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Here's something to think about.
People with PCs, a modem and a dial up connection can play an online game of most popular PC games easily. I can, right now, load up COunter Strike, connect to a server, and play. Simple.
The big three, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, seem to be somewaht challenged by this idea of simplicity. Or maybe there's more to it than that....
Sony and Microsoft all insist that their UK online plans do not include dial up users whatsoever, because it would limit the content and use of the gaming netowrks. Nintendo are rather unsure and seem to have no certain plans.
Playstation 2 owners are going to need a broadband adaptor (£40), Broadband installed in their homes (if needed) ( £150 BT + £30 a month BT, NTL has no installation charge and is cheaper but needs you to sign your phone line to them ) and pay for a subscription to the network (Est £15 a month) With BT that is £45 a month - a whole game. The Official Playstation 2 Magazine showed a Sony poll in it's latest issue where 50% of those surveyed said they had Broadband - the polls source was uk.playstation.com - can anyone see the flaw in that poll ? I can, them' bad numbers !
Xbox users don't have to buy any equipment but are going to need Broadband in their homes if they don't have it, and pay a sub to Xbox live (est £10 a month).
Neither companies are offering anything other than games on this network, despite Sony Uk's grand ideas of real time video chat (you're going to have to buy a webcam.....) and other fairyland ideas. Microsoft are at least being honest, saying Xbox Live is about games...oh better by an Xbox communicator as well.... Both companies are both currently relying on about six games each to sell this all to us gamers.
It isn't good enough, and we're all being, quite frankly, ripped off. Both companies plans involve us giving them a regular amount of money as well as one off additional hardware purchases and buying games whose only use is going to be online in many cases - sure, they'll play one player but I doubt it will work well in most games like SOCOM US Navy Seals from SCEA.
Broadband is a word thats being plastered onto all the press and media, we're being hyped up to believe it's the Holy Grail of online gaming, it isn't. Like the PC situation now, Broadband means theat online games need less careful coding, and it won't be long before PS2 owners are told they "need" the hard drive. At the end of the day these two corporations are effectively pulling the wool down over the eyes of their loyal fans.
Sega, with the Dreamcast, established a network on dial up with none of this fuss and years of planning. Sony could right now do that in a month, if they had any games ready for us. Get the modem out at £40, let people use their own ISP's, set up a free server like is so common for the PC market, and it's done.
Don't get me wrong, console online gaming is a good idea but not at this price. I don't mind buying games and useful hardware, but at the moment Sony and Microsoft are making a complete mess of it, on purpose. Why ? Both plan on using the broadband ability to push advertising and other media at gamer's. A captive audience of people wiht money to spare in most cases. That's whats behind broadband, and not better gaming.
~~Belldandy~~
People with PCs, a modem and a dial up connection can play an online game of most popular PC games easily. I can, right now, load up COunter Strike, connect to a server, and play. Simple.
The big three, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, seem to be somewaht challenged by this idea of simplicity. Or maybe there's more to it than that....
Sony and Microsoft all insist that their UK online plans do not include dial up users whatsoever, because it would limit the content and use of the gaming netowrks. Nintendo are rather unsure and seem to have no certain plans.
Playstation 2 owners are going to need a broadband adaptor (£40), Broadband installed in their homes (if needed) ( £150 BT + £30 a month BT, NTL has no installation charge and is cheaper but needs you to sign your phone line to them ) and pay for a subscription to the network (Est £15 a month) With BT that is £45 a month - a whole game. The Official Playstation 2 Magazine showed a Sony poll in it's latest issue where 50% of those surveyed said they had Broadband - the polls source was uk.playstation.com - can anyone see the flaw in that poll ? I can, them' bad numbers !
Xbox users don't have to buy any equipment but are going to need Broadband in their homes if they don't have it, and pay a sub to Xbox live (est £10 a month).
Neither companies are offering anything other than games on this network, despite Sony Uk's grand ideas of real time video chat (you're going to have to buy a webcam.....) and other fairyland ideas. Microsoft are at least being honest, saying Xbox Live is about games...oh better by an Xbox communicator as well.... Both companies are both currently relying on about six games each to sell this all to us gamers.
It isn't good enough, and we're all being, quite frankly, ripped off. Both companies plans involve us giving them a regular amount of money as well as one off additional hardware purchases and buying games whose only use is going to be online in many cases - sure, they'll play one player but I doubt it will work well in most games like SOCOM US Navy Seals from SCEA.
Broadband is a word thats being plastered onto all the press and media, we're being hyped up to believe it's the Holy Grail of online gaming, it isn't. Like the PC situation now, Broadband means theat online games need less careful coding, and it won't be long before PS2 owners are told they "need" the hard drive. At the end of the day these two corporations are effectively pulling the wool down over the eyes of their loyal fans.
Sega, with the Dreamcast, established a network on dial up with none of this fuss and years of planning. Sony could right now do that in a month, if they had any games ready for us. Get the modem out at £40, let people use their own ISP's, set up a free server like is so common for the PC market, and it's done.
Don't get me wrong, console online gaming is a good idea but not at this price. I don't mind buying games and useful hardware, but at the moment Sony and Microsoft are making a complete mess of it, on purpose. Why ? Both plan on using the broadband ability to push advertising and other media at gamer's. A captive audience of people wiht money to spare in most cases. That's whats behind broadband, and not better gaming.
~~Belldandy~~
WòókieeMøn§†€® wrote:
> The problem is that on the internet, everyone wants things for free.
Lol, go look in the Movies forum, Titawhirl's found a free DVD offer :)
~~Belldandy~~
> The problem is that on the internet, everyone wants things for free.
Lol, go look in the Movies forum, Titawhirl's found a free DVD offer :)
~~Belldandy~~
I'm not saying that gamers are forced to spend the cash, just that they have no option but to, unlike PC Gamers who can easily and cheaply game online. Instead we're being given no option, and an expensive one at that. As for getting stuff free on the internet, I think after someone has bought a £40 modem (PS2) paid for an internet connection, bought the online game, it's not sking too much to be able to play it for free is it ?
It's like buying a book but being told you can't read it yourself, you need someone to turn the pages.
~~Belldandy~~
It's like buying a book but being told you can't read it yourself, you need someone to turn the pages.
~~Belldandy~~
I disagree that people are being ripped off, because you don't have to buy anything.
I have broadband, but have never played any games online - it simply doesn't interest me. So neither Sony or MS would be ripping me off at all. If I do decide to go online with either console, I know the costs, and it's my choice whether I decide to pay it or not. No-one has a gun to my head.
As for the options available, Sony do plan to let people use their own ISPs. The US version, already available, comes with automated set-up for all of the major US ISPs, and a manual configuration option for those that aren't supplied on the disc.
Sony have opted for a client/server format, so you may need to pay to use servers - but that's not uncommon for PC games, and I believe it's gradually becoming more common. But you should be able to go online generally at no extra cost - if they ever make the web browser etc. available.
MS have gone for peer-to-peer networking, and while this eliminates server costs, I believe you will have to subscribe to their own network, so you will need to pay regardless. I think that's how it will work, but I stand to be corrected.
Either way, when you're online with your PC, you don't pay for services you don't want, and I don't see it being any different with the consoles. Just as with your ISP, you're paying for access to a specific network or service. Both Sony and MS are investing a fortune in providing these services, and they're not going to give them away for free.
The problem is that on the internet, everyone wants things for free.
I have broadband, but have never played any games online - it simply doesn't interest me. So neither Sony or MS would be ripping me off at all. If I do decide to go online with either console, I know the costs, and it's my choice whether I decide to pay it or not. No-one has a gun to my head.
As for the options available, Sony do plan to let people use their own ISPs. The US version, already available, comes with automated set-up for all of the major US ISPs, and a manual configuration option for those that aren't supplied on the disc.
Sony have opted for a client/server format, so you may need to pay to use servers - but that's not uncommon for PC games, and I believe it's gradually becoming more common. But you should be able to go online generally at no extra cost - if they ever make the web browser etc. available.
MS have gone for peer-to-peer networking, and while this eliminates server costs, I believe you will have to subscribe to their own network, so you will need to pay regardless. I think that's how it will work, but I stand to be corrected.
Either way, when you're online with your PC, you don't pay for services you don't want, and I don't see it being any different with the consoles. Just as with your ISP, you're paying for access to a specific network or service. Both Sony and MS are investing a fortune in providing these services, and they're not going to give them away for free.
The problem is that on the internet, everyone wants things for free.
I for one won't be going online with any console that is out at the moment. I am happy with my computer. To be honest I would rather have a load of friends round my house than play with someone who I can't see. That said, I spend pleanty of time here talking to people whos faces I can't see.
Good Post though
Good Post though
Here's something to think about.
People with PCs, a modem and a dial up connection can play an online game of most popular PC games easily. I can, right now, load up COunter Strike, connect to a server, and play. Simple.
The big three, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, seem to be somewaht challenged by this idea of simplicity. Or maybe there's more to it than that....
Sony and Microsoft all insist that their UK online plans do not include dial up users whatsoever, because it would limit the content and use of the gaming netowrks. Nintendo are rather unsure and seem to have no certain plans.
Playstation 2 owners are going to need a broadband adaptor (£40), Broadband installed in their homes (if needed) ( £150 BT + £30 a month BT, NTL has no installation charge and is cheaper but needs you to sign your phone line to them ) and pay for a subscription to the network (Est £15 a month) With BT that is £45 a month - a whole game. The Official Playstation 2 Magazine showed a Sony poll in it's latest issue where 50% of those surveyed said they had Broadband - the polls source was uk.playstation.com - can anyone see the flaw in that poll ? I can, them' bad numbers !
Xbox users don't have to buy any equipment but are going to need Broadband in their homes if they don't have it, and pay a sub to Xbox live (est £10 a month).
Neither companies are offering anything other than games on this network, despite Sony Uk's grand ideas of real time video chat (you're going to have to buy a webcam.....) and other fairyland ideas. Microsoft are at least being honest, saying Xbox Live is about games...oh better by an Xbox communicator as well.... Both companies are both currently relying on about six games each to sell this all to us gamers.
It isn't good enough, and we're all being, quite frankly, ripped off. Both companies plans involve us giving them a regular amount of money as well as one off additional hardware purchases and buying games whose only use is going to be online in many cases - sure, they'll play one player but I doubt it will work well in most games like SOCOM US Navy Seals from SCEA.
Broadband is a word thats being plastered onto all the press and media, we're being hyped up to believe it's the Holy Grail of online gaming, it isn't. Like the PC situation now, Broadband means theat online games need less careful coding, and it won't be long before PS2 owners are told they "need" the hard drive. At the end of the day these two corporations are effectively pulling the wool down over the eyes of their loyal fans.
Sega, with the Dreamcast, established a network on dial up with none of this fuss and years of planning. Sony could right now do that in a month, if they had any games ready for us. Get the modem out at £40, let people use their own ISP's, set up a free server like is so common for the PC market, and it's done.
Don't get me wrong, console online gaming is a good idea but not at this price. I don't mind buying games and useful hardware, but at the moment Sony and Microsoft are making a complete mess of it, on purpose. Why ? Both plan on using the broadband ability to push advertising and other media at gamer's. A captive audience of people wiht money to spare in most cases. That's whats behind broadband, and not better gaming.
~~Belldandy~~
People with PCs, a modem and a dial up connection can play an online game of most popular PC games easily. I can, right now, load up COunter Strike, connect to a server, and play. Simple.
The big three, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, seem to be somewaht challenged by this idea of simplicity. Or maybe there's more to it than that....
Sony and Microsoft all insist that their UK online plans do not include dial up users whatsoever, because it would limit the content and use of the gaming netowrks. Nintendo are rather unsure and seem to have no certain plans.
Playstation 2 owners are going to need a broadband adaptor (£40), Broadband installed in their homes (if needed) ( £150 BT + £30 a month BT, NTL has no installation charge and is cheaper but needs you to sign your phone line to them ) and pay for a subscription to the network (Est £15 a month) With BT that is £45 a month - a whole game. The Official Playstation 2 Magazine showed a Sony poll in it's latest issue where 50% of those surveyed said they had Broadband - the polls source was uk.playstation.com - can anyone see the flaw in that poll ? I can, them' bad numbers !
Xbox users don't have to buy any equipment but are going to need Broadband in their homes if they don't have it, and pay a sub to Xbox live (est £10 a month).
Neither companies are offering anything other than games on this network, despite Sony Uk's grand ideas of real time video chat (you're going to have to buy a webcam.....) and other fairyland ideas. Microsoft are at least being honest, saying Xbox Live is about games...oh better by an Xbox communicator as well.... Both companies are both currently relying on about six games each to sell this all to us gamers.
It isn't good enough, and we're all being, quite frankly, ripped off. Both companies plans involve us giving them a regular amount of money as well as one off additional hardware purchases and buying games whose only use is going to be online in many cases - sure, they'll play one player but I doubt it will work well in most games like SOCOM US Navy Seals from SCEA.
Broadband is a word thats being plastered onto all the press and media, we're being hyped up to believe it's the Holy Grail of online gaming, it isn't. Like the PC situation now, Broadband means theat online games need less careful coding, and it won't be long before PS2 owners are told they "need" the hard drive. At the end of the day these two corporations are effectively pulling the wool down over the eyes of their loyal fans.
Sega, with the Dreamcast, established a network on dial up with none of this fuss and years of planning. Sony could right now do that in a month, if they had any games ready for us. Get the modem out at £40, let people use their own ISP's, set up a free server like is so common for the PC market, and it's done.
Don't get me wrong, console online gaming is a good idea but not at this price. I don't mind buying games and useful hardware, but at the moment Sony and Microsoft are making a complete mess of it, on purpose. Why ? Both plan on using the broadband ability to push advertising and other media at gamer's. A captive audience of people wiht money to spare in most cases. That's whats behind broadband, and not better gaming.
~~Belldandy~~