Xbox Live Is Becoming Highway Robery

DualShockers writes: A couple months ago, if you participated in the beta events for Microsoft's new game show on Xbox Live - 1 vs. 100 - you might have noticed ads from Sprint during pseudo-commercial breaks between rounds. It interested me a bit, but I was quickly over it. So, they're getting a little ad revenue from one ad spot, what's the harm in that? Fast forward to today. The New York Post has a piece on Microsoft's intention to partner with the Nielsen ratings to start tracking their Xbox Live "viewership" in a similar manner to which television programs determine their ratings.

[GWAVE]

And to think that people put up with this while ALSO paying a subscription fee for basic multiplayer functionality. If I have a Pandora account, I don't have to listen to ads. Heck, take any service out there that's free but also offers a "Premium" version and the first thing they do is cut out the ads.

[KingKionic]

Its just ads during a in game tv show...

I really dont see the problem .

Kinda makes it realistic .

[darthv72]

Heck, sometimes you just need to take a break. If the game didnt have these little ad breaks then what do you think they would do? Play continuously? that would suck if you really had to go...uh...you know.

I like scoping out the crowd when the breaks happen. Seeing how I am doing compared to the others. Season 2 is going to be even more fun. I have several questions I want to submit but dont know how.

There is a difference between intrusive and non intrusive ads. The ones on the dash are non intrusive and in most cases give you free stuff or entries into contests for free stuff. The ads in 1v100 could be considered intrusive because they take place during the show but it is one ad unlike the tv companies who run 5-6 ads between show segments. Honestly, I think sometimes there are more commercials than there is program to watch.

The average 30 minute tv show has about 7-8 minutes of commercials. Watching a little 10 second sprint ad in live isnt that bad when you really look at it. I want to see more game shows on live. I can see them making a version of deal or no deal and maybe even who wants to be a millionare. You play against other members of the crowd for points against the person in the hot seat.

[Golfcoachh]

Most people pay for cable, or pay for satelite, so I guess I shouldn't have any commercials when I watch tv then. You know whay I;m with you, I pay for the newspaper, so there shouldn't be any advertisements on that either. You got me. Not

[GWAVE]

@ hutch

You got me there, because online gaming is the same thing as newspapers and television.

Not.

[BRG9000]

This article is ridiculous. Its whole point is a slippery-slope logical fallacy. It argues that if Microsoft utilizes Nielsen ratings to better target its ads at its viewers, the 1 vs. 100 ad breaks will quintuple to be 3+ minutes long. There is no reason to think this transaction would cause such a thing.

It's like if I argued that if Sony were to buy EA, the price of video games would shoot way up. There is just no basis for that claim at all.

Also @GWAVE, Hutch's comparison is perfectly valid. Online gaming has similar distribution methods and business model to newspapers, magazines, and television, and besides, ads in video games you pay for have been around since PS1. Enthralling arguments like "Not." don't do anything to convince otherwise.

[Blaze929]

Cry more. Just uncessary tears from someone who doesnt even game on the 360 yet alone is subscribed to Xbox LIVE....so in the end, why do you care?

The ads in 1 vs 100 are nothing new and just like Kionic said, it's ads during a videogame TV Show....it actually does up the enjoyment and realism factor of it. Play 1 vs 100 and see if you ever hear anyone on the mic complain about the ads - you won't everyone finds it cool and some don't even notice it.

@Hutch you nailed it. I have no problem with it. I subscribe to Verizon internet, phone and TV...but I still get ads in the mail, online, and on TV from them and others. Is there a problem there? Nope, only if Microsoft is involved.

/sarcasm.

You all (non 360/LIVE gamers) just keep doing the whining for Xbox LIVE users while they just continue to enjoy their gaming experience.

[DelbertGrady]

When was the last time you had anything positive to say about MS or the 360?

Isn't 1 vs 100 free to play? And it gives you the chance to win prices even?

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

after all, it might cost them quite a bit of money to put up the infrastracture. We have all heard how Sony funds their PSN by charging for DLC to the developers. I think it is a good thing that MS tries other avenues for funding, otherwise MS might see fit to raise their fees as maintenance cost continues to rise.

Right now, Gold subscribers subsidize for Silver members.

The biggest issue I see with people complaining is their complete lack of understanding how economics works. We all saw what happened to Sony when they over priced their product and didn't have any way of recouping it. They are just recovering now!

It seems MS can't win, charge a fee. "Oh, my God, they are ripping us off!". Charge advertising "Oh, my God the greed!". Perhaps we should just make everything free in this world?

A company finding other ways to profit is a good thing for consumers as well!

[sirbigam]

SKREW ads I don't watch TV shows because of ads,so irritating, rather I watch stuff online, or buy the season when it's over instead.

[Why o why]

adds shouldnt really be a problem tbh....it does make you think about other stuff though

[morganfell]

You miss the mark Gwave. Live is more than the average home pays for cable, which you have to have - or DSL - in order to run Live in the first place. Add to that the cost of the game. Cable or DSL, Live, and the game.

Three payments for Xbox 360, one for cable TV.

By your reasoning you pay for cable, pay for the network, the you pay for TV show itself. Ridiculous.

[BRG9000]

The game is free. Try to keep the mindless Xbox bashing to topics you know something about, or at least glance at the article you're commenting on?

[corneliuscrust]

glad someone finally pointed this out

This is in a FREE online GAMESHOW where you can win actual prizes in the form of free software downloads. They want to show ads on their free game...

[darthv72]

I am a gold member so I really can't try it but anybody who is a silver should see if they can play the game. I am betting they can't so technically it is free to play (meaning it isnt an additional cost for the game itself) but not free to play online.

Anyway, psn people think everything is better in free world when it has that appearance. I find it not so great on psn because there isnt enough content available to try before you buy. This comes down to the way sony handles the 3rd parties in regards to having stuff available on psn.

Charge the companies to host content and they may not be inclined to make demos/trialware for everything they offer. Charge the subscribers a membership fee and have access to almost everything on live in a try before you buy environment. I can say I have purchased way more live games because I liked the trial version enough to buy the full game.

I only have a few psn games because they are ones I really wanted regardless (wipeout hd, super stardust, r&c booty). I can say I would like to get more but alas...they dont offer trials.

Just because something is offered free to you doesnt mean they arent getting their $$ elsewhere. Sony is doing their best to hide the cost of things from the users but it will come back to bite them eventually. MS isnt hiding anything. You pay, you play, you get a more connected and seamless network of content.

[BRG9000]

True. It is Gold only, so you cannot access it without paying for a gold membership.

But I was calling morgan out for saying you have to pay for "Live, and the game". Which is false. Once you pay for live, the game is free.

[morganfell]

The title is "Xbox Live is becoming Highway Robbery". Bear in mind most games played on Live are not free. You can thank me later for pointing that out.

[Saaking]

Have they implemented real prizes into the game yet? I haven't played it in months.

[BRG9000]

Yeah, they were giving out real prizes for the final month or so of the beta. Generally consisted of a free $10 game to the top 3 crowd, a $10 game to each member of the mob if they won, and up to 10,000 MS points for the one depending on performance.

It's been on a break for a few months though while they tinker with it post-beta, so who knows if it will be the same.

[DMason]

Someone call the "Waaaaahmbulance." Games have in game advertising and you pay $60 for those. Cable TV has commercials and you pay for that. No one is forcing you to watch the commercials.

No one wants to play straight through without taking a break to go to the bathroom or get a snack. It gives the gameshow an authentic feel. I mean, they are giving away legitimate prizes.

Highway Robbery is an exaggerated statement and this is blown way out of proportion.

[morganfell]

I just love watching people blindly try (and fail) to defend the idea that they have to pay for online and pay pay pay.

[kewlkat007]

.......

-Clowns

[tojfrd7931z]

Sorry but you DO have ads on Pandora. Only the Premium account on Pandora is ad free.

[Shepherd 214]

How is the newspaper and tv any different from online gaming? All of them you pay for their continued service, and both cable tv and online gaming are forms of entertainment. The newspaper provides basic, recent info about the world that is critical to know, but you still have to pay to receive a paper.

And ALL of them provide ads, but XBL gets singled out because you hate MS. Nice.

[AKNAA]

Xbox Live Is NOT Becoming Highway Robery in any way if people are still willing to pay for it. Obviously 360 owners enjoy the service so much to the point that they consider the live subscription worthwhile! so this article is pointless...
But what do I know, I only use the PSN.

[rockleex]

That is exactly what GWAVE said... thanks for reiterating his point. -_-"

[Cenobia]

Internet Service + Game + Online Gaming Service

VS

The Cost of TV Service (+ a recorder box to skip commercials)

VS

The Cost of a Newspaper

XBL is a ripoff. I'm not sure why people are still debating that. I think that calling it out on 1 vs 100 is a little stupid, but you shouldn't be paying the $50 a year period.

[vhero]

I agree with this I have always said if you pay £50 why should you see ads? I thought the whole point of subscription was so MS can get the money so they didn't need the ads. With the ads aswell they really are not helping themselves they are just greedy. However without them they couldn't afford to keep the 360 at such a low price early in its lifespan to keep ahead of Sony.

[StanLee]

Some how the majority of fanboys missed the REAL significance of this article. Neilson's will be tracking XBox Live usage. XBL is no longer just a gaming phenomenon, it's a social phenomenon. Saw my sister watching an interview with Robert Pattinson on MSNBC yesterday on the XBox 360. I didn't even know they added this until she showed me Major's minute with the annoncement. XBL is bigger than gaming and looking to appeal to more that just gamers.

[TotalPS3Fanboy]

360 Gamers' Defense: If cable companies can screw us over too,
then Microsoft should be able to screw us over too.

I love that logic. Hahaha.

[DevastationEve]

The title is stupid. Is PSN free? No. You had to buy an overpriced console first.

[Boody-Bandit]

XBL is a premium service and incase you haven't noticed there isn't commercials on "premium channels" like HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, etc.

[jack who]

soooooo sellling a 10 sec flash of sprints (ad) too pay for a game which is FREE is Highway Robery?......than dont play it?

[Chadness]

The game is not "free", it's an Xbox Live gold member only perk, which means you're paying $50/year for it.

[jack who]

thanks crack head am pretty sure i'ev been paying for xbl before this game came out...move on

Edit: wrong again more like since i got this

[rawd]

You've been paying for it since the day you first bought that toaster

[xcox]

the penguins keep defending their rapist while the rapist rapes them deeper and harder, this is a lot of fun to watch.

M$ knew their audience, you gotta admit: they planned on mugging the poor unsuspecting baboons at every corner of the "experience" while having them pay for the privilege,

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

thanks the gaming gods for PSN

[Chubear]

It's long been O.O

[TheXgamerLive]

49 dollars for 13 months is insane cheap, it's like a big mac a month in cost and you wanna whine about that. It's hella great and what is it you girls have ps.....um n right? I forget since it's pathetic in what it doesn't do. I mean would you rather drive a free 1970 pinto or a 2010 farrari? well guess what you, get the pinto.
Quit whining and just jump in already

[CernaML]

Big Macs are garbage.

" I mean would you rather drive a free 1970 pinto or a 2010 farrari?"

Horrible analogy.

[CancelationOfTheCell]

now that's highway robbery

[poopface1]

PS3 FANBOYS BLOGS CANT EVEN SPELL "ROBBERY" LOL. i DOESNT SURPRISE ME TO SEE A PS3 BLOG ATTACKING 360 OVER NOTHING AND HAVING A BUNCH OF PS3RD FANBOYS JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON AND COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING THEY DONT HAVE, USE, OR KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. oNCE AGAIN ALL i HEAR FROM PS3 FANBOYS AND THEIR BLOGS IS "CRY, CRY, CRY."

haahHa I have live and PSN and Ill continue to pay 4$ a month for live considering how much new games fail to work on psn or how often it goes down for maintenance.

[AliTheBrit19]

jack who has pretty much said it all

Move along, nothing else to see here :)

[JoelT]

And to think about all the heat I caught about a month ago when I wrote how they could justify 100 premium service, MS turns around and pulls this. Ads are for people who don't pay up. Simple as that. If I'm paying 60 bucks a year and I'm still subjected to ads, then what is the point? PSN, with all of it's flaws is looking better and better everyday.

[JoelT]

The comment above has been brought to you by Sprint and the Now Network. Lol

[pixelsword]

That made me laugh!

[corneliuscrust]

subject you to ads on a free game.

If they were CHARGING for 1vs100, i could see the uproar.. but this is free. It's like them putting ads on facebook or hulu and people getting pissssed

[whothedog]

its not free, you pay to play it, $50 a year. I'm not trying to be a di*k but its true.

[DevastationEve]

No, ads are JUST ads. Pick out any magazine subscription and tell me if they offer an ad-free version for being a yearly subscriber.

TV has ads.
Surf the web and you'll find plenty of ads.
Car Dealerships have walking talking ads called salesmen.

Each company decides on how much is enough to pay the bills.

[JoelT]

This isn't just about 1 vs 100, that game was used as a pilot program of sorts to test out the market. Get ready to see ads everywhere.

[jack who]

there's already ad's everywhere the point is ppl dont even know its a ad...i still want too know how having sum one else pay for your game and all you have too do is see their name for a sec highway robbery...and wtf are they robbing from you?

[Chadness]

Kind of makes me consider not renewing my gold subscription, especially considering the PS3 has Netflix functionality now.

[corneliuscrust]

ANY netflix support.

Canadians haven't gotten jackity dicck alll from these "highly anticipated services" and on top of that there is no HULU style service either

[ActionBastard]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[jack who]

i for one would love too see ads in movies n tv shows on xbl so i wont have too pay for them.

edit: i dont need live too be free..am happy paying for xbl and having ads pay for game,movies and tv shows...and again its nothing new.non gold members gets xbl gold free every weekend guess whos paying for that.

[taz8080]

But thats the thing, they will never make XBL free, they are jamming commercials down your throat so they can make more money. This started a few years back with in game ads and we have not seen a reduction in game prices one bit. This will be no different.

[Chadness]

That's the point. Having all these ads like Microsoft apparently is aiming for should cut out the subscription cost. But that will likely never happen, this is Microsoft we're talking about here.

[ActionBastard]

Becoming?

[kingme71]

Is it highway robery or highway robbery? I don't mind highway robery if it involves cute girls.

[Chadness]

Oh noes, I'm not perfect. I made a typo. :)

[corneliuscrust]

what is a massively overblown sensationalist headline without glaring typos?

"this just in: there are ADS on the internet!!!!!"

"what?! don't i already PAY for the internet?!?!?@?@ highway robbery!!"

[PiTCHBLaCK]

There are ads on the Internet because the ads are owned
by someone else usually, when you pay for the internet you are
paying to connect to the internet, The Internet is like the real
world.

Just because you now have a car, doesn't mean you'll see nomore
advertisements posted in store windows, buses etc because these
are owned by someone else, The Internet is free to roam but usually
not free to connect.

Now, about this article, I don't think It's a big deal since they
are giving away real prizes, however I think Gold members should
not see any Advertisements.

They should open this game up to all LIVE users and take away
advertisements from Gold users.

That's my opinion.

[MrJack]

I just don't understand why 360 owners accept this? You are paying £40 a year for this and yet you still accept ads.

Usually, if you pay a fee, there are no ads, like the BBC, you psy the TV licence, you get to watch uninterrupted Top Gear, or Doctor Who, or Heroes. Surely you should be ablr to play a game or use XBL without having infuriating ads appearing every few seconds.

And with PSN almost on level terms on features, and free, why is there no resistance to microsoft taking as much money as they can get from you guys and giving you practically nothing in return?

[RockmanII7]

I just don't understand why PS3 owners do this? Why do you care if we are paying for live if it doesn't affect you? WE DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK! If you don't like it, don't buy it, but please stop complaining about something that would otherwise have zero impact on your life. Their is no resistance to the cost because the only people who care about the price tag are PS3 owners who want something to complain about. >X(

[LostCypher11]

Mr Jack all i gota say is You know Jack sh!t. do you even know where these adds take place? they take place 3 times during a half hour game show. and the last maybe 10 seconds at most.

[hmmmm]

Yes well the BBC is a government funded TV station is it not? like the ABC in Australia which also has no Ad's..But you still see ads on the commercial channels such as ITV and other even though you pay your Tv tax or whatever just like you get ads on commercial stations in Australia like 10 and 7..

Last time i checked Xbox live is a commercial service.

[PiTCHBLaCK]

This will surely get me disagrees but I'm biting because It's
to good to pass up. :)

Why do PS3 Users care when they don't even have a 360?
Simple, Somebody has to care and if some of the gold live
subscription members take this BS then somebody has to
step up and complain, doesn't look like many of the 360
gold members will, so who else would? The Hard to please
PS3 Fans of course, and I'm one of them.

[DevastationEve]

I could say the same against PS3, why do you guys put up with spending more on an overpriced console? You DO know that you're making up for the free PSN service by paying more for your console right?

[The Emperor]

The guy above me is correct. As for the guy above him, its 10 seconds long. 10 seconds. If that makes you mad, which i don't know why it would since you obviously don't own a 360, then you would have to be impatient.

My logic: You get what you pay for. I pay for LIVE, and I get great service and a fun time, and I don't pay for PSN, which is why things don't run as smoothly. If you want to complain about the price, well go ahead. If this is what you do after school or during work, then that is quite sad.

You wonder why Xbox 360 people don't complain about every little thing and don't whine until something is free. Quite simply it's because we can afford it and are satisfied.

[rob6021]

Alot of ps3 fans have xbox's too. It's just too obvious how you're being exploited if you use a PS3 a lot. If you don't have a ps3 you might just think ads thrown in your face is status quo, and Sony's probably doing it too. Defending something like this is a lose - win situation with you losing, and Microsoft winning; that's what a lot of you seem to not mind so be it i guess, whatever it takes to win, which is you losing.

[ASSASSYN 36o]

Millions of people playing Xbox-live is the exact reason why there are ads on xbox-live. It is a business!

[Ashby_JC]

EXACTLY!!!

For the few ppl who say...why do we accept this (Ads)

What am I supposed too do??

Adverts are EVERYWHERE in some shape or form and XBL is no different. They KNOW ppl are using the service so there gonna take advantage of it.

I have been on LIVE 5 years and NOT ONE single ad I felt stopped me from doing what I got the service for!

Now if ads started POPPING up during game sessions are POPPING up at other times that were intrusive then I would be pissed.

But as it stands now...I think the author is just mad that MS is making money outside of the pay service. When he knows damn well if he had a way to make MORE money he would do the same thing IMO!

[Ashby_JC]

WOW

PPL will complain about anything. I actually liked the ads in 1 vs 100 made me feel like I was on a real game show LOL!!

And as far as ads in your words "POPPING UP" all over the place on XBL you make it seem like there are POP UP ads like on a web browser (annoying)

The ads on XBL are almost always tied into a game or prommotion on XBL. I have never seen ONE ad that just was a AD for a product period.

Where is it written that a paid membership service is NOT allowed to have ads...or make money outside of the subscription cost??

I pay for alot of services....that have ads all over it!!

[glennc]

most of those complaining are PS3 fanboys??? how does that make sense, why do they care? i 'spose $50 is a lot of money to a 12 year old, for me i can spend more than that at the pub. i mean really guys, you are becoming the big joke of this console generation, even outshadowing MS and it's sh!tty console design.

[Chadness]

PS3 fanboy? My preferred console of the last year or so has been the Xbox 360. It was worth it to me, to be honest. Now I'm rethinking things - and not just because of this ad business. The PS3 is coming into its own. Sure, it was slow at first, but now with Netflix on that too without paying $50 extra per year...it's starting to be worth it to not renew my gold membership.

I still love my Xbox and I still play most of my games on that console, but the Xbox Live service is what's getting me at this point.

[Golfcoachh]

4 bucks and some change a month are getting to you? Wow, then don't pay for it, you don't have to have it to play games, just games online, so the ones you want to play online, buy for the ps3. I enjoyed 1 vs 100 and I don't mind paying for a service I have had since my orig. xbox. IF you mind, then don't pay it. Simple, I just don't get all the crying going on in this thread. None of my 360 freinds even care, neither do I. When four bucks a month makes a difference, then I probably can't afford to game anyway.

[ukilnme]

@ Hutch2355

Agreed. If people were the gamers they claim to be here on N4G, $50 a year should not be an issue. They need to find a new hobby if it is.

[Stationfan]

When you have ads the revnue pays for the service. Just like public tv. You dont see any ad halfway thru an HBO movie do you.

[Parapraxis]

LOL, beat me to mentioning HBO.
A "premium" television channel, with no ads, hmmm what a novel idea.

I DL everything I watch as it is (haven't had cable/satellite for 9 years) so personally ads aren't an issue, but when I am away from home I am always reminded of how much better full control is.

[Golfcoachh]

Usa, tnt, tbs and many other channels, and guess what, you have ads on those stations. What a novel idea. Maybe you should cry about the ads on nfl network, or the ads on those other stations. I highly doubt any of the guys crying on here get all of their tv from an antenna. How about the internet you pay for but get ads on the websites. I pay for insider on espn, and guess what, still has ads. So your point is bad.

[Parapraxis]

I wasn't complaining....
calm down.

I download every single show I watch.
Period.
There are no ads, and I can choose when to watch them from my PC to HDTV.
It's really convenient. I pay for the internet connection, that's all.
I have saved thousands of dollars by getting all of my favourite shows via Bittorrent.

[DuneBuggy]

Product placement in films and shows is growing because of DVR's,internet,etc.My wife's favorite soap opera for instance featured all the actors driving Nissan products......
I gave up HBO afer Rome and tire of their lefty heavy "documentaries" and other shows, but thats another topic.

I have no problem with ads in this fashion.The game is one feature you get with your gold membership.Gran Turismo has been a (fun)stealth ad campaign!

[Parapraxis]

Product placement and commercial breaks are not the same thing.

Also, HBO is fantastic.

[DuneBuggy]

So product placement is not a form of advertising in your opinion?
Interesting....
I stated your still watching ADS.
Thats short for ADVERTISING.

[tojfrd7931z]

Extra for HBO thats why they are called a PREMIUM channel. OH and btw they may not SAY they are ads, but those promos for upcoming movies and shows on HBO et al, ARE ADS just not for products.

[betrayed gamer]

there are ads on hbo they advertise themselves with what shows the show

[Queasy]

Do you complain about the advertisements you watch on your cable or satellite television service?

[pixelsword]

Which is why I got rid of my cable and why I NEVER activated my XBL account; free XBL or otherwise is just feeding the beast that will kill the games industry.

[ActionBastard]

Yeah, that's why I DVR everything and skip the commercials.

[Xpandemic]

I personally don't mind the ads, like many people here said it does give you the impression of being in a real game show...but if I start seeing one of those annoying "lolly Pop" Dell ads their will be hell to pay!!

[dragonelite]

Maybe for the love of god they need to pay for prizes you can win.
Like microsoft points and other prizes heard one of it were laptops.

[taz8080]

MS points cost the company next to nothing, they are virtual. Laptops are very eeasy for them to give out since the company would give them to MS for free in order to get their name out. Ads any way you slice them make them money on top of subs and dont help the user at all. I find it intersting how users accept ads, if you saw ads in HBO or Netflix people would lose their minds!

[green]

So what happens when i use my virtual currency that i won from 1vs100 to purchase a 3rd party add-on,theme,avatar costume or game, lets say Battlefield 1943, that was neither published,developed or funded by Microsoft?Won't Microsoft have to compensate EA with physical cash?

[dragonelite]

With that kind of logic then pirating a game isnt doing anybody wrong because.

1)They are virtual
2)No bandwidth cost for publishers
3)?????
4)profit

Ofcourse those points will cost microsoft money from wich they get like 30% back when people are buying dlc.

[Halo3 MLG Pro]

lol

[devilhunterx]

call the police! Someone stole the letter B from Robbery.

[Socomer 1979]

So what if they are being robbed & watching advertisements at the same time?
I hope Microsoft does track thier customers and make them watch more ads for deodarant, pizza, soda,
toyotas, douche & tampons.

I like the wipeout ads for fat princess during load times.
It doesn't happen everytime you load either.

We knew ads would happen 1 day. It's just funny to see people pay for it.
That's hilarious!
To bad you can't skip em like a dvr.

[Raoh]

becoming?

[STICKzophrenic]

Ads haven't ever bothered me while on Xbox Live. Nothing is ever "in your face" intrusive.

[Redlogic]

you will see this trend only get worse. They will break people in with ads like the ones for 1 vs 100. then they will appear in more games. I see the neilson rating being used to show how many people are watching the advertisement, then MS will use those numbers to estimate the value to the advertisers, getting them to pay more per certain games, portions of xbox live. Its a lucrative business and it is a slippery slope as back in the day an in game advertisement was not even a twinkle in a developers eye. Watch for it, corporate greed is a sexy lady...ask all of the Enron shareholders, or tyco, or bernie madoffs clients or...you get the point

[pippoppow]

Online gaming should be free. It has been free and gamers should want it to stay free. I would not support PSN or Steam if there was a charge associated with them to be able to play games online. The fact that those other services are free with no ads makes XBL seem like a leech. Bad enough there is a charge but a charge with ads really makes MS look greedy. You may love XBL and think it's the best thing in the world but should it be free? Absolutely. They are making plenty of money from ads and should drop the fee.

Redlogic has a point. It will only get worse and the fear for me and others is seeing this practice of paying to play online spread to all platforms. I really hope MS is pressured to make XBL free like on the PC, not for me but gamers who should be able to play online with no extra fee now and in the future.

[Redgehammer]

just curious as to why online gaming should be free? Why should anything in this world that costs money to develop, host, and manage be expected to be "free"? Since most services in this world have some kind of cost associated with them; why should online gaming be different?

[pippoppow]

There are ways to have it free like ads, bandwidth Dev fees and DLC to cover costs. Right now and in the near future there is no need to pay to play. Asking customers to pay for something that has been free and there are ways to keep it free doesn't seem fair.

[Redgehammer]

I read that article it it felt like the authur was trying to play connect the dots without a pencil.

[LostCypher11]

wait isn't that a giant Add banner at the top of the article? why the hell is that there didn't i already pay for the internet?

[Samuel L Jackson]

Xbox Live!! They robbing yo ass blind! Mutha Fuçka!

[Ninferno]

green, yes they will have to pay them with real cash.

[oldsnayke]

I think it's ridiculous to spend so much money on pieces of software that are warping minds as we speak. What ever happened to the value of reading a good book or watching a film epic? Seriously, do something productive instead of allowing yourself to become a slave to the television for hours on end - it's not getting you anywhere, not really increasing your knowledge.

I had an Xbox 360 a while ago, and a PS3. I got tired of both, sold them, and I haven't been happier. I have done so much more with my life - I got my beginner's which I slacked on for YEARS, made new friends and found new hobbies. I suppose it's up to you gamers regarding what you want to do with your life, but I am saying... there is a huge world out there worth seeing.

I'll finish on this note - if I ever get back into gaming, it'll be PS3 or PC. Xbox is a waste of money. Sure, the servers are better, but by much? Not really, only marginally. It has a P2P connection whilst the PS3 houses a series of "dedicated" servers. Microsoft is just a bunch of money-launderers.

Oh, by the way, before you go over the top and start claiming that I was a "noob" at Xbox and how much of a "Sony Droid" I am, I'd like you to take into consideration that I had a 2.7 K/D ratio on CoD4, and I am more than willing to accept a friend request VIA xbox.com from anybody who wants me to prove it, not that I would expect anybody to care that much about my claim anyway. Either way, MS has lost my support... PS3 is where it's at, and I think that, frankly, a lot of gamers are having a similar change in heart.

[ukilnme]

I'm curios. If you are no longer gaming, why are you posting on a website that is "supposedly" geared towards gamers?

[STICKzophrenic]

Um no one cares that you stopped gaming to do other stuff.

Why come to a GAMING site and tell people there's more to do than game? People enjoy gaming, you don't anymore, good for you. Go find a soapbox somewhere else from which to preach.

[Redgehammer]

I guess books and film became devalued along side open-mindedness and tolerance.

[DuneBuggy]

I understand his point, but the chosen venue to relay it comes across as insulting to many here. We are at a place catering to fans of video games right? Someone basically calling 99.9 % of the posters here slaves to TV, video games,etc. AND small minded to boot!
Sounds snobby and elitest to me. I'll watch another Presidential address with the new clown if I want to hear that......
But please, dont stereotype me because I enjoy blowing a virtual head off or two ALONG WITH time I make to read a good book.
Its like ordering a steak and the waitress giving you flack about how much better off you would be eating only salads. Thats nice, but im here to eat a steak.
The soapbox reference wasnt insulting and to the point IMO.

[oldsnayke]

To be completely honest I wasn't expecting many people to agree, and that is quite alright - I personally don't care if you do or don't, it was my own personal opinion.

The reason I come here is to simply check the "gossip" in the gaming world, not so much because I am interested in video games, but I am interested in what others have to say about it.

I wasn't trying to sound snobby, I was just trying to encourage people to look at the other side of the coin.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Your 360 tag isn't even valid.. And how would people send you an FR on XBL and prove them wrong if you sold your system awhile ago??

For a guy who has moved on with your life past gaming(whatever that means) you sure want to proclaim your love to the PS3 and hate twords the 360.. "It's where it's at"?? For who? The same people you insulted in your opening statement?

Something doesn't add up..

[oldsnayke]

"Where it's at", meaning if I had to choose to play another system, it wouldn't be Xbox, but the PS3. And my 360 gamer tag is valid, it's Sinister Sith.

I'm not going to lie, it doesn't hurt to play the occasional video game every now and then... though I'd only ever leave it as a last resort, more or less.

[playnation]

oh my god whats wrong with this people..
"and what if they stick it more and more deeper to me that actually gives a more like realistic feel, like in my real life when i got pwnd and pwnd tons of times, seriously people, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK! If you don't like it, don't buy it, but please stop complaining about something that would otherwise have zero impact on your life!"
hahaha lol

[redsnake]

this is actually absurd. its not a big deal to have to watch ads but they should lower the price of xbl if they are going to do this.

[Enigma_2099]

... shouldn't you at least get the option to disable ads?

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Robery? MS is not putting a gun to your head and forcing you to pay for anything.. If you don't like it don't buy it.. The article isn't that bad and brings up a good point but the headline is drama.

That said, I agree that I don't want to see any ad's when I'm paying for Live. Especially when the competition has free online and I'm exposed to even fewer ad's(none!) than the pay service.. MS have always put nickels and dimes above customer satisfaction and will whore out their customers any chance they get. Definitely one of my biggest gripes with them and makes my decision to cancel Gold easier.

[jax07]

My question is if the Live subscribers are paying for the service then there is no reason to have ads because the service is payed for. This isnt supposed to be like watching tv is it? You are supposed to be playing a game right?

[Paradise Lost]

I love in game ads, no problems watsoever. It's those damn internet (website) ads i hate so much with all of them popping up right in your face.

[thehitman]

in Qore.... they are not THAT bad... not much to complain about.

[SnukaTheMan]

this is for xbox live...

[Stretchystrong]

You spelled Robbery wrong. Robery is the act of putting on a robe. Robbery is theft. Did they get new Robes for the avatars?

[Father Murder X]

Why are there so many sony boys on here!! How does this affect you? You don't like Xbox 360 remember?

Microsoft is laughing all the way to the bank!!

[horndog]

for live than have the psn for free, even though i do have the option to use the psn, i think i enjoy my games more on live. It's just that better. PSN is free for a reason. Little kids with no money are the only ones who think the psn is the shyt. LOL

Hence the reason why ps3 doesn't sell games either. LOL

[CernaML]

Funny considering Xbox Live has more whiny little 10 year olds that make you want to punch babies.

[Bigpappy]

I had live from the start. About 5-6 yrs. The way they do the ads on 360 is acceptable. It does no interrupt anything I do on the system. Same with the sports games. It actually adds to the atmosphere. Let them make their money as long as they keep the service is great and affordable.

[ticklechamp]

highway robery. are they covering the the thruway in luxurious shower-ware?

[SnukaTheMan]

Other then that its well worth the 35 bucks a year I pay for it.

[Pika-pie]

This is a stupid thing for M$ to do and is so typical for them.

If I was paying for a subscription I would expect NO advertisements. Just as much as I wouldnt expect to pay for services I get free elsewhere.

Stupid MS, Im so glad i dont pay for a gold membership.. Im quite happy with my silver.

[Dorwrath]

Do you pay for your TV service?

Do you pay for your internet service ?

Yes you do. You have ads on both.

Just remember there ads in games now. Oh you pay $50 or more. Oh the games are on your PS3. Start complaining, oh sorry you won't cause it's ok on a PS3.

[Pika-pie]

I pay a TV licence for BBC which has NO advertisements. Other channels are free so they advertise all they want.

I pay for internet access.... not the internet.

I dont play rubbish sports game so im not exposed to ads in that sense.

And I dont pay for PSN either.

Exposure to ads in a paid service is clearly wrong, whether its MS or anyone else doing it. They are milking every cent they can out of its user base, if your fine with that then your part of the problem.

:D

[Rowsdower]

alarmist article whose sole purpose is to get hits, perhaps there could be a section on N4G where crap articles are filtered to. Perhaps call it the flamebait section. I dont mind people having this conversation, but let them have it someplace else.

you know what if you dont like a service dont use it, if you dont use it then dont complain about it, and just because you dont use it does not mean you can put down the people who do. There are plenty of things people pay for that I think are wastes of money, but I dont (and would never) waste my time trying to inform them all of how stupid they are.

the marketplace dictates what sells and what does not, and at the moment a pay for online gaming service sells. Why? Cause enough people think its worth paying for. Thats it. No one is stupid or being ripped off here or being coerced into anything.

I'll say it again, the reason people pay for live is cause most of their "real life friends" play on live and for some that community is worth the 50.00. That is what MS truly gained by their year head start, that and red ring.

[Dorwrath]

Jeez.....

Get a grip people and will people stop authorizing drivel like this piece of crap.

Complaining about ads on Xbox Live lol, what a joke, just plain old fanboy articles. There are far more ads on TV and the internet and they are far more intrusive.

Ads are popping up in the games itself. Oh sorry I cannot say that can I because some of the games are on the PS3 to.

Have you thought the possibility of the ads on live maybe for a reason? You know there is a possibility that MS is looking into other avenues of income so they can make live free. Maybe a small chance but it's possible.
What I'd like to see is another account. Say Platinum which would be totally add free and you pay your $50 a year. Gold would have ads but be free.

[JoelT]

Let's go back to a time when the internet was somewhat of a luxury. Let's talk about a service called NetZero. While AOL was charging and arm and a leg for service, It offered unlimited FREE dial-up internet access. How was this made free you ask? By having advertisements at the bottom of your screen. This business model still lives on today with many services. When you pay, you don't get ads. Period. Even iPhone apps that cost .99 have adapted this same model.

In-game ads are popping up on everything and every console, and have you seen the price of games come down? No you haven't, they're still $60 no matter what. This notion that MS will try to make the Live service free is foolish, because if anything they'll will start charging more, not less. And users like Rowsdower and Dorwrath will bend over and take it, because the Live service is "the best."

As far as this article being flamebait, the original article that is being cited in this one is from The New York Post (how about you read the whole thing first). No one is pulling stats from the top of their head. It's an opinion piece based on recent facts. Key words OPINION PIECE a.k.a. not news, it's an article so the same way you're telling people "if you don't like a service don't use it" well if you don't like editorials, don't read them.

[oldsnayke]

I agree with Joel - since XBL houses p2p connectivity, you're essentially PAYING to connect to another user, and not a dedicated server. Not really worth it, IMO. I'd rather spend my $60 a year on something like a movie or clothes.

[Rowsdower]

And users like Rowsdower and Dorwrath will bend over and take it, because the Live service is "the best."

Lets start with that comment. Your a douche, you wanna attack me for my opinion? What did you write that article and your feelings are hurt. I use both PSN and Live, and I explained my perfectly rational reason why I pay for LIVE. Perhaps you didnt read my comment fully but the point was not putting people down for their personal choices. Yet there you go playing the fanboy; insulting me with your homoerotic insults.

As for the article being flamebait, it is, because it attracts immature a**holes like you who cant be civil and accept the fact that not all people think the way that you do. At this point I'm assuming you wrote the article or are affiliated with dualshocker and whats funny this would be (i think) the second time an someone from dualshocker came at me when they could not handle criticism. You have your opinion and this is the comment section where we discuss your opinion.

Check out this thread:
http://n4g.com/NewsCom-4183...

In the above link I suspect the person I'm arguing is affiliated with dualshockers, his LIVE account states his affiliation with dualshocker

at least that ended well, now we are on each others friends lists on both PSN and LIVE

oh yeah robbery has two b's

UPDATE:

JoelT is a cofounder and deputy editor in chief of Dualshocker:

http://dualshockers.com/the...

and he is the author of the the article I linked to above, but I'm assuming not the person I'm arguing with in the thread, unless he has multiple accounts.

so folks who run these sites will attack people in the comment sections if they disagree with them, very interesting

[kingdavid]

robbery ffs. Learn to spell. Pisses me off when a site cant even spell properly in their title.

[gololo]

whatever, if the adds are not intrusive then fine...maybe MS should put more ads so they can subsidized Live Gold :)

[cornfedgamer]

It's called capitalism. And it works. And we will all end up with better games and service because of it.

Whether Xbox or PS3 delivers those better games and services is irrelevant. They have different online models, may the best one win.

I see no problems here. Other than a prevalent sense of entitlement amidst gamer nation.

[Horny Melon]

If you bought an xbox during launch you have now paid $250 in xbox live fees this is on top of the price console...the Xbox 360 is getting more expensive to play while the PS3 is getting cheaper....who was complaining about the PS3 launch price? It's a bargain compared to the xbox launch price.

Is the xbox live experience better than the PSN? That's been arguable for the past couple of years. But all those features don't matter, what matters is playing games. Would you pay for xbox live if it didn't include online gaming? No, of course not.

[bjornbear]

since its "free"

[DuneBuggy]

This thread made me curious of the "One vs One Hundred" game so I played it last night. It was fun (im a trivia buff).
The ads were no biggie.I'd rather catch a few of them than be charged 1000 MS points or somthing to play it.
Heck the long breaks give you a on screen time when the games back on.Just enough to take a leak,grab a Dew/snack,etc.

[Automat]

another reason to stay the F away from MS!

[Xenath]

I pay for live, why? Because 360 is the system most of my friends have. So I pay for it to talk and play games with friends. I have a PS3 but play it less online because well, I only have one friend who has a PS3. There is a diffrence between Live and PSN and there's not at the same time. Either way games are only games. No need to fight so much over it, ya know?