They're freaks with too much money!

Sorry I misunderstood. I have no idea what would happen under that scenario. Heh, when I first saw the thing on IGN I though ps2.ign.com was behind it and thought they were making fun of themselves. You gotta admit, sour grapes on MS's part or not, it's pretty hilarious.

[Freak] Join us.... join us!! Braiiinsss... [/Freak]

(As a PS2 owner) pretty funny. I think it's kinda all blown out of proportion. I don't think either of their online plans will be wildly successful.

They mentioned that you will need to buy a longer string. I'm sure that'll be easy. Just look hanging out of cats butts.

Do they come with quick-disconnects in case someone accidently trips over them or gets them caught in the ceiling fan?

I think this was quite a funny joke. But I would like to thank Microsoft for reminding me the Network Adapter will be released soon though.

Some developers will try, but then when nobody is willing to pay, they'll go back to free online games.

I really don't want to argue with you, but please at least put an "imo" next to that.

some games will always cost more and some will be free for good. Take madden for example. The game is free to play until the servers go down next year just in time for madden 2004. With the xbox you have the xbox live fee and then some games will cost more to play. I don't think this joke was a big deal but I also didn't think it was all that funny. Not my kind of humor I guess.

It was my understanding that Xbox live is where you will pay the fee and that all games that come out for Xbox live will be free of charge to play. You have to pay for the game of course just as with everything else... but Xbox live isn't going to have games that charge extra to use the servers. Unless you read something I didn't... care to enlighten me?

Yeah man, Xbox is a jealous ho! I know PS2 is gonna run Microsoft out of buisness man! [/sarcasim]

Lighten up, no need to make this shyte into a console war, it was a joke. take it as that for crying out loud.

Judging by the way things are going, I would say that makes you a "sensitive prick" Am I close?

And I understand xbox live the same way Trigger does. Unless I confused myself with all this online info.

mature:


The whole pay-to-play thing is up in the air at this point. It could definitely end up being $50/year and that's the only fee you pay. There have not been any games announced yet where you would have to pay extra to play them, although it seems like something like Star Wars Galaxies and other online RPGs would be that way.

The same goes for PS2 in the opposite direction, companies can charge what they choose for online games so what's from stopping EA from charging $5/month to play their sports games online? Nothing, they haven't announced that yet, but who knows, down the line it could happen.

Okay, I'm not sure if you read my other replies or not. I'm not making this into a "console war". Other people seem to take the smallest thing and turn it into a focal point of discussion, trying to turn it into one. (console war)

Console wars are stupid because everyone likes something different, no matter how stupid you think a 3DO is someone is going to swear by it being the end all of entertainment, and that it was just "ahead of it's time." etc. It's like debating American cars versus imports.

My goal for posting is not to make MS, Nintendo, or Sony look bad. My goal is to share my POV on things and correct people on stuff I know is wrong. I prefer my GC over the other 2 I've owned, so what? That doesn't mean I can't make a fair call on a marketing move by MS.

[]I'm sure you guys are right and MS is not jealous at all, and did it just for fun with no other motivation. [/sarcasim]

I'm an Xbox Live beta tester. Live will cost $49 per year. You buy your games for $49 and pay nothing more for Live play.

Is that pricing concrete? In other words has MS committed to that price level for following years? Thanks.

Actually - Xbox Live was designed this way so that you didn't have to pay extra per certain games, so the pay-to-play on a per-game basis isn't going to happen. What is still up in the air is how much the Xbox Live service will cost forever. So far it's looking like 50 bucks a year - but I've also heard that they are toying with the idea of making it $9.95/month after the first year or two and that they are comfortable with that. Either way, they aren't going to charge extra for a certain game - no matter what it is. That's the PS2...
Was this set in stone or does it look like they may change it to $9.95/month sometime down the line?

haha... read my mind, jeff. And it looks like you read it an hour and a half ago... good job!

Well, seeing that only a very small percentage of people have broadband I think Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot (and I own an Xbox, not a PS2). Playing Quake III and Daytona USA online with my Dreamcast was a heck of a lot of fun(on 56k). Lag was not a major problem.

As much as I hate to admit it, Sony made the right choice with offering 56k AND broadband choices. Every PS2 owner can get online if they choose. How many Xbox owners, realistically, do you think will be online? I won't have cable/DSL available to me anytime soon, so the PS2 is looking more and more appealing. If you play any PC games online, check the pings and you will see that 56k'rs far outnumber cable/dsl players. And many, including myself, do quite well against these LPB's!!

I have broadband and an Xbox and I'll be getting Xbox Live (at least until they go to 10 bucks a month if they decide to do that)... I've played for years with a dialup speed connection and I would do really well against the LPBs, but broadband is where it's at. I'm glad it's all one unified system - level playing field. No HPBs to clog up the game. And on the PC - most places I visit kick you off if your ping is too high. That's right, I said "high"... it seems like 56kers are disappearing from the servers... that could just be due to where I'm looking. I don't think MS shot themselves in the foot - they sell a broadband service - MSN Broadband... I think this is marketing genius. I think alot of people have broadband and an xbox and that this will be alot of fun. There was another thread where someone mentioned that 2 or 3% of PS2 owners were going to get their online package and the number was a higher percentage for xbox owners. I think it worked out to be more people for the ps2, but Xbox's ratio was more impressive. blah.

I don't keep up on all the game articles like some folks here but I read it here that some games, like Galaxies, would still charge a monthly fee. Also, $50 is only for the first year and the following year might change to $10 a month.

So they're not charging extra for Phantasy Star Online anymore? I thought I remembered hearing about a $10 a month charge from Sega?

Well then I don't know... I just typed what I had read. I saw some E3 Xbox Live presentation as well and they never mentioned charging per game (but they never mentioned Phantasy Star Online either)... Where did you read that info?

I think I read it on IGN originally but I found this on google (there's a few otheres if you search for Phantasy Star Online Xbox). It looks like they haven't announced the fee for the US but people have to buy an extra "hunter's license" to play online in Japan.

Well, that's Japan and so far they are approaching Japan much differently - here's hoping they keep their word wrt the American market.