Like it slow? Take Xbox Live Silver!
What was it again? From the top of my head: “The only difference between the paid Gold and the free Silver Xbox Live subscriptions will be that Gold members can play online and Silver members can’t.” What Microsoft forgot to mention at the time is that the Gold members also form an elite club together getting access to certain content earlier than the Silver peasants.
The Gears of War Promotional Ad released yesterday wasn’t available to all the Silver members out there, so naturally trouble ensued. Major Nelson was friendly as always and enlightened us about the underlying plan:
So here is the deal..Silver members WILL get access to this..probably in about a week. This is going to happen more and more (Gold getting things before Silver) so you may want to think about upgrading if you want all the latest and greatest trailers, demos etc.
Aha, I smell a marketing trick: the classic “if we screw the Silver members hard enough by gradually making them feel more and more like second rate online citizens, they’ll upgrade to a paid subscription perhaps!” one. Come on Microsoft, you promised there wouldn’t be any differences, and yes technically they do get the same content eventually, but this is a rather childish way of using your Gears hype to milk out kids all over the world, who otherwise have no interest at all in Gold subscriptions for the online gaming. We already have enough whining kids in our online games anyway without them getting support from whining people complaining about being forced to try online gaming without actually wanting to.
Yeah it’s retarded. Demos and trailers are advertisements for games. I don’t have Gold because I don’t play online enough (at least with the current games) to want to pay for it and now MS is pushing me to get Gold so I can play demos in time? Come on…
If you really want the stuff without paying for gold then SET UP A NEW ACCOUNT (YOU GET 1 MONTHS FREE GOLD)
I had to do that twice already for my Japanese and US accounts :(. Thanks for the tip though.
that’s what i did to download the GoW trailer!
this thing also helped them reaching 4 million xbox live members n i’m sure it will help them in future too!!
Sorry Curry, I have to agree with MS on this one. We pay for our Gold gaming on Xbox 360, so naturally, we should get the better experience. Why should Silver people get all the same? I know MS promised, but times change, they said there wasn’t going to be backwards compat, but they did it.
Yes, you pay for your Gold gaming. Which is supposedly the online gaming part. Obviously, because that requires a proper server infrastructure.
When exactly did trailers and demos become related to online gaming?
Also, like Nino says, trailers and demos are frigging advertising for the games. This is like charging you extra for your cable television because otherwise you won’t get those great commercials 4 times during every sitcom.
its kinda like costco, a wholesale store usualy the butt of bul sale jokes in the US, all mambership is paid but it you pay more ofr your membership you can enter the store an hour earlier than regular members…
Edit…bul=bulk
you guys neeed to invest in an edit button
When exactly did trailers and demos become related to online gaming?
When exactly did I say that?
We pay for ours = we get better stuff. End of.
yea am with you
Me too! I think we should have benefits over silver members(cheap a$$e$)why should they have stuff that we pay for.
if you dont want to pay…you can wait…MS dosent owe anything to its non-gold members you should be happy you get any online content considering you arent providing any mulah toward the server space that said content is on. pay of wait those are your options deal with it!
although im surprized that they did this right before the ps3 launch? i have a feeling major wasent supposed to make that info public…
i don’t believe this is the smartest move for microsoft to make right now.
what in the hell are they thinking in redmond with the ps3 about to drop, apparently with free online (including gaming)?
“hey, to really show how different we are, let’s make our online service appear even less free than it already was.”
brilliant.
shouldn’t they broadening silver access instead of limiting it?
i don’t get it.
broadening it? FFS how many times have you been given a free week of gold access? did we get our a week added onto our subscription? no
How many peices of content have been gold only?
Just get used to the fact that just because you are in the US doesnt mean that you get everything straight away.
no one said anything about expecting everything straight away…ass.
i’m constantly buying new games and i spend PLENTY of money on microtransactions, thank you.
but i have neither the time or the desire to game online…that’s why silver was perfect for me.
and not once when microsoft’s done a free weekend or week or whatever with live have i played anyone online. i’m just not into it.
yes but PS3 online will imo suck the same as ps2, 360 owners pay for L!VE therefore MS are more likely to have updates, better options etc to keep us paying whereas sony wont care as people dont pay so why should they care? you get what i mean?
Thats assuming they use the same model. Microsoft isn’t in the position that Sony is to sell content and use that to back its online efforts as Microsoft isn’t a content owner or provider. Sony is, Sony owns music labels, music studios and tv studios all with their own original content which it can levy to sell online for a premium price and this library will also get other content providers to offer their content as well, that is how business is done. Personally I think the online is going to be a lot better than ps2 and up to par with 360 because of the fact that Sony has so many other ways to create revenue compared to Microsoft that they don’t HAVE to charge for their online component.
Not really relevant for the article, but I love this post on NeoGAF forums:
So true, so true
I have no problems with this (mainly because I’m a Gold subscriber). Seems like a sensible way of signing up more members, not only can you access stuff earlier but also the Live traffic won’t be so clogged up, so you might be able to download a demo in less than about 8 hours…
In other news, I now have 10MB broadband and it WORKS, unlike the TalkTalk scum, so I can start downloading again. w00t indeed
What’s the difference between this and things being available later in different regions (and sometimes not at all)?
One example: the St Patrick’s Day wallpaper that was only available in the US (not even in Ireland!). Bizarre.
As a Gold Member, I honestly don’t see anything wrong with it. We get an incentive for remaining Gold and Silver isn’t really getting screwed, so they have to wait a week, big whoop, they still have $60 in their pocket for not paying for Gold.
I have no problem waiting for the demos. Downloading trailers is stupid because I get them on website much faster. Not sure if MS think this will make more people sign up but they will be in for a rude awakening. It’s really a dumb move considering the PS3 online claims to be free. If true, MS is going the wrong way.
Stop being cheapskates and ante up if you want the goods. I’m glad they are doing this…makes me feel better about forking the annual $60.
PS3 online will be free, but when it comes to 3rd parties, they can charge whatever fee they wish for their game and servers. So, it’s essentially PS2s online service, with a bit of makeup to cover up it’s flaws.
I’m glad for this. It’ll help everyone. It’ll mean when new downloads come out, those who help pay for the upkeep of the service actually get what they’re paying for, it’ll stop people creating Silver accounts to download demos out of their regions, and it’ll stop people clogging the system up. =]
screw you hippies, If you can’t afford Live Gold don’t get an Xbox 360 or shut up about content your getting free. You should not look a horse in the open mouth you know…
I’m pretty sure not all Silver members are hippies, awaiting confirmation though.
So now I’m a hippie because I don’t play online and therefore don’t feel the need to pay for it? It’s not a matter of what I can or can’t afford…
Damn hippy.
I think it’s fair, i mean all websites do the same for their web content (I can think of RedVsBlue for a start with their sponsers)
I’m also sure that MS mentioned this around when they first announced Xbox Live Gold & Silver (can’t find a link though)…it’s just taken a year to come into practice.
It’s pretty lame (FWIW I’m a live subscriber since the day it launched) to make an ad a ‘premium’ content.
IN response to some who have said trailers on marketplace aren’t worth it, it’s faster on the web etc… umm… I’m pretty sure the 720p trailers look a hell of a lot better on my 50″ DLP HDTV than my 19″ pc screen
Trailers (movie and game and special events) are my fav part of Marketplace. Keep ‘em coming, but keep ‘em free
A good idea would be to perhaps keep all those 48hr gold trial cards that get put in new games, so then when something you really want is on marketplace, redeem your 48hr trial and go get it….or just buy gold subscriptions off ebay if you’re after cheap….I could NOT own an xbox360 and have just a silver account - it dont even bare thinking!!
http://forum.xboxic.com/showthread.php?t=843
Trigger Mate has made an excellent forum thread on the subject, I suggest you guys get in on that too, way easier to discuss than in the comments section…
I don’t think you have EVER spelt my name correct, have you?
HAHAHA
I do it because I love you Triggar Men.
Sorry T-man
I have to agree with their strategy. We pay gold to play online so why not get something in return aside from the same downloadable content as silver members?
Xbox Live is very cheap anyway, I could never go to a silver account so i’m not bothered.
Fricken tight asses, buy gold. How the hell can’t you afford 50 bucks a year?!?!?!
It gets you 12 + 1 Months
I think the bigger question is why spend $50-60 a year when you don’t have any time to play online?
It’s called a job, and a life. Once you have those two special things, online gaming doesn’t matter much.
Gamers are some of the dumbest consumers on the planet. Hey Gold members, this doesn’t change anything for you dummies. You’ve got nothing that you haven’t gotten before. It’s like feeling special because someone told you but still treats you the same. Brilliant!
Hey Sivler members, the stuff is still free morons. You just get it later. Stop whining because you wouldn’t even know the difference unless a Gold member told you. If you didn’t think it was worth it to go Gold due to the great multiplayer games, your an idiot to think its worth it now.
dabombar-z speaks the truth
My Xbox Live Diamond Card has nothing to do with online gaming, so stop using that as the crux for arguments. They are adding value to a paid service. You cant compare it to cable because it is a paid service either way.
Now for those that ‘dont have time to play online’ have a reason to get gold as this moves forward and happens more and more often. If it is used enough it will become more and more valid.
No they are crippling the free service without prior announcement, by removing value from it that was always stated would be available on Silver. No limitations were ever implied.
Using much-wanted content to sell an online service that lots of people don’t want is what I don’t like about the whole approach.
I find it interesting that the debate exists. As already, numerously, mentioned: silver members still get the freebies. And no one is talking baout paying to watch advertisements, the discussion is about Silver members waiting so that the freeloaders don’t clog the bandwidth for paying customers (much in the way many game demo filer server force non-paying customers to queue) by being forced to wait several days. Moreover, if you bought a router and configured your home network to even get your 360 online, why not just get a gold subscription? And if you don’t think it’s worth your money, fine - but don’t begrudge Microsoft for adding faster access as a premium benefit. Damn, some of you are just overcome with a sense of entitlement.
I completely agree, Neuro. And MS isn’t doing this to take anything away from Silver folks, they’re doing it to make their paid Gold membership more valuable.
But hey, every bozo with Minesweeper and a web browser is an expert on game design and marketing.
Hasnt anyone noticed the promotions in all th enew games coming out.
Splinter Cell, and Pro Evo 6 both game with 48hr free gold.
I expect Gears do this as well… I will soon have a week of gold for free :|:|:|:
The easiest way round this (as stated) is just simply make a free month gold account to download. When it runs out delete it and when another gold only download appears, create another free month gold account. There is no limit and no credit cards needed. Just an e-mail (and that doesn’t have to exist) and a passport you create.
I think taking trailers to gold only is too much. I have a gold account and have been on xbox live since it started on the original xbox, but I think Microsoft are wrong on this issue.
Seems we are also getting more hype on a game that won’t be demo’ed. What are they hiding? A decent looking game with no gameplay (actually, it has over use of the same graphics if you take a closer look at buildings, windows). This game is way over hyped and there are going to be a lot of gamers dissapointed with it. Yet there will be no demo to avoid losing these sales before release. More dirty tricks? Take advantage of the hype to sell a game that they know a lot of gamers will be disspointed with because the game is all hype and no gameplay.
It’s a nice bonus for the gold members..after all they do pay for extra stuff
http://www.xbox.com/en-US...e/memberships/?WT.svl=nav
Whats the fucking point of XBOX Silver anyhow? Get off your broke ass and pay the 4 dollars and change a month. cheap bastards
i love it when people find room to bitch about anything FREE. while yes microsoft did state many times that the difference between Silver and Gold would be online gaming, they also did mention a few times of Gold exclusive content.
this is really stupid, if i gave you a free car would you bitch if i told you to wait a week?? they are still getting it but rewarding the paying customers is a very good idea.
you dont like it, get gold, or shut up about whats given to you for FREE.
11 pence in uk money a day is what gold costs in the uk. if you cant afford 11p a day lol
less then $5 a month is what Gold costs in the US. i have an idea for those complaining: dont get fast food just once a month and that alone pays for Gold
i am in total agreeance with nino and curry. it is not like silver is getting all this for free, and now they are just complaining, silver members have already paid for this service when they purchased their consoles, and are now getting straight PENALIZED for not taking advantage of the premiere services. they were promised the same xbox live experience minus the online gameplay, and are now told they will not be receiving it. i love my gold membership, but i play online. i am perfectly comfortable in sharing the other benefits of xbox live with my silver friends, and hey, i am not even a hippy (though my parents were (not my fault)).
so i say, all you silvers out there, don’t take this crap. at least tell major butt-munch that this is total bs, cause it is.
- mu
need I remind you that until this generation, if you didnt pay for xbox live.. you didint get SHIT.. stop your bitching WAIT a week.. and then download it.
silly hippies! i love hippies. they are crunchy and good with ketchup. lol, (i’m a Wood Dragon!)
loveya.
a little off topic, but speaking of slow, wasn’t xboxlivepipeline.com supposed to be updated once in awhile as opposed to xbox.com? they still have no reference to the splinter cell demo, and, as far as i can tell, have not been updated at all since they went up (i could easily be mistaken). is the only way to check for marketplace updates to actually turn on the 360? i guess that is not totally unreasonable, but it seems like it would be an easy problem for m$ to solve by just updating their own websites when changes ar made to the marketplace. i guess i am wondering, isn’t that what the pipeline was supposed to be for? again, sorry this is so off topic, and ranty, but i figure this news was almost dead anyway.
- mu
oh, and did he just call my mom crunchy?
- mu
Tree Huggers.