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.
Don’t feel bad guys, I listen every week. Even though its a bit hit/miss when one of you starts on a rant it’s still a good listen and a good place to get in depth gaming news ๐
I’ll try to keep this one more brief then my last post, hopefully bullet pointing will help.
* I’m sorry to hear about your foot, I don’t know what could do that but I guess the one silver lining is you can say you will be a Cyborg now or training up to be the Six Million Dollar man.
* The Bobba Fett game: All I can say is Ouch, that would have made many a SW fan happy. I am in the camp of “meh” about Bobba Fett, I agree with Jordan’s assessment on him.
* Dying Light: I certainly hope that it isn’t another DI, I found that game to be boring very quickly. Just the unending swarm of Zombies can get tedious.
* Watch Dogs: If it requires the install, might as well get it for PC.
* This episode pretty much confirmed my decision to stick with PC and get 3ds for the family to play together. If Atari and Sega can survive on software sales so can Nintendo. I feel that Nintendo has been behind the hardware race really since N64.
* It just seems like a lack of foresight to try to make their previous libraries available on PSN (and same with Microsoft) If they make more money on software then they are losing money from this potential customer that wants to buy games they refuse to have on digital stores. I end up having to buy PC versions or emulate them on PC.
Okay I think I managed to keep that shorter, great episode guys lots of laughs and I told Dan to write you.
Oh and the guy with “yo-yo” weapon was Rygar. he has one of the best themes ever.
I considered using only consonants to shorten the post but then I decided to simply write less ๐
* Shout out to Red Letter Media. I love those guys. Mr. Plinkett reviews are awesome and their other shows – Half in the Bag and Best of the Worst are very entertaining.
* Shout out to Dying Light – Polish guys know how to develop great games – remember Robbo?
* Anti-shout out to Ubisoft – at least I’m getting that 1TB drive for the PS4. Maybe it will be enough for Watch Dogs. I’m really looking forward to that game.
http://www.gametrailers.com/side-mission/63162/gabriel-knight-returns-interview-with-jane-jensen
Jane Jensen is getting the license to remake the GK1 game Sins of the Fathers. According to that article it’s because of all the adventure games being crowd funded on Kickstarter. The Adventure series of GK may be getting new life if this remake does well. I’m excited not just for this game but for the fact that Kickstarter games seem to be making a difference now in giving Adventure genre another chance.