Press release :: Official pricing and details for Microsoft's Games for Windows Live

[Steven W]

Microsoft has issued a press release confirming the price for LIVE and details of the first three games that will utilise the system.

Check out the Press release

[Parm]

"Members of Xbox LIVE automatically receive the functionality of Games for Windows -- LIVE, using the same gamertag and friends list at no additional cost."

Yay!

[noTHINGface]

Boo - People who have no interest in consoles may have to pay to play on-line, something we have been doing for free in the past.

[kalniel]

Boo - People who have no interest in consoles may have to pay to play on-line, something we have been doing for free in the past.

No you won't. Read the release It's free to play online against other PCs.

[Parm]

Boo - People who have no interest in consoles may have to pay to play on-line, something we have been doing for free in the past.

Boo hoo - I think you may need to read the press release in full. Playing online on the PC with other PC users will be completely free. You only need to pay if you want to play cross platform with Xbox 360 owners, something we haven't been doing for free in the past.

*edit* Kalniel, you're just too damn quick!

[noTHINGface]

Boo hoo - I think you may need to read the press release in full.

Boo hoo boo - you're damn right I do. Apologies.

[s_kinton]

I would be willing to pay as with xbox 360, but only if it allows PC and 360 users to play each other. Which is fine judging by the information.

I cant believe they are only releasing Halo 2 for PC now. That game is gonna look awful compared to most on the market now and probably run worse than most! I hope Hexus give it a review similar to their one for Halo and slate it.

[Steven W]

£39.99 a year for UK

[YorkieBen]

$50 = £40

how??

[Spud1]

They want to charge us.

For something other games and game companies have been doing better for years, for free.

Right.

I can see the advantage of having an Xbox Live style system for the PC thats common to almost all microsoft games - but to charge us for using all the features? Come on thats a bit rich. It's bad enough that they charge console users - worse in fact considering how much console owners already have to fork out for hardware and games, but it works in that marketplace because there was really nothing 'big' and popular before it.

In the PC marketplace though we have had similar systems for years, and we still will do for years to come. I for one will not be paying for it..

I guess I should give an example though to prove what I've just said:

Silver Membership Features
• Single gamertag -- EA has this, in Battlefield and C&C (via EA Link as they call it now, and in game)
• Common gamer profile -- ^^
• Common gamerscore -- ^^
• Single player achievements -- ^^ and also things like Xfire
• Private chat via text and voice -- EA, Steam
• Common friends list and online presence -- EA, Steam
• PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games -- more examples than i can type

Gold Membership Features
• All Silver membership features -- N/A
• Multiplayer matchmaking with friends -- gamespy, steam, countless other games
• TrueSkill matchmaking - Most decent multiplayer games..eg C&C generals
• Multiplayer achievements - C&C, Battlefield
• Cross-platform gameplay -- Sega did this with Quake3 - didn't cost us a penny

There are many more examples than the above too - those are just some that come immediately to mind.

[Steven W]

They want to charge us.

For something other games and game companies have been doing better for years, for free.

Right.

I can see the advantage of having an Xbox Live style system for the PC thats common to almost all microsoft games - but to charge us for using all the features? Come on thats a bit rich. It's bad enough that they charge console users - worse in fact considering how much console owners already have to fork out for hardware and games, but it works in that marketplace because there was really nothing 'big' and popular before it.

In the PC marketplace though we have had similar systems for years, and we still will do for years to come. I for one will not be paying for it..

I guess I should give an example though to prove what I've just said:

Silver Membership Features
• Single gamertag -- EA has this, in Battlefield and C&C (via EA Link as they call it now, and in game)
• Common gamer profile -- ^^
• Common gamerscore -- ^^
• Single player achievements -- ^^ and also things like Xfire
• Private chat via text and voice -- EA, Steam
• Common friends list and online presence -- EA, Steam
• PC only multiplayer including browsing a list of active PC games -- more examples than i can type

Gold Membership Features
• All Silver membership features -- N/A
• Multiplayer matchmaking with friends -- gamespy, steam, countless other games
• TrueSkill matchmaking - Most decent multiplayer games..eg C&C generals
• Multiplayer achievements - C&C, Battlefield
• Cross-platform gameplay -- Sega did this with Quake3 - didn't cost us a penny

I can certainly understand your view. Console gamers have never been used to such a service, so therefore they don't mind paying £40.

[Lee H]

Yay!

/me runs to get a years subscription sorted out for XBL gold and promises to not go out and play more.

I've been holding back getting the gold account for live until this was announced. As such if you've got a 360 and a gold account it's an added bonus and what's 40 pounds divded by 12 - 3.333333 recurring. So for the price of a half-decent burger from Burger King each month, you get online play for the Xbox360 and also the gamertag system for the PC.

Bargain-tastic if you ask me

Add meh folks... it's in my Sig you know you want too

[Spud1]

I can certainly understand your view. Console gamers have never been used to such a service, so therefore they don't mind paying £40.

Actually thinking about it they did - Dreamcast owners in europe had Dreamarena, which admittedly didn't have all the features of Live but basic ones such as online play with consoles and PCs, persistent accounts and player names were supported..but this wasn't as widespread as with the Xbox so for most console users it is still new. (and what a shame that was, the Dreamcast really was a very good console, if only Sega had done a bit more work on stopping piracy then maybe we would all be playing on a Dreamcast II and a wii instead of a 360 and a wii..)

[Parm]

To be fair, since I purchased a 360 my PC gaming has become almost extinct, apart from the odd game of Sollitaire or Mahjong. I wouldn't think about buying Xbox Live for the PC on its own, there is one game when it launches and a possible 3 by the end of the year. Not the most appealing.

I do love Xbox Live though and the fact that I'll be able to use my Xbox subscription on my PC for free makes me a very happy bunny and who knows, as a result my PC gaming might get jump started once more.