Why pay for online gaming?

[bigcurty]

I have been playing Halo online through Gamespy and its free. I dont understand what would be the point, or what would I gain by paying Microsoft every month to play online?? With there be more features or will they just include more games???? I am really confused about this. Does anyone really know about this or is it all rumors????

[Crazy Joe]

the way i figure it, for games like halo and tony hawk and stuff will probably be free(like Quake and StarCraft, MMORPGs on the other hand will probably have a subscription fee, (like Anarchy Online and etc).

[Toder]

the version of gamespy u are using is a trial version which eventually they will drop and just start a pay only site. So when microsoft comes out with xbox online you might as well pay for it instead of gamespy. Since the only user on it will all be xbox owners. Plus there might be a deal right now between the two to test the online ability of the xbox. Who knows, after they come out with xbox online gamespy might not be providing xbox online play. These are just speculations that i have so please no one get offended. I feel that after xbox online goes active all ather online gaming sites my stop support with the xbox.

[Sangha]

Microsoft will probably be more stable and have better servers, while GameSpy will be a free service with poorer quality.

[adamw19]

I say online gaming should have no fee of anything. We are paying money for the internet anway. 40 bucks a month for my internet.

[dougi3000]

The games where customers are game serving other customers should be free..

Where as if MS has to keep a server online (for persistant online worlds and whatnot) so people can join it, those are probably pay. (since no one else with an Xbox can serve a persistant world)

But Match Making services should be free.

[El Pollo Loco]

I think paying 10-15 / month is fair. That way theres always money for upkeep on the servers and things like that.

[Jake4511]

Well from the info I got about the xbox online service there offering is. The fee is going to cover, Matchmaking, Chat room and the normal stuff. AND the XBOX comm. which is that headphone looking thingy. That comes with the service. Thats just what i heard from OXM, XBN, EGM.

[Hugh_Jass]

For one thing, GameSpy requires a PC to act as a liason. The MS network will allow standalone XBOX configurations. It will be plug-n-play. That, and the massive bandwidth and robust servers all cost money. MS could foot the bill themselves but I doubt they will. I'd like to see a 30-day free trial, however.

[Capt Marvel]

Big Picture.....Think big..... "IF " MS decides they wants your to pay to play on their online service...you ask yourself why...why because they included that big honking hard drive so they could stream you the exe files for any game you want to play multiplayer style online only!!!would you pay for that...sure... and after you done playing the file delete themselfs . Id pay 20-30 a month for that for sure..

[JJaX]

Your paying to be part of a gaming network. Everything you will play will run great because the network is meant to suit your gaming needs. Not to do your homework or d/L porno and Mp3's.

YA STAND ME!

[FpS_PhReeK]

A nominal fee of 10-20 bucks a month is fair, I mean they sold us the systems at a loss. Be realistic and consider the buisness end of this. Capt Marvel, Hugh_Jass, Jake4511, El Pollo Loco, Sangha, Toder and JJax have all brought up good points. I disagree with Gortholomew's assessment:

the way i figure it, for games like halo and tony hawk and stuff will probably be free(like Quake and StarCraft, MMORPGs on the other hand will probably have a subscription fee, (like Anarchy Online and etc).

I do not imagine that there would be any free gaming provided, there would probably be a month long trial or something but I would doubt a constant availability of free online gaming from MS. It just would not be fair or pratical.


PhReeK out!

[JJaX]

Theres more Staff working on the network compared to the staff who created the Xbox. Thats gotta tell you something, Something GooD!

[Capt Marvel]

Originally posted by FpS_PhReeK
A nominal fee of 10-20 bucks a month is fair, I mean they sold us the systems at a loss. Be realistic and consider the buisness end of this. Capt Marvel, Hugh_Jass, Jake4511, El Pollo Loco, Sangha, and Toder have all brought up good points. I disagree with Gortholomew's assessment:




I do not imagine that there would be any free gaming provided, there would probably be a month long trial or something but I would doubt a constant availability of free online gaming from MS. It just would not be fair or pratical.


PhReeK out!

10-20 US - 20-30 CND ..from now on Ill post $$ with CND

[Capt Marvel]

Oh heres another thought on why pay.. IF you have open source games..IE: all xbox games... then you have the ability to delvelop MODS, free add-0ns, all kinds of stuff. So lets say Unreal Championship is out ... great ,, but then MS says hey DL this new MOD and play some "Gun Slinger" a totally different FPS style game would you pay for that....Think Counter Strike or Cheater Strike whatever you want to call it.. That would be cool feature maybe worth some $$$

BTW: Gun Slinger is a mod for Ghost Recon..Coming soon to XBOX...wicked wicked game

[El Pollo Loco]

Originally posted by JJaX
Your paying to be part of a gaming network. Everything you will play will run great because the network is meant to suit your gaming needs. Not to do your homework or d/L porno and Mp3's.

YA STAND ME!

Sh*t , you mean the xbox won't let me download porn?

[l Maximus l]

As of right now, Halo will not be able to play on-line via Microsoft's new on-line network coming this summer. I hope they change that or provide some sort of add-on disc or something.

I believe that Microsoft will provide a very reasonable fee for all gamers. Microsoft's goal is to make the on-line forum very successful...and, by doing that, they need to be "reasonable" on the cost, therefore, getting as many players as possible. The on-line forum would be a complete failure if there were barely any gamers on it...so, of course, they want to make sure that enough players are on-line to make it as successful as possible.

There's no doubt in my mind that many of us will be on-line regardless of the price. The vast majority of XBA members, as well as TXB and other incredible XBox websites, contain people that are more interested in gaming technology versus the average "joe" that simply owns an XBox.

I work part-time at an electronics retailer and the vast majority of the customers that come in have no idea of the technical attributes that the XBox contains. In other words, they havve no idea what the XBox is capable of and don't even know what the term "broadband" means!!

So, Microsoft really needs to keep a very open mind when they start charging for their on-line services. Otherwise, they won't get people that are not using their XBox's full potential.

[JJaX]

If the Network is free, Ill pay for broadband at my place just for the box cause i dont even have a computer right Now!!!

[l Maximus l]

Originally posted by JJaX
If the Network is free, Ill pay for broadband at my place just for the box cause i dont even have a computer right Now!!!

I think that will be exactly what most people will be doing that own XBoxes and don't own computers. I mean, think of the possibilities here!

Imagine playing Unreal Championship with a total of 32 dudes and having ZERO lag! This is going to be sweet!

[JJaX]

Ive played in 32+ player with like 30 ping in FPS before, and let me tell you now, its great. CTF with this many people is a blast. Most defenses have about 4-8 people defending the flag alone (yet JJaX could still steal it with skill and percision, dam im good)