What's in an online service? PSN vs Xbox Live Gold - Gamers By Nature

Branchedout at Gamers By Nature writes: "Sony and Microsoft have been battling each other on online services for a while. They keep throwing new things at us to convince us they're the better online service. In a war between PSN and Xbox Live Gold, who might be the victor? Make your decision. Just... Don't post it anywhere. Keep it to yourself. Unless it's intelligent. No, your statement that's "Just facts" or "The truth" doesn't count. It's just fanboy drivel."

[FishCake9T4]

Im not really that bothered about cross game chat on PSN. Yes it is a good feature, but if i want to talk with mates i will just play the same game as them. However, one thing i would like to see on PSN is the aability to send a voice message rather than a text message.

[D4RkNIKON]

I agree, we all know cross game chat is coming and we can wait for it as it's not a feature we can't live without. I would like to be able to watch videos with friends. Like a personal theater space in Home where you can invite friends to watch video content on your HDD, movies, TV shows, recorded game segments, stream Netflix content and so on. That would be epic.

[kneon]

@Walther

Actually there is a technical problem, most people have a pretty low upload speed that is insufficient for decent video. Audio would work but video would have to be too compressed to make it worthwhile.

[Arnon]

They should list Steam in there, as well. It'll help show how much these console services are a rip-off.

[karan8624]

Plus, that would be a 1 GB upload, trying up your bandwidth and sony servers. Thats quite a bit for one person (2, since the other has to download it/stream it from their servers)

[D4RkNIKON]

What if they just did it with netflix then, that way the servers do the work and just sync it so that friends can enjoy the content together.

[Anon1974]

First off, I hate cross game chat. Hate it. I had it for two years on XBL and I've got to say it was more of an annoyance than anything else. If you want to chat with me, do it when you're not playing a game. It's so freakn rude.

When this comes to the PS3, there had better be an option to turn the damn thing off.

Secondly...

"It saves the small trouble of setting up a squad/party/team in the game itself."

Um, is this a problem? You're all going to need to be in the same game anyway. What's the difference if you do it outside of the game or in the game? Wouldn't it be better to do it in game, that way everyone is actually in the game and ready to go? I dunno. Sounds like another useless option.

[Rigmaster]

You aren't ever going to get an honest comparison. The gaming media has pretty much decided that they are going to pretend Microsoft's online service isn't a joke because it is the only thing they can put as a checkmark in the Xbox column compared to Sony.

Sony completely dominates Microsoft in graphics, exclusives, support across all three console regions(Japan, US, Europe), reliability, media, openness and upgrade-ability, and on and on. There is a sense that you have to at least pretend Microsoft outdoes Sony in at least one are - no matter how absurd that claim is.

[thewrathman]

THATS SOOO NOT TRUE

MS actually gives much more parity across the board in terms of content.

you only need to visit the official ps forums to see the hoards of europeans complain about the lack store content.

servers on 4-5 games is hardly worth crowing about.especially when no-one is playing them games.last i checked ps3 fans were still playing MW2.sonys biggest seller to date.

and MAG, the only massive online game.which im pretty sure is dead in the water.so your dedicated server games are only entertaining tumble weed right now.

sonys online network is the joke of consoles.its laggy,slow and full of save game and trophy cheats.if they actually gave a damn they would moderate it and hand out mics that dont sound like pirate video audio from 1988.coupled with firmware updates that dont do anything.not to mention having to wait 20 minutes to play a game after an unnessary update or mandatory install.i find it hilarious after 3 years,they stil need a firmware update every month.what are we on now?40?45? since launch.

can they not get it right?

how much is half assed?free..thank god..because you wouldnt pay for it.

nuff said

[xDaRkModEx]

@ thewrathman
actually a server is worth all the money. i can go right now on my pc and play call of duty server in the UK with 4-3 bars. Do you want me to repeat that. There is no way i can get tht on server by a peer on the UK.

A dedicated server doesnt limit how much players can be in a server. i can easily find a halo 1 for pc with 16 players full. on cod4 i can find a server with 50+, and these are just multiplatform games.

what im basically saying is that with dedicated server a lot can be done because you are not being force down to nothing, only the what you can or want to offer ;p

[Gamer_Z]

"servers on 4-5 games is hardly worth crowing about.especially when no-one is playing them games.last i checked ps3 fans were still playing MW2.sonys biggest seller to date."

Last time i checked xbox fans were still playing Halo 3. Microsoft's biggest seller to date. See what i did there... TROLL

[ThanatosDMC]

I still dont understand why there's so much hate for MAG eventhough they've never played it themselves. It'd be really nice to have more skilled people playing MAG but they're too scared to try it because they may actually like it.

I'm not much of an FPS fan, but MAG really sucked me up like a thousand dollar whore... good metaphor?... I really want fps gamers who think they have godly skillz in MW2 and BF2 to try MAG and see how badly they will die or be challenged by other players.

[klado]

Poor wrathman, forced down to one bubble for trolling, now with another account trolling, do you even learn, how stupid and inconsiderate of you not getting it right the second time, but sure you have all the time in the world, pity, for the other side, why say psn is laggy if you favor so much the xbox, enough to say you don't have a ps3, see who tells you that, another xbox user only!.

Poor nerd, imagine you like a fat guy who is afraid of girl and doesn't have a life but troll against sony with all his might...LOL, dude for the fact of psn being free, I dish live, won't pay for it NEVER, guess you would go as far as say you love to pay 50 a year just for the sake of protect your lovely console, funny, keep it going.

For the other side...go youtube and search MAG 128 players in one spot, and bold out lag from it, should be fun to not find it then makes your way down to troll anyway, thanks for bringg such an entertainment to n4g.

[Christopher]

It's not about cross-game chat, it's about online fanboys having something to bitch about. If there was cross-game chat, they'd find something else to complain about not being on the PSN service.

[Rigmaster]

Yep.

It really is hilarious to think that all that effort is nothing more than self ownage. Instead of complaining to Microsoft to put the effort into trying to match Sony's online network standards, they sit around in forums frantically trying to hype stupid bullet point features almost no one cares about hoping it will convince gamers that their poor quality online service is 'teh best'.

Just think if Xbox fans has put all that effort into getting Microsoft to get dedicated servers standard for major games like Sony and PC gaming.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

It's about getting into a "chat session" then all of us going to play the same game. Party feature. That way I can play Battlefield with 4 of my friends and not have to listen to all the idiots who clog up the network with their stupid whiny drivel, darth vader voices and gangsta talk wannabes. We can talk, plan our game plan and actually work as a team.

CROSS GAME CHAT IS NOT ABOUT CROSS GAME CHAT.

[FanboyPunisher]

You,d have to be a Peter puffing fool to think for a second psn- is even close to live quality.

Keep dreaming in a few years or ps4 might have some features.

Long road ahead for Sonys sucky service

[BX81]

I think PSN will never top live until they give you cross game chat and the ability to talk in a private room while playn all games!

[I_find_it_funny]

Well, I like PSN enough, but cross games chat is mostly used to talk while playing the same game without hearing others (muting everybody else) so it's pretty usefull
I miss a few features like proper party system and voice messaging.

[KratosGod3]

Playstation Network plus!!! Rocks...

[Jeff257]

PSN is just the better service. One of my most used features outside of gaming is Netflix. Right now of course I access it using the disc but later it will be an app in the XMB. The best part is I can use it for just paying my netflix subscription. To even use the same service on the 360 you have to pay for Gold. Also with Hulu Plus coming out PS3 owners will only have to pay for the subscription for that to use it. Again on the 360 you will have to have Gold when it comes out for it next year. Also with multiplat games being the same online gaming for free is just the better deal and with PS3 exclusives most of them have dedicated servers for lag free gaming. Most 360 exclusives still rely on P2P servers which can lag because of many factors dealing with connecting to the host or because of another user.

[ChronoJoe]

I find it unny that people argue with the party system, as if the PS3 doesn't have one. Yes it does, it's within the text chat, as cross game chat is with text. So there is a party system present.

As well as that, the cross game invites, people occasionally vouch for. Okay, these don't work. What I expect to happen when I accept one of these game is it to say 'Please insert gears of war' (example) then join me to the game after I put it in.

No, it doesn't. It requires another one to be sent after I'm on the game, thereby wasting my time, and whoever had to send the two invites. I have seen a couple of games where it worked properly though, but most do not.

Cross game chat is of course missing from PSN, which is a definite disadvantage of the service. Then again there are other advantages such as the fact that PSN is free, and that major releases have dedicated servers which reduce lag, add consistency, eliminate host advantages, increase possible player counts, and increase overall stability. A big advantage for any online gamer.

[Biggest]

That isn't true. Every game that allows you to invite someone from outside of the game has a pre-made message along the lines of "JOIN MY SQUAD IN <game>. INSERT THE DISC TO PLAY THE GAME." When you select "Join" you're promted to insert the disc. Then you're put in their squad. I know for sure it works that way in MW2, BC2, and MoH Beta.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Not every game has it. Resident Evil does.

[COINTELPRO]

Steam rapes both. Your arguments are irrelevant.

[CryWolf]

if I have to pick which online service is better between Xbox Live or PSN for $50 bucks a year then I pick xbox live cause it have more to offer then PSN plus 360 have headset that comes with all there 360s, the game quality may not be their but xbox live have more exclusives demos, games with better multiplayer matchmaking, netflix without a DVD and other stuff.

[Jeff257]

Later this year Netflix will also be able to be accessed without a DVD so I fail to see your point on that. Also having a headset with every system isnt always a good thing. Granted Ive bought one for my PS3 but I also only use it when I want to talk to my friends or if my teammates in a game will actually use strategy. I dont really want to hear a bunch of whiny 12 year olds cussing me out because they got beat. Some of the features may be worth paying to use on Live but Netflix and online gaming arent the ones Id pick. Lastly the whole demos stuff is just MS grasping at straws to try to remain relevant and it wont hold them up for much longer.

[Close_Second]

Is the ability to upload save games in case you replace your console.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Cloud storage...

Yeah that'd awesome, but I think PSN+ is more for moving content from the Playstation Store. I'm thinking they'll keep services simple and open to everybody.

Buying Super Stardust HD for $5. So far I have a 10% return on my investment.

[PeterGriffinSays]

But you guys really have to stop lyin' to yaselves. Xbox Live is worlds beyond PSN.

[Lucent Beam]

I agree, but mostly because the community of people I game with is really solid on Xbox Live over my friends on PSN. Those people are online almost every day and just seem to make gaming buddies easier than on PSN. I guess if I made as many friends on PSN then I wouldn't be so partial.

[KiLLUMiNATi_89]

Xbox live wins. Better menu bar. party chat. easier navigation. Performs better and faster. Better voice chat quality. Yea it cost money 50 a yr if u cant afford that den u have issues.The excuse people find by sayin PSN is better is by saying its free soo its trashh n PS+ is a jokeeeeeeeeeee.

Im a Ps3 owner also too ok fansboy dnt jump in my throat iighht. Its the Truth and Ps3 lacks in RAM thats why cross game chat havnt happen yet. ITS A FACT LOOK IT UP

[stonecold1]

360 so get over it you cant surf the web with 360 and it does not have real 1080p netflix because it cant do it

[clarkdef]

This guy makes a lot of sense. Two sides of a coin, arguing about online services is just as retarded as arguing which side of the coin is better. btw heads pwns all you n00bs

[ndibu]

Lol lol lol...really? I mean really guy? There's no such thing, you can't go to the past and drag the 6th generation numbers into this. I owned a ps2, I no longer own a ps console, in fact, there are 105 million people that owned a ps2 and no longer play on a playstation console...so all those features that you mentioned, ask the 35 million ps3 owners about them and leave the 105 million remaining gamers to their current consoles...mostly wii and a some even the x360, me included

[Rigmaster]

No one cares about you.

[BillOreilly]

i dont have live anymore i rarely play online but i loved all the demos video previews pics discriptions on virtually every game and all the game vids on tips previews news i liked the features more than multiplayer really it had so much cool shit on live to just surf and watch