Major Nelson: Don't sweat Xbox Live Silverlight ads

And thus I stuck to my dreamcast when the first Xbox came out, and I avoided it this generation as well. I feel like I'm constantly nickled and dimed for every little thing with Microsoft - such as 30 different types of Windows Vista each costing more than the next for a very limited amount of additional features. Game-wise I like the 360, but it's Microsofts ways of methods of doing business that drive me nuts.

Just like proper word/punctuation usage!

Im sorry to pick on you but really? Ads are a deal breaker? Cmon now if thats the case then I hope you dont own a t.v., oh and if you used a computer for your comment yeah that has ads too.

Meet single girls in your area today!

Oh yeah, and don't forget the radio or magazines!

Prescription pharmaceuticals at up to 40% off!

Thats the difference. PS3 is advert free, with the exception VidZone and Home (and then both subtle ads). I have no problems with that, as I am getting something in exchange for viewing them ads (videos and home).

What sucks is poor old Xbox owners getting boned $60 a year for a laggy P2P gaming service, plastered with ads on the dashboard and the idiots have been brainwashed by Microsoft shills telling them "cross game voice chat FTW..."..

I may be the onluy one, but in game ad's do not bother me, especially in a sporting game where the boards are covered with sponsers anyway. Or in burnout when the billboard have actual ads on them. Plus this could give developers more cash to make better games.

Just leave the ad's off the dashboard and the XMB and we're cool.

Cable Pays to also use those channels, aside from the ones that they own. And in turn they get to show their own commercials as well.

But the end result is still the same. You're paying for cable and getting advertisments.

At least on Live the experience isn't interrupted by them.

You won't cancel.

And that's the problem with this kind of thing. If you REALLY want to show MS you mean business, get a bunch of people together and cancel service.

... Sell you 360's for a PS3, too.

Wiizer is right, you won't cancel. And neither will I, for that matter. At least not yet. I continue to pay for XBL Gold (though I've only paid about $40 for 14 months due to promos) because they still have the best online games and the best online multiplayer.

-BUT-
This new trend of "timed exclusives" is taking away from the benefit currently offered on Mircosoft's console. PS3 is (eventually) getting some of the great games that grant the 360 part of its appeal. The other "perks" of XBL Gold are deteriorating. "Deals of the Week" have been pretty sub-par. We don't get near as many freebies as we used to. In a year or two, and CERTAINLY by the next generation of consoles (whenever that will be), the PS3 may have fixed a number of the issues I have with it and I could very seriously jump ship.

"Little" things like this issue with ads really add up, and that's why people are raising such a stink. Microsoft can either listen, learn, improve, and continue to rake in tons of money over the next decade+ OR they can ignore us, make a little more money now, and watch as tons of gamers abandon their system in a year or two.

I don't really care about multi on the 360, so no, I don't have any real issues with canceling for a service that provides me with negligible benefit.

@Preston
Yeah, if you don't care about multiplayer, pull the plug. I wouldn't even consider paying for XBL Gold if I didn't play games online.

Let me know if they do. That could be a really handy thing to know.

I was going to downvote you myself, but looks like everyone took care of that.

:D

But it's not near XBL quality. It is not.

I've spent a fair amount of time on my PS3 recently and I was really struck by how bare bones the PSN feels. I had actually given up on the mulitplayer online since it was always such a hassle. The design is improved and it's certainly functional but it just doesn't hold a candle to the fully integrated experience Live is w/the 360.

Have you ever tried setting up a large multiplayer game with a group of friends on the PSN? It's ridiculous. Not to mention I have to exit back to the XMB if I'm in the Playstation store. On the 360 it's as simple as starting/jumping into a party then 'invite party to game'. Done. Doesn't matter who's doing what or who's palying what - and you can jump from party to party in a second if you need to. I do that often since I have different groups of friends I game with/chat with.

I'm not saying anyone has to be happy paying for Live, but 7 cents a day? Even less if you go online and find a 12 mo for $40 or less. It's a pittance and the product is so great I've never once had a qualm about the price. And the ads aren't intrusive at all - they're usually back of the main channel (meaning you scroll to the right) and I rarely go there.

By the way no one is mentioning 1 vs 100 Live which is free for Gold users and ridiculous fun.

Sorry, meant as a reply to Lieutenant Gunther above.

Surprise, surprise! You're not at all worked up over this!

Seriously, dude. Is there nothing MS can do to you where you won't roll over and take it?