Xbox Live pricing and features confirmed for the 360

Will microsoft still offer free online gamming on the weekends for the silver (free) accounts. I heard that somewhere, but i dontknow where

Im definitely getting the 12-month plan as well..
Now, remember what microsoft said about current xbox live customers would be automatically transfer to xbox live 360? What about the little price difference?

Ok, lemme go back on watchin the patriots =]

I think they got rid of the free on weekends thing. Im pretty sure but not 100%.

is anybody else disgusted by the idea of an online store for game content. If you're sinking $60 into a game and also paying for a subscription service, ever think maybe they can just give you the dumb trinkets and upgrades for free rather than gouging more money out of the consumer. Its not an innovative or intriguing idea, its taxing a costumer that already payed for the product more money to fully enjoy it.

this is bullshit. i knew MS was going to pull this type of nickle and dime ripoff once they were in the console race. how long until a monthly subscription is required just to play the full version of a game?

jimmy - you read my mind, dude.

i think the idea of purchasing further content online would be very cool if you somehow generated credits to buy stuff through your performance online. Like kicking ass in halo let you buy new character models and whatnot and winning alot of races allowed you to download new vehicles.

Microsoft def seems like they're nickel diming with this whole system, and it will probly hurt them with the average, non hardcore consumer.

its cost upon cost upon cost with this Xbox 360 thing!

i've never understood why they couldn't just go free with Xbox Live the way sony did with the PlayStation's online play, or maybe even just cut those prices in half... i'd be much more willing the pay 35 bucks for a year of online play than 70.

i just think Live is way overpriced, and the fact that they're trying to squeeze so much more out of consumers is really fucking irritating.

So basically, with the core package, you have to shell out 100 bux for the hardrive to actually get profiles and stuff... or you could shell out a bit less and get a 64 meg memory card... does not sound interesting. there needs to be free online gaming.....

After you incorporate the free-online gaming with most PC Games, the free mods that are developed by gamers, the free online service and upgrades customary with most PC Games, and above all the lack of proprietary formats..

Think about their whole marketing scheme "Xbox 360 Revolves around you", I'm going to provide a little insight on this.. a little about how little the Xbox 360 will change the way we play games.

A) Ladder Matches, V.O, and ranks have been available in PC Games for years.

B) It isn't anything particularly revolutionary or innovative, considering the most popular games for the Xbox / 360 are basically empty shells of good PC Games/Gamestyles( HL2, Rainbow Six, Halo 2, Counter-Strike, etc.. )

C) Let's consider cost for a moment here. Considering that I bought my Xbox ( Yes I own an Xbox, it wasn't all THAT bad of a purchase... It's an OK console.. )but like many other teens, I had saved up for weeks and months on end to scramble together $400 to buy the Xbox and games.. and this was over 2 years after the release date.

If Microsoft can perhaps delay release dates for say about a year then maybe I suspect that they can increase their profit on release. Who is really willing to shell out $500+ for a system that's just a graphics quality upgrade.. after games and such. And it gets even worse.. thought you could play your old Xbox games on your new Xbox budget 360, think again. Apparently, MS thinks that a 20GB HD is worth $100. (And I thought Gas prices were gouged..) This means that parents most middle class parents, will seem a bit skeptical about purchasing this console this year.

Alternatives like the PS2 and the current gen Xbox are more likely, while they might choose to get some of the newer systems for their kids next year for christmas.

I predict that Nintendo will unveil their controller shortly after/on the date of the release date of the Xbox 360. Here's why :

MS will offer virtually the same experience as the regular Xbox (Except more price tags attached) while Nintendo actually offers something new (Something they've never failed to offer..)

blah blah blah....

I could go on for ages about what a dissapointment the 360 is to me. Let's just settle in for a quick closing statement of "It is a rip-off."

Why are you morons bitching about subscription costs? It costs the same as it does now. Jesus.

This stinks. ALl what Microsoft wants to do is charge you a monthly fee so you can buy new clothes for your Halo 3 character. Yeah that will cost you money as well. The original Xbox, with all it's flaws was fun, but I am skipping out on the XBOX 360.

Maybe because with the rising costs of fuel, and every other essential item people need to live... it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet? Maybe because when people have to decide between cutting back their 'hobbies' or buying food, we get despondant and need to have an outlet to express our frustrations?

I don't know, maybe people who love gaming are frustrated by Microsoft's approach to this?

Maybe I am special and can read the posts above and make that correlation? I don't know, it doesn't seem to be that had to figure out. hmmm... maybe some of us PS2 users that don't have to pay for the online part of the game are trying to justify getting the X360, but are having difficulties when we see MS charging for every little thing.

I don't know, maybe it is just me...

Just to clarify, I'm not bitter that they charge for Live. I think Xbox live has the marks of a premium service and if you have the right games is worth the money.

Its a convenient and and enjoyable service, although nintendo may very well be offering a similiar service for free. I'd take online on an xbox over a PS2 even if it costs money because it is a good experience.

Its just the piling on of extra costs, paying a little extra for "premium", "specual edition" a hard drive with an unbelievable mark up, and cash for in game item.

Let's wait and see what the content is like before making judgements.

I was happy to play £2.99 ($5.99) for the additional Rainbow Six: Black Arrow maps. Clearly a lot of time was put into these by Ubisoft. For the same price as a DVD rental I've got hours of fun out of them.

Substantial content (new cars, maps, game modes etc) I have no problem in dropping a few quid on. But if I'm expected to play for new skins, guns or other little items I'll be pissed.

Andrew, please do more Research before you submit a post.

"If Microsoft can perhaps delay release dates for say about a year then maybe I suspect that they can increase their profit on release. Who is really willing to shell out $500+ for a system that's just a graphics quality upgrade.. after games and such. And it gets even worse.. thought you could play your old Xbox games on your new Xbox budget 360, think again. Apparently, MS thinks that a 20GB HD is worth $100. (And I thought Gas prices were gouged..) This means that parents most middle class parents, will seem a bit skeptical about purchasing this console this year."

The System is $400 for the Primium.

"I could go on for ages about what a dissapointment the 360 is to me. Let's just settle in for a quick closing statement of "It is a rip-off."

Im sorry but what you said is complete rubbish. At this point in time you can buy just The GPU for your PC and it will be around $300 (For a Decent one), even then it wont be as good as the Custom built ATI GPU Because it's not even out yet for the PC. Then Above that you also have the 3 Dual core 3.2Ghz Power PC processors. The Xbox 360 is $400 ($300 for the Core, very good value), I'd like to see you buy A PC with all that in it for under $600 maybe even $700.

Then I hear you complain about the HDD, have you tried to buy a 2.5'20 gig HDD? You are looking to pay around $80-100 if you do.

Then they Give you:

Head Set = $30

Media Remote = $20

Wireless Controller = $30-40

Now Honestly tell me you still believe thats not good Value.

The Primium console in the UK is even going to be £270! Thats the Cheapest a console has been at launch for a long time (Not including the GC) Even with all the Extra things they give you.

I pay for XBL now and the Service is great, I didn't even pay for the Fist year of XBL because I bought it with PGR2 for £40 off play.com (On it's own it's £40 normaly)

I ment PGR2 is £40 on it's own, it came with A £20 headset too.

Im sure they will do offers like this with the Xbox 360, maybe with PGR3! We can only hope.

I don't think it's ever been said that ALL weekends would have online gameplay for silver accounts. What I've heard is that some promotional weekends could be considered. Like cablcompanies do, offer free access to a moviechannel to reel you in.

So Danny Boy, you're right about the cost of a 2.5" hard drive. Here's the thing that shits me about it - if a 2.5" hard drive costs so much for so little space why not just use a regular IDE or SATA drive instead and save us all a lot of money!

It's to big to fit into the design. The cost of redesigning the form factor would probably offset the savings from cheaper storage.

Oh, suprise. Now this is the Microsoft I know and hate. $70.00 for their online service? Then you have to PAY for game upgrades? That's after paying for the game with Microsoft's inflated $60.00 pricetag. This is EXACTLY why those of us bitching and moaning about Microsoft wrecking the gaming industry were bitching and moaning. If the company wipes out the competition, the prices will skyrocket even further. I wouldn't take an XBOX 360 for free. I'm putting my regular XBOX up for sale on eBay today. I'm sick and tired of that company. They have no interest in GAMING, they have 1 interest and that's how much money can they milk from GAMERS. Anyone buying a 360 is a sellout to the video game culture and wouldn't know a good game if it came up and bit them in the ass. 'Nuff said.

Sloopydrew, I appreciate you posting your opinions on corporate strategy and pricing (MS is a corporation after all), but try to avoid slamming anyone who will buy (or who's already pre-ordered) a 360. Since when does being an early adopter make someone a sell-out? Last I heard, people who bought every system for big bucks (like the original Neo Geo or Sega Saturn) were considered "hardcore."

Sony are going to Charge for PSP Downloads starting Next year, Sony are just as bad.

hahahahaha Andrew and Chris posts number 11 and 12 posted at 3 and four in the morning, (rouhgly). Thats pretty funny. But Chris i agree with u these people are whiney babies.