Xbox Live Prices going UP.. (aka the wrong way)

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » August 30, 2010, 2:48 pm

Ironically, the US is hit the worst because they're bringing their price in-line with what we in Canada have been paying, an extra 10$ a year.
I had already had them change my account so it doesn't renew automatically in November but this one leaves such a bad taste in my mouth that I may just start using my PS3 for all my multi-platform buys and Netflix when it does come along to Canada this fall.

The general internets have been nerd-raging pretty hard for the last 2-3 hours over this.

http://majornelson.com/archive/2010/08/ ... ption.aspx

US
Current
1M Gold: $7.99
3M Gold: $19.99
12M Gold: $49.99

Starting Nov 1, 2010
1M Gold: $9.99
3M Gold: $24.99
12M Gold: $59.99

UK
Current
1M Gold: 4.99 GBP

Starting Nov 1, 2010
1M Gold: 5.99 GBP

Canada
Current
1M Gold: $8.99 CAD
Starting Nov 1, 2010
1M Gold: $9.99 CAD

Mexico
Current
12M Gold: 499 Pesos
Starting Nov 1, 2010
12M Gold: 599 Pesos

miir · Post by **miir** » August 30, 2010, 3:11 pm

Not a whole lot of value for that price.

I'm glad Sony made PSN+ purely optional.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » August 30, 2010, 3:41 pm

While I'm not thrilled the price is going up, I still don't know how you could claim that the value isn't there. The lack of a party system, cross game chat, etc stops me from playing any games on my PS3 that I will be playing regularly with friends. I'd gladly pay for PSN+ if they had added those things with it, but they don't seem to understand the value in those features, which is confusing.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 5:10 pm

Just buy them on sale. I bought the next 2 years worth for less than 60$.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 30, 2010, 5:12 pm

I'd pay double that* just to stay with Microsoft and the 360.

*If I paid for Live

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 5:14 pm

Now that it has been announced I doubt you will find them on sale for $29 anymore. New 'sale' price will more than likely be $39.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 5:22 pm

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/live/pricelock/default.htm

Lock in for 40$ now if you're concerned. I'm already set until 2013!

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 5:24 pm

1 per account so doesn't really help much since, as mentioned, $40 will probably be the new 'sale' price from all the resellers.

miir · Post by **miir** » August 30, 2010, 5:30 pm

Microsoft probably trying to pre-emptively recoup their losses from Kinect.

miir · Post by **miir** » August 30, 2010, 5:33 pm

LOL

*Limit: One (1) per account. One year subscription at $39.99 for the first year with auto-renewal at the then current annual price following year one. Pricing details can be viewed in the Account Management area of your gamer profile. This offer expires on October 31, 2010 at 11:59 P.M. Pacific time. Applicable taxes not included. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States. Not combinable with other Microsoft offers or rebates.

**Games, game add-ons, and media content sold separately.

***Netflix unlimited subscription (sold separately) also required to instantly watch movies streaming from Netflix. See Netflix Terms of Use for details on Netflix service.

****ESPN on Xbox LIVE provides great content from ESPN3.com and ESPN.com. For access to ESPN3.com content, including live sports, you must have an ESPN3-affiliated broadband provider. See ESPN3.com for details and providers.

*****Video Kinect requires Kinect sensor. Kinect coming November 2010.

******Xbox LIVE Gold membership required to use Facebook and Twitter features.

So you need pay MORE to access Netflix... a service that requires an additional monthly charge?

The ESPN3 content is available to people who already have access to it and only in the US... but they are raising the prices for all countries.

A 'smile and a wave' are going to cost you $$.... Kinect functionality is gimped unless you pay up for Gold.

How the heck can charging to access otherwise FREE services (lost fm, twitter, facebook) be considered value?

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 5:55 pm

You always needed to have a NetFlix subscription and a Live Gold subscription. For most people it's not an issue because that's like.. bonus features since they they are mostly paying for the gaming services.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 6:09 pm

So much fuss over 10 bucks. I don't understand the uproar.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 30, 2010, 6:12 pm

I make 10 bucks a week at minimum just taking dumps at work. I can always up that time and break even.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 30, 2010, 6:35 pm

I only ever use gold for streaming my netflix sub...I won't be re-upping. Vote with my wallet, and hopefully they will hear and bring it back down. I think this absolutely is them recouping for kinect.

I am actually in the market for a PS3, so I'll just do netflix on that, for free, with my netflix sub.

Fuck you, M$...even at "only" $0.83 per month...fuck you.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 30, 2010, 6:45 pm

Kluden wrote:I only ever use gold for streaming my netflix sub...I won't be re-upping. Vote with my wallet, and hopefully they will hear and bring it back down. I think this absolutely is them recouping for kinect.

I am actually in the market for a PS3, so I'll just do netflix on that, for free, with my netflix sub.

Fuck you, M$...even at "only" $0.83 per month...fuck you.

You could probably buy a DVD players with Netflix streaming built in for 60.00. I know Costco has Blu Ray player with Netflix for 115.00

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 7:58 pm

Fairweather Pure wrote:So much fuss over 10 bucks. I don't understand the uproar.

Seriously> I mean I can afford $10 as well but not everyone is so lucky. I'm sure a lot of gamers are kids who have to pay for Live themselves. You need to look beyond how it affects (or doesn't) you personally.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 8:04 pm

I think that anyone who pays full price for Live deserves to get screwed. How is that only thinking of myself?

Also, if someone is losing sleep over 10$, that motherfucker has got bigger things to worry about besides playing video games!

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 8:19 pm

Apparently you don't get it. Even if you don't pay "full price" you'll still more than likely be paying $10 more that whatever you were paying in the past. It's really not that hard to figure out.

For me personally I think it's less a deal than Blizzard and their RealID plans that had everyone flipping the fuck out. That doesn't mean it's not a valid concern for some people.

Fairweather Pure wrote:Also, if someone is losing sleep over 10$, that motherfucker has got bigger things to worry about besides playing video games!

Yeah because you were never a kid who had to save up money to buy things.. Oh wait... Based on your replies I don't think you were.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 8:24 pm

Do you really expect me to feel sorry for anyone that can't afford .83 cents a month? I mean, that's really your stance?

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 30, 2010, 8:39 pm

Will your wife be fronting you the money for Live too?

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 8:41 pm

Boogahz wrote:Will your wife be fronting you the money for Live too?

What does that even mean?

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 30, 2010, 9:01 pm

Fairweather Pure wrote:Do you really expect me to feel sorry for anyone that can't afford .83 cents a month? I mean, that's really your stance?

Did I ask you to feel sorry for anyone? Man you're channeling Metanis in this thread. I've said my piece..Moving on.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » August 30, 2010, 9:14 pm

I don't think $10 is that big a deal but for some people I'm sure it could be. That said, people will rage for a short time then accept it. There won't be any boycotts or a big loss of subscribers for Microsoft due to this. It's the first rate increase in what, 8 years?

Comparing PSN to Live just doesn't cut it for me. I've got both and honestly I don't play on the PS3 nearly as much simply because I don't like their online service. I like all of the things that Live offers as far as checking in on friends, seeing what they're doing, parties, chatting with this while playing something different, looking at their achievements, etc. The whole experience on Live is so much richer to me that it's worth subscribing to. The demos download and are ready fast. No downloading, then installing, then playing.. eventually. If there's even a demo available on PSN to begin with. If it weren't for the exclusives on PS3 I doubt I'd play it at all; it's just the house BR player. If I'm going to buy a MP game I don't even consider buying it for the PS3. Especially since most of the reviews I've seen since getting a PS3 indicate less than wonderful graphics as compared to the 360 versions. It's not a bad system really.. but it doesn't compare to the 360 for me personally.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 30, 2010, 9:21 pm

Boogahz wrote:Will your wife be fronting you the money for Live too?

Hey now! That's uncalled for. Fairweather is just making up for all the freeloading wives throughout history!

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 9:29 pm

PSN is horrible. I only deal with it when I absolutely have to. The DLing and installing is just retarded. But the PS3 has some awesome exclusive that easily make it all worth while! Sony just needs to straight up rip off some xbl ideas.

I also buy multiplayer games for 360, and so does my circle of friends. Byt honestly, I use cross game chat more than most of the other features.

I also buy quite a few xbl games and DLC, so the savings I occassionly get there help things even out at the end of the day.

This weeks deal is the multiplayer add ons for Bioshock 2. I passed!

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 9:33 pm

And my wife doesn't front me money for jack! We have seperate finances!

She really is a great wife

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » August 30, 2010, 10:09 pm

Fairweather Pure wrote:
Boogahz wrote:Will your wife be fronting you the money for Live too?
What does that even mean?

Fairweather Pure wrote:Yay for kids and a rich wife!

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 30, 2010, 10:39 pm

Goddamn boogahz, that's kind of creepy as fuck that you would know my posting history so well. I mean that. I had to use search to find the phrase.

And if you cannot discern that I was simply making a joyful jest, well, stop acting like an idiot.

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » August 31, 2010, 2:24 am

Aslanna wrote:
Fairweather Pure wrote:So much fuss over 10 bucks. I don't understand the uproar.
Seriously> I mean I can afford $10 as well but not everyone is so lucky. I'm sure a lot of gamers are kids who have to pay for Live themselves. You need to look beyond how it affects (or doesn't) you personally.

Wait, your argument is that there may be people out there who paid $200-$400 for a 360, pay $65 per game they own for said console, pay $50/year to play said console online - yet these people may have a hard time coming up with an additional $10/year? That's what it costs to rent a fucking game from Blockbuster nowadays.

I'm seriously getting a good chuckle out of you folks (not just you aslanna) and everyone else flipping out about this, I'd actually pay another $10/month if I could stream videos of this shit on Xbox Live. For realz.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 31, 2010, 9:10 am

I'm not really flipping out, because I don't really use it, so I don't really need it anyways. I have options, others may not. Would you be ok with it if M$ just came out and said it was to offset "operating losses" due to the insane money they put into Kinect, and that they already know its a colossal failure, so they are preparing for the hemorrhage of money, but gaining some on the subscription front? Wait, why am I asking that question, of course you'd be ok with that, M$ is your "friend"!

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » August 31, 2010, 9:34 am

Kluden wrote:I'm not really flipping out, because I don't really use it, so I don't really need it anyways. I have options, others may not. Would you be ok with it if M$ just came out and said it was to offset "operating losses" due to the insane money they put into Kinect, and that they already know its a colossal failure, so they are preparing for the hemorrhage of money, but gaining some on the subscription front? Wait, why am I asking that question, of course you'd be ok with that, M$ is your "friend"!

Everyone here seems to be quite the financial analyst, I guess I should have went to school where you guys did!

Microsoft isn't my friend, I just don't feel the need to fight the man for having the AUDACITY to make me pay for a product that I like to use and find value in... Call me crazy!

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 31, 2010, 10:18 am

You're point is fine, but my problem is, that the excuses given are not true, and are clear lies. Just like the "we need to charge $60 for games now too, zomg!" bullshit with this round of consoles. Nintendo doesn't have profit problems, now do they? PC software is doing fine at <$50 price point. But we all give in, and buy the excuse, and buy the games, so we "green light" poor consumer treatment. I'm guilty of this one, too. I bought an xbox360, and will be buying a PS3...and games obviously (although I mostly buy used games).

<LINK> M$ at Work for your future. So tell me why they needed a price increase? That's right...kinect. (<joke, btw) I know that article only speaks of revenue. Revenue is not profit. I agree. But I also would like to point out that they have little operating costs on the Live front. The article also does not discuss AD revenue, when you force our dashboard to have ads for games, and movies, and other shit. That's more profit...pure profit...because what's the operating costs of that? You already had those operating costs covered...so the ads they implant on your dashboard are pure profit.

My guess is they make upwards of 700 million in profit from Live...plus ad revenue.

So, raising the price by $10 a year for 25 million gold subscribers is an increase of $250million. Pure profit, apparently, because they are NOT operating at a loss as it is.

Again, I'm not flipping out, but you blatantly just buying into it, just because the service is something you like, is silly when an increase is just not needed, and is purely greed driven. By just accepting this type of treatment, and calling it "capitalism" etc, is just giving companies an excuse to mistreat consumers in an effort to greed in some more money.

I am not trying to pick on you Funk, its just a syndrome that affects the entire populace, and allows things like Enron, BP, Bernie Madoff, Republicans, Democrats, to continue and thrive. Microsoft is just helping me show my hate for the way people allow it to happen...and even support it!

Basically, its the age old saying, ignorance is bliss...go back to sleep.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » August 31, 2010, 10:19 am

Funkmasterr wrote:Wait, your argument is that there may be people out there who paid $200-$400 for a 360, pay $65 per game they own for said console, pay $50/year to play said console online - yet these people may have a hard time coming up with an additional $10/year?

Not all of these people follow along that path. Have you heard of birthdays and Christmas? I'm sure there are a fair number of kids that are giving consoles then the rest is up to them. Those people are not usually the ones paying $65 for a game though as they have to wait for sales.

I'd think you would have a problem with it as you the one were crying about having to glive Blizzard $3 to protect your WoW account from yourself.

That's what it costs to rent a fucking game from Blockbuster nowadays.

Blockbuster is filing Chapter 11 in a few weeks. Get em while you can!

Funkmasterr wrote:I'm seriously getting a good chuckle out of you folks (not just you aslanna) and everyone else flipping out about this, I'd actually pay another $10/month if I could stream videos of this shit on Xbox Live. For realz.

Aslanna wrote: For me personally I think it's less a deal than Blizzard and their RealID plans that had everyone flipping the fuck out. That doesn't mean it's not a valid concern for some people.

Yeah. Serious flippage going out there.

How's that canceled WoW account coming along?

Funkmasterr · Post by **Funkmasterr** » August 31, 2010, 11:05 am

Kluden wrote:You're point is fine, but my problem is, that the excuses given are not true, and are clear lies. Just like the "we need to charge $60 for games now too, zomg!" bullshit with this round of consoles. Nintendo doesn't have profit problems, now do they? PC software is doing fine at <$50 price point. But we all give in, and buy the excuse, and buy the games, so we "green light" poor consumer treatment. I'm guilty of this one, too. I bought an xbox360, and will be buying a PS3...and games obviously (although I mostly buy used games).

<LINK> M$ at Work for your future. So tell me why they needed a price increase? That's right...kinect. (<joke, btw) I know that article only speaks of revenue. Revenue is not profit. I agree. But I also would like to point out that they have little operating costs on the Live front. The article also does not discuss AD revenue, when you force our dashboard to have ads for games, and movies, and other shit. That's more profit...pure profit...because what's the operating costs of that? You already had those operating costs covered...so the ads they implant on your dashboard are pure profit.

My guess is they make upwards of 700 million in profit from Live...plus ad revenue.

So, raising the price by $10 a year for 25 million gold subscribers is an increase of $250million. Pure profit, apparently, because they are NOT operating at a loss as it is.

Again, I'm not flipping out, but you blatantly just buying into it, just because the service is something you like, is silly when an increase is just not needed, and is purely greed driven. By just accepting this type of treatment, and calling it "capitalism" etc, is just giving companies an excuse to mistreat consumers in an effort to greed in some more money.

I am not trying to pick on you Funk, its just a syndrome that affects the entire populace, and allows things like Enron, BP, Bernie Madoff, Republicans, Democrats, to continue and thrive. Microsoft is just helping me show my hate for the way people allow it to happen...and even support it!

Basically, its the age old saying, ignorance is bliss...go back to sleep.

And what I'm explaining to you is that you are not a qualified financial analyst. How long did they lose money on the console sales itself (I guess they might still be, I don't know)? Is it not their right as a company to offset that cost? Comparing what Microsoft is doing to what BP/Enron, etc did, and then telling me I'm the ignorant one on top of it is fucking hilarious, seriously. Keep it coming.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » August 31, 2010, 12:25 pm

Funkmasterr wrote: That's what it costs to rent a fucking game from Blockbuster nowadays.

Blockbuster is filing for Bankruptcy.

Maybe they were charging too much!

miir · Post by **miir** » August 31, 2010, 12:56 pm

That's what it costs to rent a fucking game from Blockbuster nowadays.

Blockbuster is filing Chapter 11 in a few weeks. Get em while you can!

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » August 31, 2010, 1:45 pm

What I'm saying is, if they came out and said the price hike is to cover the costs of the losses during years 1 thru 5 of console life, then I'd be OK with it...or if they said it was for R&D of Kinect, or the next xbox, or something...then fine. But there is no reason, only an excuse of higher operating costs, which clearly we know is bullshit, and couldn't possibly be to the order of magnitude of a 20% increase to online fees.

I won't argue with you about my financial analyzing abilities, you don't know me. But I will point out that I didn't post any false information, and I posted an article detailing revenue from their Live service only (doesn't include gaming). Remember, if you post an article that shows "gaming division" losses, they include the Zune losses! (M$ Zune is considered part of their gaming division).

Again, I'm not upset, and won't be even if the price hike stands. Its not the point of my posts. My point is that we, the consumers, let this happen to us. We let corporations take advantage of us. Yes, just like BP, just like Enron, Just like Bernie Madoff...its very different, obviously, from instance to instance...but we as a people let it happen. Its not a comparison of apples to apples I'm making of what one company does vs. another...its a comparison of unethical practices that companies do to make another dollar from consumers.

You're a consumer, so you are welcome to feel like this is not a rip off scheme. Its you're right and privilege, but don't get mad that I point out its an absurdity.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » August 31, 2010, 2:05 pm

Blockbuster is filing for chapter 11.

There. Now I don't feel left out.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » August 31, 2010, 2:29 pm

They could tell me that they are raising the price because new members on the board need more money to pay for the cocaine and hookers and it really would not matter. I pay for the service because it provides a service I want and use regularly. If I stopped paying for things because a company misrepresented the real reason they were raising prices, I would never be able to buy anything. They are raising prices because they want more money....end of story. You either pay it or you say screw it and spend $200 to buy their inferior competition's console to get free online gaming and lose the other benefits.