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Microsoft: "Xbox LIVE 12 to 18 Months Ahead of PlayStation Network"

November 13, 2009 in News comments 18

Electronic Theatre reports on the confirmation of the Xbox 360's ten million hardware sales across EMEA territories, including scathing commentary from Microsoft suggesting their Xbox LIVE service eclipses competitors' online networks.

Following the revelation that the Xbox 360 has surpassed ten million units sales in EMEA territories yesterday, Microsoft have today stated the reasons it believes their console has become such a grand success. The reported 2:1 sales ratio of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 consoles compared with the PlayStation 3 version will have undoubtedly contributed to the system’s milestone, but it appears the hardware manufacturer has other ideas.
kevcothirtythree via electronictheatre.co.uk »
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  • 3
    Arikardo Nov 13, 09
    Tell us something we don't know already. We know the PSN is behind LIVE.
  • 0
    HisServant77 Nov 13, 09
    If this was to make themselves look good, it does the opposite to me.

    This is because I ask: How much time have they had to perfect their online services? How much time has Sony had? Microsoft started their service from the start of the xbox. Sony? Hah!
    • 1
      Xenctuary Nov 13, 09
      I don't think any of their investors really care about "how much time they've had". They are primarily concerned with how much money is being made.
      • 1
        HisServant77 Nov 13, 09
        Yes true, I simply mean that this doesn't make them look good in my eyes. Nor in the eyes of analysts really who try to foretell where things will end up in the future. Such as, if that's all the gap between them, then Sony will end up catching up with them and therefore the investors should keep an eye on the competition to see if they want to jump ship, or force Microsoft to do a better job.
  • 3
    Seeker X Nov 13, 09
    Well I would certainly HOPE so. It did have about a year and a half of a headstart, and let's face it, it's not even THAT far ahead.
    • 2
      Daweii Nov 13, 09
      It had longer than that. Xbox Live as a service in some form started in 2001 they have had almost a decade to perfect it. While Sony started the Playstation Network in 2003 on the PS2 it was only used for like 3 games or something, it wasn't a service. So yes PSN for Sony started 3 years ago and for a 3 year effort PSN is incredible.
      • 2
        Red 9 Nov 13, 09
        Yessir, Xbox Live was around long before the 360. It was a functioning service during the PS2/Xbox era. So if they're barely over one year ahead of PSN, and PSN's only been around for 3 years as compared to twice that for Live, that's not something they should be bragging about.

        Of course, companies always do this kind of thing, so it's no surprise.
  • 1
    Kave En Nov 13, 09
    Besides the dedicated server debate, what is there? Cross game chat? Who cares. If you like LIVE and have all your friends on that go pay $50. If all your friends have PSN and play there, then pay nothing.
    • 4
      Storm Nov 13, 09
      Are you ever going to stop this pro-PS3, anti-360 talk?

      Eh, we should expect this. As mentioned, they started off earlier and well...paying for the service has to pay off. Still could use a few more simple features, like a web browser, but nothing too demanding, I'm satisfied with Live overall. And I get my 12-month (13 months because we get an extra free when we buy that subscription) for $30.
      • 4
        dwg14390 Nov 13, 09
        It's Kave En, telling him to stop is far to complicated.

        If LIVE wasn't there in the first place PSN would have been MUCH different.

        But if PSN does catch up to Live, then 2 things will happen.

        Either
        Sony starts Charging
        Live goes free or much cheaper
        • 0
          Storm Nov 13, 09
          Yeah, I hope PSN does surpass Live for the latter option to happen. Still, I get my subscription $20 less now, so eh, can't complain.
  • 0
    Smoke Nov 14, 09
    Ehh, I wouldn't really say that much, Microsoft. A lot can change in 12 months, and Sony is already close to your heels. With the reported cross chat coming next update as well as the apparent facebook update... what else does 360 have? No, I don't even think it's close to a year ahead; maybe a few months.
  • 3
    Kave En Nov 14, 09
    What the hell are you guys smoking? I'm not being pro-Ps3 anti-360. I'm saying it doesn't matter who's ahead of who, it's where your friends are. If your friends have Xbox's then spend the $50 and game with them.

    If your friends have PS3's, then play with them. It's not complicated, those statements are not fanboyish at all. Damn you guys jump to conclusions.
    • 0
      Storm Nov 16, 09
      Lol, why even bother mentioning the Live pricing, that's not what the article is about at all...could very well be a factor as to why XBL has the cross-game chat, party, etc., but it's no longer $50 if you play your cards right. It's more about how it evolved than the pricing or anything else.

      Let's break down what you said though:

      quote
      Besides dedicated servers, what is there?
      Now I'm pretty sure this was a common statement in your anti-360 reign. Why would you ask what is there? You said you have a 360 and Live did you not? You can tell the differences between the two yourself since you have both 360 and PS2, such as the interface differences, or the cross-party feature.

      quote
      Cross game chat? Who cares.
      Many people care, it's one of the most requested items for the next update, and I'm sure Sony is working on it, just takes some time.

      quote
      If you like LIVE and have all your friends on that go pay $50. If all your friends have PSN and play there, then pay nothing.
      And here's the big bulk, and hilarious one at that. You're just blurting out, telling people what they already know, saying that we have to pay $50 for Live...but you're wording's a bit off here. You can have all your friends on Live's Silver account with no problems, some of the more advanced features are out, sure, but doesn't mean you can't talk to them.

      Moving along, you take a nice well-rounded jab at M$ by saying you can have all your friends on PSN, and pay nothing. Again, something more obvious than the yellow bird's name on Sesame Street (of which have celebrated their 40th year annivesary)...it really goes without saying.
  • 5
    dwg14390 Nov 14, 09
    There's 1 obvious advantage Live has over PSN and this is something Sony can't do unless they wanna go down the microsoft route.

    WE PAY FOR LIVE.

    As such microsoft, not the developers provide for the servers, usually leading to a better online experience and saves money for the devs as they won't be wasting time and money trying to keep servers up, even if the game bombed if it was online compatible, it shall remain online.

    This means that the devs can just save that extra money while using just a fragment to create a couple of crappy dlc and the occasional good dlc for even more money.

    You save when your working with xbox.
    • 0
      Smoke Nov 14, 09
      The servers are p2p; not officially hosted by Microsoft. Out of the say, 12 players that play, 1 is hosting the game. Rare occasions do come in when there are dedicated servers, I think Section 8 had them, but for the vast majority of the time, it's p2p.

      Now, on the other hand, there are charges that Sony DOES give to the companys to put out demos and other DLC I'm pretty sure. On the PSN end, the publisher pays, on the Live end, the 360 owners pay for it.

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