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Game, Set, Match.

PS2 Online Users Hit 1.5 million Sony officials have reportedly announced that the number of PS2 online users have reached 1.5 million worldwide – twice the number of Xbox Live users. Although there are seven times more PlayStation 2 consoles in the world this figure is still surprisingly high considering the relatively low-key marketing of PlayStation 2 online titles, compared to Xbox Live.

Source: www.gamasutra.com

well, don't you think you'll get more takers if you are offering something for free instead of $50 ? I'll bet that most of the x-box live subscribers have more hours logged than PS2 owners. I know I'd play more online if I had to pay for it.

Originally Posted by WhipSmartBanky

Hey I'm just the messenger here. Can't blame me for this one. [-X

Originally Posted by bmulligan well, don't you think you'll get more takers if you are offering something for free instead of $50 ? I'll bet that most of the x-box live subscribers have more hours logged than PS2 owners. I know I'd play more online if I had to pay for it.

Some games on PS2 require a monthly subscription. Everquest and (soon) FF online. Sony doesn't make any money from the online part except for the hardware sales which is better for the developers and consumers IMO.

This is not surprising at all considering the amount of people in Japan signed up for FFXI, versus the relatively low number of people there with an Xbox.

Originally Posted by bmulligan well, don't you think you'll get more takers if you are offering something for free instead of $50 ? I'll bet that most of the x-box live subscribers have more hours logged than PS2 owners. I know I'd play more online if I had to pay for it.

I have both, and I play my PS2 online probably about 5x more than I hit up my Xbox live. But who knows, maybe I'm in the minority, but I just thought I'd let ya know that we're out there...... and we're listening......

xbox live last i heard has 500,000 if sony has 1.5 million then its three times as much wow that amazing but i still got love for xbox live

That's a poor showing for Sony considering their worldwide userbase.

Wow, that is surprising. I have both and I play more my PS2 online. I still think Live has the better set up, but can't beat the free service from Sony ( after purchase of the network adapter ).

Microsoft really oughta drop the price of the Xbox Live starter kit to $39.99, where the price of the PS2 Network Adapter currently is. After all, for those of us with a choice, it's either 40 bucks and then free play forever (PS2), or $60-$70 and play for a year (Xbox). Hmm.....

Xbox Live is wack simply because you have to pay yearly for it. add that on top of a high speed connection and that xbox is costing around $500 a year!!!! Bill Gates you greedy bastard.

Im wondering if that counts PS2's that had the Network Adaptor included...

I never cared for the whole Xbox Live thing because it charges for something that should be free. Paying just to be able to play online isn't something people should be supporting and embracing!

"Yes Microsoft, take more of my money!" Sigh.

there are 3 reasons for this.

1. Madden Football.
2. Madden Football.
3. Madden Football.

I am friends with a bunch of people who wouldn't have bought a console if it weren't for this game. I wouldn't even call htem casual gamers, because they only games they even own are Madden and GTA.

That's why the numbers are so high. Not because of hardcore or even serious gamers, but for the guy who has a dorm room or dsl connection (or even dial-up) and for $250 can play football all they want.

I have both xbox live and the ps2 adapter, and I play Live a lot more, but for people who get a console on a whim and may not really want to make any sort of commitment, the ps2 online is the way to go.

what xbl offers is simple. broadband battlefield. plain & simple. I have Ps2 & XB. love both. but xbl with voice, universal gamertag, and ONLY broadband gaming is more than worth the $. if i were sony, I'd be worried.

why?

considering how many people have a PS2 console compared w/ their online userbase is nothing to brag about.

MS can pat themselves on the back due to the fact that 750,000+ XBL members are PAYING members. when it comes down to the bottom line, that is an impressive number considering XBs console numbers.

and XBL is only $35-$50 yr to renew. for your $70 you get full version of MechAssault +headset +DLC and 1 year of service. great deal. if you're a CAG you can find older bundles and even this v3 bundle much cheaper. i.e Sam's Club has v3 for $50, and online sites always have clearance sales on older versions w/ expired acct (they still work)

PS2 online may be free but: $30-$40 for headset, $40 for adapter, no DownLoad Content unless your memcard ($20) can hold it or you've bought a $100 aftermarket Hard Drive is proof that Sony's online strategy needs to play catchup to MS. You add those prices together and it's the cost of another console.

I wouldn't be suprised if MS gives away 1 free year of XBL (completely free or buy 1 get 1 free) just to screw with Sony when XB2(2005) or PS3(2006) launches.

doesn't matter if you're a fanboy of either or both it sounds like simple everyday PR(-opaganda). and if MS and EA can finally iron out their differences, then Sony needs to work much harder.

I run a few companies and I would rather have 750,000 paying customers versus 1.5 million non-paying customers.

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Hate to burst your bubble Mr. Rhee but Sony has nothing to worry about. Why? Because they don't charge third parties for online games. All they do is provide the hardware and let the third parties do the rest. Why do you think companies like EA are so successful on the PS2? Because they can do whatever they want and don't have to give up a piece of the profits. MS did a good thing providing a foundation but charging for it goes against the grain.

Originally Posted by jetblac Xbox Live is wack simply because you have to pay yearly for it. add that on top of a high speed connection and that xbox is costing around $500 a year!!!! Bill Gates you greedy bastard.

Another word for high speed connection is NO FUCKING LAG.

And do you think running a huge gaming network is cheap? You idiot.

Does anybody know if the 500,000 - 750,000 XBL users are actual paying subscribers or just people still using up their free subscription? Also to compare Sony's online user base to their world wide user base isn't a completely accurate way of looking at it. You can't just assume that everyone who owns a PS2 wants to be online or has the ability to be online. Online gaming is still a limited market and only appeals to certain gamers. Personally I could care less about online play because those games don't appeal to me. And I'm pretty sure alot of people would agree with me in saying that they would have bought their PS2 or XBox even if it didn't have online play.

Originally Posted by jetblac Xbox Live is wack simply because you have to pay yearly for it. add that on top of a high speed connection and that xbox is costing around $500 a year!!!! Bill Gates you greedy bastard.

...

Wow. That's just about the dumbest thing I've read all day. You think the broadband connection for the PS2 is free? Live is a $50/year expense, and I pay that gladly for the ability to mute irritating s**ts, keep a consistent user identity, maintain the friends list, and insure that the games aren't ruined by cheating. I'll also take the free downloadable content, and all the perks that come with the Live service. For $50, it's a very well spent $50. I get to voice chat with friends all over the country, play with people I'd never have met otherwise, and do all that through a consistent, fully supported interface.

The PS2's online system, on the other hand, is a complete mess. Some games support voice, some don't. Some games have to be stripped down for narrowband support. You don't know whether people you're playing with have a keyboard, voice chat, or nothing at all.

The fact that PS2's online plans have only 1.5 million, given their user base is FIFTY TIMES that of MS's shouldn't be seen as victory - it should be seen as a monumental failure on the part of Sony.

And in terms of "don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger," the smiley at the end of that sentence throws that statement right out the window.

seppo