EA won't support Microsofts online plans?

[Werewolf]

I have a couple questions about this since I will be getting an XBOX soon and will go online with it:

1) Microsofts Live, is it like Sega Net or is it a ISP?

2) How much did they say thier service is goint ot cost and will it cover all games or will I still need to pay extra for other games like PSO?

[mollipen]

As much as I hate to say this, good for EA. If they want to have their own network up and running, why not let them? MS controlling everything is okay for smaller companies who don't want to put out the costs of putting together servers to hosts their games. But if a big company like EA, Sega, or whomever want their own servers, they should have that right.

Another example of MS forcing people to play their game or go away, but this time I think they are going to find themselves getting screwed over by trying to do that. This isn't the PC market where they have a stranglehold in place. And since the Xbox isn't close to being the biggest dog in town when it comes to video games, I'm a bit surprised they are being this cocky.

[Shin Johnpv]

Originally posted by shidoshi
As much as I hate to say this, good for EA. If they want to have their own network up and running, why not let them? MS controlling everything is okay for smaller companies who don't want to put out the costs of putting together servers to hosts their games. But if a big company like EA, Sega, or whomever want their own servers, they should have that right.

Another example of MS forcing people to play their game or go away, but this time I think they are going to find themselves getting screwed over by trying to do that. This isn't the PC market where they have a stranglehold in place. And since the Xbox isn't close to being the biggest dog in town when it comes to video games, I'm a bit surprised they are being this cocky.

have to agree with the doshi here

i think its kind of foolish for MS to try and force a big company like EA to use their servers

[JefmcC]

I say fuck EA. Thier games are sub-par anyway.

I think MS wants to control the servers so that everything with Xbox runs along the same spec. Isn't that the point of console gaming?

[SamuraiMoogle]

I think Microsoft has the best online strategy. Sure you'll have to pay to play but its one fee for ALL games. Fine by me. Sony's is great with some games at first cause you wont have to pay for anything to play. But in the later on its really gay that you'll have to pay for different games with seperate accounts. Screw that. I agree with EThugg. Dont get me wrong, I'll still totally play PS2 online, I just think that Microsoft's strategy is much better.

[TheSCHLONG!]

Originally posted by shidoshi
As much as I hate to say this, good for EA. If they want to have their own network up and running, why not let them? MS controlling everything is okay for smaller companies who don't want to put out the costs of putting together servers to hosts their games. But if a big company like EA, Sega, or whomever want their own servers, they should have that right.

Another example of MS forcing people to play their game or go away, but this time I think they are going to find themselves getting screwed over by trying to do that. This isn't the PC market where they have a stranglehold in place. And since the Xbox isn't close to being the biggest dog in town when it comes to video games, I'm a bit surprised they are being this cocky.

that sounds great and all but what if EA also wants you to pay to use their servers? i feel like with the DC there should be one payment for all games and that seems to be what MS is headed for. i dont think its cocky if you look at it this way. if the indivudual company servers are free im all for it but i dont think thats gonna happen. EA is in it for the money just like any other company and to set up your own servers costs money.

[Shin Johnpv]

Originally posted by JefmcC
I say fuck EA. Thier games are sub-par anyway.

I think MS wants to control the servers so that everything with Xbox runs along the same spec. Isn't that the point of console gaming?

no not really

different online games require different kinds of servers
1 server doesnt fit all

the set up square would/will need/has for FFXI is different from say what some one would need to set up a sims (you knwo those crazy sim games they have on the PC and now soon PS2) online

if a company can tailor the server to their game specifically youll get online games that run better and more efficiently online

getting good online speeds and transfers of the net for anything is all about tweaking and tailoring servers and programs to what theyre specifically doing

what gives you optimal lag-free performance for a MMORPG may not give you the best performance for say a racing game online

companies should be allowed to custom design the servers and the set ups for their games eveyrone wants lag free play then let the companies do what they have to

[Brotherman]

Well, in the end, for the consumer is a question of do you want to pay for online on an individual per game basis, or do you want to play a flat fee that covers any game on your system.

On the business side it's a question of do I want to set up my own servers and charge my own rates or let Microsoft pay for the servers and get the incentives that come with making online features from the XBox.

I think the only group that hurt by Microsoft's plan are those that are actually in it for profit. Developers that were only going to charge for server fees and such would definitely have no problem with Microsoft's set up.

Of course I could also see how a company that didn't want to charge but instead wanted to eat server cost might feel (but then again, most of those on PC are just chat rooms that set up peer to peer games and such).

In the end all I can say is do the research and see which plan is best for you. Look at the library of games and the cost and then see it's worth your while.

[jae_hoon_MOTW]

I haven't seen you post in a while brotherman...It's good to know you're still out there... With the EA thing, it doesn't really matter to me personally, since I don't care for EA games...

[Werewolf]

But will all the games for XBOX be under that fee, what about Sega's SegaNet... I am just hoping they don't make you pay another fee for PSO like they do with the Dreamcast.