Sony has released a new advert that possibly makes a joke at Xbox Live's expense (expense, get it?). The new ad declares that "the fun's always free," referencing the PlayStation Network and the fact that it costs nothing to game online through Sony's service, while on Xbox Live you have to pay for the privilege.
The fact that Sony doesn't yet expect anybody to pay for its online provision is certainly a huge bonus, but by the same token, what Xbox Live offers for the money is pretty damn good, and the cost has certainly not stopped millions of customers using Microsoft's gold service. Would the PSN be successful at all if Sony started charging? Probably not at this current juncture, which is why it's been a far easier decision to make the service free. Perhaps a free PSN will be far more tempting in a year or two, but if it becomes as big and successful as Xbox Live, will Sony want to keep offering it for the price of nothing? Corporations generally don't give away what they can charge money for.
At any rate, while Sony can continue to boast of a free PSN, that doesn't really serve much of an insult to a company making millions off its premium online service. If you sold your car on Ebay for ten thousand dollars, you won't be impressed by the fact that I gave mine away to someone I met in a Yahoo chatroom.
What do you think of the new advert? Is the fun always free, as Sony claims? Did they just serve Microsoft a plate of ownage, or does Sony need some online multiplayer smashes of its own before it can start using the PSN as ammo against the Xbox 360? The comment box is there for the using, so use it.
[Aerox rox!]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
3:23 PM on 01.22.2008
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Snorehawk=weak.
However I think the ad is pretty funny, because as great as Xbox Live is, it could be free. Personally I'd love to see PSN get as big as XBL. If it starts doing better, it might force Microsoft to stop charging for its service.
"the fun's always free*"
*screw you microsoft lololololololol
hah now if only the wii can advertize the same then it would be reeeal funny
Know what else is free? Cancer.
I don't mind paying 30 quid for a year of good quality online gaming.
As for what XBL offers, it's pretty good for the money....what? The ability to private chat in a game? Is that worth $50? I think not. If it's little novelty features like that that make people think XBL is THAT much better than PSN, then I guess most people have forgotten what playing a game is about.
Honestly, I think the only reason people DO pay for Live is because they HAVE to in order to play online. People just compensate for that by saying "XBL is better". For what XBL DOES offer, I'm sure it could be done for free
Xbox Live's background functionality is amazing, but yah... we have to pay for ads. That sucks
"Its fun to play with yourself"
Not saying that it's cool to have ads, it sucks balls but to say that xbox live users PAY for ads is misguided.
I agree with Amaru, this bickering makes for interesting times
This fanboy crap is getting absurd.
Now they just need to make all of that ass-crazery free... if you're paying 60 bucks a pop for COD4, then you BEST get the multiplayer for damn free.
The console wars can bicker at each other all they want if and only if it will make them BETTER the technology and interface... most of us have already chosen our console (the lucky ones don't choose cause, they've got both) -- and it's just LAME to fight with each other about it.
Let us all just laugh... cause, you know... it's FREE and all.
Thats a fucking brutal avatar, Jesus lmao
The reason Live has advertisers on it is because those companies see a venue in which it is worth their while to pay for advertisements to be placed there. 10 million or so odd users isn't a bad little audience for certain products. Maybe if PSN had enough users companies would see it as more profitable to advertise there.
the ad was supposed to read:
'the *fun's always free...
*as long as you like playing resistance'
That saying works for Xbox Live too. Just because you pay for manure doesn't mean it's not shit.
aj2good4you2 said: what has microsoft given away that was actually worth it besides the upcoming undertow? (totemball was horrible by the way,lol)
Undertow is crap as well, IMHO.
Like I said, if the PSN gives me that I have no loyalty to Microsoft and will gladly stop paying for an inclusive experience that Sony would be providing gratis.
But PSN is still not unified accross the globe, and that's a stupid problem. Currently, AFAIK, US COD4 players still cannot join online games with European players, because Sony Europe is holding things back (as in, not releasing the patch to public. I guess they are still having fun with the LAN play in their offices and forgot to hit the send button :P )
I haven't played much PS3 online, but what exactly does Live do that PSN doesn't other than achievements (which don't matter, at all)?
i've yet to play any games on my PS3 online so i can't comment on the their servers, i don't know if microsoft uses the fees they charge for live to make the online gaming as good as possible,i hope they would but with microsoft i doubt it.
Having said that, the 360 could learn a thing or two about craftsmanship from the Sony camp. Here, it lives in the PS3's shadow.
Also, I don't think corporations charging for things is a bad thing. I am a big supporter of capitalism. I was just stating what corporations do.