390°

What If: Primetime 360 Games Make Xbox Live Free?

The current state of the home console marketplace has gamers divided, causing any differences, major or minor, to be significant bullet point topics when choosing a system. One of the cries of the Playstation fanboy has always been 'we don't pay for online play.' PSN is free, and seeing as PSN is not as well organized as Xbox live, the old adage of 'you get what you pay for' seems to hold up. But what If Microsoft's latest 360 venture were a Trojan horse, a step toward making Xbox live free?

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KingKionic 5396d ago

I dont see a couple of free prime time games making live free.

Blaze9295396d ago

yeah. I think Microsoft is looking to reduce the price of live. Tons of ads on the dashboard, tons of ads in 1 vs 100 and silverlight coming to the 360 as well. A few primetime games definitely won't make it free but if it helps, cheaper.

Microsoft isnt dumb, they know sooner or later it will be hard to justify the $50/year...not that $50 a YEAR is anything to whine about anyway...

KingKionic 5396d ago

After this years update it should justify the price.

Eiffel5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

Even though the price really isn't that troublesome. Maybe if you're unemployed, cheap, penny pincher. Yeah but honestly I have the "Month to Month" subscription and its like 5-8 dollars a month. Not that big a deal. At least I know where money goes and what the percentage of it is divided into.

I don't see how anyone these days can buy $60 dollar titles and complain about the price of XBL. The irony there is truly massive.

@Kionic wow 5 disagrees. Even though your statement is neutral. Here have a bubble. Cowards disagreeing without even giving an opinion quite sad indeed.

ASSASSYN 36o5395d ago

So eiffel you are almost paying $100 bucks a year. When one $49.99 payment would alleviate a monthly subscription. Odd.

Eiffel5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

If you have a job that pays well like mine. You really just don't care about the price. Hell I guess I don't feel like walking into a 7/11/Best Buy/Target/ect and buying a 12 month card. I really don't spend that much. I'll pay my bills then maybe spend a few bucks on a game and let my live membership self update through my credit card. Honestly compared to getting a 12 month card that costs around $49.99 to my subscription that adds only a few more dollars really doesn't make me wake up in a cold sweat at night wanting to change it because it haunts me I'm only spending a few more bucks as opposed to wasting time going into a store and buying one of those cards when it can just self update with no need to bother me about it.

It's my money after all.

Captain Tuttle5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

That's just silly. You can buy a year through Live without ever having to walk into a store.

Edit: Whatever...it's your money to waste I guess.

Eiffel5395d ago

Yeah I noticed you could buy it through live but at the time I didn't have a job that payed that much so I just kept it small and was able to afford it through that time without having to be bothered to go buy a card. It was just cheaper at that time and I always had enough in my account without worry. I could update it now I guess.

Blogz4Fanboys5395d ago

are microsoft going to throw away a massive money earner?? which more people subscribe to day after day?? i dont think so! sony and nintendo must look at the success of live, and revenue it generates with envious eyes. seriously, if sony get back to being top-dog again, they will eventually charge for on-line play.

eiffel: i earn good money and have a well paid job in an industry unaffected by the recession, but i still look for bargains. and last week i got a 12 month code e-mailed to me within 5mins of paying on e-bay for £28 or $35 or 33euros...not bad at-all. paying full price is ridclous.

Tarasque5395d ago

Well if they keep adding nice additions to live like prime time games, i won't have a single problem paying 30 to 40 bucks a year for live. Cause 1vs100 is way better than any game in home right now that is for sure, sure i will get a bunch of disagrees. But if you have played 1vs100 and played everything in home you know what i mean.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 5395d ago
KingKionic 5396d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

I dont think it will.

Currently i dont have a problem paying $4.19 a month or 3 month $19.99 or $50.00 for Xbox live.

-MD-5395d ago

13 cents a day is difficult for some people. Others it's just 13 cents a day.

KingKionic 5395d ago

Yeah...

And people complain about the price of tea in china...

lol

PotNoodle5395d ago

I don't really care for the price of live and do pay for it anyway, but the whole "13 cents a day" is absolute rubbish.

Its like me saying "The PS3 isn't expensive, its only 2 cents a day if you pay for it over X years".

LordMarius5395d ago

If its free, Ill buy one...seriously

ASSASSYN 36o5395d ago

People talk about the annual $49.99 subscription fee like it is a major burden on their finances. You know it is coming every year. Save a dime and pay it off when it rolls buy.

dktxx25395d ago

it might be a major burden to some people. you act like 50 bucks is nothing. well it is. especially when the ps3 and pc offer free online gaming just as good (and in the pc's case, much better.)

And just because you know its coming doesn't make it cheaper.

Once Upon a Fable5395d ago

PC gaming does not offer a better online experience than Xbox Live, and who cares if you can get it free when its not even half as good.

RockmanII75395d ago

If $50 is alot to you, how con you justify paying $400 for a PS3 or... I don't know how much a good computer costs, but I would bet its more than $400.

pippoppow5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

Same could be said about saving up for a PS3 or gaming PC. The thing is while YOU may not mind paying for a service no better than any other, some do mind. My brother has a 360 but refuses to pay to play out of principle not financial means. I'm sure there are plenty like him that own a 360. I just hope it stays an MS exclusive an not spread to other platforms.

All Time Greatness5395d ago

It wont spread to Sony and Nintendo, they don't have the Software savy to compete with MS even if they wanted.

Can you imagine Sony charging to use their online when it literally has not even 1/10th the amount of material/features? They would become a bigger joke than they already are and Sony doesn't need that.

pippoppow5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

You really do know how to exaggerate. If anything they are close in "materials/features" , with PSN having a bigger movie catalog, more dedicated servers and a web browser trumping the 360 highly publicized additional services like Netflix. Sure you may enjoy more the extra chat features the 360 has but the bottom line is that it is not superior to the PC or PS3 to charge a fee. Also your paying for something that is free on the Pc. Why is that? Free on the PC but not on the 360. Same service but one is free and the other isn't. Now that's a joke.

XboxUltimateAlliance5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

Pippoppow I advise you mind your own business if your just gonna act a fool. It's very obvious you only use PSN and don't have Xbox Live or care to acknowledge the already known truth. You just say what you want and wish were true..... "but its kinda the same, its close!"(when its not even remotely), "Xbox live shouldn't cost money because I say so!" lol you sound like a little kid that doesn't know what their talking about.

This is coming in August(with more coming in November):

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.

Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.

Enhanced Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.

Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.

Avatar Marketplace

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises.

Clothing – Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as “Halo.”

Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.

Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

Games on Demand(Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.)

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.

Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.

It’s Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

User Ratings

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.

Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone’s been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.

Xbox LIVE Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.

Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

Video Display Options

We’ve made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

• Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.

Other Improvements

We’re always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you’ve been a Gold member.

• Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.

Achievement Browser – We’ve revamped the Achievements browser so it’s now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.

Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.

• Streamlined Navigation - Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.

Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.

Friends List Sorting – It’s now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.

Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.

Account Management

We’ve made some changes to make your life easier.

Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.

Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.

Account recovery – We’ve enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?

The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we’ll be sure to let you know about.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Zune video and 1080p Instant On
• Last.fm

Xbox Live is in a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEAGUE than PS3 and PSN. It's not even semi-close, and everyone knows this. Your rambling on and pretending otherwise...your miniscule PS3-biased opinion filled with either ignorance or downright lies because you only play on PSN(PSN has a larger movie catalogue than XBL? Rofl)....like your opinion even matters when the world knows otherwise. lol It's not just a couple of chat features XBL has over PSN, it's a completely different experience and that's a fact.

Now off to www.PSNisSecretlytheBest.com for you.

GameOn5395d ago

Sounds like you just let loose some built up tension in that guy. Good for you!

Tarasque5395d ago

Well if you pay 49.99 you are goofy anyways considering most of the time you can get it off amazon for 39.99 and sometimes they run deal along with bestbuy for 29.99.

@BaseballFan15
The problem is most people on here paid the full 599.00 price tag for it.

pippoppow5395d ago

Funny, don't see anything there that you can't do on the PS3 but wow nice list of fluff there. Oh I'm sure you know all that PSN offers. Your a pathetic fanboy. One of the worst on this site. If MS raised the price on XBL you would be defending them like it was the best thing EVAH. Too funny. There is no justification as to why there is a fee for XBL but pure greed and the zealots like yourself who pander MS like it's your GOD. Enjoy paying something that should be free regardless if you think it's the best thing since the invention of retainers. Keep crying. Now go ask your mommy for more money for your new yearly sub.

ASSASSYN 36o5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

Funny how you are incapable of an educated response to XboxUltimateAlliance, or anyones statements on here pippoppow short of name calling. You say PSN has features educate us on them. Or do you not know what they are? Your comments read like your soul purpose for owning a ps3 is a result of your hate for MS. And you call it fluff. I call it the reality of what we pay for far exceeds any other offer. Even if it covers it self in the illusion of being free.

pippoppow5395d ago

Yeah, I have a bone to pick with MS more than anything, from a consumer perspective. Continuing to sell a defective product is a turn off and online was free before they entered and I do not want to see it spread and be the norm. 360 users are paying a Gold Membership to play games online not just for it features. Let Silver Members be able to play online and Gold membership will decline substantially. There are millions of 360 users who do not pay for XBL for one reason or another. I'm sure there are plenty who refuse to pay for this "godly" service. You say the 360 service is sooooo much better than any service then you must know the features of all Services huh to make such a statement. I've seen lists from all sides but honestly still don't see a reason why the 360 is charging.I don't know every single feature set of every online service but know enough to know that they should all be free. Honestly, I'm just thinking of the implications of what a succeccful pay service like the Live Service may have on the future. Do not want to see it spread to other services which is a possibility since we all know companies love to follow the money trail. unlockable codes as DLC for instance. If other consoles services start charging (unlikely on the PC) then I'd just buy a console or 2 and not use it's online service. You can love the 360 like it's your child for all I care, I'm just talking about an unnecessary fee that if removed I'm sure the service will be the same with updates coming out in a fanshion similar to whats been done. Hope this response was adult enough for you. Look forward to your mature posts in the future. Adios............

All Time Greatness5395d ago

pippoppow = pwned hard

That was awesome. XD

kewlkat0075394d ago

The same reason a BUM while always having a brown paper bag in his/her hands and claim being always broke...

If you really want it, in a capitalistic society then you will make it happen. Hey that's why we have choices. Which is a good thing.

Some do not agree with Ms's strategy(though it's no different then many others) and principle, which is fine. If the service continue to grow then that's' telling you, it's worth it to those.

Hey it could be cheaper, well anything can but that wasn't MS's business strategy, being in the RED with the xbox brand.

Unlike Sony that can afford not to charge, only after the fact, to separate themselves from the competition.

ASSASSYN 36o5394d ago (Edited 5394d ago )

I said EDUCATED RESPONSE pip not another whine session. FAIL.

+ Show (13) more repliesLast reply 5394d ago
Kushan5395d ago (Edited 5395d ago )

In case anyone's wondering, the poster above me originally said this:

"just a thought..... what's the point of LIVE being free when there isn't any games to play on it as of right now? I mean, I'm waiting for COD: MW 2 to come out just like everyone and perhaps L4D2 also (Alan Wake assuming it'll come out early 2010).... but I don't see anything else on the horizon that makes me want to spend more time on my 360??? But Sony on the other hand are throwing heavy weight punches with their line-up this year and next...."

Then, when they had 3 disagrees and 0 agrees (and presumably lost a bubble or two), edited it out.

Sorry bub, you stated your silly fanboy opinion, live with it and take it like a man.

Bnet3435395d ago

lol Kushan caught korichi with his pants down, pwned.

kurochi5395d ago

it wasn't silly fanboy stuff. I made a valid point. I gave MS props with their upcoming titles (as seen by your copy-paste), but IMO (yes, I'm allowed to have an opinion), Sony just have a better line-up.

FYI, I deleted my post because I don't want to give people (ie. like you) ammunition to flame, which you obviously are trying to do.

What I would like to know is why do you care so much that you would copy-paste what I wrote and make an issue out of it? Me, on the other hand, am trying to avoid fanboy flame-bait posts. What's your angle?

Utalkin2me5395d ago

Well i am going to take it that you own a 360, which you probably don't. If you own a 360 you can't seriously say they do not have any games coming out for the rest of 2009, it clearly has better titles coming out the rest of the year than the PS3's 2 major titles. First you give me a list of possibly great titles on the PS3 for the rest of 2009, then i will give you a list for the 360.

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60°

Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX

This could be fun as they make great tables. Go big or go extinct. Prime your senses for a neural handshake and step into the cockpit of a Jaeger. It is on you to cancel the apocalypse when Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX on May 16.

130°

Looking Back At 2008, An Unbelievably Incredible Year Of Video Game Releases

Huzaifa from eXputer: "2008 was home to the likes of Call of Duty: World at War, Dead Space, GTA 4, Far Cry 2, Left 4 Dead, and many other hits, which is outright remarkable."

ChasterMies1d ago

Some of these low paid video game “news” writers weren’t born before 2007.

just_looken20h ago

Here here

Those that were around before 2000's i am sure are like me that think we entered a world of non readers or those that follow without question.

I can not wait to see fallout 3 a goty game even though it was about water with non content until you add the dlc/updates then you got the performance/crashing

CrimsonWing691d 11h ago

I don’t think anything can compare to 2023

lucasnooker1d 11h ago

1998 - the best year in gaming! Metal gear solid, crash bandicoot 3, medievil, half life, ocarina of time, thief, tenchu, resident evil 2, Spyro, tomb raider 3, oddworld abes exodus, banjo kazooie.

It was a different breed of a gaming era. You’ll never understand what it was like back then. The aura of gaming, it was different!

KyRo1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

I second this. Gaming was a lot more varied and fun than it is today. I'm 35 so getting on compared to some here but I got to see all the changes from NES up to now but I've never felt so disappointed in any generation than I have this current gen. I was expecting more from this generation rather than prettier versions of games that came before it. Game mechanics have become so refined that alot of games feel the same and has done for a while now.

Maybe it's time to have a break for a while. I love gaming but I don't feel I get much fun in the traditional sense out of it anymore.

CrimsonWing691d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Abe’s Exodus, and Ocarina of Time are the only things from that list that I liked.

Here’s the 2023 game releases that I personally liked… and big releases that I didn’t care for:

- Dead Space Remake
- Wo Long Dynatsy
- Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Diablo 4
- Fire Emblem Engage
- Hogwarts Legcay
- Street Fighter 6
- Hi-Fi Rush
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- Octopath Traveler 2
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters
- Final Fanatsy XVI (actually ended up not liking this, but it was still a big deal release)
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
- Lies of P
- Mortal Kombat 1
- Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
- Starfield (Ended up hating this one, but big release)
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (I’m an old-school Zelda fan, but didn’t really enjoy this game)
- Alan Wake 2

I mean, honestly I’ve never seen a year of major IP releases like that, ever.

Profchaos1d 8h ago (Edited 1d 7h ago )

Isn't it just a generational thing realistically.

I've been gaming since way back and I some of my favourite games go as far back as the late 80s for me each generation has a year or two of game changing releases one after another before an inevitable dry spell.

I kind of agree gaming had a different feel games hit different because we didn't have the internet nothing got spoiled and you really had to put in the effort to beat a puzzle which could set entire groups of people looking for a solution. But most importantly games were experimental and not as cookie cutter as today even basics like controls were not universal today r2 is shoot l2 is ads garunteed you can't deviate from that in a shooter back then it could of been square, R1 or R1 and circle nothing was standard.

But as time moves on a new generation picks up their controller they are going to be interested in different things that PS1 demo disc with the t Rex blew our primitive 16 bit brains back on launch but to kids today it's laughable.
The new gen of kids coming into to hobby seem to value different things to us there seems to be a huge focus on online play, streamers, gaming personalities, and social experiences, convience of digital downloads. To me I value none of that but that's ok like my parents not liking the band's I would listen to its just the natural cycle.

Gameseeker_Frampt23h ago

Just about every year in the 7th generation was great and something we most likely won't experience again.

2009 for example had Assassin's Creed 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Dragon Age: Origins, Uncharted 2, Halo 3: ODST, Killzone 2, Borderlands, Bayonetta, and Demon's Souls to name a few.

just_looken19h ago

It still amazes me we got over 7 rockstar games ps2/ps3 but 3 for the ps3/ps4/ps5

Dragon age 1-3 and mass effect 1-3 in 7ish years what a generation.

120°

6 Fun Games Where You Actually Play As The Bad Guy

While the mainstream media always sees things turning in favor of the hero, here are 6 games that own being a bad guy.

Profchaos1d 17h ago

Pretty much all of these games listed are based around a morality system you don't have to be bad and you don't have to be good.

It seems to have left out some real amazing games like red dead redemption 1/2,ass effect and true crime la/ny

Tacoboto1d 16h ago

Armored Core VI?

Ok, I'm really missing something here. Just beat chapter 3 earlier this evening, unlocked A-rank Arena fights. I'm not seeing or sensing any branching paths or morality system and I've done every side mission and arena fight available to me up to that fight.

Is something big coming soon to branch the story?

banger881d 16h ago

No mention of Grand Theft Auto? Saints Row (original trilogy), Manhunt? Also The Suffering (depending on the ending you get).

ChasterMies1d 6h ago

Trevor in GTA 6 is a sadist and psychopath who dabbles in cannibalism. Should be top of the list. These game “news” sites should hire people that know games.