The world of PC gaming is much like the "wild west" of multi-player fun. Consoles, like the Xbox 360, require us to pay for match making services. Now, Microsoft presses pay-to-play matchmaking on the wild west...
Console gamers are used to the idea that $50.00 gets them complete networking, friends lists and match making services on Xbox Live. Some gamers, in fact, don't realize the $50.00 they're paying for with the 360 just gives them the ability to find friends and game with them.
For some, there is a misconception that the $50.00 enables networking on the Xbox 360 console and without it, you're just a single-player box. Realistically, you get single-player achievements, friends lists, mail and patch updates for free (Silver Account). Heck, you can buy downloadable content as well!
Now, Microsoft plans to enable Vista with the Xbox Live functionality known as "Live Anywhere" and gamers can pay $50.00 a year to get all the goodies 360 owners have had, right?
Yes, but gamers on the PC have been match making for free since DOOM. What makes Xbox Live Anywhere so special? Well, you cannot get "nerd points" (achievements) for multiplayer gaming without paying, nor can you match make in games that have enabled Live Anywhere and become a Games For Windows.
Is Live running all the time? Apparently only if you're playing a Live enabled game. Jason Cross at extremetech.com wasn't so happy about this...
"I can still sit there browsing the web and get a game invite or a message over Live, right? Or set up a Live voice or video chat? Nope. Live on the PC only runs while you're actually playing a Live-enabled game. So in order for my friends to see me online on my PC, I have to actually have Halo 2 or Shadowrun running. This sort of defeats the point, and it's not the way the 360 has worked for the last 18 months. I can sit at the dashboard, watch a movie, listen to music, or do whatever other non-game stuff on the 360 and still be fully connected to Live. So from a very core level, you get a second-tier experience on the PC, even though Live is coming to it much later."
So, wait, you're paying $50.00 a year for a service that only runs 50% of the time compared to that of a 360 consoles? He goes on to say, "Microsoft continually stresses how much they view the PC, particularly Windows Vista, as a gaming platform. It's important to them, it's the second pillar right next to the Xbox, yadda yadda. Their marketing and messaging is clear, but their actions tell a different story."
They release Vista as the gaming platform for this generation of operating systems but fails to show us a single game for it. Now, it's big hit game is Halo 2, for full price no less: USD $30.00. A game released three years ago is the first major blockbuster on the next-generation PC gaming system?
Can you imagine if the only game during the Xbox 360 launch was Counter-Strike? Or what about Sim City 4? People would be up in arms and the console would lack sales. What motivates a PC gamer to go upgrade to Vista besides someone with too much money or doubling the PC as a business utility?
Apparently Halo 2 is that big motivator.
"Oh, but it doesn't end there. You know that great Xbox Live Arcade game Geometry Wars that everyone loves so much? It's $5 on the Xbox 360, but the Vista version somehow costs $7.95. That's right, it's 60% more expensive and you don't even get Achievements added to your gamerscore. Luxor 2 on Vista is $20 from the MSN Games site, double what you pay for it on the Xbox 360. Way to show those PC gamers how much you care, Microsoft!"
So, games are more costly for downloadable content, the Vista launched provided zero game titles (everyone knows Halo 2 should have been packed in like Solitaire is on Windows XP) and you're going to pay money to match make with friends if the game is a Live Anywhere title?
Anyone surprised developers have decided to just make Windows games and not Games For Windows games? Why restrict your audience and make them pay just so they can compete against console gamers, rack up nerd points and have an Xbox 360 look and feel to the User Interface?
Source: extemetech.com via slashdot