Why does Microsoft charge for online?

[The Killa]

 

Not all of that money is profit though.

 

THink of the money paid to staff, and to produce the game, and get it sold in stores.

 

They still make bucket loads of money, but not as much as you say, and unless the pay $120 directly to activision, they probably sell their games to stores for a retail of like 20-50 bucks less.

In fairness those figures are incorrect to an extent considering other factors as well (staff wages, internal game services such as character transfers, faction changes, as well as merchandise) but with all those combined it still is a somewhat accurate ballpark figure.

 

Doesn't change the fact it's a major cash cow.

 

Ultimately, PS3 and Xbox fanboys can argue all they want, but you need deeper pockets than them if you want to be a PC gamer

[CharmingCharlie]

 

World of Warcraft: 12 million subscribers. Fifteen dollars a month.

I wondered who would mention World of Warcraft a game that needs dedicated servers hosting thousands of gamers. That is quite different to Microsoft providing match making servers and the majority of online is actually P2P. Yep that is right boys and girls when you pay Blizzard you at least get dedicated servers but when you pay Microsoft you get the pleasure of having to host the game yourself.

 

However that is just ONE game on the PC, the majority of games feature multiplayer for free and if you do not want to pay to play an MMO then there are plenty of f2p MMO's. On the 360 you have no choice, pay up or you don't play online end of story.

 

 

Oh yeah and the fact that PS3's and XBOX 360's cost at least 5x less than a PC that's good enough to run any games today.

 

 

Ultimately, PS3 and Xbox fanboys can argue all they want, but you need deeper pockets than them if you want to be a PC gamer

 

Man you really are clueless about PC gaming aren't you ? A PC to play games at 1920 x 1080 will not cost you 5 x more than a console. I didn't even pay that 4 years ago when I built my quad. I paid about £600 for my quad at that time the PS3 was about £425.

 

I would actually argue that PC gaming works out cheaper in the long run than consoles. The main cost of gaming is the games and that is where PC gaming trumps consoles the games are always at least £10 cheaper than the console.

 

But the actually system ownership costs are not an issue here (why you felt the need to raise them is beyond me). The fact is PC, PS3 and Wii owners get multiplayer for free the Xbox 360 backed by one of the richest companies on the planet doesn't. That is called milking and they will continue to do it whilst there are idiots stupid enough to pay for it.

Edited December 3, 2010 by CharmingCharlie

[The Killa]

I don't have time for a nerdy essay right now, have to leave for work soon. Ultimate point is PC gaming is will always be more expensive than consoles. WoW was just a single example. HOWEVER, I do think that PC gaming is better, just at the cost of well, a higher cost.

 

Oh yeah, in today's standard a decent PC is 1,000 USD, an Xbox is 200 USD. Unless I've failed math 200 goes into 1000 five times. Even if it you take the cheaper route and build your computer and buy your own parts it will significantly be more expensive, still.

[[SM]CJZera]

Actually, building one yorself is cheaper than purchasing, besides you can always upgrade one part at a time...

 

I still can't believe MS charges for MP though, I mean, I knew they are greddy as heck (Paying for games to delay their release on other consoles is only one such thing)

But it's pretty much incredible they get away with charging money for using a service you already bought (waiting for someone to point out the "cars use fuel" analogy)

[ptiko]

I don't have time for a nerdy essay right now, have to leave for work soon. Ultimate point is PC gaming is will always be more expensive than consoles. WoW was just a single example. HOWEVER, I do think that PC gaming is better, just at the cost of well, a higher cost.

 

I don't have time for a nerdy essay right now, have to leave for work soon.

 

Woah bro.

 

PS3 + 10 games cost me around £800 (2008)

PC, which could out do consoles with ease, plus 15 games £700 (2008)

 

So l0lumadbro

[Runey]

 

CJZera,Dec 3 2010, 16:32] But it's pretty much incredible they get away with charging money for using a service you already bought (waiting for someone to point out the "cars use fuel" analogy)

Um, so your electric, water, internet, phone, cooling/heating companies are doing things illegally by charging a monthly bill?

 

Here's how they get away with it, they're providing a service. In this case, their server to play online with. They can charge whatever they want for it, or none at all like PSN. You're either willing to pay or you're not. Simple as that.

Edited December 3, 2010 by Runey.

[CharmingCharlie]

 

Here's how they get away with it, they're providing a service.

That is the thing though they AREN'T providing the online service. There are very few games on XBl that use dedicated servers. The vast majority of games use P2P (peer 2 peer) all Microsoft does is provide the match making servers the actual game takes place on the users xbox. So for the vast majority of games not only is the user paying to play multiplayer they are also having to host the damn game themselves.

 

[GrandMaster Smith]

i hate M$ for charging for every little fackin thing. Shirt for your avatar thatll serve no real purpose? $5. A cat that rolls around by your avatar that serves no purpose, $6.

I feel like thats just a major 'f*ck you' from microsoft making loyal customers actually pay for online service then charging them for every little thing ontop of that. It's like if I'm handing out cash for something I could easily be getting for free, then I should atleast be getting some free goodies or SOMETHING along with it, not making us pay for sh*t that literally serves no purpose whatsoever.. oh and not to mention that they actually just jacked the prices even higher this last month.. like f*ck..c'mon

[CharmingCharlie]

 

oh and not to mention that they actually just jacked the prices even higher this last month.. like f*ck..c'mon

Oh boy then you aren't going to like what I am about to tell you you know that price hike that XBL received well it is rumoured that is down to Activision.

 

The theory goes something like this :-

 

In July Bobby Kotick stated "majority of Live users play CoD and Activision gets no cut of subscription fees"

In August the price hike was announced

In November the price hike happened

In November Kotick was now saying this "Activision does enjoy a "very modest amount of the subscription fees,"

 

There you go even if you don't play COD 700 you still pay for it.

Edited December 4, 2010 by CharmingCharlie

[darthYENIK]

Wow, f*ck Activision if that's true. That's lower than even EA would go.

[The Killa]

 

Actually, building one yorself is cheaper than purchasing, besides you can always upgrade one part at a time...

 

Yes that's exactly what I said. Infact I'm really tempted to do that one day but I'd do a better job at sh*tting on an alligators head while masturbating and saying the alphabet backwards than building my own computer.

 

 

Wow, f*ck Activision if that's true. That's lower than even EA would go.

 

Wouldn't surprise me in the least. What with WoW and CoD giving them enough money to make to wipe their bums (and potentially make a GOOD game for once instead). If that rumor is true it would only confirm Activison is now, indeed, with the likes of EA. ie: scum.

[E.A.B.]

CJZera,Dec 3 2010, 16:32] But it's pretty much incredible they get away with charging money for using a service you already bought (waiting for someone to point out the "cars use fuel" analogy)

Um, so your electric, water, internet, phone, cooling/heating companies are doing things illegally by charging a monthly bill?

You....you're really a die hard Microsoft fan, right?

 

 

Actually, building one yorself is cheaper than purchasing, besides you can always upgrade one part at a time...

 

Yes that's exactly what I said. Infact I'm really tempted to do that one day but I'd do a better job at sh*tting on an alligators head while masturbating and saying the alphabet backwards than building my own computer.

It's literally like building legos

[Chinatown Wars]

Because MS is a company and thats what companies do.

If your going to bitch about it, dont pay for it.

Im happy paying 60 dollars a year for it and 99.999999% of my friends that i know in real life have an xbox, and xbox live. I think its worth it.