who blame their technological problems and the network, which allows every other person to play just fine, and not look for the problem with their system, connection, etc.

 

[Fidelias]

Like many before have said, the problems with lag and such MUST BE an issue with your connection. I have an xbox, ps3, and a gaming computer, and neither one of them have any better or worse online play. Actually, that's wrong. The xbox has the best of the three, but I don't think you want to hear that.

Trash talking is about the same on all three, though you do find a few more assholes on xbox than the others. Of course, you can ALWAYS mute someone on xbox, while on the pc or ps3 it's up to the game to allow you to mute or not.

I don't know why you dislike xbox live so much, you can get a year of play for only $60, which really is dirt cheap for the quality you recieve.

I do have one complaint. The microsoft point system for buying add-ons and such. It's such a retarded way for microsoft to try to fool you into thinking your not spending as much as you really are. Just tell me how much I have to pay for it!