7 replies to this topic

[eric_ruck]

Showdown online between XBox Live and Playstation 2...then mention a little bit about the history of the built-in broadband adapter, which is kinda interesting.

Eric

[Agent X]

Sorry, I don't like the concept of pay-per-play that Microsoft is trying to force on the public. They boasted about "online out of the box" and blasted Sony and Nintendo for not including Ethernet in the system. At first, it sounded like an advantage on paper, but then they threw away any perceived advantage by charging more for the "online enabling software" than the other two companies do for their "online enabling hardware."

Then, to make matters worse, the "online enabling software" expires after a year, at which point Microsoft asks you to pay $50 more a year (or $6 more a month) to renew it. That's a deplorable plan. It's like renting the Ethernet port in your system, rather than owning it outight. It's bad for consumers--that is, unless you like paying for something that has been free on virtually every other major computing platform of the last 25 years.

It's also bad for developers, who are forced to run their online games on Microsoft's servers, and are subject to Microsoft's whims as to what online content they can make available, and when they can make it available. Witness NBA 2K3, where X-Box owners had to wait as much as a month longer than PS2 owners did for roster updates. What? You mean X-Box owners are actually paying Microsoft for the "privilege" of waiting weeks longer than users on another platform?

Ask Neversoft why Tony Hawk's Underground is online on PS2, but not on X-Box. (Microsoft doesn't want to allow users to upload their own custom content. This was also a stumbling block with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.)

Also ask Midway why NFL Blitz Pro and NHL Hitz Pro are online on PS2, but not on X-Box. (Microsoft doesn't want them to be able to run online tournaments and leagues online like they are going to do this year on PS2.)

Also ask Sega why the online portion of ESPN NFL Football has "full leagues and leaderboards" on PS2, but not on X-Box (see second to last question in this recent interview). (Microsoft hasn't given them the go-ahead yet.)

The last two paragraphs are very interesting, when you consider that one of Microsoft's biggest press releases at E3 was for their XSN sports label, and the accompanying online leagues and such that this entails. Seems as if they feel the only way to get their sports games to sell better on X-Box is to implement those features themselves, while deny the rights to third-parties to do so. They can then use that as a potential selling point. The same is true of online roster updates--Microsoft could update their rosters daily, while other companies would have to wait because they can't control the content (see the NBA 2K3 example above). That wouldn't happen on an "open" online platform like PS2, but surprise! Microsoft has a de facto monopoly on online gaming on their system, so you either play by Microsoft's rules or don't play at all! (EA and Midway have wisely chosen the latter.)

BTW, the article has some errors. Sony has sold over 600,000 of their Network Adaptors. That figure doesn't count the number of people who are online with PS2 using third-party USB modems or USB Ethernet adaptors. Sony also has 20 fully Internet playable games in the US right now:

Amplitude
ATV Offroad Fury 2
Auto Modellista
Chessmaster
EverQuest Online Adventures
Frequency
Madden NFL 2003
Midnight Club II
My Street
NBA 2K3
NBA Live 2003
NCAA College Basketball 2K3
NCAA Football 2004
NFL 2K3
NFL GameDay 2003
SOCOM: US Navy SEALs
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
Tribes Aerial Assault
Twisted Metal: Black Online

By my count, there are also at least 30 more online games scheduled for PS2 by the end of the year. (Forbes says there are only 14 more--huh?) Here's that list:

Black 9
Celebrity Deathmatch
Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest
Deer Hunter
ESPN College Hoops
ESPN NBA Basketball
ESPN NFL Football
ESPN NHL Hockey
EverQuest Online Adventures: Frontiers
FIFA Soccer 2004
Madden NFL 2004
Medal of Honor Rising Sun
NASCAR Thunder 2004
NBA Ballers
NBA Live 2004
NBA ShootOut 2004
NCAA Final Four 2004
NCAA GameBreaker 2004
NCAA March Madness 2004
Need for Speed Underground
NFL Blitz Pro
NFL GameDay 2004
NHL 2004
NHL Hitz Pro
SOCOM II: US Navy SEALs
SSX 3
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
Tony Hawk's Underground
Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior
XIII

Don't get me wrong, there are a few appealing features of the X-Box Live service, notably integrated voice chat and buddy lists. But, a lot of PS2 games will soon be implementing those features also, and yet there's still no charge to play online (except for a handful of online RPG's, and Microsoft hasn't ruled this out on their system, either--see Phantasy Star Online). X-Box Live's extensive laundry list of disadvantages (from both a consumer and developer/publisher perspective) far outweigh the scant few advantages they have over competing plans on other consoles.

Bottom line: I don't recommend buying into the scam that is X-Box Live.

[Starscream]

here I'll sum it up simply:

Sony online = no games but tons of lag. And the great Gameshark cheats. Dial-up - what a way to play. Oh shit that's right, most of them can't be played on dial up, my bad. Get what ya pay for

Xbox Live = No lag, download new stuff, many more people to play with. Never seen a down server yet. Wasn't Sonys down for the 1st few days of their online service? Get what ya pay for

That whopping $4 a month makes it more than worth it. No need to buy 4 player adapters, network adapters, memory cards.

I guess many people disagree with your thoughts on not getting XBL too....
And it's no secret why EA dropped all Live games for the Xbox, seems they got pissy when they found out MS wouldn't let them charge additional fees for downloads or for Battlefield online. Again, EA is no big loss by any means or Midway. Seems that XBL is still preferred to many developers being I see way more XBL games out there than Sony.

[chrisbid]

online games are overrated, especially on XBL, as i really dont care to hear a bunch of kids turn the bass up on their voice enhancement and scream obscinities. The X-box is a much better machine with a mod chip anyway

[Raijin Z]

When I buy an XB, I'm probably going to hack it into oblivion. No worries, because it's never going to have the displeasure of meeting XBL. I pay more than enough for Roadrunner as it is, and I rather like only having to pay for the actual games when it comes to playing non-MMO games. Microsoft would want you to pay them to play even Monopoly online, but they'd never serve that game for obvious reasons.

Now if only Nintendo would hurry up with some online stuff that isn't PSO. I sqealed when the light on my network hub for my Gamecube lit up for the first time. IT SEES IT!

[PuddWakkr]

I have XBL and it's been a very enjoyable experience. For the price of one new game a year I can play all the online games that I want. I don't have to worry about some dialup guy lagging the shit out of a game. Those that think Sony's plan is the good one will think again when you have to start paying for every game you want. SOny does it on the computer. EQ cost $. Planetside cost $. Of course you can pay one flat rate of $25 a month!! They are telling their consumers it will be free but it won't be in the end. Most people forget that there are many free ways to game online on the XB. Plenty of tunnels and software that give system link games the ability to be played online as well. Nintendo has missed the boat and thinks more people would like to have gameboys hooked up to their cubes that have their cubes hooked up to other cubes. While I guess alot of poeple here think that's a great idea, sales have shown otherwise. GC has enough power to run cool online games but why make games for a console that won't let developers take advantage of the online modes.

Companies that don't make online games for the xbox don't because M$ doesn't want to let them charge $$ or M$ won't give them a percentage of the profits. Both of which are good decisions in my opinion. I don't play sports games online so as far as EA goes they can blow me. Midway can be the next in line as well. I enjoy a good game of Wolfenstein or Soldier of Fortune. Ghost Recon is a blast as well.

Those that want to hack the hell out of their Xboxes can still enjoy XBL without any hassels as well. All you need is a switch to turn your chip off.

[Clock]

I do have XBL and am very happy with the service. I think it is a much better set up than the Sony one and it is far better supported.

However, even though it's broadband only, you do still get lag in some games. Although I hear the PS2 online systems suffers a lot more due to anyone being able to use it.

I am sure many Sony owners are very happy with their online capabilities but I am dissapointed at the author of this thread trying to slag the superior Xbox Live service to big up his own set up.

We should all encourage the big 3 to make better and better stuff to enhance gameplay. I am not a fanboy and will buy whatever console I think does the best job, and not slag off the others. I hope both Sony and Microsoft have huge success with their online gaming, as I love playing online and want to see just what can be done. Hopefully Nintendo will put more effort into their own online service as the more the merrier.

[Raijin Z]

A Japanese group got Kirby's Air Ride to play online at 60fps... Warp Pipe Project is trying to do the same, but they're a little behind. If they're both fully successful, every networkable Gamecube game will be able to be played online at full speed.