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Sony: Don't subscribe to Xbox Live, buy loads of PlayStation stuff instead! photo

The console wars continue to rage, as Sony continues its line that the PlayStation 3 offers more value for money in the face of the significantly cheaper Xbox 360. Choosing to focus on the Xbox Live Gold subscription, Sony explains that, rather than drop $50 to play Halo 3 and Gears of War 2, you could instead give all that money to the PSN. 

"Rather than paying a $50 subscription fee that competitors charge for on-line services, PlayStation Network users could put that money towards a variety of content," claims Sony

This is actually the kind of thing Sony needs to focus on more aggressively. To the average consumer, the Xbox 360 will always look like the better deal simply because it's cheaper. Sony seems to just assume everyone knows about the Xbox 360's extra costs, but your general punter really doesn't. 

However, with Xbox Live continuing to fleece consumers for their money, despite the fact that we all know it's bullsh*t, Sony might not have much success enticing people over to the dark side. Simply too many people want to play Halo 3 and Gears of War 2.


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51 comments | showing # 1 to 50

ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:29
ArrestedDeveloper
The thing is that $50 goes towards Microsoft locking down exclusive DLC for games like Fallout, GTA, and Tomb Raider.
blehman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:30
blehman
Cue "ZOMG PS3 IS CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN THAN 360 BIAS" in 3....2....
HamalSharatan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:32
HamalSharatan
They made Gold live for PC completely free and refunded those who payed, I only hope people realize that paying to play online and shit and stop that "you are getting a great service" BS logic.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:32
wanderingpixel
What Sony needs to do is improve it's online network as a whole. While Home is a step in the right direction, Xbox Live still offers more content and more experience with online communities. Sony needs to covince people that their network is better by adding the features gamers love: party chat, a vast back catologue of content, and a well organized interface; along with the features gamers want: a friendly online community, high amount of customization, and cheap prices (ideally free, though I know that won't happen). If Sony can get it's online act together then they may have a chance of beating XBL. God knows they already have the Wii beat.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:32
wanderingpixel
What Sony needs to do is improve it's online network as a whole. While Home is a step in the right direction, Xbox Live still offers more content and more experience with online communities. Sony needs to covince people that their network is better by adding the features gamers love: party chat, a vast back catologue of content, and a well organized interface; along with the features gamers want: a friendly online community, high amount of customization, and cheap prices (ideally free, though I know that won't happen). If Sony can get it's online act together then they may have a chance of beating XBL. God knows they already have the Wii beat.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:33
SephirothX
Jims right, this is the exact stuff Sony should have been focusing on with the PS3 since day 1. What does PSN have that Xbox Live doesnt? Pretty much only the party system and a $50 fee.
Gyrael's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:33
Gyrael
It is very bullshit.
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:34
Necros
Maybe if there was as much content on PSN as there is on XBLA, they'd have a strong point. However, let me paint a scenario. Last fall, I came into a lot of free online points. A lot. I got a ton of MS spacebucks and at least an equal amount of PSN money. Within about two weeks, I had blown through all my XBLA points on a ton of content, and there was still stuff that I wanted to buy. Even more stuff has come out since then. Comparatively, I bought as much stuff as there was on PSN that was worth buying, and I still have tons of PSN money left over. There just simply isn't as much content on PSN as they think there is. I'm not saying everything on XBLA is gold, but even with all the crap on there, there is still more worthwhile content on XBLA than on PSN.

In the end, though, these points don't really matter. People are going to go where the games they want are, whether or not they have to pay for online.
darkwhitehair's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:35
darkwhitehair
Id be willing to pay for PSN if I get better connection... cus right now... the connection is shit...
WormFOODx's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:36
WormFOODx
And while it's not an official drop, the cost of a year of Live has dropped at many retailers to $30. It's still not bad for what it has.

Somewhere in here is my funny comment on my distaste for Home on the PS3, I just don't want to exert the effort. You get what you pay for?

I guess I just did.
rbrooks's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:41
rbrooks
how bought 50$ goes to still not being able to buy a ps3 because it's so fucking expensive...
Timstuff's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:54
Timstuff
"The thing is that $50 goes towards Microsoft locking down exclusive DLC for games like Fallout, GTA, and Tomb Raider."

Which is all the more reason I wish they'd stop. I WANT BROKEN STEEL, @$%# IT!
SilverDragon1979's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:55
SilverDragon1979
Why do all of you keep mentioning that XBL costs $50 a year? Most of the time, including right now, you can find 1 year subscription cards for around $30.
Mr Gilder's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 13:57
Mr Gilder
This reasoning makes perfect sense to me. It makes so much sense to me, because it dawned on me a month ago when my xbl gold subscription was up for a renew, and I spent 3 days on the phone with "customer service" reps trying to explain to them that I DON'T WANT to renew it, and that's why I'm not updating my payment options.

And Jim, you're 100% right. Sony needs to publicly make points like this more often. By the time you tack on a larger hard drive, the wi-fi adapter, and xbl subscription fees, you're left with a console that's not a whole hell of alot cheaper than a low end PS3. However, the souped up 360 isn't, nor will it ever be, a bluray player. It's an argument that's been made before, and this is largely because it's accurate.
robbway's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:07
robbway
Yes, but Microsoft can definitely spin this around. Why spend an extra $100 on a PS3 system if you use $50 for XBL and $50 for content?
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:08
Kyousuke Nanbu
I can't tell of Jim is being sarcastic or serious with the fleecing comment, nor can I tell if he's making it sound like people wanting to play Halo 3 and Gears is a bad thing.
BattyAdroit's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:16
BattyAdroit
Silverdragon: Because the Xbox Live costs fifty dollars a year.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:20
brainderailment
@Kyousuke; I'm pretty sure he's sincere with the bullshit comment. Because it is.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:22
mix
ZOMG PS3 IS CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN THAN 360 BIAS!!!

I am quite happy with the amount of games on the PSN and could care less about exclusive Fallout 3 and GTA DLC, I havn't touched Fallout 3 in 4 months and GTA is for sale for $40 and I only got about 40% into...mwa ha ha

Exclusive DLC does not persue me in any way to want the game on whatever console the DLC resides in, just not that into DLC as much as a downloaded standalone game.
Trev's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:24
Trev
Instead of spending $50 to use PSN, I can spend $50 on stuff from the PSN. Buy games instead of service, like the article says. Makes sense to me. Also: Savage Moon is a manly-difficult tower defense game.

@SilverDragon
If I walk into a retailer or buy online from Microsoft, the price is probably going to be $49.99 for 12 months. You can also find PS3s for less than $400 if you look. Unless we can reliably get a thing at X price anywhere, X is not the price, it's just on sale at that particular place.
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:28
elsteveo
Opps i just subscribed
jsutcliffe's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:42
jsutcliffe
While price was a small factor in choosing my 360 over a PS3, I don't buy Sony's argument. I picked a 360 because I don't _need_ all of the extras they list (I'll admit that $100 for a wireless adapter is criminal though). Look at the 360 as something customizable, where you buy the parts you need. I'd rather have that than a larger suite of features I won't use.

Besides, I don't think the price point issue is all that interesting -- each console's game library ought to be a larger factor in deciding which you want.
Shin Oni's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:44
Shin Oni
which is simply why i'm not mad at all by doing monthly subscriptions now. I don't play Halo 3 anymore, don't care for Gears. So most of the time i'm online is usually for L4D, a fighting game, or just to chat it up with friends in a party.

still...I'd love to plunk money at PS3. But the highest offer is still at 400.
JACK of No Trades's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 14:53
JACK of No Trades
PSN offers a great community for free. We have party chat and a store that has very unique games. You 360 guys really should stop with all your "Live is better" comments, because once reality sets in you will see that MS has been charging for services that should be free.

Also why do 360 guys think they are better than everyone? I've never replace my PS3. I don't need to put batteries in my controller. I don't need to pay to play online. I don't need to by a blu-ray to watch HD Movies.
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:04
Midgetsnowman
Generally I think we think we're better because we arent the ones going nuts every time someone "betrays" sony. And its true Live has its flaws, I'd love it to be free, but honestly the only thing from PSN I personally want is the ps1 games (and sony should put more of them on PSN,), and those I dont need a ps3 for, I have my psp for that stuff. Most of the games I actually want to play multiplayer tend to be xbox exclusives or games that are multiplat but all my friends have Xboxes. As for reliability, not everyones had a Red Ring, the newer systems tend to be far more reliable, after all.
Shirley Temple's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:05
Shirley Temple
this is why I'm not renewing my live subscription and getting all my online console games on PS3. I guess I'm lucky that I completely dislike Halo and Gears. Although I am gonna miss GTA IV, which I should have gotten for PS3. Fuck the DLC.

@Arrested Developer

Yeah you get exclusive DLC, but that doesn't bring the DLC down a single cent. It seriously has no advantage whatsoever for the consumer. Only MS themselves.
jsutcliffe's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:06
jsutcliffe
@Jack of no trades
I've never replaced my 360, have rechargeable (and replaceable -- take that Sony) battery packs in my controllers, and stream HD movies on my 360 with Netflix ;)

Oh god, I'm trolling in a console war thread.

---

Non-troll mode:
I don't think either console is better. It all comes down to the games, and even then it's not as simple as "my console has the best games so yours sucks" -- it's all subjective based on the kind of games you enjoy. I love my 360, but I'm sure I'd love a PS3 if I had one instead.
CALkulon's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:06
CALkulon
About time Sony started saying stuff like this!
Johnny Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:17
Johnny Justice
ArrestedDeveloper:
"The thing is that $50 goes towards Microsoft locking down exclusive DLC for games like Fallout, GTA, and Tomb Raider."

But what good does exclusivity do for 360 owners?
JACK of No Trades's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:18
JACK of No Trades
@jsutcliffe

Trust me, I would love to have Braid and N+ on PSN. XBL has some gems and so does PSN(Monsters, Eden, Flower). I've played on both systems for many hours and my friends were the reason I played my PS3 more. Not to mention I love the way the PS3 looks and the features it has out of the box.

Its easy to say "Its onlt 50 bucks" and "blah blah blah my connection is better" but when it comes down to the principle I get the to do something you 360 guys can't do....play online for free.
sxefly212's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:25
sxefly212
I for one, don't like or agree how sony has handled the PS3, but they do have a point, paying 50 bucks for live service is a bit of a rip, plus if you want to dowload tv shows, music, DLC or whatever, you have to have microsoft points and that's even more money. However, XBL doesn't have as many server errors has sony ie. Socom. MGS 4. and even when COD4 was released they had connection and match making problems.
Emrah's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 15:34
Emrah
Obviously people who invested in a lot of current xbox games will continue paying, but this remark is rather directed at people who want to switch from last-gen to the current gen, and it is a very valid point indeed.

Personally, I find it very convenient that I don't have to pay to play online, because there are times I cannot turn on my PS3 for a couple of weeks. Now it would be to bad if I had to pay for those times.
Tet's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 16:03
Tet
"Not to mention I love the way the PS3 looks" We're really stretching on the console wars now.
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 16:21
Midgetsnowman
@Jack of No Trades

Its true, but you cant play the games I want to play, the fact ps3 is free online doesnt mean a whole lot to me when the only game I really want for ps3 doesnt even have online functionality, IE Valkyria Chronicles
sxefly212's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 17:02
sxefly212
Sony, like most entertainment companies, is falling on hard times, the problem with sony is that they have, for some reason, fallin' short of providing a great live service, like XBL. They try to persuade people buy the arguement of saying " you don't have to pay to play", but the problem is, is that XBL is a great service. I love the PS3, but I am not going to be biased and say that just because their live service is cheap, it's better. Sony doesn't have a Gears or Halo online, they just don't, for however great MGS 4 or Resistance is, they don't supply the hype or the excitement that Halo or Gears have.

That is Sony's main problem. I have problems with x-box 360, I am pulling for Sony because I grew up with Playstation being so good, however for Sony to say that because of their free online they're better than x-box, is white noise.

That was a long comment, sorry if I upset anyone, I just want to further the converstation.
MrSlippery's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 17:05
MrSlippery
Flawed argument. I'd only consider Sony as an iption once they can actually back up what they claim. Until they provide a service that rivals XBL. They're grasping at straws, plain and simple.
TheDreadHawk's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 17:20
TheDreadHawk
Gentlemen! You can't fight here! This is the war room!
sxefly212's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 17:38
sxefly212
Battle Stations, I want alert vippers on stand by, Frakin' machines!!!!
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 17:41
funran
Jesus Christ.

Sometimes I wish these articles didn't have comment options, and this stuff went down in the forum.

Sony's got it right, it is cheaper in the long run, in general, you get more bang for your buck.

Does Sony have all the games and content as Microsoft? No. But, they are catching up, with a year behind the 360 they are clearly doing very well. There are plenty of exclusive/non exclusive reasons to log onto PSN. It's free, all online is free, you can even put nextflix on the damned thing, for free. ( www.mediamall.com to download trial software + www.netflix.com for trial account if you want to try it).

The ps3 needs a price drop, badly, but there are more and more reasons everyday to own the unit. Free online, no batteries, bluray, games, psn, wifi, replaceable/upgradeable hard drive, etc, sony's looking good, they just need to let people know, and drop the price 100 bucks (and probably throw in a PSN game and/or a Bluray movie at that cost.
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 18:35
ArrestedDeveloper
@ Shirley Temple & Johnny Justice
The advantage to the customer is that they can purchase something that is potentially enjoyable. I'll agree that it is more of a positive for the console to have an exclusive than it is the customer but exclusivity brings up the whole haves and have nots scenario. It feel nice to have something that someone else can't have, that's just human nature.

@ Mix
I can understand not wanting a certain DLC pack but that doesn't strip the Fallout and Gta exclusive dlc of all value, others are really looking forward to them. I didn't enjoy Resistance: FOM on my PS3 but that doesn't mean the other 3.5 million people that bought it hated it too.

@ everyone else
This is turning into the same old argument. 360 guys say they don't mind paying the 30-50 bucks a year for what they consider to be a superior service. PS3 guys call 360 dumb for paying what they feel is a comparable service to their free one. Then everyone just starts comparing dicks.
fykdig's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 18:53
fykdig
all i keep reading is live has a better connection for online play, says who? lol
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 19:02
Black Nexus
Except for a few games on XBL games I want I simply can't justify that 50 $ a year. From what little I have seen of XBL I can't seem to find anything that much better than psn, hell except for cross game invites an chatting I can't find anything different at all .

To top it off theres the pricipal of the whole thing, I should shovel out 50 $ a year for internet that I already pay for, f#ck that. Thats just wrong no matter how you try to spin it.
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 21:20
elsteveo
If you don't fucking want xbox live don't pay for it. If you have PSN good for fucking you.
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 21:44
Qraze
i love my psn and ps3. you can call me a sony fanboy because i got linux installed on it with a shitton of snes and gba games that work with my ds3 perfectly. i am the fanboy that takes all advantage of what any system can offer for free. also, free user made themes of naked women having sex with other naked women are a win.
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 22:30
WarZombie
I don't exactly see what the big deal is about paying $50, because it doesn't take a year to save that amount of money. Get a fucking job and quit complaining about the price, because you can't blame Microsoft for being a business, and Sony shouldn't act like they are so much better ($50 chat pad, while you can find the 360 for $30, among other overpriced accessories). Honestly, $50 takes maybe a month and a half or two months to save up, and I'm not rich either (quite the contrary - I'm poor as shit). If I'm not bitching about it (my family makes less than $30,000 a year) then NOBODY should bitch about the price.

And just for the record, I'm going to save up for a PS3, so I'm no fanboy, just voicing my opinion.
Thomaticus's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2009 22:48
Thomaticus
you guys may not like PSN, but Sony needs to market it more aggressively. Its FREE! That's the best recession feature that the PS3 has right now.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 03:17
JustLikeBuck
$50 isn't much, but it's just not worth it. You're paying to play online. Big Whoop.

PC games have been doing this for nearly 20 years without charge, PSN follows the same model. If you 360 lasts 10 years, and assuming MS keep the subscription (because, let's face it: There are too many of you willing to part with your money over something so trivial), that costs $500. Almost the price of a PS3 at launch.

You can argue that that $50 is going toward getting you exclusive DLC, there are two counters to that:

1 - Why do you still have to pay for the DLC?
2 - Are you that petty you only want your console, and your "elite" group to be the only ones to enjoy extra game content?
wonky360's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 03:23
wonky360
FREE is a great word. So $4 a month is expensive?.
If the 2 were equal then yes, FREE is the winner. XboxLive is simply far in advance of the competition, never mind the games issue. The back end of running a service like Xbox Live is astronomical (google it). Sony profits were down 95% last quarter. I doubt they will have bigger fish to fry than to worry about the PS3 or any FREE online service.
You get what you pay for.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 03:34
JustLikeBuck
@wonky360
You do get what you pay for. But lets not delude ourselves that Live offers anything more than PSN that justifies that $50.

Last I heard most people are waiting 20mins for a 5min game of Gears2. You're paying for a premium service, and you're waiting longer than you're playing?

PSN has it's problems, but it's forgiven because it's free and evolving, as it should be. PSN and Live are ultimately tools to generate money with little effort (through DLC, games, movies), having to pay just to play those games you've bought is silly.
TorpedoTed's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 08:00
TorpedoTed
This is what it boils down too, the PS3 network is Guild Wars and the Xbox 360 Live is World of Warcraft, case ended!

lets all go play on our seperate networks and shut the fuck up!
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