220°

Should Xbox Live Be Free Like PSN?

Talk Xbox writes: "On November 15, 2002, Microsoft launched its completely unified online service for broadband connected Xbox owners the world over to chat and game with other like-minded gamers. Microsoft named their service Xbox Live, a name many gamers grew to love over the years. With a few standout titles at launch such as Unreal Championship, MechAssault and Ghost Recon and the fact that Xbox Live's feature set and ease of use put it miles ahead of the competition. Compared to Playstation 2's then current online offerings and the GameCube's virtually non-existent online support, this made for a compelling package and seemed like an amazing deal totally worth the annual subscription fee..."
n9com - contributor
Published: 459 days 3 hours ago | Article | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | Gaming
 
 

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thor - 459 days 3 hours ago
1 -
Charging for it makes people think it is worth more. If you pay for something, most people think it's better than something that's free, even if it's the same product. Not saying Live isn't better, but charging for it puts it up in people's estimation. And they're willing to pay, so why make it free?
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P4KY B - 459 days 3 hours ago
1.1 - Its like bottled water.
:-)
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chaosatom - 459 days 2 hours ago
1.2 - charging either 50 or 5 dollars leaves a bad impression on New Consumers
who never owned a 360 and know NOTHING about live.

So in order to attract new consumers, it'll will be better.
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nbsmatambo - 459 days 2 hours ago
1.3 - lol...
yes..

that might have convinced me to get a 360 as well..
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princejb134 - 459 days 2 hours ago
1.4 -
thats whats holding me back to buy a 360
already have to pay for road runner internet, why pay a extra fee to play my games online also
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dro - 459 days 2 hours ago
1.5 -
yes it should be free, but we all know m$....they just love MONEY!! but u cant blame them, after all money makes the world go round.
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IDemonstalkerXI - 459 days 1 hour ago
1.6 -
Yes, tired of paying for a service I don't use as often as PC or PS3, which is free.

They need to restructure there buisness model so you pay for certain things but gaming online should be free IMO. MMO's excluded.

Charging for pics and themes is dirty 2. Should be ashamed really. tsk,tsk...
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IdleLeeSiuLung - 459 days 1 hour ago
1.7 -
Sony certainly has come closer to matching Xbox Live service competely free! I'm all for Sony's dedicated servers and free online play. However, one must ask how long Sony can continue to provide all this for free while bleeding money. The service has to be funded somehow and Sony isn't doing this just for goodwill.

I think Nintendo mentioned something about chargig for their online service as well. I must admit that I don't remember exactly what it was all about.
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znu - 459 days 1 hour ago
1.8 - this is probably a stupid question
but does live count days u don't play online

cause if it does i'd rather have PSN than live

PSN is slightly inferior to live but PSN is also free

The only aspects of PSN i don't like, is that its missing in-game audio chat so i can talk to my friends while playing cod4 and not the entire room
1.9 GametimeUK | 459 days 1 hour ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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crimsonfox - 459 days 1 hour ago
1.10 - honestly
since my ps3 got the yellow light i have been playing live on my brothers 360 and my friends got me a live account crims0nf0x but i cant believe you guys all pay for that laggy service all i play is halo3 and gta and they lag like nothing i have ever seen warhawk has little to no lag and thats in full games 32 people and halo lags for everything and i wouldn't pay for it myself
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bouncybullet - 459 days ago
1.11 -
Hey Crimson.

Thats your internet connection.

NO.
Live shouldn't be free.
But I wouldn't mind if it was cheaper.

1. PSN is free because it had to be. It's reputation demands it.
2. PSN had nothing at the start, but to compete with LIVE copied all of LIVE's features: Store, Video store, Trophies.
3. LIVE is getting even more features this holiday.
4. PSN will probably copy some of them next year.

5. Without money, the full LIVE experience wouldn't have ever existed. Live would never have had all the great features that the PS3 copied.

6. PS3 wouldn't have anything to offer other than free online gaming if it wasn't for Xbox owners paying for LIVE.

I love slapping people in the face with reality.
But, I can't stand ignorant people who think everything should be free.
Thats not how the world works.

8. If PSN wasn't free, Home would've been launched a year ago.
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shovelbum - 459 days ago
1.12 -
No it should not be free. It is an amazing service and gamers should not be so damn whiny. As soon as PSN is up to par, it probably won't be free either. PSN does some things right but you just can't seriously compare the two when it comes to the online community. I do think that, just like games, it is overpriced however and charging for themes is a freaking joke.
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badz149 - 459 days ago
1.13 - who ever answer no
is just plain DUMB! why wouldn't anybody wants LIVE to be free, fanboys or not, both included! it's more or less like rejecting free gasoline for your car!
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IDemonstalkerXI - 459 days ago
1.14 -
We are paying for a service that has no mod support. That in itself is evil IMO. XNA Membership pricing is outrageous IMO too. I whine but I been paying since 2005 and recognize money going out the window.

Once PSN/PS3 gets Screencapture feature and Home, PlayTV I might drop XBL Gold and go silver. I keep saying that but I still pay because I do like the options.
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jaysquared - 459 days ago
1.15 -
This is the beauty of competition! PS3 fans have XBL to thank for Sony stepping up to the plate and offereing a better online service this gen. Xbox fans have Sony to thank for stepping up to the plate which makes MS ante it up some more. The question I have is who will eventually crumble.. Will M$ drop the price for Live or will Sony end up having to charge for PSN to help offset the cost that they have put in for updates, home and such..
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gunnerheadboy - 458 days 23 hours ago
1.16 -
I'd love for it to be free. I don't see how it's superior than the PSN. I just enjoy the cross game chat.
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RemmM - 458 days 23 hours ago
1.17 - X Box Live SHOULD be free
X Box Live users should only pay for DLC. But that's just my opinion.
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beoulve - 458 days 22 hours ago
1.18 -
XBOX sales will increase quite significantly if Live went free.
it's a good thing for everybody. I don't know why people want to pay money for it.
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ape007 - 458 days 21 hours ago
1.19 -
xbox live has some great features that psn doesn't

when you look on your friend list or players met list in psn,there's no"join session in progress" or "your friend wants to playt",both of these features makes life easier and also,in live,not only you can see what your friend is playing but also see the specific place he's in, watching video or browsing dashboard or playing single player or playing online team deathmatch(and even shows you the level name) and also it shows you everything you need to know,like if that game is full or not and also shows you the RECENT achievements,and one problem in psn,when you view your trophies,it takes so much time to show the card or even comparing trophies with friends

if sony adds these things in future fm updates,psn sure is the winner,cause it's free

xbox live has a BIG problem,I have 4 accounts on my 360,the live membership only works for ONE account,everyone else can't play online
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HighDefinition - 459 days 3 hours ago
2 - Yes.
PC gaming has always been FREE, and offers just as much and MORE (like MODs) as XBL. On top of that PSN is FREE and allows MODS and has MORE FREE applications (like Home,LWPS) coming out. XBL is NOTHING special and shouldn`t be treated as something special for doing less than it`s counter parts (especially PC gaming)

Why should you PAY for XBL? Their is NO good enough reason.

Period.
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DavidMacDougall - 459 days 3 hours ago
2.1 -
ill tell you a reason its to big a loss to take sinse there xboxs are cheap now the only real income would be the $50 a year gamer tax that comes in every year
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HighDefinition - 459 days 3 hours ago
2.2 - ^^^^
"gamer tax"

LOL.
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meepmoopmeep - 459 days 2 hours ago
2.3 -
gamer tax, lmao.

hehe.

i think it should be free.
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Why o why - 459 days ago
2.4 - "gamer tax"
ha ha

u win

Being free is one of psn's advantages believe it or do . I hope they keep charging for live especially to all the guys who WANT to but i wish it were free for my friends and family who have enough bills to pay for without having to pay a "gamer tax". Dont tell me that MMO crap because that is a lame reason to charge. Some people act like they care about where MS's money goes. Let them rott in their "gamer tax" HELL (friends n family not included)
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thebudgetgamer - 458 days 18 hours ago
2.5 - I SAY IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT ITS YOUR CHOICE
but when people fight to pay for it that just stupid so you really want to pay for even if you didnt have to?
crazy
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rhood022 - 459 days 3 hours ago
3 -
As LIVE stands now, there is no way it should be $50. From 2002 to the launch of the 360, what really has been added to the system that warrants it's price tag? And I ask this with all seriousness.

The PSN, which no one but the most die hard fanboys can deny has taken monumental leaps in less than two years, offers many of the same premium services found on LIVE--video, demos, DLC, exclusive content-- and some not found on LIVE, specifically MODS, for no monthly or yearly fee.

Even a point by point comparison of the features of both reveal that the PSN is only missing minor things that don't effect the primary purpose of these two services--to play online. With HOME, it's pretty much guaranteed that this small gap on features will close.

Now, the 360 fanboys will argue semantics to justify why the 360 is still better, specifically the large community. But with a system that's been in place since 2002, growing a large community is pretty much a "no duh." I would be embarrassed if the community wasn't as large as it is.

So I go back to my original question. Does having a large community make LIVE worth $50?

I have no doubt that the NXE will make the service worth the money. But right now, and really for the last 3 years, MS has been ripping people off.
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HighDefinition - 459 days 3 hours ago
3.1 - Exactly....
Well put.

Thank you.

Bubble.
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juuken - 459 days 2 hours ago
3.2 -
Common sense should be your middle name.
A bubble for you as well.
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dan-boy - 459 days 1 hour ago
3.3 - juuken
aint you normally sniffing morganfells 8rse?? he wasn't around so you latched on to the other fanboy loser HD!

another week, another rehashed article about live....i also noticed the old faithful rrod thread, and a good ol sony fanboy pat-on-the-back we dont need the ps4 yet. laughable really. and it never ceases to amaze me how many times you see the same sony fanboys spewing the same sad rubbish.

no life losers perhaps??

i've had live for four years and have never questioned £3+ a month. you losers hate microsoft, but still turn up in droves to talk rubbish. why aint you all in the lovely ps3 threads?
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Mr Bun - 459 days 1 hour ago
3.4 - Dan-boy
It's funny how your first sentence has nothing to do with the topic of this thread and even funnier how your "fanboy" comment accuses High Def and Juuken of being exactly that. You managed to insult 3 people in the first 2 lines...My only question is how do you have more than 1 bubble?

If you had actually looked, you would have noticed that this is posted in the PS3 area as well.
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Sitdown - 459 days 1 hour ago
3.5 - Oh yea...
you forgot to highlight that in regions everybody has access to demos on day one of them being released....having my LIVE account expire back in July, and not having made the decision to renew it so far......I was unpleasantly surprised when I tried to download NBA2K only to find out that my silver account did not make me special enough....needless to say, I switched on the ps3 and got the demo. It was interesting, because some things never hit home...until it actually hits home.
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Why o why - 459 days ago
3.6 - rhood022
Another winning comment. bubble
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player911 - 459 days ago
3.7 - Well put
I own a 360 and here is my way of seeing things.

With LIVE service, I feel that the extra abilities are worth the minuscule amount I pay a year. I usually get my 13month subscription for like $25-$30 bucks. I feel that it is money well spent for the benefits I receive.

Now would I'd rather get that same service for free? No doubt.

Either Microsoft has to come off and lower their service, or Sony will get PSN to a point where they feel they can charge for theirs. The gap beween both services are getting smaller and if PSN stays free, which I probably will, then MS will have to choice to stay competitive and lower the price of XBL.

MS is losing its edge over PSN very quickly and can no longer justify charging $50-$60 while its equal counterpart is free.

I think we'll see a price drop before Christmas. The Arcade is $200. You shouldn't have to spend a quarter of the console price to get online.

And MS, if you're listening, include a browser would ya!
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HighDefinition - 458 days 23 hours ago
3.8 - Man...
Dan-boy..........

How are you gonna say Juuken FOLLOWS me, YOU follow me more than anyone!!!!

You get SOOO mad, it really is PATHETIC!!!!

Peace, until then NEXT time you REPLY to me.

LOL.
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chrisnick - 459 days 3 hours ago
4 - DDDDDDDUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH
i think its a messed up concept ms has......good service or not.....charging me to play a game on ur system after i paid for both the system and the game(and internet access) is just u trying to nickle and dime me...so i have to pay for the console,the game,the ability access my friends and the same game online.....then pay to actually access them...all the time?......gtfoh...50 bucks a year for probably 7 years of 360 life.....350 bucks not to mention the over-expensive accessories.....sorry...i don't like to be like the masses and buy something just cuz my friends have it....im not dense, im not 5, and if i have had more than 2 bcuz of rrod while im paying for all this...i truly am not worthy of air.
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UltimateIdiot911 - 459 days 2 hours ago
4.1 -
Lol, that's what xbox360 is all about. You lure in consumer with a cheap console and then slam them with overprice accessories and services. Need a harddrive, fork over for MS overprice harddrive. Need online play, pay $50. (the sad part is, the DLC is the same price on PSN) Need wifi, more money.
At least with the PS3, it's basically an all in one package. All you need is in there. HDMI can easily be bought for $3-4 dollars. Monoprice, people, Monoprice.
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thebudgetgamer - 458 days 18 hours ago
4.2 - the worst part is evn thogh you pay for live
you still have to watch burger king ads
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dericb11 - 459 days 2 hours ago
5 -
Here is why they will charge and get away with it. They had the first online based console. Its not that is the best its the fact that a majority of people stick with what they know. Come people we all know people who keep using outdated products just because they are use to it. XBL will never die simply because it came out first. The only way is to beat them to the punch on the next systems and force people to see they are not.
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juuken - 459 days 2 hours ago
6 -
How many times must I say it should be free?

But of course, someone's going to imply that people are cheap as hell these days and they can't even afford $50.00 a year, which is *not* the case.

But Microsoft loves the almighty dollar so...it won't be free.
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DavidMacDougall - 459 days 2 hours ago
6.1 -
They need that money to buy DLC ....instead of new games? Thats stupid
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green - 459 days 2 hours ago
6.2 -
Why does it bother you that people pay for live?You don't even own a 360.

Why does it bother you that you don't see value in something that millions of other gamer see value in and are even willing to shell out money on.

Let it go, enjoy your free PSN because i sure as hell am enjoying my paid for XBL.
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juuken - 459 days 2 hours ago
6.3 -
"Why does it bother you that people pay for live?You don't even own a 360."

Why does my comment bother you? Did it rattle a few nerves? My brother owns a 360 so I play on it sometimes. That's why I made those comments thank you very much.

"Why does it bother you that you don't see value in something that millions of other gamer see value in and are even willing to shell out money on."

Why does it bother you that in bad economic times like this, there is no reason why a consumer should have to pay to play online and on top of that pay for the service provider as well?

XBL may be a great service (seen it in person and it's nice looking) but it should be free. I mean, you pay for the console, you pay for the games, you pay for the extra tidbits you want to pay for and on top of that you must pay for online if you want to experience the 360 in it's fullest?

That's just ridiculous.

"Let it go, enjoy your free PSN because i sure as hell am enjoying my paid for XBL."

No, you let it go first. I have something called an *opinion*. I'm enjoying my free PSN because I'm in the Little Big Planet Beta, I'm about to get a kick ass game soon (Wipeout HD), and there's more games to come that are new and *refreshing*.

EDIT:

"Typical Juuken.You ask her a question and she responds with such anger."

Respond with what anger exactly? I'm giving you a logical reason as to why I think you're wrong.

"So we can both agree that the economy is not so great,so why don't you applaud Microsoft for making it easier for people to enter HD gaming by cutting the price of the console by as much as 70 dollars in the US and 30pounds in the UK pre credit crunch and another 30 pounds last month."

Because the system still has flaws green. If the 360 was more reliable and Microsoft had cut the price, I would have applauded that. Heck, I would have own a 360 by now. But I feel sorry for the people who will unknowingly buy a console that still has glaring flaws within it's architecture.

"Why did you call it a sign of desperation?"

Because the PS3 is still outselling it. If you examine a major retailer (Amazon) for instance, the 80gb PS3 is still in the top ten.

"After all it was selling as well as the PS3 in some territories and even NPD figures showed that it outsold the PS3 in august pre price cut."

Yes, and that's only three months. The PS3 outsold it for five months so far.

"Why don't you criticize Sony for not dropping the price of the PS3 during a time when the economy is so bad?"

Because Sony doesn't need to drop the price. Even though the PS3 is still expensive, it's still selling pretty well. You never know-the economy will probably get much better.

"Back in may when you used to troll 360 articles, your excuse was that you like NG2 and wanted to get a 360.5 months have passed and still no 360 and a new excuse has resurfaced."

Troll the 360 articles. My, my, my...the way people throw around that word these days. In truth, I WAS going to get a 360. I like to play games, no matter which system it's on. But I refuse to buy a console with faulty hardware. I do not have patience for something like that happening to me and therefore I do not like taking chances with my money.

That's why I'm getting a Wii, a DS, and a PSP instead.

The faulty hardware keeps me from buying one dear. Don't jump to conclusions until you've seen my profile.

It's been close to three years already and Microsoft still has not fixed the RROD.

"In life, the happiest people never critisize others because they are to busy basking in the happiness their life is offering them."

And you are here criticizing me and calling me a troll.

Follow your own advice.

"Are you sure you are really happy with your PS3?"

Yes I am.
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green - 459 days 1 hour ago
6.4 -
Typical Juuken.You ask her a question and she responds with such anger.

So we can both agree that the economy is not so great,so why don't you applaud Microsoft for making it easier for people to enter HD gaming by cutting the price of the console by as much as 70 dollars in the US and 30pounds in the UK pre credit crunch and another 30 pounds last month.Why did you call it a sign of desperation?After all it was selling as well as the PS3 in some territories and even NPD figures showed that it outsold the PS3 in august pre price cut.

Why don't you criticize Sony for not dropping the price of the PS3 during a time when the economy is so bad?

Back in may when you used to troll 360 articles, your excuse was that you like NG2 and wanted to get a 360.5 months have passed and still no 360 and a new excuse has resurfaced.

In life, the happiest people never criticize others because they are to busy basking in the happiness their life is offering them.

Are you sure you are really happy with your PS3?

EDIT: lol at RROD.Please do you know a single person that bought a 360 got the RROD and actually paid for it to be repaired?

You have heard about the revisions to the motherboard called OPUS,the revised cpu FALCON, the upcoming smaller gpu JASPER and the overall gpu,cpu and motherboard revision for 09 called VALHALLA.Are those not revisions in making it more reliable?

You know for a fact that it's not as bad as before but you choose to ignore that fact.

The truth is that if it was Sony's PS3 that was the 360 with the RROD and Sony carried out the exact same measures that Microsoft is carrying out.You would all be hailing Sony as a loving caring company that puts the consumer 1st.
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MetalProxy - 459 days 1 hour ago
6.5 - ^^^^
having fun attacking Juuken? She did strike a nerve LOL.
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juuken - 459 days 1 hour ago
6.6 -
Oh green...I shake my head sadly at you.

"lol at RROD.Please do you know a single person that bought a 360 got the RROD and actually paid for it to be repaired?"

I'm aware of the fact that Microsoft offers the repairs for free. But I have also heard of someone receiving a broken console even though it was said to be fixed. Or waiting such a long time for the system to come back to their homes.

Unless, of course you think they're making that up?

"You have heard about the revisions to the motherboard called OPUS,the revised cpu FALCON, the upcoming smaller gpu JASPER and the overall gpu,cpu and motherboard revision for 09 called VALHALLA.Are those not revisions in making it more reliable?"

...Yes, and if the system is more reliable by then, I'll buy one. For now, I'm fine with my Ps3.

Microsoft had plenty of revisions and yet the problem isn't completely gone. I wonder what would have happened if they actually managed to cover the whole thing up?

"You know for a fact that it's not as bad as before but you choose to ignore that fact."

You used fact twice in one sentence. xD

That was funny.

I didn't imply it didn't get better. But I'm still cautious. I'm a consumer. I have a right to be cautious in how I spend my money. :)

"The truth is that if it was Sony's PS3 that was the 360 with the RROD and Sony carried out the exact same measures that Microsoft is carrying out.You would all be hailing Sony as a loving caring company that puts the consumer 1st."

No...we wouldn't.

PS3 owners would have criticized Sony for the same exact thing. And even then, I wouldn't have touched a PS3 with a ten foot pole if it had a problem like that.

What part of 'I like to spend my money wisely' did you not understand? o_o;

I would have bought the Wii instead if the PS3 had problems like that. But thankfully Sony is a good hardware company with low failure rates and they know what they're doing when it comes to hardware.

I'm also pretty sure that 360 owners would jump down the throats of PS3 owners if the PS3 had the RROD instead.
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Why o why - 459 days ago
6.7 - juuken
yep, you struck a nerve.....lol
6.8 dirtrider | 459 days ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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bomboclaat_gamer - 458 days 22 hours ago
6.9 -
these dude carrying on like its life and death. just a game. oh boy. i bet most of u on here are probably in ur teens
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juuken - 458 days 21 hours ago
6.10 - dirtrider
Never implied that all corporations didn't seek the dinero. But Mirosoft wants it more. :)
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