Microsoft Invents $1.25/Hour Gaming Fee For Kids

"Microsoft's vision of your computing future is on display in its just-published patent application for the Metered Pay-As-You-Go Computing Experience."

[Megaton]

Microsoft: The future is just a nickel and dime away!

[patterson]

lol good one

[cLiCK_sLiCK9]

And its sad that the average joe will think its a good deal.
This is just ridiculous. Next thing you know, they'll be charging to play online with your Xbox.

[duplissi]

1.2 - haha good one, but they wouldnt do that would they???? :(

[Legion]

Read the patent people. The charge will be no different then what internet cafes do now. It includes the use of the computer, software, connection... everything you need to get on line. It is basically just a stand alone system that can be quickly mass produced and setup through out the world. Allowing Microsoft Internet Cafes with an easy drop in hardware source. What's so new...? The direct nature of the software/hardware use for fee transfer.

[Sarick]

Another reason why not having a monopoly in the gaming industry is a good thing. Let us be glad there are three big guys in this market not just one.

It was great that PSN and Nintindo is nearly free without monthly fees. I just hope Sony doesn't do more of the 50 cent - $2 dollar virtual clothing stuff like they're doing in @Home.

[meepmoopmeep]

lulz @ #1

so true.
they would charge for MSN chat if they could.
but the competition is giving chat free.
i mean, who charges for stuff your competition gives free?

oh... wait...

:)

[LoVeRSaMa]

Do they want to kill there Company?

As soon as they start doing things like this, there competitors will offer the same services, or similar for free.

Bad Mistake, how dare they change for things like gaming when you already own the PC, the game and the OS.

[Bloodwar]

Most folk cannot afford this. Free downloadable word processors would spawn soon after MS started charging hourly fees to use MS word or any of their programs. Peeps would save a little extra to buy a MAC computer if MS charged hourly to use their computers. I would drop my smartphone in a heartbeat if my carrier started to charge me an hourly fee to browse the internet or watch youtube on it. There are alternatives. Thats whats nice about capitalism. MS is doing okay with Xbox Live for now for it doesn't cost so much. Will the market accept it if MS increases the price of Live by much? I don't know and hope they leave Live alone. PS3 is catching up with MS, and before long, Sony may be leading the next gen market within due time, if they haven't already, assuming there are more replacement 360's out there than there are first consoles. Yes, there are only two next gen consoles. The Wii is last gen with motion control, before anyone from the Wii camp tries to intervene. Anyways, I will be paying more attention to MS and see what comes of this mess.

[power of Green]

Looks like a bunch of haters crying, you know the folks that aviod MSFT products in the first place due to being abnormally fanatical

[Megaton]

I've never responded to you or any of the others around here like you, holding tight to the same corporation-worshiping mindset as if your brains came straight off a production line, but what the hell, I've had a pretty good night. For you to talk about abnormal fanaticism is an irony almost too delicious to enjoy. You're like the Sean Hannity of N4G. A living caricature of a punchline. The embodiment of all that is obnoxious, uneducated, hypocritical and delusional. For some of those like you, it's a facade meant to rile up those on the other side, but I know you really believe all of the drivel that leaves your fingertips. You've really gotta try hard to avoid critical thinking for a degree of blind dedication like that. Bravo.

[Pika-pie]

When I read this short article I almost checked the calender to see that it wasnt April 1st.

But then I realised.. Is this so different to metered internet computers they have in cafes/aiports etc..... As long as there is a demand for it then it might work. $1.25 per hour is nothing

[CrazzyMan]

???

[evrfighter]

That's just as bad as trying to charge pc users for the "Games For Windows/Live" platform while everybody laughed and pointed for a couple minutes and then went back to gaming on Steam.

[lordgodalming]

Sorry, I couldn't hear this article over the CHA-CHING of Google's cash register.

[No Way]

Me.. You don't like what they are doing? Then don't use it.. Simple as that.

[MNicholas]

If 20 million xbox owners and 25 Million 360 owners didnt reward Microsoft for nickel-and-diming them Microsoft would not be encouraged to pursue this new scheme of theirs.

Fortunately, there are companies, like the one I work for, which are providing consumers with a better alternative.

[MaximusPrime]

M$ has just got greedier

[ExcelKnight]

So basically, all new computers will have an arcade-styled coin slot for extra hour-credits?

This is getting more and more ridiculous.

[madmike]

who s replaying in this post to see that your all brown noise sony a.s lickers enjoy

[sirbigam]

A one time fee just isn't enough for them,there something wrong when everyday miscilaneus thinks we use turn into regular payments in order to use them.

[jack who]

joke?!

[doshey]

no joke dude, the Alternative Source proves it

[pwnsause]

LINUX FTW

[DiabloRising]

Sorry, but the last thing I want is to have to subscribe to every goddamn thing on the planet. What's next, Subscription Based Toilets?

[uie4rhig]

they will cut off your legs and you have to pay a quid/dollar/euro per step :P

[thenickel]

Yeah it seems like were getting ripped for freaking everything. I don't care what console you support, or walk of life your from, things are getting ridiculous.

[sretlaw]

It seems like we get ripped on everything because we do get ripped on everything, at least in the US.

Capitalism FTW, gives us independently owned health insurance companies instead of government run universal health care.

*EDIT*

Jeez I'm reading it and I sound like an ass. Didn't mean to add a political comment like ^^that^^, just in a certain mentality after commenting on 9mmpreacher about his site...

[thenickel]

No worries as long as your preaching the truth.

[Sarick]

There where stores that had pay toilets. You'd pay 10 cent to enter or the locks wouldn't allow you in. There where times kids would run to the service desk for a token and couldn't make it in time. Instead of them earning 10 cent they had to clean up the mess. I hated those stores with public pay restrooms when I was a kid.

[Max Power]

i buy an RPG or an MMO for 50-60 bucks, and then i have to pay 1.25 each hour of play, that is just ridiculous. oh and on top of that don't forget that sweet cap on internet that some providers dish out.

[uie4rhig]

they'll probs give the software free.. but you have to pay per hour..

[thenickel]

Well that wouldn't be a bad idea, but for mmo's, RPG's and online mutiplayer things could get expenisive.

[Sarick]

AOL MMORPG's and The Sierra Network where like that a long time ago. Then came the internet unlimited dailup. There where packages for unlimited access that cost $200+ a month. Mostly the packages included 30 hours with each additional hour being $1 per mouth with that option to lock users out after they ran out.

Rediculess, especially when we already pay for unlimited connected internet. (aside from the download caps some companies impose)

[Kyur4ThePain]

F*** you, MS.

[Silvia007]

F'ing MS. Their greed never ceases to amaze me.

[ChampIDC]

So they want to charge you to use Office software? I smell more people getting OpenOffice.

[uie4rhig]

when microsoft does this, it is really bad for everything "they stand for" users will move on from any of their software/hardware..

[Sircolby45]

I don't think the charge would be in addition to the cost of the product. It is more of instead of buying the product you can rent it for so many hours.

[Leathersoup]

I'd actually probably save money... with the amount of time I spend actually playing online.

[doshey]

if this is true i will protest m$ greedy ass, i already have to pay for internet and other expensives, so now they want me to pay to play games i had to pay 50 bucks for, what the hell makes u think that u can go around and make us pay more money for something that should be free

[Samer305]

Always trying to get you to pay for something.

[patterson]

It's just a fully realized version of XBOX Live.

Of course you'll have defenders of this service saying crap like, "You get what you pay for..." and other such nonsense.

To them, I offer more lube and knee pads. Have fun with that!

[wwedx]

WOW M$ is f***in greedy

[kewlkat007]

Isn't this the same as an Internet Cafe? Are those free by the way?

All you have to do is take a look at your Cell phone bill(that's just 1 bill) to see how much of a nickel and dime world, we live in.

[uie4rhig]

there are alternatives for an internet cafe.. microsoft wants to do this in your house..

[Kyur4ThePain]

An internet cafe is there for those who don't have access to home computing.
They charge you for the use of their PCs.
A little different to what MS is trying to do here.

[kewlkat007]

Then Yes, that would be Evil...

So your basically leasing software...just as you lease Cable modems/DVRs and other things thats included in the bill.

I would hope one would rethink that and buy the software instead. since you'll save in the long run.

[S M N]

"Isn't this the same as an Internet Cafe? Are those free by the way?"
some yes

u just must order something while being there

[Fruit Loops]

Evil....

[Coheno]

Invents?! Seriously consider the choice of word there, I think he wanted to say " MS rippes young kids off by taking an 1.25$/hour fee for online gaming" Which should be free!

[freeblue]

they can charge whatever they want because dumb asses are willing to pay for it. just asked the millions of WOW players, oh oh oh you ain't one of them.. WOW is different, and it's worth paying the fees... how so??

I never buy a subscription based game and never will.

[patterson]

Yeah WoW is another example of this.
I think it's ridiculous, but I guess if people are willing to pay then so be it.

[prof16440]

Ms keep screwing the common man first of all paying 4 online play is ridiculous y must i pay to play with other pple who have the same game, now they want to start it on a pay as u go basis thats crap, i just hope sony does'nt copy dis crap and everyone wonders y Bill Gates is so f***ing rich, f***ing greedy bastards

[ultimolu]

...Are they serious?

[NipGrip]

They are Microsoft. Sirius is a satellite radio station.

[NipGrip]

Not a *TERRIBLE* idea if managed properly and you also had the choice to flat our purchase said software.

I would enjoy a per per minute option for certain games. There are games I've paid $50-60 for and didn't play for longer than an hour overall. Be nice if that was only around $1.25 instead of a full $60. Even if I got 8-9 hours out of the game, that's what, $13?

There are other places this setup would have proven handy. Certain pieces of software like Avi joiners.. DVD rippers.. And other things I just don't use that often to allow for a full purchase. But at a rate per hour of use? I would pay for that in those situations. Now, sure, for say Firefox or Photoshop or other programs I use often, I'll just buy it flat out (if it's not free in FF's case).

As an option, it would be a good idea. As the only choice, not too great.

[blind-reaper]

So many good ideas... THANK YOU MICROSOFT!

[Bladestar]

I know.. I know... lots of people here are quick to burn microsoft on a stick... but that's completely normal in this site...

But this "Pay as you go service..." may not be a bad idea for many people.

Think about games like COD4, CODWW and many other games which game play extends only to 4-6 hours...

would it be that bad to pay $1.25 x 6 to play the game?

That means someone who can't afford to pay $60 can play and complete the game for less than $10.

it works like a rental service... we see this in hotels and believe it or not... that's exactly what you are doing when you rent a game.

I do not expect people here to understand...

Now, if Microsoft remote retails version of games and apps where people can only pay as you go... then I say, "burn them!".. but if this is an option for people that can't pay the full price or will not be using the game/app enough to actually get their return of investment....

For example, I am not a graphic designer... but as a web developer from time to time I see myself doing some graphic touch up...
I would love to be able to pay $1.25 per hour to use Adobe CS3 instead of having to buy it for thousands of dollars...

I have a ton of games.. that I would rather pay $1.25 until I beat them and never pay them again... than to pay $60 a piece.
does that make sense to you guys?

@EDIT!:

ohh wow NipGrip practically thought about the same as me. Kudos.. and it's nice to see some people actually have brains around here.

[thewhoopimen]

You and nipgrip can get your asses reamed by MS for all i care. It's your God-given right i suppose.

Let me ask you a question and you tell me how you and numbnutz thought this scenario up. How is it that a person who buys and owns a PC won't have $10 or $60 to play with? Honestly...unless their 16 or under. Here's another red herring. Assuming they can't pay $60 to buy a game, do you think they'd have a "powerful" enough PC to even rent and run the godamn gaming product?

Let me tell you who MS is targetting with this scheme. Kids and really retarded adults who can't do math and will fall for the $1.25 price pony.

At $1.25/hr, if I played for 6 and pay $7.50 hours... Why don't i just go to blockbuster where I can rent it for a whole week and not pay late charges if I forget?

If you need productivity software.... go to the library, college, or school. It's free!~ Download opensource... it's free!

If you want to alacarte titles, go to an internet cafe and for $5, they throw you 30+ games to mess around with AND include a gaming system.

[patterson]

I have a library of games from many different systems and like to revisit them. How will this pricing model work for games in the future? Will people be able to revisit a game years after purchase?

I look at my bookcase, at anytime I can pull one out and enjoy. I don't think DD and pricing per the hour will be a hit for most people who like to have a physical games collection. There's no substituting that.

[uie4rhig]

seriously.. this is not a renting service.. a rent service is something like blockbuster, you pay, keep it for 7 days.. send/bring it back.. what MS is trying to do.. is make you pay for every hour of what you play.. now.. i agree with you that if to try out a game it is very good to have such a system.. however.. what if it is something like CoD4?.. you'd be paying first a few hours (say 3 hours) to try it out that is $3.75.. then you can keep going with the subscription, and pay (in my case, where i have played CoD4 for over 8days, but this is only for 8 days) $240.. yet i have paid only £50 (note im from uk lol).. which would you have.. pay $240? or pay £50.. which is at most $70..
yes.. such a system as a 'option' would be fine.. but to replace the current system? never ever in my whole life..

if they do.. i can see many people jumping on to Linux/Mac.. and i can see MS going bankrupt if they do this..

[NipGrip]

Great name btw. Your argument is filled with personal judgments and contradictions at points.

You can't claim people that can afford high end computers (like myself) have the money to toss around if they wanted (I do, but spend my money wisely) and *then* say people that would spend $1.25 for the convenience of staying home instead of driving to a library to use an AviJoiner for the 5 minutes I would need it on occasion are ignorant and throwing their money away. I don't want to drive to a friggin' library with all my crap to use an AviJoiner for 5 minutes, 3 times a month. I would rather stay home, thanks. I can afford to pay $1.25 for a years worth of my AviJoiner use. Or whatnot.

You seem to imply MS is taking advantage of ignorant folks for charging for services based on time. What do you think of those that already use Live? It's a monthly timed service, not per hour though. Is it because it's by the hour? Is it because it's MS?

Do you have no mental capacity to see such a service as any possible benefit to yourself? Don't get me wrong, I'm not for the championing of MS by any means, I'm just not quick to judge something so harshly when we A) Know so little and B) *MIGHT* actually benefit from such an opportunity. Think of the sales lost on products and the lack of benefit to the customers that didn't pay full price for a product they knew they'd only use once. This can offer to meet folks in the middle. A good piece of software rented out at your convenience for an affordable price. It's simply applying the method of offering services at timed rates to softwares, nothing new.

And lastly, I only back this (as I stated in my very first post here) if it is an *option* to purchasing full price. Not a replacement, which I highly, highly doubt it is (a replacement).

[Why o why]

IF the user would be allowed to stop their hourly rate if and when the predetermined price of the item had been reached. For the service or method to be financially viable it for ms that predetermined price may be 10-15% higher than the normal price. That would be a fairer way imo but whether MS would do such a thing is a different question altogether

[Jecht]

YOU'RE ACTUALLY DEFENDING THIS?!!

WTF is wrong with you? That wedding is still open you know. I can LEGALLY MARRY YOU TO MICROSOFT RIGHT NOW!!!

I didn't think ANYONE would be stupid enough to actually think this was a good idea, but you just proved me wrong. Un-frickin-believable.

[Sarick]

Lets say you pay that $1 an hour blade? If you spend enough time do you earn the full license?

You know like rent to own or lease to own?

Are you talking about using the product enough that it'll eventually pay for itself?

[N4Flamers]

while I do like the idea of renting out certain programs or games, I dont agree with some of the other things that this patent is trying to make people pay for.

They want to charge people for the performance of your computer, so if my computer is running anything I would have to pay for it. That is BS, furthermore if you decide to use alot of processing power they want to charge you more. That is BS. I all ready bought the computer and the processor why would I pay you more money.

Personally I believe in renting games first but gamefly offers a better deal than MS on this, one game is 8 dollars and you get a whole library to choose from and its interchangeable. Now if I could just get the newly released games I would be happy.

[tuaamin13]

This is basically a MS internet cafe type deal. I know it's too much to ask to RTFA, but one poster on Slashdot compared this to Kinkos. They charge $0.40 per minute to use a terminal with MS Office so you can print something. This just allows you to use MS Office for extended periods of time for cheaper, without having to own MS Office on your home PC. You can use OO, then go on to one of these PCs and make sure OO saved the .doc without screwing the formatting.

For the games, I didn't see that addressed directly, but it seems like a game rental service, ala Gametap. Download the game, play them, but you're charged per hour.

Blockbuster doesn't rent PC games, this is most definitely a PC application. $1.25/hr would get them no where in the console rental market, where like you said, Blockbuster and GameFly are king.

In any case, this is not going to get rid of full licenses for software. Businesses will not subscribe to the per hour rate as it would cost them too much (8 hours a day, $1.15/hr, with how many employees? Versus $350 MSRP for Office right now).

[thewhoopimen]

No i honestly think there aren't any benefits when the word microsoft and fees are thrown in tandem.

I have yet to see any company benefit from partnering with MS looking at the company's history and I am not about to believe the consumer is going to benefit in the LONG TERM.

This isn't blind hate... No, not when I've been following OS computing for 20 years and seen every trick in MS's dirty book thrown at every potential competitor that has come their way. The only division in MS that has had any ounce of goodwill from me is their keyboard and mouse division and maybe the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This fee charging scheme isn't even new. Ol' Bill was onto this in the early 90s when a leaked internal memo detailed how much more money MS could make charging a subscription service for everyone of their product and service. I believe they referred to power utility bills as a great example of the future. Lease computer hardware, lease computer time, lease internet time, lease the software on the computer.

[McLuvn]

MS=the cutting edge of rip-off.

[Xlll]

LOL i wonder how long before Live gets this too.

[VMAN_01]

Hopefully Apple is not thinking the same idea.

[Jeppe]

They have other evil plans.. :-)

Steve Jobs claims to have invented this:

http://lawgeek.typepad.com/...

[Godmars290]

1) They already have their own monopoly.

2) Such a model would stagnate and standardize the industry immensely.

[n4gzz]

People are more stupid than MS being greedy. As long as they pay, why not take it !!

[thewhoopimen]

I can't argue with you on that... but I also take it to be a sign of how far we've fallen from the America which used to honor the hard working man and gave a crap about an honest day's work.

Taking from the poor, simpleminded, or addled-brained is NOT honest and it isn't upright. You wouldn't take candy away from a baby b/c he/she can't keep it in his/her hands, so why would you do it to someone who can't do their math?

So while yes, MS can do what they wish... I for one do not respect them for it, nor would i respect anyone who can't figure out how to make a buck without resorting to low blows such as this.

MS could EASILY give the consumer his or her money's worth and still make a killing. How about budget bundle PC with all the software with low interest poverty financing? or a reliable game console with low interest financing and $49/year service that offered downloadable free games? Why sell productivity by the hour? because it's dirty.

[Elven6]

This is just a patent filing, companies file ridiculous patents all the time because...well just because they can. I doubt this will ever be used or if it is possibly in a "free software, paid subscription" model but not in a way that would destroy other business models.

Office is going online remember, perhaps that's what this is for?

[Sully]

If Micro$haft had the opportunity they would charge you every time you took a sh1t.

No joke i believe Phillip K. D!ck wrote a book about it before he died.

[NipGrip]

I for one would love to charge everyone, animal, even insects every time they took a sh!t.

[Magic_The_Celt]

w....t.....

[yanikins111]

this is why i refuse to buy microsofts products, AT ALL.

go f*** yourselves

[Jeppe]

Microsoft invents my a*s, this is real old school computing. US software patents are a joke.. The sad thing is we may have it in Europe to soon.

[Jecht]

And this is the same company people praise in the gaming industry. I'm telling you, if there is one thing Microsoft ALWAYS does right, it's proving how stupid people really are.

They'll rake in a mint with this idea because of that stupidity, they'll be praised for their innovative ways of ripping people off, except it won't be called that.

We like to call ourselves developed countries, but it's clear that development in this case doesn't refer to mental development.

I realize I'm reaching, because this is just a patent filing, but if you really think Microsoft doesn't have a plan of when and how to implement this, you're naive.

[Kain81]

thats why i dont support M$.

[Obama]

I want to see how bots would defend this one..o wait Bladestar is already at the front line dfending MS and its ridiculous practice. This is absolutely disgusting and sinful.

[ReBurn]

It will only work if people are willing to pay for it. That's why higher minds invented things like Ubuntu and OpenOffice.

[kewlkat007]

in a capitalistic society Ubuntu and OpenOffice will never be the trend sorry.

[ReBurn]

Trendy people use Macs, anyway. So they agree to be overcharged from the start.

[evrfighter]

It's funny because its true.

[devilhunterx]

Next for XB3, they will charge customers just for turning it on.

[yanikins111]

I doubt it. I think they make more off selling shody hardware 5 times to the one person then they would charging people to turn on a console that only turns on 66% of the time.

[bviperz]

The most surprising thing about the whole article is that I'm not really surprised. It is Microsoft after all.

[poeo]

oh how i would love to look at my watch every every hour or so while playing... "am i up to 10 bucks yet??"

i really cant think of a more effective way of taking the fun out of gaming.

[n4gzz]

We should be all glad, that SONY and Nitendo are still in gaming market, otherwise you won't be playing games right now 'coz MS would be charging Arm and legs for its service. Well, they are already charging Arm.

[Bladestar]

"they are already charging Arm."... currently xbox live is $4/month.... if your arms currently and legs cost $4 each... I can't imagine your brain or penis costing more than $0.99.

Anyways... I can't believe people like you complain over $4 a month... don't you have cell phones? Internet? TV Cable? etc?

I have $200-$300/month for cable TV... $120 for cell phone... $200 car insurance... and I spend more time on my xbox 360 playing games than all of them put together.

This thing about Microsoft is similar to Zune pass... that lots of haters here bashed a while back...

http://www.zune.net/en-us/s...

"With the new Zune Pass subscription, you can download all the music you like from our multi-million-song library and now you’ll keep ten of your favorites every month. Best of all, it’s still only $14.99 a month."

you pay $14.95 a month... and you get unlimited songs... download in your Zune... for the price of 1 CD... lots of people may say... but... I want to own it... well.. service is not for you... Apple Itunes do not give you this option... and it sucks...

Microsoft charging $1.25/hour... I want it to be an option... if I do not want it... I buy the whole game or application...

Some of us aren't broke @$$e$ like many of you.. and can afford things...

for example, I have a subscription to Netflix and can receive 4 movies at a time... my wife and I got hooked up to LOST... and watch lots of episodes... there was time that we would have to wait for the DVDs to be mailed.... forget that! I purchased over 40 episodes of Lost specially the last season... (since it was not on DVD yet) but it was available on xbox live... I just didn't want to wait... so what i spend probably like $70... I could of wait.. but I was willing to pay it...

Who are you cheap broke burger flippers to tell me where and how I shouldn't spend my money?

These services are not made for you... just like Windows is not made for you.. and you have to go and settle for free linux and miss out in all the new games.

Here you are all complaining about Microsoft charging for OS... charging for xbox live... Get a job, work hard to go to college, work hard to earn things... so you stop expecting people to give you programs, services for free that cost lots of money to create.

[yanikins111]

stupid comment #4352 for the day goes to......

[n4gzz]

No need to be personal here, just stating my opinion. But if you prefer then I tell you secret, Your wife likes my .99c penis.

On the topic,
"Work hard to earn" - Then why do you waste hard earn money when its irrelevant. I don't care if it is 1 penny. The whole concept is bull crap. I can buy $3000 TV and spend 200 on my cell phone per month but I can't pay 4 dollar a month on live 'coz its just not right when I am already paying for internet and psn is free.

All those nickle and dime adds up anyway. Not everyone has money like you do and stupid like you are.

Oh by the way, I have noticed that how you like to tell that you have all money and you can't spend enought and blah blah. Why don't you send me $60 so I can buy another PS3 game. It's better give money who don't have than who has (MS).
And your college degree is worthless when you don't even know how to respect other individuals. Just 'coz you make better money doesn't make you better person. Ask your wife if you don't believe me.

[n4gzz]

@blade

157 Ignore. Well, Its' 158 now. No need to argue with blind fanboys.

[Mutley416]

yikes that`s crazy...

[Godmars290]

MS is talking about charging an hourly fee for using a group of applications and games for an yet non-existent PC which is basically nothing more than a game console. They are not, and this where I'm assuming people are getting confused, looking to charge an hourly rate using the current PC business model where owners buy the software for their systems.

As much as I'm not a MS fan, if the latter, I can see that working. A college student dolling out under $100 a month for their software over the course of a year instead of worrying about a $2000 system that doesn't include software.

Only problems are buying this "PC console" that has everything per-installed. That to be actually practical internet access would have to be free unless you use a browser. Go on the internet.

Still I don't see how that level of monopolization doesn't sicken any sane person.

[labwarrior]

Including PC's, mac here i come

[donscrillinger]

get the uck out of here

[Obama]

As long as the likes of bladestar are willing to bend over, MS will keep thinking of ways to screw us all.

[Kain81]

That is the Reason, why i hate M$
i dont support sh!t like this, and everyone that defend this must be a stupid PIG----> And i mean not only Customers, but other Companys too

[uie4rhig]

companies would be getting more for this from some users, tho they may also get less lol.. the following are just examples mind you.. imagine if Haze was like that.. Free Radical would have much less.. but e.g. for CoD4.. i have played CoD4 for over 8days.. and if i only calculate for those 8days.. i wud have payed IW $240 .. so its not necessary a bad thing for companies.. but it will be a bad thing for MOST end users!!

[nazty_nayt]

This is why Microsoft should of never gotten into gaming in the first place.

[ReBurn]

This doesn't have anything to do with gaming. Did you read the article?

[da_hitman81]

as long as we have been gamers and consumers, why is this such a shock that MS wants to make money off of everything???? Bill wants to monopolize the market with his goods and pass it off as an original.......... thats why windows 7 is so much different from windows vista............

its bad enough that the service providers want to limit our bandwidth but now microsoft???? Do you not have enough money bill???? is the reccesion getting to you.............

[Word2BigBird]

shocker...

[Kwertie]

This is nothing new. Back in the day, they wanted to charge a monthly subscription fee just to use Windows, but obviously they couldn't find a way to implement it and make it work.

[kesvalk]

well, it's time to dump windows and put a little linux here...

[Knightofelemia]

Wow if Microsoft does this i'll forget about renewing Live, yeah you pay yearly and pay for add ons and downloads. Next thing you know it your paying a dollar an hour to play a game of free for all on CODWOW or even COD4. And I just used those two games as an example, guess I am going to see if Apple has anythng like this if not then it is a Mac for me. Microsoft has gone to far, and now there going to go even farther.

[importfighter]

Microsoft prob made this move KNOWING THEY HAVE ENOUGH IDIOT FANBOYS THAT WOULD DEFEND IT, just like how microsoft charges for LIVE with 40% of xbox's breaking down

[Godmars290]

Are idiot consumers who are willing to pay for it.

[Jamaicangmr]

OH MY GOD!!! Whats even more amazing is many on this site are actually defending this. Come on how loyal can one actually be to a soul-less cooperation?

[Godmars290]

You're talking about the same people who blame Vista's problems on the people who complain about Vista's problems.

[Jamaicangmr]

Yes that very same retarded bunch.

[dboyxz]

This will help push people towards alternative operating systems like Linux or OS X, and also increase interest in open source software....

[tojfs7931]

For open source software.

[peeps]

thats terrible and i really don't see why they need to do this. i guess they feel they don't have much competition with pc's and software but i really hope this kick starts alot of ppl moving to different software rather than just ms's every time. problem is most people just go for ms/windows cus thats what they know. i mean i'm on vista with office ffs cus its just software that u no is gonna b compatible with pretty much everything on the market. if they brought something like this in i'd certainly be looking for alternatives

[Fisherking]

I agree with Patterson and I also have a big library of games and I like to occasionally revisit a game after I have beaten it long after it is out of production. I also think that what ms is doing is a bad decision. I rather pay $30-$60 for a game than $1.25 per hour and I rather own a physical copy of the game than a digital copy. I would only blame myself if I only tried the game out and did not like it (wasting the $30-$60 that I paid for it). Worst case scenario: it would either collect dust somewhere in my house or I would give it away to someone. Anyway I purchase my games mostly based on reviews or demos, which would guarantee which games that I would be playing a lot instead of just off and on from time to time, which would make the $1.25 per hour option useless to me. And I don't and probably never will own any microsoft game consoles.

[ktchong]

There *are* alternatives out there.

[poopsack]

I dont f*cking get it, I already have all office apps, and I can use it all I want, how in the damn world would I benefit from paying 1 buck an hour to use it?

[mirroredderorrim]

Maybe Microsoft is not growing as much as they would like. New ideas is nothing new, especially in this day and age of "nickle and dime" business models that seem to be popping up everywhere in the *BIG* business world.

We're in a time were mergers mean lasting companies and layoffs and restructuring are common place.

@Juuken.
When Microsoft talks about money, they are serious.
What they are not serious about is how they handle the people on the other end of their money.

[NipGrip]

This is going to replace everything MS does now and not see it as yet another OPTION. The shortsightedness here kills me. Everyone up in arms as if everything MS offers is going to be pay per second to use without realizing it's going to be AN OPTION... Like, you don't HAVE to use it, you can pay full price for the full version of software. But when faced with having to pay sometimes $300-600 for software that I might use for 1 hour per year, I'd rather personally pay $1.25 for that usage, not $300-600. You guys don't get this? The options? Is it always black and white to you guys?

[Kyur4ThePain]

The moment they see this working in their favor financially, it will no longer be an option...it will be the only way to use MS software. You will forever be renting stuff from them.
Enjoy the "option" while you can.

[heroicjanitor]

We will have to pay for turning on the console