XBL should be free of charge

[QUOTE="blue_tape"] This is what I'm saying. I'm tired of paying for cake, because it's not just cake you're paying for. You have to pay frosting fees and decoration fees, nevermind that cake makers expect me to pay for a knife, a fork and a plate. Sony offers free online service on the PuddingStation 3, so there's no excuse and they even give you a spoon too. Now is the time for Microsoft to make cake free, or at least make it more manageable by having the option to pay per slice of cake.Kennyofhearts

The Playstation Three dosen't offer the same type of Online service, but hey if you want free service get the PS3 and stop complaining. It's not like microsoft is gonna make it free because a couple of people are whining about it on some forum.

[QUOTE="tryfe_lyn"]it should be free...sorry...LuvGaming

It should be free... MS makes a ton of cash everywhere else and the only reason they charge is there's enough people out there willing to pay it. It's not like the software is that good that they need millions of dollars per month to up keep it. It's pure profit with no overhead. Then they charge people for dling stupid little pictures and stuff?? People will buy anything.

The cost should already be incorporated into the cost of the 360 and the games. (without increasing anything) A dollar from each multiplayer game sold would be more than enough to up keep the system. Or if they charge like they do, actually offer something besides charging people more for crap.

why should it be free? As consumers, i understand that we all LIKE the idea of it being free. Microsoft provides us a product, that being the 360, and they provide games for that product that we can play. That is what we have paid for when we buy the xbox. there is no "right" to be able to use microsoft servers under microsoft managment using miscrosoft software, and monitored by microsoft customer support. Xbox live is a seperate service. You don't need it to play your 360. just like you don't have to buy the remote to use the dvd player, but some people may choose to.

Xbox Live is optional, and is not required to play and enjoy your xbox. When you consider everything you recieve for it, the cost is minimal, and in my opinion fair. If you don't like the cost, don't get the service.

I still don't understand at all why people complain about paying for Xbox Live

Think about it, you're paying only 50 bucks to have a FULL YEAR of the best online game service. I think it's one of the best deals in gaming.

I still don't understand at all why people complain about paying for Xbox Live

Think about it, you're paying only 50 bucks to have a FULL YEAR of the best online game service. I think it's one of the best deals in gaming.

Von-Dozier

There are already enough douche bags on XBL. If the service were free that number would increase exponentially.weasel_cleaner

and one more point :).I would rather pay a nominal fee, and keep the service excellent. Free service would mean that we were getting exactly what we paid for. The customer support would disappear, the servers would not be as good, etc. I value my money, and ifI did not think the service was not worth paying for,I would not pay for it. Microsoft knows this too, which is why they charge for it.darkelf505

They charge for it because you'll cough up the cash. If all the systems released at the same time it would have had to be free. Customer support would not dissappear or anything get worse, it's about selling units and getting what they can from the gullible buying public. And the cost will get less. First deals will appear at retailers, eventually the price will drop online and then one day a bonus for everyone... free like it should have always been because you've paid for the service now twice.

1st time: When you bought the console and every multiplayer game you've purchased since. (Just combine that all into one, contributing to the system already in place.)

2nd: When you pay the needless cost every month or year because you think your getting value for your money.

[QUOTE="darkelf505"]and one more point :).I would rather pay a nominal fee, and keep the service excellent. Free service would mean that we were getting exactly what we paid for. The customer support would disappear, the servers would not be as good, etc. I value my money, and ifI did not think the service was not worth paying for,I would not pay for it. Microsoft knows this too, which is why they charge for it.BongMonkey

They charge for it because you'll cough up the cash. If all the systems released at the same time it would have had to be free. Customer support would not dissappear or anything get worse, it's about selling units and getting what they can from the gullible buying public. And the cost will get less. First deals will appear at retailers, eventually the price will drop online and then one day a bonus for everyone... free like it should have always been because you've paid for the service now twice.

1st time: When you bought the console and every multiplayer game you've purchased since. (Just combine that all into one, contributing to the system already in place.)

2nd: When you pay the needless cost every month or year because you think your getting value for your money.

It's a business. Microsoft said, "Okay, we're going to provide an online service for our console, and it's going to cost $50 a year" The public ate it up. Millions of gamers have Live, some with more than one account (like myself). It has nothing to do with being "gullible" or people getting conned out of their money. If no one bought it, then MS would have had to rethink their prices and positioning. But since people are subscribing, and MS is making money off it, it's not going to change, especially since it's a helluva service for $50 a year. Like I said earlier, it's a service being offered that you can CHOOSE to have or not. It's up to the buying public, and the public is buying it. Good business. It is what it is, whether you like it or not.

you already said it though, and I agree. they charge because the public pays. if gamers think it it worth the cost(which they are saying it is when they choose to pay), the Microsoft will charge. i disagree though. Xbox live is definitely the best online service, and I truly believe that is because they charge. thinking the service will not degrade if it is made free is niave. Microsoft will cut corners in order to reduce their costs...I'd rather see the srvice stay great personally. if you want it free and not as good, change systems.darkelf505

How is it anymore naive than thinking it would change or degrade the service?

How much do you honestly think it costs to provide what they do? It's already in place and they pay a department for the upkeep and programming changes. (nothing compared to what they pull in fees)

I say the service wouldn't change at all because it's there to sell systems, and what the public pays is just extra profit that is not needed to keep the service where it is or make it better. That will happen regardless. The only real extra value your getting is the value that your mind creates by equating a dollar amount to it. If it was free you probably wouldn't think much of the service other than it's better than PS3's and I don't care who makes the system if the games I play are good, but after shelling out 60 - 70 a game you've already paid, and in my opinion your a sucker if your willing to pay more for a product you've already bought.

[QUOTE="BongMonkey"]

[QUOTE="darkelf505"]and one more point :).I would rather pay a nominal fee, and keep the service excellent. Free service would mean that we were getting exactly what we paid for. The customer support would disappear, the servers would not be as good, etc. I value my money, and ifI did not think the service was not worth paying for,I would not pay for it. Microsoft knows this too, which is why they charge for it.Creeping_Wolf

They charge for it because you'll cough up the cash. If all the systems released at the same time it would have had to be free. Customer support would not dissappear or anything get worse, it's about selling units and getting what they can from the gullible buying public. And the cost will get less. First deals will appear at retailers, eventually the price will drop online and then one day a bonus for everyone... free like it should have always been because you've paid for the service now twice.

1st time: When you bought the console and every multiplayer game you've purchased since. (Just combine that all into one, contributing to the system already in place.)

2nd: When you pay the needless cost every month or year because you think your getting value for your money.

It's a business. Microsoft said, "Okay, we're going to provide an online service for our console, and it's going to cost $50 a year" The public ate it up. Millions of gamers have Live, some with more than one account (like myself). It has nothing to do with being "gullible" or people getting conned out of their money. If no one bought it, then MS would have had to rethink their prices and positioning. But since people are subscribing, and MS is making money off it, it's not going to change, especially since it's a helluva service for $50 a year. Like I said earlier, it's a service being offered that you can CHOOSE to have or not. It's up to the buying public, and the public is buying it. Good business. It is what it is, whether you like it or not.

selling magic rocks was a business too, people thought they were special but they had the same product in their backyard for free all along.

Some PC games offer multi-play for free and have great services they want more customers playing their game online, the money's been made. If everyone CHOOSE not to buy into it, you would have the same service for free.

I am a 360 fan by the way and currently only own a 360 because it has the games, I don't play multi too much and have only used free offers because it's not worth it for me to pay extra money for product that's already been purchased.

no, it should not be free. if they didn't make us pay we'd be stuck with a mediocore service *cough* psn *cough* when we pay, we get a great service *cough* xbox live *cough*ctfvyrsgurbnorn

MS still needs to fi all the lag problems.

Psnhas lag too, but live has way more. Ms should spend that money were paying for to fix the lag problems.