The news that Microsoft was raising prices for a number of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions was met with uniform negativity among gamers, but EEDAR analyst Jesse Divinch thinks otherwise. Defending the price raise, Divinch claims that the subscriptions are still "incredible value" for consumers.
"When taking into consideration the numerous services added to Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers over the last eight years, it comes as no surprise that Microsoft would eventually increase the price of a Gold subscription by a moderate amount," says the analyst. "When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99.
"When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers."
The thing is, a lot of Xbox Live's "value" can only be seen from one perspective -- a perspective where none of Xbox Live's offerings are available in a better form and/or free elsewhere. When you can play online for free on both the PS3 and PC, even a dollar a month for Xbox Live could be seen as no value for money at all, and as far as the other stuff goes -- Twitter, Facebook, Netflix -- when have they ever been exclusive to XBL?
At this point in time, Xbox Live doesn't hold much value at all for me anymore, and unless you can't live without Halo, there really isn't that much incentive to pay outside of feeling like you have to.
Contest:
11:40 AM on 08.31.2010 | 
I'm paid off for a few months still, and I'll end up buying another subscription before this shit starts. Who knows what I'll do next year when it's re-subscribing time...
Face it Microsoft, it's time you let people pick and choose what features they want. Obviously, you're going to want to keep adding new things to Xbox Live Gold. But you can't keep offering only 1 Premium option and raise its price time and time again. You'll eventually have to let the consumers pick and choose what they want, so you might as well start now.
It's like going to a prostitute for some conventional loving only to have her force a dong up my ass with out my permission and then charge me for it at the end. Best analogy everrrrrr.
Sorry but this are kinda the reasons for a bad rip off. This is why its turning even MMO games such as FF14, cuz gamers don't want to pay 3 different services just to play online.
Correction:
unless you can't live without Gears of War, there really isn't that much incentive to pay...
That's better.
I mean, it's not like PSN offers almost the same (useful) services for free, or them being COMPLETELY free on PC! Nope, not at all!
Plus, the majority of functions only work in the US, yet EVERYONE gets slapped with an increased bill. This isn't justified, it's just MS being greedy, end of.
And it is difficult to call it a "value" when the only alternative is...nothing.
I'd rather pay the extra 10 if it meant that I could be enabled to play online via dedicated servers than the p2p structure with the rest of that added crap. Who needs Facebook on their 360, I already have a computer and a cell phone. It is not like I am lacking for something so needless in the first place.
I agree. Online gaming is the core feature of gaming and it has to be free. Something that is already on PSN.
I don't think this is a value at all. Compared to PSN, i don't think there's any amount worth justifying any cost to play online on the 360. I'm glad Sony has kept their service free, as it should. Even with PSNPlus.
Anyway a lot of these services are free on PSN you have automatic access to your Facebook to update trophies and other things via game/ps3. Not to mention you can use the internet also. I think some games auto use Twitter as well, and again you can use the internet. Netflix is also available. So if this is what they are using to justify another extra $10 it's kind of a poor value in consideration to other platforms give it to you free, PC/PS3.
Nope, I'm not seeing the value.
You need PSN+ for Hulu, so there's a cost if you want feature parity. Mitigated somewhat by the "free" games.
Still doesn't stop MS' from being greedy.
Also, didn't Pachter say this was happening a while ago? Omg he was right, in your faces all you Pachter haters!
All I really want from my online service is the XBLA or PSN: the rest is just pointless fluff to provide the illusion of value. Wouldn't pay £35 for gold, no way in heck that I'd ever pay any more.
Well, maybe you might want to switch over to the system with always free online gaming. The PS3. Its more than a value. Its bang for the buck.
I think you mean "$60 a year".
"Well, maybe you might want to switch over to the system with always free online gaming. The PS3. Its more than a value. Its bang for the buck."
Just lost my lunch at that one.
This is especially true if you don't live in the U.S. you essentially end up paying for many features you don't, and will probably never have access to.
They really need a 3 tier system as mentioned many times before. One for non payers, one for people who just want to game and chat, and one for people who want the whole package.
I'll never understand why companies(video game or not) jack up prices when it's widely known people are bringing home less money.
XBLA titles are going up in price, gold service. I guess they have to make back all the money they're not going to be making on Kinect.
I love my 360, but geeze Microsoft. Stop being such assholes.
The sad thing is with just Call of
Duty alone the service will still be a huge success; for at least the next iteration if the series.
I'm torn because I hate supporting MS's practices yet I like their online Gaming service and I'm one of those who thinks Halo is kinda fun. But $39.99 a year was pushing it for me. I refuse to pay $50 let alone $60. I just purchased a 39.99 card - once that lapses...
LOL. Really? Why's that?
@Nyktharas
I agree. The PSN has incredible value with free online. That alone should make gamers think about spending their money needlessly.
twitter is free on the PSN via the browser. But you are right, no one should pay for services they hardly use or can be found elsewhere for free.
Can I get a discount if I don't use half the shit Microsoft is charging me extra for? I'll meet you guys at $35 a year for multiplayer and those "gold-exclusive" demos; I need my Vanquish fix!