Xbox Live Free?

[Buddy H2O]

I was just wondering. People were telling me that Xbox live will become free starting Next month but I haven't heard anything whatsoever on it. I usually wouldn't post a thread about a rumor I heard but it seems logical enough. Sony and Nintendo both have free online gaming(I think) and Microsoft doesn't want to lose any money so they are going to make Xbox live free. True or not true? Up for discussion whether they should do it or not and would it make a difference.

[Blue]

I highly doubt it will be free.

As it might be a good idea, in a way, it's also a very bad idea, they will not only lose money, but how on earth are they supposed to support their servers?

[PMS Evil]

Actually i heard a lot abotu this to all talk and no actions. I think it woudl be pretty smart to make it free because microsoft would most likely loose soem players to the other makers, welp, hopefully it happens but. i guess we'll see does anyone no for sure?

[H2O SkywalkerX]

no. M$ won't do that. they know people will pay to play the games online, and they want the money, plus there are enough M$ fanboys that they wont lose any money to competitors

[OoO Pai OoO]

Yea, I think making it free is the smartest idea. I know alot of great players who cant afford to pay for Xbox Live. I havent heard the rumor but, I would love if it changed to being free.

[H2O Default]

As for them having enough money to support their servers... It's Microsoft, Ol' Gates himself could pay for their servers for a decent amount of time :p

[PMS SenShi]

I think it shouldnt be free cuz then people (example modders standbyers ect.) will have new accounts allll the time and it wouldnt matter if they got banned they can just make more and more accounts. i know they do that anyway but it will be worse if it was free :D

[PMS Evil]

you no what great point senshi, but im sure if it was free, there would be no more two months or anything.. liek u woudl have to pay to get a tag, but not to keep it

[edx]

PS3 and Wii online are free subscriptions?

[Kal-El]

I think it's the other way around. If they make it free, they'll lose a lot of players. At least I know that I'll never get XBL again (once I finally get my 360) if it's free.

Free means tons and tons of kiddies joining and being annoying and creating accounts for nothing.

Already with the first XBL you had the people that lived on 2 month trials. Every two months a new name and a pain in the @ss for all their friends that have to keep track of all these name changes.

Not to mention all the names those people have used up that will never be able to be used again, making it harder for people who want to sign up LEGITIMATELY to find a name that isn't "leeted up" or just a random jumble of letters and numbers. I'm sorry, but when I see "Spartan541254," "Spartan 1337 man," "Master Chief 4554a," and "Fi5h3r 842512" all in one server I'm tempted to hang myself.

MS should keep charging for XBL to keep the service at it's premium (with maintenance, upgrades, etc) and to keep the riff-raff to a minimum.

I realize there's the silver accounts, but there's no reason to sign up a million silver accounts per person so it's not really a problem.

BTW: I may be wrong, but I always heard PS2's "online" service was free. The reality of it is, didn't they charge on a per game basis (for some games). It's probably going to be the same kinda deal with PS3.

I'd rather pay 50$ a year and play all the games I want, then have to deal with having to pay for each game separately.

[Buddy H2O]

I think it's the other way around. If they make it free, they'll lose a lot of players. At least I know that I'll never get XBL again (once I finally get my 360) if it's free.

Free means tons and tons of kiddies joining and being annoying and creating accounts for nothing.

Already with the first XBL you had the people that lived on 2 month trials. Every two months a new name and a pain in the @ss for all their friends that have to keep track of all these name changes.

Not to mention all the names those people have used up that will never be able to be used again, making it harder for people who want to sign up LEGITIMATELY to find a name that isn't "leeted up" or just a random jumble of letters and numbers. I'm sorry, but when I see "Spartan541254," "Spartan 1337 man," "Master Chief 4554a," and "Fi5h3r 842512" all in one server I'm tempted to hang myself.

MS should keep charging for XBL to keep the service at it's premium (with maintenance, upgrades, etc) and to keep the riff-raff to a minimum.

I realize there's the silver accounts, but there's no reason to sign up a million silver accounts per person so it's not really a problem.

BTW: I may be wrong, but I always heard PS2's "online" service was free. The reality of it is, didn't they charge on a per game basis (for some games). It's probably going to be the same kinda deal with PS3.

I'd rather pay 50$ a year and play all the games I want, then have to deal with having to pay for each game separately.


I was talking to one of the guys about the charge per game thing and he told me thats how it was supposed to be but they ended up making the whole service free.

What alot of you aren't realizing is that they aren't THAT stupid. I mean I'm sure they will allow a certain amount of accounts on 1 hard drive and if you want another account you would have to pay a small fee or something.

Also what i don't understand is that all these problems that could occur on 360....what makes yo think they wont happen on ps3 or wii for that matter? I dont know much so i probably sound like an idiot but lemme know.

[GeekesS]

One difference between Xbox Live and PSNP (Playstation Network Platform) is that Microsoft runs all game servers in house - meaning all games made by third party developers are hosted on Microsoft servers. SCE has developed the main infrastructure for the network but it is run off the internet and licensees are able to hook up their servers to the network. This allows the third party developers (being the licensees) to charge for any content they want, including charging to play multiplayer games.

This is the same way that the network was on the PS2 online, although it was never really done as a charge per game basis.

I enjoy Xbox Live Gold being a paid subscription. As others have stated before having to pay $50 per year tends to deter some of the less desirables.

*Source 1 (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15378)

*Source 2 (http://www.cnet.com.au/games/0,239029232,240061123,00.htm)

[Buddy H2O]

One difference between Xbox Live and PSNP (Playstation Network Platform) is that Microsoft runs all game servers in house - meaning all games made by third party developers are hosted on Microsoft servers. SCE has developed the main infrastructure for the network but it is run off the internet and licensees are able to hook up their servers to the network. This allows the third party developers (being the licensees) to charge for any content they want, including charging to play multiplayer games.

This is the same way that the network was on the PS2 online, although it was never really done as a charge per game basis.

I enjoy Xbox Live Gold being a paid subscription. As others have stated before having to pay $50 per year tends to deter some of the less desirables.

*Source 1 (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=15378)

*Source 2 (http://www.cnet.com.au/games/0,239029232,240061123,00.htm)


That makes sooo much more sense. Thanks. Now that i read that i doubt they will make it free.

[Look Its a Panda]

I enjoy Xbox Live Gold being a paid subscription. As others have stated before having to pay $50 per year tends to deter some of the less desirables.There still seems to be a rather large bunch of these less desirables on XBL. But I can only imagine the horrors that would ensue if the service was free.

I don't really have a problem paying for XBL, $50 a year is pretty damn cheap, atleast when games like World of Warcraft alone will set you back €11 a month.

[Tybiggy]

I doubt they will make it free because basicly put it like this. If they make it free they will not only lose about 100 million dollar profit a year but will have to pay for the servers out of their own pockets.

Whos gonna do that?