Games for Windows - Live Goes Totally Free Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Games for Windows - Live Goes Totally Free Posted by XanTium | July 22 18:09 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From edge-online.com: [QUOTE] During Microsoft's Gamefest 2008 in Seattle on Tuesday, the company seemed to finally answer year-old criticisms about its pricing strategy for Games for Windows - Live. Microsoft said that it would no longer be charging for "premium" online features in Games for Windows - Live titles, such as TrueSkill matchmaking, cross-platform gameplay and multiplayer achievements. The change takes effect immediately for all existing and future Games for Windows - Live titles. [/QUOTE] Full Story: edge-online.com

[Tiuk]

MS to Xbox owners: "Fuck you!"

You'd think we would at least get charged less if PC users are getting this free.

Not that it's worth arguing over.

[linkinworm]

wtf, why do they get s*** for free? most games get PC ports, so why should they get to play online for free when we have to pay like what £40 in the UK, MS screws is customers once again, tbh i dont see what gold has to offer other than online play these days, even thats laggin in every game because we pay money to use out connection has the server, we should at least get dedicated servers for this crap

[jlees]

Makes Sense. Windows Gamer's aren't used to paying for online features... My main gripe isn't paying for XBOX LIVE (though now it is one...)

Mine is now... Tell me again why the Xbox version is $10 to $20 more than the PC Version???? Grid for example, is 39.99 at Walmart for the PC version and is 59.99 for the 360 version.

Throw on top of that that the DLC, like maps et al, costs more!

[xcalixxryderx]

I'm hoping this isnt going to kill any future cross platform titles but it will be nice to possibly see more peeps on gears

[xjustsumloserx]

M$ trying to charge for "windows Live games" to be played online was destined to fail. PC gamers can play any other game they want, besides MMOs, for free. So why start charing now.

I dont mind paying to play on xbox live, as it is the best, most social and connected service. BUT I am pissed that we have to host our own game servers with our own bandwidth. At least UT3 has it right. Midway has dedicated servers set up, and you can also set your box as a dedicated server. No other 360 game I have seen does this. Last one I remember was unreal championship for the original xbox.

[quarky43]

Paying to play on a PC is about as smart as paying for bottled air.

I've been playing video games online for free since before there was an online... back in the day when you had to use a phone line to dial into your friend's computer and play head to head that way or when you had to setup a local area network to play that way.

Since the internet was new/upcoming it just got better each year being able to play games for only the cost of the game and an internet connection.

Only until the XBOX came along was I ever asked to pay to play online, and for the XBOX I simply refused. When I got a 360 I decided to pay since I found a good price on live subscription on ebay. I still resent having to pay to play online especially since I don't have time to play every day or even every week.

I for one am very happy to hear that MicroShaft has started to come to their senses at least with regards to a PC. I sure hope this is the tip of the iceburg where they open up a free-to-play-online service for the console next. They can have a two tiered system if they want, but they really need to make sure that when you pay for it you actually get something more. They made the gold membership sound like it was going to give you access to a lot more, but no basically it is just a way to get your money to pay for playing online using your own bandwidth to create/host matches.

[pholly]

As long as people keep buying Live they'll keep selling it. The best way to get it free is for everyone to stop buying gold memberships until they make it free, like that will ever happen

[Nunix]

As long as people keep buying Live they'll keep selling it. The best way to get it free is for everyone to stop buying gold memberships until they make it free, like that will ever happen

But then we wouldn't be able to play online. If I could have JUST the multiplayer portion of xbox live for free and the rest would be paid, I would NOT pay for xbox live every again.

[eenu]

But then we wouldn't be able to play online. If I could have JUST the multiplayer portion of xbox live for free and the rest would be paid, I would NOT pay for xbox live every again.

What else is there to Xbox Live Gold? I hope you're not talking about that dumb thing where they hold off on releasing trailers and stuff for 2 weeks for silver members because nobody would pay for that if multiplayer was free.

[wilson2010]

oh people come on!

just because some other group of people is getting stuff for free you thing you deserve to get something for free.

i like live, i play almost daily. i download games, trailers, demos and what not. if my 50 dollars a year do their part in keeping it fast, stable and comfortable i am HAPPY to pay 50 dollars.

[HotKnife420]

oh people come on!

just because some other group of people is getting stuff for free you thing you deserve to get something for free.

i like live, i play almost daily. i download games, trailers, demos and what not. if my 50 dollars a year do their part in keeping it fast, stable and comfortable i am HAPPY to pay 50 dollars.

But your $50 *isn't* paying for that. You paid your ISP for the bandwidth you use for multiplayer gaming, you buy full games & movies you download, demos & trailers are advertisements that the developers/producers pay MS to host, in hopes you'll buy their product as a result.

[triggert]

I feel that Microsoft can get away with charging for Xbox Live on the 360 because most console gamers don't exactly understand that all they're paying for is an introduction... almost like a "dating service" if you will. You pay Live to hook you up with someone. Live introduces you, then you're on your own to pay whatever other costs might be involved in your "dating" experience (such as the ISP, games, etc.). They couldn't expect to charge PC gamers who've been "dating" on their own for years now.

This post has been edited by triggert: Jul 23 2008, 06:32 AM

[Lynas]

No other 360 game I have seen does this. Last one I remember was unreal championship for the original xbox.

Rainbow 6 Vegas / 2

[Nunix]

What else is there to Xbox Live Gold? I hope you're not talking about that dumb thing where they hold off on releasing trailers and stuff for 2 weeks for silver members because nobody would pay for that if multiplayer was free.

No, I didn't even know about that. I'm talking about having to have Gold just to have a video chat with the vision camera YOU bought, for example.