If I'm paying for something, then I shouldn't be advertised at. When I download a free game on my phone, it will have ads. Okay I get. But if I pay for something, then I don't need to see the ads. Give me the service for free, then I will see that it is okay. I can't wait to get home and block this through my router.Sober Thal said:
Gamers Find Way to Block Ads From New Xbox Dashboard
- Thread starter Mike Kayatta
- Start date
Am I the only one who thinks that Microsoft covering the dashboard in ads is them trying to squeeze a little bit more money out of the 360 because they know it's almost outdated? I'd say they are planning for their next console, and want to get further into the profit margin for the 360.
Most people who want a 360 have one by now, so plastering ads all over the dashboard isn't going to damage sales too much, and they make a bunch of money.
Most people who want a 360 have one by now, so plastering ads all over the dashboard isn't going to damage sales too much, and they make a bunch of money.
Not really. The "Xbox Live is not free" justification is a sad one. Ads are still a source of revenue for Microsoft which this site has just told you how to cut off. It will also work for the free members who aren't playing for Xbox Live, but I guess nobody cares about that detail. Microsoft may not rely on ads as heavily as this site, but it's still massive hypocrisy to mod people for mentioning how to block ads in browsers but then give them detailed instructions for how to block them on a game console.Frostbite3789 said:
But hey, critical thinking and common sense are super hard.
As a side note, I don't see the problem with the ads in the first place. They're tucked away in a corner on a very small tile, not in your face as a full content window like on the dashboard. I always forget that they're down there in the first place. They're like the ads on the PS3 XMB: so out of the way that you'll forget they exist. And yes, XMB has ads. Try checking out that little box in the top right corner next time you boot your PS3. All that thing does is advertise stuff.
For one, your avatar is doing your no favors in this.mjc0961 said:
For two, it's not just XBL you're paying for in this instance. You're paying for every single bit of content you use on that machine, including the machine itself. And the money from buying the console goes to Microsoft. The money from buying the controllers goes to Microsoft. The money from buying a hard drive goes to Microsoft. A portion of the money you buy games with goes to Microsoft. Microsoft draws in money from having the different things like Hulu and Netflix on there.
They're drawing in revenue from anything and everything you do with the console. Ads seem redundant.
It's like the Star Wars ads in Deus Ex, if they'd have figured out a way to blend them into the game, it'd be one thing. It wouldn't make any sense because the game is set in the future, but it was in this obnoxious box in the corner of the loading screen. Didn't I just pay $50 for this? And you seriously patched ads into it? Not even there from the start, but patched in. I've never had a problem with ads in games, as long as they're blended in/make sense.
Also, apparently in the new 360 dashboard, the ads are a bit more in your face than with the old one, and that's what this article is talking about. Maybe you're a beta tester for it, I dunno. But it seems a lot like you're talking about the current dashboard.
I wouldn't mind if they let you play online for free with the addition of these ads and with a Gold account you can stop them but this doesn't seem to be the way so I have no problem with people blocking them. Even if it is for content on XBL people don't like being bombarded with ads just when they get into a program everytime.
Now I might need to double check this but I remember a news post on this site that was sourced from another site given info that Microsoft gets nearly half(well lets just say 30% for the sake of a gross underestimation according to my memory) of its revenue from XBL subs alone. Now while this is awhile ago that is still 30% of the total revenue obtained by a international company such as Microsoft from 1 source. No they don't need this at all and it is unnecessary and judging from the pictures way too in your face.mjc0961 said:
Actually never mind here it is. [http://www.vg247.com/2010/07/07/xbox-live-beats-1-billion-in-fiscal-2010-about-50-pay-for-gold/]
Or they could increase the cost of the pay service in order to make up the revenue for the ad's. Which would you prefer?Crono1973 said:
If microsoft where to lose a lot of ad revenue from this work around do you think they would increase their subscription fee? Maybe or maybe they'll do a mandatory update that ties xbox live directly to msn servers so if one is blocked then so will xbox. I'm no programmer but I don't think it would be too hard to ad a few lines of code that say if network!=msn bla bla bla end/. While it may be easy to manipulate your router its a bit harder to get into your xbox's code.
When did I mention ads? When did I mention a problem?SirBryghtside said:
If you will kindly read my post, you would see I tackled only one sentence of Mike Kayatta's: "This website is 100% free content".
This sentence was false, and I pointed that out. I fail to see your problem, sir.
They already increased the cost of Live to $60. I won't pay that so when my subscription runs out, I am done. Right after they raised the price to $60 they offered me a deal to get 2 years for $84 and I took that. I will never pay $60 and I will never pay for ads to be pushed in my face.dmase said:
I am also sick of billion dollar corporations talking about how they aren't making enough money without ads.
You know, I don't think ANY website advert has ever made me want any product save AdBlocker. Nor did WipeOut HD's 'adverts while you load' concept.
Ads are a prime way to piss me off and make me look elsewhere for content. I doubt I'm the only one with that opinion. Well done to those who shot Microsoft down on this!
Ads are a prime way to piss me off and make me look elsewhere for content. I doubt I'm the only one with that opinion. Well done to those who shot Microsoft down on this!
Now I don't know how much ad revenue microsoft bring in but lets assume it would take 6 bucks a person per year to make up the difference. You, or whoever wants to pay for it is now charged 66 bucks a year instead of 60 or you can see and ad at the bottom of your screen. Your choice, I know which side I'm on. The side with 6 bucks!Crono1973 said:
You know, I think you're right. I seem to recall Syndicate Wars had 2000AD logos on the sides of trucks, or showing Judge Dredd clips on in-game billboards. Wipeout 2097 (and maybe some others) had Red Bull billboards lining the track.Frostbite3789 said:
Yet for some reason, I've only now thought of them as adverts... to me, they were always just decoration.