Strange PSN theory?

[Crunchy English]

So there's this new theory floating around, I saw it on GT's Bonus Round, and in the shop where I work. Apparently, PSN being free is actually detracting from the experience. The idea goes like this:

People don't pay to play on PSN, and therefore it is difficult to deny them the privilege. Basically, a one month ban on XBL is costing you money and the threat of that ban keeps people in line. Without anything at risk on the network, people behave even WORSE than they do on Xbox Live. This creates a less enjoyable play enivornment and keeps the online population low.

I don't know how much stock I put in this theory, but it's come up a couple times today and its pretty interesting. Also, I can't afford a PS3, free online or not, so I have no opportunity to test it.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

So there's this new theory floating around, I saw it on GT's Bonus Round, and in the shop where I work. Apparently, PSN being free is actually detracting from the experience. The idea goes like this:

People don't pay to play on PSN, and therefore it is difficult to deny them the privilege. Basically, a one month ban on XBL is costing you money and the threat of that ban keeps people in line. Without anything at risk on the network, people behave even WORSE than they do on Xbox Live. This creates a less enjoyable play enivornment and keeps the online population low.

I don't know how much stock I put in this theory, but it's come up a couple times today and its pretty interesting. Also, I can't afford a PS3, free online or not, so I have no opportunity to test it.

XBL cannot ban you unless you break contract, while Sony can do whatever the hell they want because it is their account and you are just "renting" it.

 

[D_987]

I think thats true, I remember teamkilling on a friends PS3 (COD 4) for ages just because I could and they couldn't report me. On the 360 people have microphones and can report you.

PSN has more power but dosn't inforce it because they have (to my knowledge) no report system.

 

[ChocoCake]

That theory falls apart by the fact that people on the PsN do not act like jackasses the whole time. In fact, paying for live gives people a sense of entitlement, making them feel like they can act however they want. So paying for Live makes it worse.

Very true, very true. Thou art wise.

 

[D_987]

That theory falls apart by the fact that people on the PsN do not act like jackasses the whole time. In fact, paying for live gives people a sense of entitlement, making them feel like they can act however they want. So paying for Live makes it worse.

Being a "jackass" is subjective to opinion, I assure you 90% of live users do not act like jackasses (In my opinion).

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

XBL cannot ban you unless you break contract, while Sony can do whatever the hell they want because it is their account and you are just "renting" it.

No, their allowing you to use their network. You're not paying anything so you're not renting. And XBL has a rather harsh and comprehensive contract, a guy from my high school got banned for having less than 50% reputation for a month.

Anyway I don't think this theory is generally valid. If PSN's price has been harmful it's been from Sony having no funds from the service to invest in it.

 

[Phyroxis]

I play on PSN and don't really notice a "negative" air about the community.. We'll see what happens with HOME.

*snicker*

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

That theory falls apart by the fact that people on the PsN do not act like jackasses the whole time. In fact, paying for live gives people a sense of entitlement, making them feel like they can act however they want. So paying for Live makes it worse.

Being a "jackass" is subjective to opinion, I assure you 90% of live users do not act like jackasses (In my opinion).

As is your opinion, this goes in circles.

I play on PSN and don't really notice a "negative" air about the community.. We'll see what happens with HOME.

*snicker*

Well from what I heard from a friend women aren't crucified for being gamers on home. Unlike most of xbl >.>. They are followed around quite frequently though.

 

[shatnershaman]

PSN vs. XBL round 4000

Now I want a clean fight. No 1337 speak. No direct insults. and NO references to anyone's mother.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

PSN vs. XBL round 4000

Now I want a clean fight. No 1337 speak. No direct insults. and NO references to anyone's mother.

!*Makes the alarm sound*

Your disguise doesn't fool me. Shoudn't it be round 9069?

 

[D_987]

Yeah, this won't end well, simply because this theroey is all subjective. There are jackasses on both systems, and each system has its own set of rules.

You heard the idea from the Bonus round (I beleive the guys name is Patcher?), this is the same man who claims Gears of war 3 will be multi-platform with no other proof than "exclusives are becoming rarer".

 

[Crunchy English]

PSN vs. XBL round 4000

Now I want a clean fight. No 1337 speak. No direct insults. and NO references to anyone's mother.

Wasn't really the point of the thread. Maybe I'll just bug a mod to lock things up before it gets out of hand. I was just curious what people opinions of PSN was, and if this theory held any water.

 

[shatnershaman]

PSN vs. XBL round 4000

Now I want a clean fight. No 1337 speak. No direct insults. and NO references to anyone's mother.

!*Makes the alarm sound*

Your disguise doesn't fool me. Shoudn't it be round 9069?

And I would have gotten away with it to if it wasn't for you meddling nanomachines.

Round 4000 in gaming discussion. 9069 includes the rest of the Escapist.

 

[Eldritch Warlord]

Well from what I heard from a friend women aren't crucified for being gamers on home. Unlike most of xbl >.>. They are followed around quite frequently though.

Where does any of that come from, really? Home isn't out yet and from my Live experience female gamers aren't given harsh treatment there.

 

[Kermi]

That theory falls apart by the fact that people on the PsN do not act like jackasses the whole time. In fact, paying for live gives people a sense of entitlement, making them feel like they can act however they want. So paying for Live makes it worse.

Being a "jackass" is subjective to opinion, I assure you 90% of live users do not act like jackasses (In my opinion).

This. I don't know where people get the idea that XBox Live is populated solely by drunken fratboys who are out to ruin everybody's day. Maybe one game of Halo 3 in fifteen is ruined by jackholes who teamkill or shit-talk, you avoid them and move onto the next game. The worst I experience these days are teenagers (usually British for some reason) who whine about me stealing their kills. In a team game. When I was shooting first. And they were in the middle of a respawn.
Anyhow, like everything else online, I suppose you pay the most attention to the vocal minority.

I haven't played any games over PSN, mainly because I bought all my good multiplayer games on my 360 and will probably continue to do so at least while I'm paying for a gold subscription. From what I understand based on what my friends tell me, the main thing that keeps people from acting like dicks on PSN is that hardly anyone has a headset, so most games are silent.
Which might be better, I don't know.

 

[Crunchy English]

Well Sony's due out with their own specific PS3 headset,which might make it a simpler decision than going out and purchasing a standard Bluetooth one.

To drive this topic around potential flaming, let me ask a question some of you might find a bit naive. Just how elaborate is PSN's friend list system? Because the best way to avoid idiots in XBL is to completely fill a game with people from your friends list. Does PSN have a similar option?

 

[ThePlasmatizer]

Well from what I heard from a friend women aren't crucified for being gamers on home. Unlike most of xbl >.>. They are followed around quite frequently though.

Where does any of that come from, really? Home isn't out yet and from my Live experience female gamers aren't given harsh treatment there.

It's in Beta testing, making a conclusion before it even comes out is pointless though.

Really it depends on which games you play on XBL which will determine the amount of griefers, on Halo 3 you will probably get the most and you will get a lot less on SC4.

Pretending PS3 owners are a different breed to 360 owners is ridiculous, gamers will always be gamers whichever system you play on.

One of the major arguements in the PS3 vs 360 battle is that you have to pay for XBL, which isn't really that much of a problem when you consider everyone who does play XBL don't have any complaints about paying for it.

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

Currently owning both systems... people are way worse on Live. Every night on Live I have ran into complete douche bags. Usually on PS3, this happens once a week. Most of my friends on PS3 are people i've never met in real life where as all my friends on Live are real life friends.

Take from it what you will, that's just my observation.

 

[Bulletinmybrain]

XBL cannot ban you unless you break contract, while Sony can do whatever the hell they want because it is their account and you are just "renting" it.

No, their allowing you to use their network. You're not paying anything so you're not renting. And XBL has a rather harsh and comprehensive contract, a guy from my high school got banned for having less than 50% reputation for a month.

Anyway I don't think this theory is generally valid. If PSN's price has been harmful it's been from Sony having no funds from the service to invest in it.

Yet I still get some dick in 95% in all my live games. The reputation thing is avoidable with having freinds rate you higher so the only real way for that to happen for most people is if a clan gangs on you.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

XBL cannot ban you unless you break contract, while Sony can do whatever the hell they want because it is their account and you are just "renting" it.

actually it's the same reason for both, you just want to bad mouth Sony so you look cool and have some street cred

the thing is both services can deny you for what ever reason they want, you should read the xbox live agreement, there's a LOT in it and if they banned everyone for breaking the rules they'd not have a lot of ppl and some very stressed out tech support cause of ppl calling says "why was i banned?"