The benefits of being a paid GOLD Xbox Live subscriber are soon going to start expanding with the release of Gears of War.
It used to be that the difference between the free Silver Live account and the $50/year Gold account was the ability online multiplayer. Other than that single difference, both account types had the same features, both had access to the same Marketplace content, same Live Arcade titles and full text, voice, picture messaging support. That is on the verge of change.
Much like everyone else trying to cash in on the Gears of War hype with branded accessories and apparel, Microsoft looks like they are also trying to cash in. Starting with the Gears of War release is a change in how Xbox Marketplace is going to work. The first piece of membership level aware content will be released in the form of a Gears of War Emergence Day video. For at least the first week, this video will only be available to Gold members. At the moment, only this video is marked for delayed Silver release so I'm guessing Silver members will still be able to get the Emergence Day Gamer Pics and Theme only available on the 12th. So it looks like Microsoft is trying to encourage people to step up to Gold by offering Gold content and getting them involved in other Emergence Day activities like the online tournament and the Game with Fame featuring Megadeth and Cliffy B.
Microsoft has a broader vision for this strategy. Gears of War is the starting point for expanded Gold membership perks. Future delayed Silver access releases and maybe even Gold member only exclusives will continue going forward. Microsoft's new Marketplace strategy also includes game demos in their Gold exclusive / delayed Silver release strategy. Major Nelson in a recent interview has said, "This is going to happen more and more so you may want to think about upgrading if you want all the latest and greatest trailers, demos etc.".
So it's looking like if you want to get some of the hottest latest content on Marketplace, you're going to need to go Gold.
Much like everyone else trying to cash in on the Gears of War hype with branded accessories and apparel, Microsoft looks like they are also trying to cash in. Starting with the Gears of War release is a change in how Xbox Marketplace is going to work. The first piece of membership level aware content will be released in the form of a Gears of War Emergence Day video. For at least the first week, this video will only be available to Gold members. At the moment, only this video is marked for delayed Silver release so I'm guessing Silver members will still be able to get the Emergence Day Gamer Pics and Theme only available on the 12th. So it looks like Microsoft is trying to encourage people to step up to Gold by offering Gold content and getting them involved in other Emergence Day activities like the online tournament and the Game with Fame featuring Megadeth and Cliffy B.
Microsoft has a broader vision for this strategy. Gears of War is the starting point for expanded Gold membership perks. Future delayed Silver access releases and maybe even Gold member only exclusives will continue going forward. Microsoft's new Marketplace strategy also includes game demos in their Gold exclusive / delayed Silver release strategy. Major Nelson in a recent interview has said, "This is going to happen more and more so you may want to think about upgrading if you want all the latest and greatest trailers, demos etc.".
So it's looking like if you want to get some of the hottest latest content on Marketplace, you're going to need to go Gold.
