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How on earth did MS think they could actually charge PC gamers to play online?
- Thread starter gdt
- Start date
Interfectum
Gold Member
They mistook the PC Elite for random console gamers.
Jaded Alyx
Member
Because Microsoft.
The same company that has ads on a service that you pay for.
The same company that has ads on a service that you pay for.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
Companies try anything to see if it sticks. No dedicated servers, $60 PC games, always on DRM, locking you out of past paid for games if you don't agree to future TOS. Companies try shady stuff the time to see what sticks.
snoopeasystreet
Member
I'm sure their train of thought was something like "people pay for Xbox live. We have a service that's like Xbox live on the PC, maybe they'll pay for that too".
If you were microsoft in that situation there is basically no reason not to attempt to charge for the service. Best case scenario for MS is that people viewed the service as beneficial and worth the fee and they gain another revenue source. Worst case scenario is that MS looks like they care about the PC gamer by grandstanding about eliminating the fee.
hbkajshdvfbkjhvgkahsgdfka
Member
How on earth did MS think they could actually charge gamers to play online?
More importantly, how the fuck did it work?
More importantly, how the fuck did it work?
For that to happen it would have needed to be a good service in the first place. It's comical that the company that makes the operating system most games are played on has by far the worst client to play them.
Skellig Gra
Member
This is a pretty standard practice, I get a hell of a lot of ads while watching my paid cable service.
Charging people for online gaming is ridiculous, the reason I don't own a 360 anymore, but having to havve Gold account to use free services like NEtflix is even more awful, shit like Netflix is freely available on every device, I bet my toaster has a free Netflix app, but for 360 you have to pay for Gold.
I think MS's corporate heirarchy goes like this (from bottom to top):
So, by the time the consumer gets a product it has been shit on to such a degree that whatever was once good has been obscured by feces and greed (see: Longhorn, Zune, GFW). Once in awhile a good product can survive the process or it's been around so long that they finally get it right.
Also, MS has never understood PC gaming since their inception. They just lucked out into inheriting them because of the open nature of the platform and Apples refusal to even try to court them.
So, by the time the consumer gets a product it has been shit on to such a degree that whatever was once good has been obscured by feces and greed (see: Longhorn, Zune, GFW). Once in awhile a good product can survive the process or it's been around so long that they finally get it right.
Also, MS has never understood PC gaming since their inception. They just lucked out into inheriting them because of the open nature of the platform and Apples refusal to even try to court them.
But they didn't. That's why MS had to abandon it on PC.
Say what you want about console or PC people but PC people flat out refused to do it and the system failed because of it.
Shadow Hog
Member
They probably thought "well, gamers pay Blizzard en masse to play World of Warcraft online, so surely we can expand that to all games somehow!"
Except the precedent for all games was already "free online", so it didn't really pan out.
Except the precedent for all games was already "free online", so it didn't really pan out.
Gears of War PC might have been late, and far from perfect, but being forced to pay for the privilege of using god-awful GFWL was a bullet in the head to its sales. Can't help but think that maybe we'd have gotten 2 and 3 on PC, or at least Epic would have come to their senses regarding the PC platform a little earlier. At least they seem to be on the right track again.
AstroNut325
Member
Did I miss something? MS is going to charge for online play for PC games now?
Actually, I'd like it more if they went back to the Midtown Madness days.
Wuthering_Heights
Banned
See: How many people pay to play online and access services you can use elsewhere for free, on the 360.
Not hard to imagine why they'd think they could get away with charging on PC.
Not hard to imagine why they'd think they could get away with charging on PC.
Phonomezer
Banned
Really? Because there is a constant stream of "halo and gears on PC" and "microsoft ignores PC gamers" that would suggest otherwise
Mister0079
Member
GFWL was a paid service when it first launched. They scrapped that when it turned out no self-respecting PC gamer would pay for it.
NemesisPrime
Banned
Because MS never did.
Urban myth.
Urban myth.
No it isn't. There was a fee. Just not to play online.
Jaded Alyx
Member
Those ads are to support and pay for the TV shows you watch. Not quite the same thing.
WrenchNinja
Member
They thought PC gamers were as intelligent as console gamers.
As the democratically elected Emperor of the PC Elite I can confirm your suspicion.
If you ever wanted an explanation for why PC Gamers seem so loud and angry when something goes in a way they don't want, this is part of the answer.
PC Gamers don't have a multi-billion dollar international corporate conglomerate looking out to make sure the platform is healthy and treated fairly. This is an open platform; as this and many other things evidence, Microsoft does not play that role the way Sony does with the PS3 or Microsoft does with their own closed platform known as the Xbox.
So we don't have a "big daddy" looking out for us. If we want something to happen, we have to collectively yell and shout and scream until we're heard; it takes a lot more little guys making a lot more noise to get something done than it takes one, single Microsoft or Sony to do the same. We've gotten rather good at this process, and the rejection of Windows Live subscriptions is an excellent historical example.
PC Gamers don't have a multi-billion dollar international corporate conglomerate looking out to make sure the platform is healthy and treated fairly. This is an open platform; as this and many other things evidence, Microsoft does not play that role the way Sony does with the PS3 or Microsoft does with their own closed platform known as the Xbox.
So we don't have a "big daddy" looking out for us. If we want something to happen, we have to collectively yell and shout and scream until we're heard; it takes a lot more little guys making a lot more noise to get something done than it takes one, single Microsoft or Sony to do the same. We've gotten rather good at this process, and the rejection of Windows Live subscriptions is an excellent historical example.
GazzaScotland
Member
If you don't try, you don't get. Was never going to catch on, but they were always going to try.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
Same reason they charge people to play console games online, they're greedy.
Their games are welcome, not their stupid closed platform anti-consumer policies.
Really? Because there is a constant stream of "halo and gears on PC" and "microsoft ignores PC gamers" that would suggest otherwise
Their games are welcome, not their stupid closed platform anti-consumer policies.
If was the clash of entitlements. Game executives felt they were entitled to free money. PC gamers felt they were entitled to free online. And since there were legit alternatives and MS didn't have a monopoly, the entitlement to free online won.
So in answer to your original question? Hubris. MS was doing such fantastic numbers on Xbox, they let greed blind them to the fact they didn't have a monopoly. It also helps that game executives are really scornful of their audience and think they're all idiots. So I could see how they wouldn't realize is was doomed to failure.
I like this assessment. +1.
So in answer to your original question? Hubris. MS was doing such fantastic numbers on Xbox, they let greed blind them to the fact they didn't have a monopoly. It also helps that game executives are really scornful of their audience and think they're all idiots. So I could see how they wouldn't realize is was doomed to failure.
I like this assessment. +1.
Interfectum
Gold Member
Skellig Gra
Member
Either way, both are BS.
Valve is obviously great, Interfectum, but they don't have administrative power, which is really what I'm talking about here.
That is, if Microsoft doesn't think something is a good idea on the Xbox, then that thing does not happen, end of story. If they think it will depress sales or hurt the platform as a whole, then it's out.
Gabe -- and for that matter, Microsoft itself -- hold no such power on the PC. If someone wants to do something terrible and mean, nobody can stop them. Valve is not an administrator, they're just a very consumer friendly company.
That is, if Microsoft doesn't think something is a good idea on the Xbox, then that thing does not happen, end of story. If they think it will depress sales or hurt the platform as a whole, then it's out.
Gabe -- and for that matter, Microsoft itself -- hold no such power on the PC. If someone wants to do something terrible and mean, nobody can stop them. Valve is not an administrator, they're just a very consumer friendly company.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
It is more like when HBO advertises pay per view events.
They thought this would set a precedent:
today the pc community is still laughing at them and their console. I'd rather pay for air or porno then dish out money for online play.
The porn part made me laugh way more than it should have.
WarMacheen
Member
Just like television, movie theaters, dvd's, blu-rays, magazines, news papers...
RedNumberFive
Banned
Microsoft has been trying to get their customers to pay for products and services of questionable value for years. I'm not sure why you guys think Live on the PC was such a surprising move.
Interfectum
Gold Member
Yeah I agree with both of your posts. I believe this is one reason why Gabe is not a fan of Windows 8. It's the first step towards MS locking down Windows Apple-style. If MS forces everyone to use the marketplace as of Windows 9/10, then they could charge us to pay to play online and there would be nothing we could do about it.
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