You really do get what you pay for with XBL

Since the NXE update I have really began to notice how solid of a platform that XBL really is. Aside from a few games having horrible matchmaking (Gears 2 comes to mind), it usually is an extremely stable and fast platform for online gaming. Integrated friends lists and scoreboards are really well done.

If you think about it, that $50 a year really gets you some stuff nobody else offers. You get a lot of features that are simply taken for granted. Coming from a PC gamer a lot of the features of XBL seem more like luxuries. With PC gaming you need to use outside program to have friends lists, you need to create an account for every single game you play online, you need to usually use an outside program for VoIP and usually then you need to connect to some dedicated server. For the experienced PC gamer like myself it is no problem, but it can be an hassle.

With XBL you get all of that integrated. Now with the Party feature it is even more integrated. You can talk to anybody on XBL playing any game at any time. It is one method of communications that is absolutely wonderful.

I used to see a lot of people bashing XBL. They say that PSN and the PC offer all of the same features. Collectively the two platforms do, independently they don't offer the features that XBL has. With XBL your not just paying for the features, your paying for the ease of use and accessibility that comes with those features to really enhance your gameplay experience.

Collectively I actually believe it is a stronger platform than both PSN and PC gaming for online play. Sure PSN offers many of the same features and so does PC gaming, but both lack all of the features and just the overal stability. I know that PC gaming benifits from dedicated servers, but that can get difficult for people to navigate server browsers, find the one they want, download any addons on loadup, and then finally play, only to be booted because of a reserved slot or something. With matchmaking, you really just hit go and you can easily get into a server. I have been playing a lot of CoD WaW on the 360 because of how easy it is to find a good quality game without the hassle of finding a solid server. Thats the reason why I bought it for the 360 over the PC, becuase I enjoy all of the features of XBL.

Since the NXE update I have really began to notice how solid of a platform that XBL really is. Aside from a few games having horrible matchmaking (Gears 2 comes to mind), it usually is an extremely stable and fast platform for online gaming. Integrated friends lists and scoreboards are really well done.

If you think about it, that $50 a year really gets you some stuff nobody else offers. You get a lot of features that are simply taken for granted. Coming from a PC gamer a lot of the features of XBL seem more like luxuries. With PC gaming you need to use outside program to have friends lists, you need to create an account for every single game you play online, you need to usually use an outside program for VoIP and usually then you need to connect to some dedicated server. For the experienced PC gamer like myself it is no problem, but it can be an hassle.

With XBL you get all of that integrated. Now with the Party feature it is even more integrated. You can talk to anybody on XBL playing any game at any time. It is one method of communications that is absolutely wonderful.

I used to see a lot of people bashing XBL. They say that PSN and the PC offer all of the same features. Collectively the two platforms do, independently they don't offer the features that XBL has. With XBL your not just paying for the features, your paying for the ease of use and accessibility that comes with those features to really enhance your gameplay experience.

Collectively I actually believe it is a stronger platform than both PSN and PC gaming for online play. Sure PSN offers many of the same features and so does PC gaming, but both lack all of the features and just the overal stability. I know that PC gaming benifits from dedicated servers, but that can get difficult for people to navigate server browsers, find the one they want, download any addons on loadup, and then finally play, only to be booted because of a reserved slot or something. With matchmaking, you really just hit go and you can easily get into a server. I have been playing a lot of CoD WaW on the 360 because of how easy it is to find a good quality game without the hassle of finding a solid server. Thats the reason why I bought it for the 360 over the PC, becuase I enjoy all of the features of XBL.

Wasdie

nah you clearly have no idea what you are talking about...that's cool everything's intergrated/connected to one service...but if that service's server/xbox live server get's knocked offline you cant play online....while pc games are simply ran off peoples home pc's and a master server gathers the servers hosted by people and gives you a list to choose from....even if the master server on pc get's shut down..if you know a running servers ip address you can manually input it and still play.

I 100 percent disagree [feels like a blog]

With XBL your not just paying for the features, your paying for the ease of use and accessibility that comes with those features to really enhance your gameplay experience. Wasdie

for someone who doesn't enjoy online multiplayer, it definitely isn't worth it. .foxhound_fox

I disagree. I don't believe anyone should pay for online gaming, regardless if it's worth it or not.siLVURcross

People shouldn't pay for services they believe are worth paying for? That's an interesting belief.

I really like Xbox Live, and have no problem with the fee.

Call me crazy. I don't mind paying 50 a year for it.musicalmac

Considering the only advantages of Gold over Silver are online play and early demos, for someone who doesn't enjoy online multiplayer, it definitely isn't worth it. foxhound_fox

Call me crazy. I don't mind paying 50 a year for it.musicalmac

i didnt mind...at first..but screw that...that's a game i could of bought.

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

Since the NXE update I have really began to notice how solid of a platform that XBL really is. Aside from a few games having horrible matchmaking (Gears 2 comes to mind), it usually is an extremely stable and fast platform for online gaming. Integrated friends lists and scoreboards are really well done.

If you think about it, that $50 a year really gets you some stuff nobody else offers. You get a lot of features that are simply taken for granted. Coming from a PC gamer a lot of the features of XBL seem more like luxuries. With PC gaming you need to use outside program to have friends lists, you need to create an account for every single game you play online, you need to usually use an outside program for VoIP and usually then you need to connect to some dedicated server. For the experienced PC gamer like myself it is no problem, but it can be an hassle.

With XBL you get all of that integrated. Now with the Party feature it is even more integrated. You can talk to anybody on XBL playing any game at any time. It is one method of communications that is absolutely wonderful.

I used to see a lot of people bashing XBL. They say that PSN and the PC offer all of the same features. Collectively the two platforms do, independently they don't offer the features that XBL has. With XBL your not just paying for the features, your paying for the ease of use and accessibility that comes with those features to really enhance your gameplay experience.

Collectively I actually believe it is a stronger platform than both PSN and PC gaming for online play. Sure PSN offers many of the same features and so does PC gaming, but both lack all of the features and just the overal stability. I know that PC gaming benifits from dedicated servers, but that can get difficult for people to navigate server browsers, find the one they want, download any addons on loadup, and then finally play, only to be booted because of a reserved slot or something. With matchmaking, you really just hit go and you can easily get into a server. I have been playing a lot of CoD WaW on the 360 because of how easy it is to find a good quality game without the hassle of finding a solid server. Thats the reason why I bought it for the 360 over the PC, becuase I enjoy all of the features of XBL.

yowtfyowtfyo

nah you clearly have no idea what you are talking about...that's cool everything's intergrated/connected to one service...but if that service's server/xbox live server get's knocked offline you cant play online....while pc games are simply ran off peoples home pc's and a master server gathers the servers hosted by people and gives you a list to choose from....even if the master server on pc get's shut down..if you know a running servers ip address you can manually input it and still play.

I agree that xbl is well done, but I still don't see a reason for a fee. If fact there is no reason for a fee, it's why PC gamers get pc live for free. Console gamers just don't know any better.nmaharg

[QUOTE="nmaharg"]I agree that xbl is well done, but I still don't see a reason for a fee. If fact there is no reason for a fee, it's why PC gamers get pc live for free. Console gamers just don't know any better.IronBass

I nag on XBL because of the price, it really is a cool service, it just really pains me to pay for it, I'm a student, money is a luxury lol. And it pisses me off that all your really paying for is too play online, the rest is pretty much free. I rather have free online and have to pay for certain features.Eddie-Vedder

There's no beating around the bush. You're paying $50/year to play games online with no dedicated servers. Buying a game for $60 and not being able to play certain features on it without having a subscription is bar-none one of the most absurd things this gen (IMO).jharv

Yup, you definitely get what you pay for. I wish Sony would start charging, so that they could build up their online infrastructure.BioShockOwnz

Yup, you definitely get what you pay for. I wish Sony would start charging, so that they could build up their online infrastructure.BioShockOwnz

[QUOTE="jharv"]There's no beating around the bush. You're paying $50/year to play games online with no dedicated servers. Buying a game for $60 and not being able to play certain features on it without having a subscription is bar-none one of the most absurd things this gen (IMO).yoyo462001

[QUOTE="yoyo462001"][QUOTE="jharv"]There's no beating around the bush. You're paying $50/year to play games online with no dedicated servers. Buying a game for $60 and not being able to play certain features on it without having a subscription is bar-none one of the most absurd things this gen (IMO).jharv

[QUOTE="jharv"][QUOTE="yoyo462001"]ill use a mobile phone as my example, you buy new and newer phones but the first one you had did what a phone does call and receive, so under your logic you should buy another phone ever again really...this analogy will have flaws in it but its the same principle, you pay for things because you want a better more quality product or service and thats what you get in XBL.Makari

[QUOTE="yoyo462001"][QUOTE="jharv"]There's no beating around the bush. You're paying $50/year to play games online with no dedicated servers. Buying a game for $60 and not being able to play certain features on it without having a subscription is bar-none one of the most absurd things this gen (IMO).jharv

The features is nice and dandy what if you just want to play the game online though? You are forced to buy the subscription.jharv

xbox live is the biggest rip off ever...you have to pay for a avatar LOL.yowtfyowtfyo

[QUOTE="jharv"]The features is nice and dandy what if you just want to play the game online though? You are forced to buy the subscription.Makari

[QUOTE="yowtfyowtfyo"]xbox live is the biggest rip off ever...you have to pay for a avatar LOL.IronBass

xbox live sucks

[QUOTE="yowtfyowtfyo"]xbox live is the biggest rip off ever...you have to pay for a avatar LOL.IronBass

Another correction: Avatars are free and there's a large collection of clothing free. Not sure what you guys are saying when you say you pay for Avatars.

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="yowtfyowtfyo"]xbox live is the biggest rip off ever...you have to pay for a avatar LOL.one_on_one

Another correction: Avatars are free and there's a large collection of clothing free. Not sure what you guys are saying when you say you pay for Avatars.

BS i seen them costing points

[QUOTE="jharv"][QUOTE="yoyo462001"]ill use a mobile phone as my example, you buy new and newer phones but the first one you had did what a phone does call and receive, so under your logic you should buy another phone ever again really...this analogy will have flaws in it but its the same principle, you pay for things because you want a better more quality product or service and thats what you get in XBL.yoyo462001

[QUOTE="IronBass"][QUOTE="yowtfyowtfyo"]xbox live is the biggest rip off ever...you have to pay for a avatar LOL.one_on_one

Another correction: Avatars are free and there's a large collection of clothing free. Not sure what you guys are saying when you say you pay for Avatars.

matchmaking is the worst idea in video game history...you cant even choose which gametype or map you want.

server browsers are so much faster to get into games and easier to find the map/gametype you want.

Since the NXE update I have really began to notice how solid of a platform that XBL really is. Aside from a few games having horrible matchmaking (Gears 2 comes to mind), it usually is an extremely stable and fast platform for online gaming. Integrated friends lists and scoreboards are really well done.

If you think about it, that $50 a year really gets you some stuff nobody else offers. You get a lot of features that are simply taken for granted. Coming from a PC gamer a lot of the features of XBL seem more like luxuries. With PC gaming you need to use outside program to have friends lists, you need to create an account for every single game you play online, you need to usually use an outside program for VoIP and usually then you need to connect to some dedicated server. For the experienced PC gamer like myself it is no problem, but it can be an hassle.

With XBL you get all of that integrated. Now with the Party feature it is even more integrated. You can talk to anybody on XBL playing any game at any time. It is one method of communications that is absolutely wonderful.

I used to see a lot of people bashing XBL. They say that PSN and the PC offer all of the same features. Collectively the two platforms do, independently they don't offer the features that XBL has. With XBL your not just paying for the features, your paying for the ease of use and accessibility that comes with those features to really enhance your gameplay experience.

Collectively I actually believe it is a stronger platform than both PSN and PC gaming for online play. Sure PSN offers many of the same features and so does PC gaming, but both lack all of the features and just the overal stability. I know that PC gaming benifits from dedicated servers, but that can get difficult for people to navigate server browsers, find the one they want, download any addons on loadup, and then finally play, only to be booted because of a reserved slot or something. With matchmaking, you really just hit go and you can easily get into a server. I have been playing a lot of CoD WaW on the 360 because of how easy it is to find a good quality game without the hassle of finding a solid server. Thats the reason why I bought it for the 360 over the PC, becuase I enjoy all of the features of XBL.

Wasdie

Matchmaking is trash.

You still get matched up with players you avoid.

Matchmaking is trash.

The reputation system works like poop. Everybody has 5 star.

Matchmaking is trash

Games like Halo lacks of custom game search engine.

Matchmaking is trash.

A lot of games lack dedicated servers.

Matchmaking is trash.

You do not get match up with players similar skill

mathcmaking is trash

xbl games lag just as much psn games. DO NOT BELIEVE THE HYPE AND LIES

matchmaking is trash