mad_onion Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 i'd like to think so too but I think they would have to add a lot more services like video on demand (BBC iPlayer) before it would enough value for most people to pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si_ Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 So basicaly what your saying is that they should be expected to put extra time and effort into implementing these things FOR FREE, on top of the work already done adding new features FOR FREE etc via system updates? It's not a birth right to have access to these things, if you don't want them, don't buy gold, stop whinging and go outside away from your computer. Simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahhell Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 It amazes me that so many people bitch about the cost of Live yet they are the same people that buy the same EA sports title year after year after yeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted August 27, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted August 27, 2009 i'd like to think so too but I think they would have to add a lot more services like video on demand (BBC iPlayer) before it would enough value for most people to pay. But then again BBC iPlayer is free because we pay a TV subscription :p While Netflix is in the same case for you Americans, BBC iPlayer is already coming to the PS3 (well it's already on it just now through web browser, but I think an application is on the way), so MS making that a premium feature would be a little daft. They have no rivals with Netflix in the console realm anyway, just set top boxes. Well there's PlayOn for the Wii/PS3 but it has an upfront fee. What MS could do is implement a decent web browser on the 360 for silver users to use all the above (lastfm/twitter/iplayer/facebook), and keep the integrated applications on Gold. They're definitely skilled enough in web browser development, IE is a good web browser regardless of how little love it sometimes gets from the hardcore. I've always thought MS could make a better browser for the 360 than the PS3 browser but they've kept shunning the idea even although they're starting to support web based functionality (twitter/facebook/etc, all web applications). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Teej Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 So basicaly what your saying is that they should be expected to put extra time and effort into implementing these things FOR FREE, on top of the work already done adding new features FOR FREE etc via system updates?It's not a birth right to have access to these things, if you don't want them, don't buy gold, stop whinging and go outside away from your computer. Simple. If Microsoft want money to pay for the developers who make these things, then they should make them a one time fee like every other developer does out there, not a monthly fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treemonkeys Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Lol, what cross licensing? Twitter and Facebook APIs are completely free.Anyway, this is ridiculous. It's not adding any real value to xbox live gold, it's artificially making it more important by adding in features which could very easily be done for free. This is even worse then paying for an iPhone twitter app, that's a one off fee which is usually only $5, MS is asking for $5 a month to use this service. Complete bull****, IMO. They are not completely free, they are owned by someone and offered free to use if you go through their interface. This doesn't mean any random company can just take their product repackage it and use it as a bullet point to sell their product. Obviously Microsoft has worked out a deal with Twitter and Facebook and they have created a new interface for the console to access these websites, it's not as if they are giving the 360 web browser and simply charging you to access these websites. As an existing gold member it is nice to see these new features being added but if you subscribe solely for these features that would just be stupid. If they raised the price of the membership for this that would also be stupid. As someone else mentioned, this is nothing compared to charging for host based online gaming, that is what people really should be complaining about, this is just petty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_onion Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 But then again BBC iPlayer is free because we pay a TV subscription :p While Netflix is in the same case for you Americans, BBC iPlayer is already coming to the PS3 (well it's already on it just now through web browser, but I think an application is on the way), so MS making that a premium feature would be a little daft. They have no rivals with Netflix in the console realm anyway, just set top boxes. Well there's PlayOn for the Wii/PS3 but it has an upfront fee.What MS could do is implement a decent web browser on the 360 for silver users to use all the above (lastfm/twitter/iplayer/facebook), and keep the integrated applications on Gold. They're definitely skilled enough in web browser development, IE is a good web browser regardless of how little love it sometimes gets from the hardcore. I've always thought MS could make a better browser for the 360 than the PS3 browser but they've kept shunning the idea even although they're starting to support web based functionality (twitter/facebook/etc, all web applications). I see where you're coming from about iPlayer but I'm not sure that people would specifically buy a games console because it had iPlayer free. I mean the PS3 has every web service available via it's browser. I think people would choose their games console for whatever reason and then if they had the 360 they might pay for iPlayer given that they would be getting facebook, last.fm and others rather than buying a PS3 as well to get it's web browser and other features. Also, I don't see a web browser ever coming to the 360. I think the effort being put into developing stand alone apps shows that microsoft doesn't want to go down that road presumably so it can charge for these features lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+KibosJ Subscriber² Posted August 27, 2009 Subscriber² Share Posted August 27, 2009 I see where you're coming from about iPlayer but I'm not sure that people would specifically buy a games console because it had iPlayer free. I mean the PS3 has every web service available via it's browser. I think people would choose their games console for whatever reason and then if they had the 360 they might pay for iPlayer given that they would be getting facebook, last.fm and others rather than buying a PS3 as well to get it's web browser and other features.Also, I don't see a web browser ever coming to the 360. I think the effort being put into developing stand alone apps shows that microsoft doesn't want to go down that road presumably so it can charge for these features lol Or maybe because stand alone apps are actually much better than using a browser. Just a thought, I much prefer to use an application for something rather than a web browser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted August 27, 2009 Veteran Share Posted August 27, 2009 So basicaly what your saying is that they should be expected to put extra time and effort into implementing these things FOR FREE, on top of the work already done adding new features FOR FREE etc via system updates?It's not a birth right to have access to these things, if you don't want them, don't buy gold, stop whinging and go outside away from your computer. Simple. I was thinking the same thing. These things are free to paying subscribers. If you're not paying, MS hopes it's enticing enough to make you sign up. And, for the people whining about paying for a Twitter application: Who are you to say that someone's time and energy spent programming a solid application isn't worth any compensation? Give me a break. If I wrote a Twitter app for the iPhone (if I knew how), I sure as hell would place a price tag on it and hope that it's good enough to stand up against the free options out there. This is the way the world works. I don't know where this sense of entitlement came from, but it's ridiculous and infantile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted August 27, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted August 27, 2009 I was thinking the same thing. These things are free to paying subscribers. If you're not paying, MS hopes it's enticing enough to make you sign up. And, for the people whining about paying for a Twitter application: Who are you to say that someone's time and energy spent programming a solid application isn't worth any compensation? Give me a break. If I wrote a Twitter app for the iPhone (if I knew how), I sure as hell would place a price tag on it and hope that it's good enough to stand up against the free options out there. This is the way the world works. I don't know where this sense of entitlement came from, but it's ridiculous and infantile. Yes but you aren't a multi gazillion billionaire company, you're an indie developer with an another full time job developing your twitter app in your spare time. Even then the iPhone twitter apps that do cost money? They're like 99p-?2 and then you own them forever. Just pointing that out as I think comparing yourself to MS is a bit flawed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Well then why should Microsoft bother making the App at all, if they're not supposed to charge for it because they "have enough money"? Don't get me wrong, I sure as hell wouldn't pay anything extra for these features, but considering I already pay for Gold, it really doesn't bother me that much. Still, I'd much rather have all these apps and a few ads if it meant no fee at all, but I'd say that about ANY software, indie or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Hopefully games wont tie into the news feed. so and so is Playing Call of Duty. So and so is playing grand theft auto So and so is playing far cry. and so on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted August 27, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) Well then why should Microsoft bother making the App at all, if they're not supposed to charge for it because they "have enough money"?Don't get me wrong, I sure as hell wouldn't pay anything extra for these features, but considering I already pay for Gold, it really doesn't bother me that much. Still, I'd much rather have all these apps and a few ads if it meant no fee at all, but I'd say that about ANY software, indie or not. There's a little bit sense of entitlement when you cough up for a piece of hardware, buy games and accessories, pay to play online, etc. Those that love their 360's support MS financially all throughout the year, it's not like an indie iphone dev who only makes money through selling his/her app. I mean, why should Sony of bothered making the Vidzone app if that's your opinion on the situation in regards to free applications? The reason we get a discussion on this is more so because MS are taking functionality that's widely known to be free on a multitude of devices and making it premium. If it were a service like Vidzone MS had made a gold premium you'd have far less moaning than things like twitter/facebook and LastFM. Vidzone would be MS actually making a brand new application, not just licensing an already built application. Edited August 27, 2009 by Audioboxer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Maybe so, but they're not really making it "premium", they're releasing it for free for anyone that already has Gold. It's a bit of a debatable issue, you have to pay for the services in one sense, but in another sense the services are being offered for free to anyone already paying for Gold. To give it an analogy, it'd be a bit like Sky offering iPlayer support on their boxes for anyone with a Sky subscription. Sure, the iplayer is free on the internet, but then again if you have Sky, you're getting an additional feature at no real extra cost to you. I suppose in a way, this kind of thing is mainly directed towards anyone who complains about Live "not being worth it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Lyle Global Moderator Posted August 27, 2009 Global Moderator Share Posted August 27, 2009 Not really a big issue for most I suppose. I got xbox live Gold. I probably won't be using facebook on Xbox, i use my PC and iPhone for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si_ Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I mean, why should Sony of bothered making the Vidzone app Pfft they didn't, they palmed it off to the work experience kid from the look of it :\ Anyone who does any work is entitled to be paid for it, if you decide to give it away then that's down to you. It's not like MS haven't given enough away to xbox users, including all the money it must have cost to develop NXE. Stop assuming you're entitled to everything free just because you say so, you look silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hell-In-A-Handbasket Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Facebook already has teh functionality to broadcast what your doing on the 360 to your Wall ( been using it for a while now ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doli Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 It amazes me that so many people bitch about the cost of Live yet they are the same people that buy the same EA sports title year after year after yeat. because they are both the same.......? :huh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Guess what! Microsoft tells MCV that plans for Facebook and Twitter access on Xbox Live are not yet finalisedXbox 360 platform holder Microsoft has told MCV that reports claiming Twitter and Facebook access on Xbox 360 will be reserved for Gold members of Xbox Live only are incorrect. The belief stems from a footnote in this morning?s announcement of a price cut for the Xbox 360 Elite console which stated: ?Xbox Live Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available.? However, a Microsoft spokesperson told MCV that the information is ?incorrect? and that the firm ?is still formulating its plans? for Xbox 360?s upcoming social network integration. Facebook and Twitter were initially expected to come as part of Microsoft?s recent Xbox 360 ?fall? update but will now arrive some time later this year. Source: http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35592/Xbox-360-T...laims-incorrect In your face, AB ;P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted August 28, 2009 Veteran Share Posted August 28, 2009 There was a piece of news posted earlier on Joystiq that there will be a trial for Silver users. Xbox Live's Twitter and Facebook free for Gold, for trial by Silver membersby James Ransom-Wiley { Aug 27th 2009 at 6:10PM } Breaking News Xbox Always read the fine print. Part of a footnote from this morning's Xbox 360 price cut press release bore this little oh-by-the-way: "Xbox Live Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available." When MCV followed up on the tucked-away tidbit, a Microsoft spokesperson suggested that the press release's statement was "inaccurate" and that the company was "still formulating its plans" for integrating the social networking services into Xbox Live. A few short hours later, those plans appear to be formulated. A Microsoft representative has clarified to Joystiq, "Facebook and Twitter on Xbox Live will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members." Specific details on what's included in the trial are not currently available, but clearly Microsoft is continuing its policy to reward Gold subscribers for their, well, subscriptions, despite what must be a tempting motivation to make Twitter and Facebook free-for-all features. Social networking's the killer app, after all -- and Microsoft could use some new ammo in the console war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Audioboxer Subscriber² Posted August 28, 2009 Author Subscriber² Share Posted August 28, 2009 ^ In your face Kushan :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mathachew Veteran Posted August 28, 2009 Veteran Share Posted August 28, 2009 All the bells and whistles, even the useless ones, only for Gold members. For shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unrealistic Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 I know a lot of people have Gold anyway, but requiring a paid subscription to use a free service seems a little naughty... That would be like a phone OEM saying, you've got a facebook app on your phone, but you need to pay us to let you use it.This makes me sad. Uhhhhh.....You can't use that free app on your phone without paying a monthly subscription for a data plan. Sure the app is free, but the service and bandwidth isn't. That was a horrible analogy. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunknMunky Veteran Posted August 28, 2009 Veteran Share Posted August 28, 2009 How about, why do people buy and drink bottled water when you can drink it from the tap for free? :p Sure anyoneeee could bottle the water and sell it, hard work blah blah blah, the "know how" etc etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Sounds to me like MS doesn't actually know what the hell is going on. Maybe they haven't quite figured out a way to fleece people effectively yet, so I guess we'll just see what happens in November :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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