Microsoft explains why we have to pay for Xbox Live

[GS News]

Originally Posted by qj.net

[Only registered users can see links. ]Fans and analysts have long debated on the topic of why consumers must pay for [Only registered users can see links. ]'s online service Xbox Live while [Only registered users can see links. ]'s [Only registered users can see links. ] users get their access for free. This time, we're getting some official explanations.

As Gamepro points out, in a recent [Only registered users can see links. ] of Microsoft's [Only registered users can see links. ] Blog team, they gave a reason as to why their subscribers need to shell out US 50 a year to get on Xbox Live. Representing the company were Chris Paladino of the Xbox Live Community Team and PR Manager [Only registered users can see links. ].

Wolf says he pays US 100 a month for cable TV, but says "frankly, I spend more time playing online than I do watching TV nowadays, it feels like. So, you're getting a lot of value for 50 a year, in my opinion."

He also explains that with the sheer [Only registered users can see links. ] that Live carries and the satisfaction that players get from their system, the value is well justified. With the online play that involves cross-platform competition, Wolf says Live wins outright.

For his part, Paladino says "there are bandwidth costs, there are things that go above and beyond. I think it goes back to this [Only registered users can see links. ]."

"We have to have voice communication, text communication, now we're doing cross-platform. There's Marketplace, there are demos, and all these things don't just mystically hover around that you can pull them out of the ether," he concludes.

[Only registered users can see links. ]

[Momma Bear]

Okay it makes sense, I'm just not payin for it. I am really not into online gaming to be honest. But only because I don't play well with others and lose my temper quite easily.