Gamespot says XBox Live is garbage compared to PS+ and should be dumped next gen

[arredondo]

Paying to play peer-to-peer games online (XBL) vs. paying to get extra games for your console and handheld (PS+). Gamespot makes a choice.

Xbox Live Gold is an antiquated dinosaur that no longer fits within this industry. It's an exploitive service that takes advantage of people's innate desire to connect with others, charging significant money ($59.99/year, or $9.99/month) for features given away for free on competing platforms. As the next generation approaches, it's time for Microsoft to shelve this nickel-and-diming venture once and for all. "

It's a concept that people who are immersed in gaming take for granted, but sounds downright crazy when viewed from a different angle. Shelling out your hard-earned cash for Halo 4 doesn't get you everything; you also need to pony up for a Gold subscription if you want access to the lion's share of content you paid for. The much-heralded multiplayer mode is completely closed off, as is playing through the campaign online with friends. Even Spartan Ops, which can be enjoyed alone if you pay Microsoft's subscription fee, is inexplicably kept away from people who don't part with some extra money. This is a ridiculous barrier that doesn't exist on any other system or in any other medium. Microsoft's ardent desire to force people to pay more money means that you might not get to experience the entire game that you just purchased.

Aside from cross-game chatting and invites, the PlayStation 3's online features go toe-to-toe with the Xbox 360's, and just about every other aspect of the premium experience is made redundant by free equivalents on other systems. Non-game applications such as Hulu and Amazon Instant Video offer the same experience on a variety of devices, and Microsoft's apps for such services don't always compare favorably to its competitors. Netflix is not only available on Sony's console, but the PlayStation 3 is now the number one source of television streaming. That's a vital piece of information. Even though there are more Xbox 360s out there, more people use the PlayStation 3 as their primary source of Netflix streaming. Could it be because Microsoft banished this service behind a pay wall?

Contrast Microsoft's approach with Gold to Sony's premium plan. PlayStation Plus requires a yearly fee of $50 ($10 less than MS' plan), but offers a much different package. Sony doesn't erect a nonsensical barrier for those who would rather avoid a costly subscription fee. Rather than charge extra for features that should be standard, such as online gaming and useful apps, Plus makes the PlayStation 3 and Vita's wide assortment of games more readily accessible. Downloadable games sometimes become available earlier or cheaper for those who pay for the extra service, and certain games are completely free. Now you're rewarded with a copy of Uncharted: Golden Abyss or Final Fantasy Tactics for no charge, or get to play Journey a week before everyone else. It's a system built on giving rather than withholding. Plus nurtures the gaming audience while Gold segregates it.

The reason why Microsoft insists on using this draconian pricing method is clear: They make money from it. But it's time that customers take precedence over coins. Cordoning off entire sections of a game from people who paid good money for that product is indefensible, and Microsoft is only hurting itself by forcing people to go through pay hoops to access non-gaming apps. Although my resolve weakens whenever a new Halo is released, I recognize that Gold is an exploitive business practice that should disappear into the ether when the next generation arrives.

 

[purbeast0]

phew, good thing i can make my own decisions for myself and don't need a big corporation to tell me how to think and what i should like.

if people had a problem with xbox live they simply would not pay for it. since people do pay for it, they obviously can afford it and don't have a problem playing with it.

didn't read the whole article, but i'd guess they did not mention that online play on ps3 is a shitty experience compared to 360 for the most part.

 

[RedRooster]

That would be nice if XBL gave away the odd game, or gave better rewards points or something.
I'll continue on with it though, blissfully unaware.

 

[arredondo]

didn't read the whole article, but i'd guess they did not mention that online play on ps3 is a shitty experience compared to 360 for the most part.

They say the opposite:

But Microsoft's huge advantages are now distant memories.

Aside from cross-game chatting and invites, the PlayStation 3's online features go toe-to-toe with the Xbox 360's, and just about every other aspect of the premium experience is made redundant by free equivalents on other systems

So your charge is not mentioned because it is a false statement that some XBL zealots out there tell themselves as the last way to justify shelling out money to Microsoft for peer-to-peer play. What is it now, almost $400 in XBL charges since the 360 launched? And the price per year keeps going up? What a waste.

Go to any top level fighting game forum where the demands for a smooth online experience is more important than any other genre - when a game like Soul Calibur or Tekken have good netcode programmed in (which the latest releases do), playing on the PSN is absolutely fantastic. If gamers can play those games online so well, then just about every other genre experience even less issues.

Peer to peer online, i.e., not run on company servers, has the same ups and downs on 360, PS3, and PC. There is no magical voodoo that makes it different on one platform over the other; your internet connection and that of the people you play with (along with how the net code was programmed) make all of the difference. Each platform is capable of near-perfect gaming experiences, terrible gaming experiences, and anything in between.

 

[JackBurton]

Aside from cross-game chatting and invites, the PlayStation 3's online features go toe-to-toe with the Xbox 360's, and just about every other aspect of the premium experience is made redundant by free equivalents on other systems...

Oh, that little thing? Don't worry about that little thing.


JackBurton says Gamespot is garbage. I'll pay $40 per year anytime over some crap I can't even get 3 friends in a lobby without the voice chat constantly cutting out or an invite system that's non-standard across the board. Seriously, this is a BIG downside when playing with friends online. I mainly play my PS3 because my friends bought it as a BD player FIRST and a game system as an afterthought. So I'm stuck playing online on the PSN and it's like a breath of fresh air when I go back to XBL. "Oh, you mean I didn't get disconnected from my friends when I ended the game session? AWESOME!"

If you play with strangers, PSN is fine. Unfortunately when you actually want to play with FRIENDS online, it sucks.

 

[Arkaign]

XBL was one of the main reasons I got rid of my X360 after playing it for about 10 hours total. I'll never pay for extra online charges, nor will I ever pay for subscription-based gaming. The day there's no alternative will be the day I quit gaming forever (or only play old school stuff).

In that way, I hope PS4 craps on 720. Unless Sony starts charging for the ability to play games online that you've already paid for, in that case they can both go to hell.

 

[arredondo]

Their summary quote has been added to the first post:

Xbox Live Gold is an antiquated dinosaur that no longer fits within this industry. It's an exploitive service that takes advantage of people's innate desire to connect with others, charging significant money ($59.99/year, or $9.99/month) for features given away for free on competing platforms. As the next generation approaches, it's time for Microsoft to shelve this nickel-and-diming venture once and for all. "

 

[tfinch2]

I gave PS3 a try, around the time BLOPS came out. Then PSN went out for what, more than a month? You get what you pay for...

And who pays $60 a year for XBL? It is always on sale for around $40 a year.

 

[purbeast0]

They say the opposite:


So your charge is not mentioned because it is a false statement that some XBL zealots out there tell themselves as the last way to justify shelling out money to Microsoft for peer-to-peer play. What is it now, almost $400 in XBL charges since the 360 launched? And the price per year keeps going up? What a waste.

Go to any top level fighting game forum where the demands for a smooth online experience is more important than any other genre - when a game like Soul Calibur or Tekken have good netcode programmed in (which the latest releases do), playing on the PSN is absolutely fantastic. If gamers can play those games online so well, then just about every other genre experience even less issues.

Peer to peer online, i.e., not run on company servers, has the same ups and downs on 360, PS3, and PC. There is no magical voodoo that makes it different on one platform over the other; your internet connection and that of the people you play with (along with how the net code was programmed) make all of the difference. Each platform is capable of near-perfect gaming experiences, terrible gaming experiences, and anything in between.

tekken and sc are known to have bad netcode. i've been playing fighters online for a few years now and own sf4, ssf4, and mvc3 on both ps3 and 360. it is night and day playing on 360 vs ps3 online. much better on 360. and this is playing with both randoms, and also the same people. it is 100% clear cut that 360 is superior for the online aspect.

lets not forget that live is much more integrated and streamlined than psn is.

 

[purbeast0]

also if you are paying $60/yr or $10/mo for xbl you are a god damn moron.

 

[Aikouka]

I'm not the biggest fan of having to pay for the online service, but I will admit that XBOX Live works pretty darn well from what I've seen. It's also implemented fairly well into the OS. One of my biggest problems with Sony is that the entire experience on the PS3 feels disjointed. For example, I turned my PS3 on to play a movie the other night, and I saw that there was a sale on games. I selected that thing to open the Playstation Store, and it probably took around 20-30 seconds for the store to actually be usable. That's pathetic. It's even worse that I had to then find the sale that I originally selected to view because the store didn't automatically navigate to it upon opening.

I've complained about this in another thread, and I will reiterate it here, Sony is just incapable of designing a good user experience. Although, Microsoft isn't exactly winning any brownie points with me for Windows 8's start screen. 😛

 

[American Gunner]

I have both systems, and got a free year of PS+, so I know about both systems. I do enjoy XBL a lot more, mainly for the chat and connectivity. But I do love getting free games on PS+. I wish XBL would do stuff like that. Right now, I have Infamous 1 and 2, LBP 1 and 2, and Bioshock 2 all for free. That is an awesome deal, and it would be nice if I could get some free games on XBL.

 

[Durvelle27]

also if you are paying $60/yr or $10/mo for xbl you are a god damn moron.

So true i only paid $25 for a 12 months + 2 free months



Edit: I own both systems and from experience XBL is more reliable compared to PS. When gaming online with the PS3 i'm prone to more lag in fighting games then on XBL. And the PS always ends up going out for long periods of time or some mishap when your account gets stolen several times. So yes you may have to pay for XBL but


You Get What You Pay For

 

[arredondo]

tekken and sc are known to have bad netcode.

You literally have no credibility left with that statement. None.

SCV and TTT2 are frequently hailed by hardcore fighting fans as having among the best if the best netcode in the genre. This is especially true on the PS3, which is the main console for fighting games worldwide (99% of all major tournaments are on PS3 exclusively).

You can consistently execute just-frame commands (1/60th of a second room for error), escape throws (read and react with the right input in 1/5th of a second), complete complex, frame-sensitive juggles just about as well as you can offline. When a player and his opponent have a good connection, it is virtually a lag free experience.

You are literally inventing stuff just to cling on to an outdated myth. It's sad.

also if you are paying $60/yr or $10/mo for xbl you are a god damn moron.

If you pay any money for the right to fully play games you already paid for (the online component), access your Netflix account that you already pay for, and simply browsing the web on console, you are.... well, I'll just say it is not a wise choice IMHO.

 

[Garou24]

While I would love to have xbox live for free, I do not mind paying a little extra for it. It works well and seems easier to navigate compared to my friend's PS3. I am not sure where they get their pricing for it in the article. I have never paid $10 a month for xbox live. I just got an email the other day saying my auto renew was set to go through for xbox live... $54 for 2 years.

 

[purbeast0]

You literally have no credibility left with that statement. None.

SCV and TTT2 are frequently hailed by hardcore fighting fans as having among the best if the best netcode in the genre. This is especially true on the PS3, which is the main console for fighting games worldwide (99% of all major tournaments are on PS3 exclusively).

You can consistently execute just-frame commands (1/60th of a second room for error), escape throws (read and react with the right input in 1/5th of a second), complete complex, frame-sensitive juggles just about as well as you can offline. When a player and his opponent have a good connection, it is virtually a lag free experience.

You are literally inventing stuff just to cling on to an outdated myth. It's sad.



If you pay any money for the right to fully play games you already paid for (the online component), access your Netflix account that you already pay for, and simply browsing the web on console, you are.... well, I'll just say it is not a wise choice IMHO.

to be honest i wasn't even thinking about the latest iterations of the SC and Tekken franchises, i was thinking about the first one thats came out on current consoles, which were the last ones i cared about and played before realizing that i'm not a fan of 3d fighters anymore. tekken 6 and dark resurrection or whatever it is called were awful online.

and do you know why tournaments like evo, which i've competed in, all use sony ps3 for their consoles? because sony donates them and sponsors them. and since evo is the de-facto tournament, everyone wants to be like evo and therefore uses ps3's.

the online aspect has 0 to do with why they use ps3 at tourneys. infact, the majority of high level fighters will laugh at you for even thinking that online in a fighter can be considered serious.

fwiw i can hit 1 frame links and tech 3 frame throws on SF4 on both ps3 and 360. doesn't mean jack shit though. anyone who has played the same games on both consoles will tell you that 360 is a better all around experience for the most part.

 

[JackBurton]

to be honest i wasn't even thinking about the latest iterations of the SC and Tekken franchises, i was thinking about the first one thats came out on current consoles, which were the last ones i cared about and played before realizing that i'm not a fan of 3d fighters anymore. tekken 6 and dark resurrection or whatever it is called were awful online.

and do you know why tournaments like evo, which i've competed in, all use sony ps3 for their consoles? because sony donates them and sponsors them. and since evo is the de-facto tournament, everyone wants to be like evo and therefore uses ps3's.

the online aspect has 0 to do with why they use ps3 at tourneys. infact, the majority of high level fighters will laugh at you for even thinking that online in a fighter can be considered serious.

fwiw i can hit 1 frame links and tech 3 frame throws on SF4 on both ps3 and 360. doesn't mean jack shit though. anyone who has played the same games on both consoles will tell you that 360 is a better all around experience for the most part.

Yep. Most of the "hardcore" guys play seriously in person, not online. I played one of these "hardcore" guys (I believe he was at EVO) at a local tournament when SFIV (original) was out and got smashed by his Cammy. 🙁 The guy was insane with her.

 

[smackababy]

to be honest i wasn't even thinking about the latest iterations of the SC and Tekken franchises, i was thinking about the first one thats came out on current consoles, which were the last ones i cared about and played before realizing that i'm not a fan of 3d fighters anymore. tekken 6 and dark resurrection or whatever it is called were awful online.

and do you know why tournaments like evo, which i've competed in, all use sony ps3 for their consoles? because sony donates them and sponsors them. and since evo is the de-facto tournament, everyone wants to be like evo and therefore uses ps3's.

the online aspect has 0 to do with why they use ps3 at tourneys. infact, the majority of high level fighters will laugh at you for even thinking that online in a fighter can be considered serious.

fwiw i can hit 1 frame links and tech 3 frame throws on SF4 on both ps3 and 360. doesn't mean jack shit though. anyone who has played the same games on both consoles will tell you that 360 is a better all around experience for the most part.

Hitting 1 frame links online in SF4 isn't hard for good players even with their shitty netcode. I do enjoy the Xbox experience and have played on both. You're right about EVO and the tourny scene and Sony.


GGPO is considered the end all for netcode and anything with rollbacks below that. From what I've heard, the new Namco games are great online. I don't play 3D fighters so I can't comment.

Yep. Most of the "hardcore" guys play seriously in person, not online. I played one of these "hardcore" guys (I believe he was at EVO) at a local tournament when SFIV (original) was out and got smash by his Cammy. 🙁 The guy was insane with her.

Now, online warriors are coming out as not terrible as before. Players like Wolfkrone and Latif have transitioned into the pro scene from online only play.

 

[sactoking]

Gamespot is a game review website that is widely known to sell good reviews for advertising dollars. Therefore, there exists the real possibility that these statements constitute an undisclosed paid endorsement and nothing more.

In other words, Gamespot has no credibility.

 

[joutlaw]

Gamespot is a game review website that is widely known to sell good reviews for advertising dollars. Therefore, there exists the real possibility that these statements constitute an undisclosed paid endorsement and nothing more.

In other words, Gamespot has no credibility.

We have a winner 🙂

 

[American Gunner]

I don't see XBL dying any time soon. There are some major reasons why I do most my gaming on it. The controller is way better in my opinion, all my friends play it, and I enjoy the party chat system.

 

[arredondo]

to be honest i wasn't even thinking about the latest iterations of the SC and Tekken franchises, i was thinking about the first one thats came out on current consoles, which were the last ones i cared about and played before realizing that i'm not a fan of 3d fighters anymore. tekken 6 and dark resurrection or whatever it is called were awful online.

and do you know why tournaments like evo, which i've competed in, all use sony ps3 for their consoles? because sony donates them and sponsors them. and since evo is the de-facto tournament, everyone wants to be like evo and therefore uses ps3's.

the online aspect has 0 to do with why they use ps3 at tourneys. infact, the majority of high level fighters will laugh at you for even thinking that online in a fighter can be considered serious.

fwiw i can hit 1 frame links and tech 3 frame throws on SF4 on both ps3 and 360. doesn't mean jack shit though. anyone who has played the same games on both consoles will tell you that 360 is a better all around experience for the most part.

So much nonsense in one post...

- I've traveled the country, competed AND placed top 3 in more fighting game tournies over the years than I can count. I am extremely sensitive to lag and know it when I see it. Come at me bro.

- The reason the PS3 is the console of choice over the XBox is for two primary reasons:

(1) A lot of players (including high level players) compete with a game pad instead of joystick, and just about every single decent player will tell you the the d-pad on the X360 is an abomination. It's perhaps the worse d-pad in the history of consoles and in no way is suitable for advanced fighting.

(2) Japan and Korea hate the X360 and the PS3 is strong in Europe , and so worldwide tournies naturally occur on the Sony machine.

Any of these can change next gen, but that's the way it is right now. As big as it is, Evo is just one major, and Sony consoles were used since Evo I when there were pretty much no major sponsorships from anyone. Besides, if you think donated machines (which rarely happens BTW) determines which console the serious fighting game fans support, I have a bridge in Zimbabwe to sell you. Stop making up nonsense.

- As for high level players going not playing online, again, stop making up nonsense. I personally know and play with more of these guys than you could even name. Almost all of them play online, and they also live stream their matches at their various fighting game websites. Of course it is no substitute for offline play, which many of us enjoy in the majority of our practice at gatherings and for tournies, but no one claimed that it was.

You admitted your ignorance to how well the netcode has been in some of the fighting games released in the twelve months or so; online play is more than good enough to get some decent practice on is not even disputed any more, and on the PSN you can do so with minimal lag despite your ridiculous attempts to say otherwise. Not every game is programmed to have the same quality netcode (i.e. KoF XIII), but that's a problem with the game itself, not the console it is played on.

There is absolutely no difference in the online game play experience between the two HD consoles and the PC. All can play near perfectly, and all can lag horrendously. And it certainly isn't a reason to pay almost $400 since the X360 launched just to be able to play online when no servers are even provided for most of 'em. If you like all the XBL services for the money, then more power to you.

 

[Doppel]

I haven't had xbox live in years. I just resent the idea of it on principle. As such, my xbox is incapable of multiplayer, netflix, etc.

 

[ronbo613]

If you don't like it, don't buy it.

 

[purbeast0]

So much nonsense in one post...

- I've traveled the country, competed AND placed top 3 in more fighting game tournies over the years than I can count. I am extremely sensitive to lag and know it when I see it. Come at me bro.

- The reason the PS3 is the console of choice over the XBox is for two primary reasons:

(1) A lot of players (including high level players) compete with a game pad instead of joystick, and just about every single decent player will tell you the the d-pad on the X360 is an abomination. It's perhaps the worse d-pad in the history of consoles and in no way is suitable for advanced fighting.

(2) Japan and Korea hate the X360 and the PS3 is strong in Europe , and so worldwide tournies naturally occur on the Sony machine.

Any of these can change next gen, but that's the way it is right now. As big as it is, Evo is just one major, and Sony consoles were used since Evo I when there were pretty much no major sponsorships from anyone. Besides, if you think donated machines (which rarely happens BTW) determines which console the serious fighting game fans support, I have a bridge in Zimbabwe to sell you. Stop making up nonsense.

- As for high level players going not playing online, again, stop making up nonsense. I personally know and play with more of these guys than you could even name. Almost all of them play online, and they also live stream their matches at their various fighting game websites. Of course it is no substitute for offline play, which many of us enjoy in the majority of our practice at gatherings and for tournies, but no one claimed that it was.

You admitted your ignorance to how well the netcode has been in some of the fighting games released in the twelve months or so; online play is more than good enough to get some decent practice on is not even disputed any more, and on the PSN you can do so with minimal lag despite your ridiculous attempts to say otherwise. Not every game is programmed to have the same quality netcode (i.e. KoF XIII), but that's a problem with the game itself, not the console it is played on.

There is absolutely no difference in the online game play experience between the two HD consoles and the PC. All can play near perfectly, and all can lag horrendously. And it certainly isn't a reason to pay almost $400 since the X360 launched just to be able to play online when no servers are even provided for most of 'em. If you like all the XBL services for the money, then more power to you.

lol ok not really gonna touch on much since you are a tough guy, but even your 2 reasons the ps3 is used has nothing to do with online play, which again is insignificant in the fighting community, and what this thread is about.

i'm sure you know more about how evo is ran even though i talk to the organizer of it and know how it's ran, and i know for a fact that the reason they use ps3 is for sony donating the consoles.

but hey believe what you want.

also lol @ "come at me bro" wonder if this is alkemyst alt account.