Microsoft has announced they’ll be giving Xbox Live silver accounts access to play some multi-player cross-platform games for free until the fall update. Recently, Microsoft announced free online play with Games for Windows titles, effectively giving PC gamers “gold accounts” to play online.
Most people agree the move to give gold subscriptions to PC gamers was done because PC gamers don’t care to play Games for Windows games online if they have to pay for it. The culture of PC gaming is much different than console gaming on XBL, gamers expect the online experience at no cost; they’re already paying an ISP for network access, paying for a match-making system with a yearly subscription is not desired.
Console gamers don’t have a choice, buying the 360 experience arrives with simple to play games (no drivers, no installs) but limited online choices: pay or go away. Now, silver members will get a little taste of network play, along side PC gamers in the cross-platform Games for Windows titles.
“Supported cross-platform titles include Universe at War, Shadowrun, and Lost Planet: Colonies Edition.” (gamespot)
We question the intention here… is this as a good faith move or are they wetting people’s appitite for XBL so they’ll want to upgrade to gold in the fall? Or, maybe there are some logistical reasons to doing this in the Xbox Live infrastructure to prepare for upgrades where making it free solves a few of their internal upgrade paths and, as a side effect, gives gamers some games to play.
Of course, we’ve seen few people playing Shadowrun or Lost Planet lately. Maybe this will re-popularize a few older titles as well.
Hi all.
Thanks for this episode! I really enjoy your podcast … already several years 🙂
I have a question, what I wanted to ask since several episodes: @Jonah: why do you start nearly every sentence with „Here is the thing“? Maybebi don’t get it, because I am not a native speaker, but it sounds „strange“ 🙂 no offense!!! *hug*
I would love, if you (all of you) could talk more about old games (gaming flashback) especially games you played during your youth. Which games fascinated you? Which games do you hate? Which games did you not finish because they are too difficult?
Did you ever think about playing games on twitch? Something like „let’s plays“?
Or do you sometimes play online games with your fans? Maybe a discord channel and play song Ames together?
I know you have family, and fans like me, who live in a different time zone, are nearly not able to participate, but in case of twitch, it would be possible to watch it afterwards 🙂
So far: please go on and do a lot more episodes! Thank you!
Greetings from Germany
Ralf