Will XBOX LIVE GOLD eventually be free?

[neudog]

Now that the price of the PS3 online service has been announced, FREE, do you all think LIVE Gold will eventually be free as well?

[crystalklear64]

Nah, I have no reasoning, just that if Microsoft doesn't even have original Xbox Live free yet, I don't see them making Gold free. Also, remember Ps2 was free online, and while Ps3 is supposed to have better support and whatnot, people probably feel better about a service they have to pay for. They feel (rightfully so) that their spent money entitles them to support.

[wubb]

Interesting poll. I'm going with No, but never say never.

The 3rd poll choice kind of doesn't fit. Doesn't say anything about your poll question, just a statement about Sony's service.

[TheUnsane1]

Even if they make it free to play online games I think the gold membership will be used to give some sort of extra features only members can receive. It just makes too much money to give up at this point. I would guess it's helpful in making up the difference between retail and manufacturing costs of the systems also.

[neudog]

The 3rd poll choice kind of doesn't fit. Doesn't say anything about your poll question, just a statement about Sony's service.

I sort of thought the same thing after posting. I was having a hard time wording a third option that summed up SONY not going to be at the same level as MS. Hopefully they have revamped the poor PS2 attempt. I'm a fanboy of all sytems, but to provide a decent free service makes me want the system even more. I'm not an avid online player, but given the option to go on anytime with no fees works great fo me.

[jer7583]

I think that sony's online service was best summed up by the movie MAJOR LEAGUE, in an unforgettable scene where two asian groundskeepers mused on the tribe.

They're shitty.

[Chris in Cali]

Opps, I meant to vote for "Regardless of it being free SONY's service will be inferior," but I voted for "No." I should have read all the options before voting.. damn.

[crystalklear64]

Now that I've re-watched the conference, he says that-
these BASIC features will be available for free

This might mean that Sony will have a service that they also charge for like Microsoft's Live.

EDIT- He being that British guy, I think he's the head of something major in Sony.

[newscientist2000]

Xbox Live will eventually be free, and add driven, perhaps a platinum level... it will have all the features of Gold but with Ads.

The Gold Level will be ad free.

It will still be better than sonys offering and Microsoft will make more money on ads and increased membership than it ever did from the current system.

Microsoft would attract a bigger more diverse gaming audience which would be a plus. Gold service could also offer some new features such as a family frendly portal for kids games. With fines for offenders who curse.

The possibilities of a tiered pricing scheme, ads and a more diverse ad base is interesting.

[Kendal]

When they are pushing True Episodic Content, do you really think Microsoft will give anything away for free? Bwahahaha.

[graf1k]

I think it depends on what Sony actually delivers. I've read some places that despite all the build up of Sony's new online gaming service, it will be more like the PS2s online gaming model than XBL still. If that's true, you definitely won't see Live Gold free anytime soon. However, if Sony can serve up a quality online gaming experience that rivals Live (not just the downloadable content but the actual gaming infrastructure) then I don't think Microsoft has any choice but to make Gold accounts free.