Why do people pay for Xbox Live?

[Coldster]

To paraphrase MovieBob: Picture this, your walking down a dark and miserable street on a dark and miserable day, a sudden sense of the familiar comes over you and as you stop to take note of your surroundings, your struck by the realization that your standing in front of the house you grew up in. And when I mean the house you grew up in, I mean precisely that. Its painted the way it used to be, your treehouse is still there, and dads car is in the driveway. That asshole who moved in after you isnt living there and before you can get your bearings, you hear an unmistakeable sound coming from the backyard. "It can't be!" you tell yourself, but your legs are already moving. You dash to the yard and take one look and fall to your knees in total astonishment, in defiance and all know logic of this world or the next, you dog is alive again. Part of you wants to know whats going on, part of you doesn't really care, your just indiscribably happy. Just then there is a sound from the bushes, you turn and swallow hard and expect something bad to happen, but instead, a intelligent-looking man in glasses springs forth and announces himself as the creator of this magical place. He makes known his ability and intention to maintain and perserve it however often and however long you may wish him to. In compensation he asks only for a mere $50 a year so he can continue to finance the production of niche market video game consoles and a secure online service. Before he can continue, or answer his terms your attention is drawn to the near horizon. Over it you can hear the gnashing of teeth and the stomping of hooves; an army is approaching. A dark army representing everything corrupt and painful and dark outside your newly found oasis. Without a word passing between the two of you, you come to understand the stakes. Without the intelligent man with glasses not here to protect this place where everything that was once good and right in the world remains unspoiled, it will fall to this army of evil. If he doesn't stop them, they will burn your childhood home to the ground and kill your dog and prop up his corspe as a grotesque puppet show. As proof of this, your eyes are drawn to what is left of the Sony house across the street. Given that, given all that, wouldn't you give the intelligent man in glasses the $60 a year, hell, would it really be odd to find yorself swearing allegiance to this great man and his holy mission?

 

[Dansrage]

I really don't mind paying at all, it's less than the price of a new game for an entire year of quality service, you get access to so much and the service really is the best around. Better than PSN, better than Steam, it's the most user-friendly and i have never once had a single problem with connectivity or lag in the three years i've been using it.
It makes a pleasant change from spending 4 hours trying to set up a dedicated server on Steam, or dealing with the numerous communication problems on PSN.
The only thing that can be a pain with XBL is learning how to open the right ports for open NAT, but once you know how it's simple.

Theres all that, plus the fact that pretty much the only games i'm interested in playing online for extended periods of time are the Halo series, which is of course exclusive to Xbox 360.
Steam has some great games but they're a pain to play online, i tend to just play offline with games like Left 4 Dead or Gmod.

I'm just not a big fan of online games i guess, yet i'm willing to pay for Gold pretty much just for Halo, i wouldn't use it otherwise.

 

[Mozza444]

I actually used to like this website, came here quite often..
In the last 2 threads i have been in i have seen complete PC Elitists bitching about how to build the best PC.
And now things like this:

Well, we pay to not have our information stolen >.>

Banks pay for security in many different forms and shit they still get robbed.
It just makes me glad that i have an old fat PS3 that overheats easily and i cant go online..
Why?
Stops me turning into pricks like these.
I got better things to do.

Also

you are basically paying $60 a year for cross-game chat and that is it.

I'm perfectly happy with this. I don't know WHAT I'd do without the 'party chat' system. I use it practically 95% of the time my xbox is turned on, and for about the same price of a single game, I happily pay each year.

Like i said i have PS3 and actually prefer its interface (I use it alot for films/music ect)
However i agree with that reason above.. cross-game chat is so much better than all of the things PSN has to offer.

 

[philzibit]

You can see where the money is going when DLC for Fallout and COd get released early on 360.

That, and it IS more stable all around. When you pay for something, there is the incentive to maintain upkeep.

You do realize you are not paying Microsoft to get your games or DLC early, you would've got those games/DLC at the same time regardless, it's just that PS3 users get the games LATER. You are paying Microsoft money only to spite PS3 users and nothing else. No customer actually wins with timed exclusives, there's only customers that lose. Sony pays for timed exclusives as well, and I don't agree with them doing that either.

If Fallout is more stable on 360 it's just because the 360 is more like a PC and the game is just buggier on the PS3, not because Microsoft paid Bethesda or Obsidian money to make the game more stable on 360. The Fallout games are buggy on all systems.

Fallout isn't more stable, the online experience is more stable.

 

[Yostbeef]

At this point I think multiplayer gaming should be included with a silver membership.I only have gold so I can use services like netflix and ESPN.

 

[fingerbang143]

I think people pay (myself included) because they clearly do get a better gaming experience

 

[Dansrage]

I have a somewhat unrelated question.
Is there a reason why PSN have never implemented a cross-game chat system?
It seems to be what everyone wants, i can't see it being too difficult to include.

 

[Katana314]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

 

[dancinginfernal]

Because it doesn't hurt to pay $60 a year, because I can't afford a Playstation 3, and because each of my friends have an Xbox 360.

I like my friends. I don't give a shit if I'm paying more than I should just to speak to them.

 

[Dansrage]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

The money you pay doesn't just go to Bill Gates' wallet, it's used to improve and manage the very thing you're paying for. The more you pay the more money they have to maintain and improve the services they provide.
Yes i realise they're rich, but they're rich for a reason, because people like you and me choose them over other companies, and that amount of money allows them to invest in really great stuff which in turn rewards us for choosing them.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Because they charge for it.

But in all seriousness, Online is about 90% of my time gaming. PSN doesn't cost as much money, but when you think that a PS3 cost about 50 dollars more (from the last time I checked) and doesn't have the same amount of support and a faulty wireless adaptor, you are in essence paying about the same.

I just want to point out that for the longest time, 360's did not have any built-in wireless adapters whatsoever. So if you had a wireless connection, you needed to buy a router specifically for the console. Considering that you can typically get third party routers for somewhere between between $20-$30 it wasn't that big a deal. But guess what Microsoft was charging for their "official" wireless router at the time?

$100.

I mean good god, that was at least $70 overpriced. For me, that cemented Xbox Live as a bit of a scam, price-wise. I mean if Microsoft was willing to cheat their customers that much just so they could access the service in the first place, then it was hard for me to think Live could be worth $60 a year. That's a good chunk of the reason I opted for a PS3 once the price went down.

I'm not doubting that Live is a good service, I just don't see anything that drastically different between Live and PSN that makes me thing the former is worth paying extra for. The same goes for PSN Plus, so don't go thinking I'm a fanboy or anything here.

P.S It appears the official adapter is now typically listed at $80, which is still way too god damned much. [http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Wireless-Network-Adapter-Networks/dp/B000B6MLV4]

 

[Naeo]

Microsoft exists to make money. People are willing to pay for Xbox live Gold, since millions currently are. Therefore, Microsoft makes them pay for it so that Microsoft can make money. It's not really an issue of "let's be good people and do what seems sensible," it's really mostly about "let's make money". Which is the entire reason for any for-profit business/organization in history being in existence. It doesn't mean they go to literally any extreme to make money (like screwing over their customers to no end), but money is the bottom line in any business. So Microsoft makes money where it can.

Really, Xbox Live Gold is analogous to PlayStation Plus. You pay more for extra features. Lots of people pay for it. Different scope of services but same basic concept: pay more, get more.

 

[Katana314]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

The money you pay doesn't just go to Bill Gates' wallet, it's used to improve and manage the very thing you're paying for. The more you pay the more money they have to maintain and improve the services they provide.
Yes i realise they're rich, but they're rich for a reason, because people like you and me choose them over other companies, and that amount of money allows them to invest in really great stuff which in turn rewards us for choosing them.

What? I JUST covered why they don't need that money to maintain anything. In most cases, they are easily able to survive simply from purchases of games themselves, as demonstrated by Games For Windows Live. If it were unprofitable for them, they'd shut it down and call it a day.

The "and me" in "people like you and me" is incorrect; I don't pay for XBL. I certainly don't pay Microsoft for things like operating systems just to invest in their future; I pay because I expect a solid-featured product.

 

[Dejawesp]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

The money you pay doesn't just go to Bill Gates' wallet, it's used to improve and manage the very thing you're paying for. The more you pay the more money they have to maintain and improve the services they provide.
Yes i realise they're rich, but they're rich for a reason, because people like you and me choose them over other companies, and that amount of money allows them to invest in really great stuff which in turn rewards us for choosing them.

What? I JUST covered why they don't need that money to maintain anything. In most cases, they are easily able to survive simply from purchases of games themselves, as demonstrated by Games For Windows Live. If it were unprofitable for them, they'd shut it down and call it a day.

The "and me" in "people like you and me" is incorrect; I don't pay for XBL. I certainly don't pay Microsoft for things like operating systems just to invest in their future; I pay because I expect a solid-featured product.

Filthy socialists! Microsoft does not exist to give you free stuff while just bringing in enough money to "stay afloat". They exist to make a profit. The better they perform the more customers they get and the more money they make. That's the market incentive.

 

[Ddgafd]

Alright, I'll look at some of the points made that I've seen in this thread:

-Better games

Purely an opinion and since so many games are multiplatform these days it's just silly to say that.

-Better controls

Again, purely an opinion. It also depends on the game.

-Cross-game chat

PSN DOES have this feature(more or less, I dunno, haven't tried it.) along with a text chat option.

-All my friends play Xbox as well

Okay, consider this: What if PS3 came out first and it would be the same as it is now? And after it has been out for a year or so, 360 is released with the membership fee. Which one do you think people would flock to? Pretty much it's a matter of timing, so it really can't be considered a viable point.

Honestly though, both consoles are great. If LIVE users wanna pay for something they can access on a computer(Facebook, last.fm etc.) or the web browser on the PS3(really wonky BTW) they should be allowed to without questioning why they do that. They got the money, they can pay for it.

 

[Katana314]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

The money you pay doesn't just go to Bill Gates' wallet, it's used to improve and manage the very thing you're paying for. The more you pay the more money they have to maintain and improve the services they provide.
Yes i realise they're rich, but they're rich for a reason, because people like you and me choose them over other companies, and that amount of money allows them to invest in really great stuff which in turn rewards us for choosing them.

What? I JUST covered why they don't need that money to maintain anything. In most cases, they are easily able to survive simply from purchases of games themselves, as demonstrated by Games For Windows Live. If it were unprofitable for them, they'd shut it down and call it a day.

The "and me" in "people like you and me" is incorrect; I don't pay for XBL. I certainly don't pay Microsoft for things like operating systems just to invest in their future; I pay because I expect a solid-featured product.

Filthy socialists! Microsoft does not exist to give you free stuff while just bringing in enough money to "stay afloat". They exist to make a profit. The better they perform the more customers they get and the more money they make. That's the market incentive.

Well, the thing is, I'm not posting here to try to convince Microsoft to lower their prices. Economically, it makes sense to charge as much as you can.

"All I know is, I find the dumbest, most useless stuff I can, and when you guys ask for it,I think of the biggest number I can! A million! A hundred million! A TRILLION! And you guys PAY IT!! So who's the dummie now, huh!?" - Bosco, Sam and Max

I'm posting here to convince XBL payers that that they are paying for more than their service is worth. If people stopped paying for it, Microsoft would lower that price or eliminate it entirely. It's all about supply and demand.

 

[Dansrage]

I think this thread would be much harder for XBL fans to argue if PSN didn't exist. They'd actually have to stand on their own merits.

Oh yeah, and all those demos and such that take up so much bandwidth, and that peer-to-peer multiplayer experience; they're free on Games For Windows Live, as horrible as it is. It is absolutely possible for Microsoft to give out that experience for free.

The money you pay doesn't just go to Bill Gates' wallet, it's used to improve and manage the very thing you're paying for. The more you pay the more money they have to maintain and improve the services they provide.
Yes i realise they're rich, but they're rich for a reason, because people like you and me choose them over other companies, and that amount of money allows them to invest in really great stuff which in turn rewards us for choosing them.

What? I JUST covered why they don't need that money to maintain anything. In most cases, they are easily able to survive simply from purchases of games themselves, as demonstrated by Games For Windows Live. If it were unprofitable for them, they'd shut it down and call it a day.

The "and me" in "people like you and me" is incorrect; I don't pay for XBL. I certainly don't pay Microsoft for things like operating systems just to invest in their future; I pay because I expect a solid-featured product.

Filthy socialists! Microsoft does not exist to give you free stuff while just bringing in enough money to "stay afloat". They exist to make a profit. The better they perform the more customers they get and the more money they make. That's the market incentive.

Well, the thing is, I'm not posting here to try to convince Microsoft to lower their prices. Economically, it makes sense to charge as much as you can.

"All I know is, I find the dumbest, most useless stuff I can, and when you guys ask for it,I think of the biggest number I can! A million! A hundred million! A TRILLION! And you guys PAY IT!! So who's the dummie now, huh!?" - Bosco, Sam and Max

I'm posting here to convince XBL payers that that they are paying for more than their service is worth. If people stopped paying for it, Microsoft would lower that price or eliminate it entirely. It's all about supply and demand.

But why would i NOT pay for it? Why would i boycott a service i am entirely happy with?
If you can't afford ?30 a year, you need to get a better job.
I see no reason why Microsoft should lose millions of dollars a year just to please an entitled minority who think people should give them stuff for free, just 'cause.