Xbox LIVE Silver Re-invention

How about, you get 15 hours a month of Xbox live on the Silver plan. It isn't a lot but you can fill a weekend or two. This would be better suited for the casual gamer and the gamer that only goes online once in a blue moon like myself.

How about, you get 15 hours a month of Xbox live on the Silver plan. It isn't a lot but you can fill a weekend or two. This would be better suited for the casual gamer and the gamer that only goes online once in a blue moon like myself.

spinecaton

ITs not $50 a year for the LAST TIME.. You can get a annual card at Amazon for $25 to $35, that ranks in as $3 a month at most.sSubZerOo

Dude, not everyone shops on Amazon, not everyone got credit cards, most people still prefer going to Bestbuy or their local store to get one. Having said that, it is $45 tax included.

Before I say my peace, NO, Lemmings, I am not disrespecting your console, nor am I bashing XBOX LIVE. I am merely stating my opinion.

I have friends that own 360s, and they constantly badger me to play. I do not want to pay for online. 50 bucks a year/ 8.65 per month on top of an internet service provider bill does not bode in my book.Sony is releasing a paid subscription plan, to which I will not jump on board either. One benefit, however, is that they will keep the free PSN online service that every Cow on this thread loves.

Now I present the following target of my topic and the one thing that prevents me from ever considering or picking up a 360: XBOX LIVE silver. It is, above all things, a joke...and by joke I mean the design and concept of it's predications. True I can chat with friends and all with it. I can do cross game chat, and I can listen to my music whilst playing, but here's the thing: I can't play online unless Microsoft "wills it". Whenever they "will it" is nearly never, and at times when it is inconvenient. It also is inconvenient to know that when my friends (who have gold accounts) want me to play an xyz game, I can't play with them in not only the Microsoft Silver time laws, but also because some of their features (party chat) needs gold account service.

Now this is what I hope happens in the future:

I can live without party chat (I don't need it), but I would like Silver to have free access to online just like Gold does on a regular basis. Microsoft can even sweeten up gold by offering faster DL speeds and more content, and slow everything for Silver, but still it would be nice to have free online to be played not based on a companies whim but by a gamer's whim.

What say you, SW?

Zanoh

I think that what MS should do is make games that are over 1 year old free to play on silver and games under 1 year old are paid through gold. This way, people who want to play NOW can, and gamers who want free play get the old batch to play. Or they could even do a 2 year cycle. Makes more sense to me since gold will maintain its draw and silver will be mostly happy, win win!

[QUOTE="Zanoh"]

Before I say my peace, NO, Lemmings, I am not disrespecting your console, nor am I bashing XBOX LIVE. I am merely stating my opinion.

I have friends that own 360s, and they constantly badger me to play. I do not want to pay for online. 50 bucks a year/ 8.65 per month on top of an internet service provider bill does not bode in my book.Sony is releasing a paid subscription plan, to which I will not jump on board either. One benefit, however, is that they will keep the free PSN online service that every Cow on this thread loves.

Now I present the following target of my topic and the one thing that prevents me from ever considering or picking up a 360: XBOX LIVE silver. It is, above all things, a joke...and by joke I mean the design and concept of it's predications. True I can chat with friends and all with it. I can do cross game chat, and I can listen to my music whilst playing, but here's the thing: I can't play online unless Microsoft "wills it". Whenever they "will it" is nearly never, and at times when it is inconvenient. It also is inconvenient to know that when my friends (who have gold accounts) want me to play an xyz game, I can't play with them in not only the Microsoft Silver time laws, but also because some of their features (party chat) needs gold account service.

Now this is what I hope happens in the future:

I can live without party chat (I don't need it), but I would like Silver to have free access to online just like Gold does on a regular basis. Microsoft can even sweeten up gold by offering faster DL speeds and more content, and slow everything for Silver, but still it would be nice to have free online to be played not based on a companies whim but by a gamer's whim.

What say you, SW?

Phazevariance

But what if it was profitable, and what if it did compete with XBL Gold...does that not make the silver model seem outdated?

I revised my last post. Also, its doubtful sony's platinum will sell well. If it did, yes silver would look dumb, BUT it will only sell if it has draw, and right now, it does not.

I revised my last post. Also, its doubtful sony's platinum will sell well. If it did, yes silver would look dumb, BUT it will only sell if it has draw, and right now, it does not.

Phazevariance

I saw your revision. An excellent proposal. It even makes those with the gold account much more solidified. As for a guy with a silver, is the just deserts for being free, but AT least we would play online down the line rather than give or take free online.

I hate that I downloaded car packs on Forza 3, but they are locked(am I doing something wrong?). And in my inbox it says "You have recieved a gift from Turn 10." But, you need XBL Gold. Some gift.

Kahuna_1

[QUOTE="Phazevariance"]

I revised my last post. Also, its doubtful sony's platinum will sell well. If it did, yes silver would look dumb, BUT it will only sell if it has draw, and right now, it does not.

I saw your revision. An excellent proposal. It even makes those with the gold account much more solidified. As for a guy with a silver, is the just deserts for being free, but AT least we would play online down the line rather than give or take free online.

Exactly! EXACTLY. People are SATISFIED with this. People like this model. People are fine with Xbox Live. The people who aren't? Are in a minority. As far as they care, they can wipe their arses with that fifty bucks a year. The only time it becomes a serious "issue" is one someone against Microsoft decides to clamor on about how much people are being ripped off. Are they really when they are enjoying it? I don't think so.

AncientDozer

To note, I am not in the supposed minority. Let's take into account for a moment that out of the three consoles, the Wii is the highest selling console. It has a bare-bone minimal online. It's free though so really no one should complain otherwise that's just being downright distasteful. The PS3 is trailing 5-6million units behind the 360's sales, and it too has free online.

Not saying free is better than paid subscription because subs get benefits from it. I am not "Anti-Microsoft" but at the same time, I am a man of practicality, logic, and reason. I pursue it thusly. There is nothing wrong with XBL Gold, there IS however something wrong with silver. And it does indeed show especially when competition is presenting a business plan that shows Silver's outdated model architecture.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]ITs not $50 a year for the LAST TIME.. You can get a annual card at Amazon for $25 to $35, that ranks in as $3 a month at most.def_mode

Dude, not everyone shops on Amazon, not everyone got credit cards, most people still prefer going to Bestbuy or their local store to get one. Having said that, it is $45 tax included.

Not to mention that not everyone lives in the states.

Here is what the "New silver" should be, free online,Can download demos, Add on's,and keep the rest of "Old silver" features.

So There's still reason to buy gold for people who want Facebook, Netflicks,etc. and extras Content.

I do not see where this $50 a year comes from. Amazon usually has it for $40 and there are always sales on it.Mythomniac

[QUOTE="Episode_Eve"][QUOTE="Jynxzor"]Personally the online for any gaming system should be free, hell even if it's litteraly no frills, hell even take out Voice chat. I just want to be able to play my games online for free, I already pay for my access to the internet....why the hell should I have to pay again just to access the internet?savagetwinkie

So your saying that Live is a better online experience than pc?......really? Steam>>>>>>>>>>Live

[QUOTE="savagetwinkie"][QUOTE="Episode_Eve"] My sentiments. I would love to see MS restructure their XBL services. If PSN remains free and cross-game chat is added, I think it could put MS in a tougher position regarding online consumers.dachase

So your saying that Live is a better online experience than pc?......really? Steam>>>>>>>>>>Live

I do not see where this $50 a year comes from. Amazon usually has it for $40 and there are always sales on it.Mythomniac

canada it 50 dollars a year

[QUOTE="dachase"]

[QUOTE="savagetwinkie"] people have a misconception of what live actually is, why it acutally costs money. No other service offers what live offers, even if ps3 and pc can mimic its features the whole point of live is what is built in under the hood so the devs can use it, and we can get better quality online that supports every feature of live across the board. Something simple like voice chat in a game isn't already built in on pc and ps3, so depending how much the dev's allocate resources to it, you get varying degrees of quality with voice.lhughey

So your saying that Live is a better online experience than pc?......really? Steam>>>>>>>>>>Live

It's really simple. if you don't want to pay for Live..don't. I'd love to see Microsoft come up with free multi-player, but I doubt it will ever happen. There is more of a chance that Sony will start charging for multi-player. Matter of fact I would say that it's a really good chance in the future. I know Sony has said it will remain free, but it would be hardly the first time Sony has said something and then back peddled away from it later.

Back to the original point. There are plenty of opportunities to get Live alot cheaper than $50 a year. I personally have never paid more than $30 a year for it. All you have to do is watch Best Buy, Amazon, etc. BB has Live on sale usually at least twice a year for $29.99 ($2.50 a month). Right now even Microsoft is selling 3 months of Gold for $9.99. Add to that the fact that as a Silver member you can play online for free on special weekends.

Bottom line is this, if you really can't afford $30 a year then gaming is probably not the hobby for you. If you are complaining as a matter of principle, then that's cool. I also think MS should allow Silver members to play online all the time for free. However the Live business model is the Live business model, and it's unlikely to change any time soon. Especially since they make millions of dollars every year on it.

IMO, MS should give away (1) 24 hr period per week and Every game that is preordered should come with a free month of Gold code. This would probably help push 1st day sales of games while allowing casual online players to enjoy Live once a week for free.

Yes, gold members get netflix and stuff though.

Here's one for you:

Keep everything the same except that Silver gets to play online. BUT.... they can only play private/custom matches with people on their friends list. No one else. No ranked play. No quick matches. No community events.