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Internet 60% of XBOX 360 Gamers Use XBOX Live
Brandon Hill (Blog) - July 13, 2006 11:00 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 29 comment(s) - last by Alexvrb.. on Jul 14 at 11:30 PM
From 10% with XBOX to 60% with XBOX 360

According to Gamasutra, Microsoft's XBOX Live service has quite the following nowadays. While Sony has been talking up its online service for some time now, Microsoft is actually expanding and refining its service. According to the latest statistics, 60% of XBOX 360 users are using XBOX Live. That is a dramatic increase from the 10% attach rate with the original XBOX console. Of the 60% that are on XBOX Live, 75% use the XBOX Live Marketplace where over 30 million downloads have taken place. 65% of connected users visit the XBOX Live Arcade where more than 5 million games have been downloaded. Gamasutra reports:

XBOX Live has hosted over two billion hours of gaming, including over 500 million games of Halo 2. It also handles over 900,000 voice and text messages per day. But there’s plenty more where that came from, with Microsoft on-track to hit its target of six million XBOX Live accounts in 2007.

The future also looks bright for XBOX Live as Microsoft is looking to fuse its XBOX 360 console gaming experience with users on both PCs and mobile devices with the Live Anywhere initiative. According to Gamasutra, the first titles to take advantage of Live Anywhere will be the PC version of Halo 2 for Vista and Shadowrun.

Sony has its work cut out for it in creating an online infrastructure for its PlayStation 3 users. Microsoft has a few years under its belt with XBOX Live and is banking on its success. Sony has to look at Microsoft's success and missteps with XBOX Live to ensure that it has a stellar community for gamers. Earlier this week, Microsoft announced that it will also be making classic games such as Pac-Man and Frogger available for download on XBOX Live Arcade.

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Sony not a compelete Noob
By OrSin on 7/13/2006 11:15:03 AM , Rating: 2
Consider the numebr of online games they manage I think theya re capably of having a coming out the box with decent service. Really if all the serves did if let you play games and text message people it would be enough if its free. I got 360 and no idea i had to pay for the servive to play other people. Why even offer a free "silver" service that does nothing, but let you pay for content. I paid for the game, I'm paying for the internet service, why shoudl I have to pay just to connect to them. Right now my Xbox360 is just being used as Media extented, until i get game I think is worth the extra $50 , just to play on-line.
Not planing on getting the PS3 but if i dont use this xbox more I might sell it and get the Wii.





RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By IMPoor on 7/13/2006 11:25:41 AM , Rating: 1
oh no $4.17 a month is way to much to pay. If you are a hardcore gamer then that amount is nothing. Still cheaper than a PS3. Also microsoft loses money on every console so charging this little amount is not a big deal if you think about it. But go with the Wii. I think you can buy the old contra for like $5 on it. I can give you a code for 30 men (U,D,U,D,L,R,L,R,B,A,select,start.). Or the code to get to Tyson is 007 373 5963, i think. Those games are more your speed, baller.


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By AndreasM on 7/13/2006 12:46:07 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Also microsoft loses money on every console so charging this little amount is not a big deal if you think about it.


Are you seriously claiming that we shouldn't mind paying a monthly fee because MS in their benevolence sells the X360 at a loss? I'm sorry, but that's Sony logic; next you'll be telling us how the PS3 is worth a lot more than $599 and that we should be glad that it only costs that much...


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By TomZ on 7/13/2006 1:20:50 PM , Rating: 2
The value of the service should be judged on its own merits. Whether the revenue Microsoft receives makes up for some of its loss on the console or not is irrelevant to end users.


Get a job
By ViperROhb34 on 7/13/2006 10:02:33 PM , Rating: 2

There's no way you'll convince me you're not some kid living with his parents or a total loser..

If you bought an Xbox 360 and 'can't afford' or just don't want to dish out the 'big money' for the Gold membership and a whopping 50, 60 dollars for a year.. then you're just plain Dumb..

Sony has already tried once with their online gaming with Ps2 and it obviously failed miserably .. I expect them to have a small sucess with PS3.. selling quite a few.. but considerably less units then PS3 .. most people don't have HD Tv.. and Bluray recorders will be 2 grand easy..


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By nwrigley on 7/13/2006 2:30:32 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
oh no $4.17 a month is way to much to pay. If you are a hardcore gamer then that amount is nothing. Still cheaper than a PS3.


PS3 does not have plans to charge for their online service, so how is it cheaper? Also, why should it be priced so that only a "hardcore gamer" would be attracted to the service?

You use the term "hardcore gamer" like a badge of honor. I'm not sure why anyone, regardless of whether they are "hardcore" or not would want to pay to play a game online with a 360 when they can play it for free with other systems (such as a PC).


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By IMPoor on 7/13/2006 3:09:44 PM , Rating: 2
first off, Sorry to piss you off but I did not mean to say that $50 (4.17/month) is better than free. I would love it if it is free. And I agree you are correct that just because microsoft lost money on the system we should not have to pay for it. But truth be told that is the way console gaming works (all systems, not just M$). The sell the consoles at a loss and make money on games and console related hardware. Again I would rather have it be free. And I doubt sony is setting up such a vast infrastructure. In fact I heard rumors that it is mostly up to the game developers to set up their own servers.

Oh yeah $399 plus $50 is cheaper than $599 for the PS3. It would take 4 years to even out and I still have doubts whether Sony's online is up to par with xbox live. AndI wont be buying a playstation.

If it cost more to make than to buy, then it is a bargain to the consumer if said consumer is going to buy that item. I wish things where free but $4.17/month is close enough imho.


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By killerroach on 7/13/2006 7:18:17 PM , Rating: 2
$399 plus $50 a year, when the console also lacks a major marketing feature of the PS3 (a next-gen optical drive), is not insignificant (not to mention, feature-for-feature, excusing the Blu-Ray drive, the $399 360 is closer to the $499 PS3). At that point, cost basically becomes a wash, and it comes down more to what console has the games one wants to play. Some will gravitate to the 360 largely for Halo 3 or Xbox Live Arcade, while others might head to the PS3 for MGS4, Final Fantasy XIII, or the more-or-less 100% backwards compatibility with PS1/PS2 games (giving the aspiring gaming treasure hunter a lot more opportunities to find something they might want if graphics aren't an issue, kinda like the Wii's Virtual Console). And I can't fault either. As for me, I'll "split the difference"... get a PS3 mainly to load up on PS2 games that I've missed out on from not getting that console while still having the ability to play new titles, and get a 360 controller or two to hook into my PC, as they are surprisingly good for such a small controller (I may be the only person on earth who liked the original Xbox controller).


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By Penth on 7/13/2006 4:40:53 PM , Rating: 2
I think it's U,U,D,D,L,R,L,R,B,A,Select,Start ;)


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By MrPieGuy on 7/13/2006 1:31:16 PM , Rating: 2
The Silver is free because it gives you access to downloads... and you pay for the service by choosing to download. Microsoft has to pay huge costs for their servers as (if I recall correctly) it is they who host the games on the servers, so they need to pay to make up the cost, otherwise it would just bleed them.

Sony's service is "free" but they've said that individual game makers can charge for their games, so dont be surprised to see games that do support online for the ps3 coming with their own subscription.

Less than 5 bucks a month Ill GLADLY pay, for the great times Ive had stretching back from Ninja Gaiden, to COD2.


RE: Sony not a compelete Noob
By Phynaz on 7/13/2006 2:42:02 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I paid for the game, I'm paying for the internet service, why shoudl I have to pay just to connect to them.


And yet millions of people pay $15 a month to play WoW, Everquest and others that they already payed for.


Silver vs Gold
By Shoal07 on 7/13/2006 12:46:35 PM , Rating: 2
The article is quite misleading. "60% of users use Xbox live"... what? I believe 60% are using Xbox live Silver, which is free, but not Gold for which you pay (and can play others).




RE: Silver vs Gold
By TomZ on 7/13/2006 1:18:35 PM , Rating: 3
I don't think it is misleading - nowhere was it said or implied that 60% of XBOX owners are paying for the service. The statistic is significant/interesting because it means that a very large audience is being exposed to offers and ads on XBOX Live.


RE: Silver vs Gold
By Bluestealth on 7/13/2006 4:21:01 PM , Rating: 2
Wait a sec, do you still get ads with gold? BTW I have no idea because I am not a console gamer :)


RE: Silver vs Gold
By underline21 on 7/14/2006 10:14:08 AM , Rating: 2
There are no ads.

The only difference between the two is that with Gold you can play online and with silver you cannot.


Live is a great service
By Squidward on 7/13/2006 11:05:03 AM , Rating: 3
I can see why it's so popular. If only it were free. :)




Xbox live is FREE !
By ViperROhb34 on 7/13/2006 9:55:09 PM , Rating: 2
Xbox Live Silver is Free

Yes Free

And offers almost all the same services as Gold ( which you pay for gold )

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/features/silverage....


Go xbox live
By IMPoor on 7/13/2006 11:15:27 AM , Rating: 3
I think its awesome that microsoft is seeing this success. They really tried hard the original xbox to make it good for the gamer and with the xbox360 it is drastically improved. There are always a few complaints I could make but overall it kick ass. They are the one to copy when it comes to console online gaming.

It will be interesting to see how the live anywhere will work so I can play Xbox360 users on my PC. What a great idea. and a moneymaker!




RE: Go xbox live
By Boney on 7/13/2006 11:50:26 AM , Rating: 2
BUT when live anywhere comes out and people on the pc want to play online ..... I think the majority of (PC) Gamers would expect the service to be free. Most FPS are free for the PC and I for one would definitely not want to be charged.

But Im sure I could also be proven wrong if many others out there think paying is justifiable.


Sony it will be 100%
By mushi799 on 7/13/2006 1:48:11 PM , Rating: 2
cuz its free




RE: Sony it will be 100%
By Alexvrb on 7/13/2006 2:00:18 PM , Rating: 2
Right, because broadband penetration will reach 100% overnight, and because they will have such a compelling online experience at launch. Of course.


Over Priced