I personally wouldn't pay for online gaming either, and I've always wondered how much goes to M$ and what the developers get, if anything

Both them and Sony have said they want the current consoles to last at least a decade, so there's years to go yet. I've often wondered if they'd hold back to see how downloads go before releasing another system that needs physical media... Personally, I doubt I'd ever buy a system that relied on downloads; there's little benefit for me unless they're ridiculously cheap

Of course, the companies will almost certainly take years to realise that the download model currently has all kinds of severe problems for console users

For me I got 2 years for £30 a while ago in an offer, so £1 a month (for sake of arguement)

Cross game party chat for up to 8 is easily worth that for me over PSN, as is the party play for online gaming. I'm not too fussed with matchmaking but it works to a point.

Sony/MS don't need to make a new console, there isn't a game out that was well coded that pushed the system to the total limit of capability. It's why GPUs come out all the time because resolutions increase as do graphical demands for games yet on the consoles only the games increase, not the resolution

I agree with both of you. I simply do not see the need to pay for online gaming. Lets assume that the developers get all of the revenue, I add up the total cost and do not think that it is worth it. If you play World of Warcraft or some other online game for many hours a month, then it does become good value on a per hour basis. Many games simply do not justify that expense.

As for buying downloads I doubt that they could tempt me. While a game disc might cost £50 new at least you can sell it to get a new game. If you have a download for £50 then how can you sell that game? It might kill off the pro owned market but it could price out the users as well. The games might have to drop substantially in order to make up for that lost resale value. I might try a game at £20 but not at £50. Downloads may not be the panacea that they are thought to be.

I can see £30 or £1 a month is good value for the use you get from it, but as a casual gamer I just can't justify it. I think Microsoft could bring alot with a new console, blu-ray is obvious but aim it more toward a media centre

I think your maths might need a bit of work...

Not my math



I'm not saying the XBOX 360 is bad, I just think Microsoft are charging too much to get online. You have to even pay to go wireless (not sure if they build it in now, if not they should it doesn't cost much).

Draft n is £60ish

Point is you don't need live if you dont want it, neither do you need wireless bringing the cost down for those with a wired connection etc.

I would like native spdif though, had to spend £5 on an adapter to be able to use it

I guess so, but most people I know don't have a wired connection, mainly because the access point are not in the living room and I can't see them laying cable for it.

Back to the 250GB HDD, rip it apart and whack a new one in it rather than paying 60-70 for a 250gb

Then get banned for not using an authorised HDD and not have a working xbox for online play...

What??? they do that?

Yep.

I can understand blocking people who have chipped them (to a certain degree) but that's harsh.

Well you can exploit it with save game editing as well as a lot of other ways with a non chipped console.

You can break the EULA by adding a lag switch if you wanted to p*ss off fellow gamers to get an unfair advantage and get banned

To be honest I would avoid the online games as I would get beaten so incredibly easily. It would be dull to get beaten at every game I play against other individuals. The games I prefer I can take a break if necessary.