Xbox live Why does it cost money.

[outcast_within]

I have used xbox live for one year and i haven't extended that period.

Maybe i had some wrong expectations. But paying a game or 2 for this service is not cheap.

I bought live to be able to play MP.
All of the MP games i played used A host selection system. Meaning no private servers, It just uses peoples internet to connect to each other.
So instead of private servers i got games hosted on other peoples or my internet which was already paid for.
So the actuall MP bit doesn't cost that much money right?

What are the costs for xbox live that they have to ask money for.

-It provides you with demo's. But that's basically advertising. I'm not paying to get advertising right?
-It provides you with a whole shop for arcade games. But paying to shop... doesn't sound right to me as well.
- Same goes for films, music, expansions etc.
-Xbox live has a nice messenger service and talk functionality. However I'm not paying for my msn messenger or skype am I? And all of that traffic goes mostly through already paid for user internet.

So besides Making microsoft money. Why is xbox live costing money? Am i missing something.
I don't see why i have to pay to play mp using user paid internet for a game i bought.

 

[Julianking93]

I still like the PSN better.

I get all that for free

 

[Heeman89]

one word: Microsoft

/thread

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

This could be bad...

Might as well tell you what i heard once, but keep in mind this was yelled by a Xbox360 fangirl

She said that the income from the subscriptions goes towards the servers, allowing for less laggy matches.

She followed by bashing the Ps3, I hate Fangirls.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

A game or two? Not even a game.

Games are $60, Xbox is $50 for a year.

I don't know why. I just grin and bear it. I wish it was free, but it likely wouldn't be as good.

 

[TheTygerfire]

And yet people (including myself) do with no issue.

Maybe you shouldn't have a 360, you knew you'd have to pay for Live.

 

[Mr Wednesday]

It's a pretty undefendable thing.

It's not like we're even paying for a decent server for gods sake, they usually just fob that out on one of the players. Shameful.

 

[Omikron009]

The store doesn't cost money. You only have to pay if you want to play against or with others. It's still a scam, but if I could just hook up my damn xbox to an internet connection it would be a scam that I could afford, and one that I want.

 

[Ghonzor]

I still like the PSN better.

I get all that for free

The joys of having a PS3.

one word: Microsoft

/thread

/thread indeed

 

[mr.aravaro]

XBL costs money because Microsoft likes money.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

Most demos are free if you can hook up to the net. Same with the shop (you just need to buy points). You're just paying for multiplayer ability. If you break down the numbers, a yearly pack is a bit more than $4 a month (not a whole lot). So it's just if you're willing to pay I guess.

 

[Bananajoy]

XBL costs money because Microsoft likes money.

Exactly. Too bad it can't be like PSN and be free...

If you break down the numbers, a yearly pack is a bit more than $4 a month (not a whole lot). So it's just if you're willing to pay I guess.

Yeah at least it's not $15 a month like WoW.

 

[Knight Templar]

It has more features, party chat for example. Well thats the excuse, I don't know how true it is.

I wish it didn't cost as much as it did, but I think it's worth the money. I've played on both Wii online and PSN and XboxLive is just the easiest one to use.

 

[fix-the-spade]

So besides Making microsoft money. Why is xbox live costing money? Am i missing something.

You are missing nothing, the whole thing's a big money making ringer for Microsoft, the publisher's pay to get their game on it, you pay to the play the games. There is some cost for running the account servers and stats tracking, but I highly doubt it's £40 per person per year.

On the other hand setting up and developig the service originally was a pretty big risk even for Microsoft. Ultimately it's an optional service and they can charge whatever people are willing to pay for it, it's expensive but not particularly dishonest.

 

[Mr Wednesday]

It has more features, party chat for example.

...so it does what plenty of free PC programmes do, for £4.99 a month?

I'm really missing having a proper gaming PC.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

XBL costs money because Microsoft likes money.

Exactly. Too bad it can't be like PSN and be free...

If you break down the numbers, a yearly pack is a bit more than $4 a month (not a whole lot). So it's just if you're willing to pay I guess.

Yeah at least it's not $15 a month like WoW.

yup, this

thats why i switched to ps3, and thats why i dont play mmo's, why pay 15 bucks a month after paying for the game for one game, when i can simply pay 4 bucks for as many games i want a month, makes much much more sense to me

 

[thiosk]

Actually, as a microsoft shareholder, this is great. Not only do they make money hand over fist when you play their console, they make money when you get indigent about live and choose to play on windows instead, especially if you play a "games for windows live" rather than use steam or impulse like a normal person.

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

This could be bad...

Might as well tell you what i heard once, but keep in mind this was yelled by a Xbox360 fangirl

She said that the income from the subscriptions goes towards the servers, allowing for less laggy matches.

She followed by bashing the Ps3, I hate Fangirls.

She may be a fangirl, but she might be right. In all the games i've played over xbox live I have only had five laggy matches, and three of those were people cheating (no im not one of the whiners who complain that people are cheating just because I am losing. These guys were 'porting to the objectives from across the map). Whereas on PSN I have only three matches, because PSN sucks. Then again, when it WORKS the matches run like natural gameplay. So i dunno.

OT: XBox Live costs money because microsoft loves money. And while some would say PSN is better, at least the XBL prices aren't highway robbery. Overcharging, perhaps, but the only cheap thing on PSN is the Home accesories. *is becoming more disappointed with his latest purchase*

 

[Space Spoons]

Xbox Live costs money because gamers are willing to pay for it. If all the Xbox Live users of the world banded together to stop paying for Live for a year or so, while very publicly praising the free online systems of the Wii and PS3, I'm sure Microsoft would change its tune.

Of course, that's far too much work for the average 360 gamer.