Microsoft: No one can touch us online

[Zeus]

With Sony in particularly placing a new found emphasis on their online services, you might think MS were a little 'scared'. But they have statated recently that 'no one can touch' their beloved XBOX LIVE service and come close to their offerings. Time will tell boys.

<blockquote>With the Big Three all hyping new online services for their home consoles, no longer is it all about the games. But Microsoft believes last week's Xbox Live update, coinciding with 360 hitting 10 million sales in Europe, shows "no one can touch" the company's online offering.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz in London last week, Microsoft EMEA vice president Chris Lewis claimed his firm's Autumn update - bringing Last.fm, Twitter, Facebook and Zune Marketplace to 360 - showed the company's ability to "reinvigorate the system... in a way that nobody else can." </blockquote>

News Source: <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/lewis-no-one-can-touch-us-online" target="_blank">GI</a>

[GT-RRR]

Like an ignorant person, they basically have the SAME as PSN, but they say "Their Version" is better... idiots.

[tech3475]

The only thing that makes XBL supperior to PSN at the moment for me is cross game chat and the fact that my friends are on it.

The only other thing which is console related is that nearly every game has custom BGM.

[GT-RRR]

Cross-Game Chat - Firmware Update

Custom Music - Firmware Update

Hell, 3D GAMING - Firmware Update!

Pretty much ANYTHING that is possible can be added to the PS3 via Firmware Updates, so in essence, nothing can touch the PS3 online AND offline.

[DanASBO]

"snip"

'kin idiot.

On topic: Most of that interview was pure marketing guff and the headline is misleading. Of course a pay service is better than a free one. The moment it's not XBLG will be free or PSN'll be chargeable.

[danight]

Pc is still better... live was built off pc ideas while psn was built off live...
wii just sucks in this dept. :D freaking friends codes.

[GT-RRR]

'kin idiot.

On topic: Most of that interview was pure marketing guff and the headline is misleading. Of course a pay service is better than a free one. The moment it's not XBLG will be free or PSN'll be chargeable.
So what's your explanation going to be once PSN surpasses XBL hmm?

The only things XBL has over PSN right now is cross-game chat (Firmware Update Capable) and a horrible interface.

[mannyman789]

what's even funnier is the only real feature they have over PSN, Cross game chat, is being TAKEN OUT in newer games...lol

[crypysmoker]

You know why noone can "touch" it...
Because they have a patent on every single bit of code running through it. So someone would basicly have to come up with an entirly new way to go about the online network.

[Anil8tr]

Cross-Game Chat - Firmware Update

Custom Music - Firmware Update

Hell, 3D GAMING - Firmware Update!

Pretty much ANYTHING that is possible can be added to the PS3 via Firmware Updates, so in essence, nothing can touch the PS3 online AND offline.

Since all of this is so easy, why hasn't Sony done it yet? It sounds very much like simple interface fixes. I know damn good and well they read, see and hear feedback from their PSN users. Some comments bring the same exact arguments to the table at how easy the things XBL has over PSN that could be benchmarked by Sony. Yet, does it not fall on deaf ears when they blatently dismiss it since the features have not seen the light of day in any of the (how many is that now I lost track of them) firmware updates.

In all honesty, I could really care less because I do so very little MP gaming on either console. If Sony hadn't lost Monster Hunter Tri, I'd be living on PSN on that game alone...but they did! You make it sound like a snap of their fingers and Sony could part the Red Sea. The PS3 is the only console not be hacked. I'm sure they are treading the waters lightly to not expose a vulnerability in their unhacked (ATM) firmware. So, they are being very stingy with anything they do with its firmware for the PS3.

[MadonnaProject]

Hmm....whatever.

[starwave]

yea i also know a number about 1million users that "cant touch us online" as well.;)

[QrafTee]

You know why noone can "touch" it...
Because they have a patent on every single bit of code running through it. So someone would basicly have to come up with an entirly new way to go about the online network.Pretty much, it's a very powerful strategy coming from Microsoft's camp. And guess what, it works.

I mean alternatively Nintendo and Sony could file an antitrust suit saying that these features are required to really compete with XBL... but then the court will just tell them to pay up for the rights to use it.

[sirxlaughs]

You know why noone can "touch" it...
Because they have a patent on every single bit of code running through it. So someone would basicly have to come up with an entirly new way to go about the online network.

PNS and Xbox Live work basically the same way. The main difference is the code in the consoles that offers various features to the user. Microsoft have patented their techniques. There are plenty of ways to implement what Microsoft has done, the trick is doing it just as efficiently. Microsoft has achieved some interesting things using a very small amount of memory on the 360 (32 MB, I believe).


Pretty much, it's a very powerful strategy coming from Microsoft's camp. And guess what, it works.

I mean alternatively Nintendo and Sony could file an antitrust suit saying that these features are required to really compete with XBL... but then the court will just tell them to pay up for the rights to use it.

Just about everything a company invents is patented. That's like saying Sony patenting what's in their TV's is a powerful strategy. It's a common sense strategy. You invent something. You protect your invention from copycats as much as you can.

[DEDDOA]

Cross-Game Chat - Firmware Update

Custom Music - Firmware Update

Hell, 3D GAMING - Firmware Update!

Pretty much ANYTHING that is possible can be added to the PS3 via Firmware Updates, so in essence, nothing can touch the PS3 online AND offline.

Getting the above right - many monthly firmware updates

Say what you will about the 360, the software is very robust and works well unlike the PS3 where it feels like a disjointed mess at times.

This is why I have always thought that MS and Sonu Should make the next console together, MS and there developer friendly software and console design to dev needs, and sony with their quickly reliable hardware.

If xbl gold was just for beta testing, early demo's etc then they would be able to backup that claim as opposed to making users pay for all the improvements over PSN

[Xenogears V]

No one can touch us online

After 1.5 milions ban consoles, Microsoft has touched many xboxlive accounts. F*ck MS.

[DEDDOA]

After 1.5 milions ban consoles, Microsoft has touched many xboxlive accounts. **** MS.

Hmmm so they should have allowed people to play illegally online, even your beloved Sony won't allow that, and if you or any of the other whiners about this were in MS's position, you would do the same. Actually I take that back, if any of the whiners were in MS's position they would go down the tubes as they seem to lack any sort of sense.

I don't get the halfwits who seem to think Sony is somhow some saintly company wheras MS is the devil incarnate, they are just as bad and good as each other but MS has one of the most charitable figureheads of any company.

[iLLNESS]

I don't get the ****wits who seem to think Sony is somhow some saintly company wheras MS is the devil incarnate, they are just as bad and good as each other but MS has one of the most charitable figureheads of any company.

i dont think anyone understands. but they sure are easy to pick out. most of them have some sort of red ring in their avatar or signature because they are original people.

either way, yeah psn has alot of the features live has. but they all suck in comparison. using ps3 online feels like im beta testing. owning a ps3 i feel like a beta tester. nothing on ps3 is perfect. everything is buggy and lags compared to 360. the only thing ps3 does better is plays movies. 360s movie player is ass. but then again, people who own 360s arent poor sumbitches who need to buy a game console and bluray player in one. may as well buy a vhs dvd combo. lol

and people who say cross gaming chat being taken out obviously have never used live. thats not whats happening. they are just making it so you cant be in a privatechat together on opposite teams.

atleast with live, you can send a gaming invite GUARANTEED on every damned 360 on live. no ifs ands or butts. ps3 thats bugged right out.

[lostn]

MS are desperate. This is the only card they can play. They don't have a big lineup of exclusives for this holiday season that they can compete with Sony's. If they did, they'd be listing those instead.

[grapeape]

MS are desperate. This is the only card they can play. They don't have a big lineup of exclusives for this holiday season that they can compete with Sony's. If they did, they'd be listing those instead.

Oh yea MS's so desperate that the only thing they can do is make comments on an industry magazine which is looked at by no one but developers and console fanboys.

I keep hearing this and if GT5, Heavy Rain and MAG weren't all delayed you might have a point. But seriously...

Playstation 3....
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
EyePet
(Japan) Final Fantasy XIII

Xbox 360....
Halo 3: ODST
Forza Motorsport 3
Left 4 Dead 2
GTA: Episodes from Liberty City

looks pretty even to me...both rather weak compared to last year IMHO.

[DEDDOA]

Oh yea MS's so desperate that the only thing they can do is make comments on an industry magazine which is looked at by no one but developers and console fanboys.

I keep hearing this and if GT5, Heavy Rain and MAG weren't all delayed you might have a point. But seriously...

Playstation 3....
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
EyePet
(Japan) Final Fantasy XIII

Xbox 360....
Halo 3: ODST
Forza Motorsport 3
Left 4 Dead 2
GTA: Episodes from Liberty City

looks pretty even to me...both rather weak compared to last year IMHO.

Aye, that had me for a momment, I thought I had missed some decent PS3 exclusive games other than uncharted 2, but no the PS3 is on a pretty even standing with it's average lineup this christmas, Personally I'd say uncharted 2 is the pick of the bunch there on both consoles (FF is no use to me in japanese, R&C bores me rigid, Um... no to eyepet, ODST is not my thing, Forza and L4D2 are fun for a blast, and all GTA games are tedious to the exreme) but got to agree, overall thats a pretty even lineup.

[jase1]

Personally I don't think XBL is better than PSN, this is all down to my personal preference. When I first bought the 360 I thought I could play on-line with the default acc, only to find out it tells me I need an gold acc, what is difference between silver & gold? ....you can play online.

WTF!

I thought it must throw in some free movies or some extra content or something!, but it doesn't. Sure the content is plentiful, it has to be because it's closed to the internet and its content is supplied to me, content I don't want pushed onto me, for example I don't listen or like rock music, so why would would I like to have rock band, guitar hero or brutal legends Tim Schafer interviews, features, content and other nonsense subject matter I don't like pushed onto to me?

But if you like this sort of content etc then at least I understand why it's good for you.

But for me XBL sucks balls, great big ones, one size doesn't suit all.

[GT-RRR]

Owning a ps3 i feel like a beta tester. nothing on ps3 is perfect. everything is buggy and lags compared to 360.
Is that why the PS3 is getting a 256-Player Online Exclusive game and the 360 isn't?


atleast with live, you can send a gaming invite GUARANTEED on every damned 360 on live. no ifs ands or butts. ps3 thats bugged right out.
My little brother plays Call of Duty pretty much 24/7 and whenever I see him play he can swap in-between multiple game-rooms with his friends pretty much ANY time he wants, saying this such statement means you just HAVEN'T actually used the PS3 online at all...

[jeffd]

i dont think anyone understands. but they sure are easy to pick out. most of them have some sort of red ring in their avatar or signature because they are original people.

either way, yeah psn has alot of the features live has. but they all suck in comparison. using ps3 online feels like im beta testing. owning a ps3 i feel like a beta tester. nothing on ps3 is perfect. everything is buggy and lags compared to 360. the only thing ps3 does better is plays movies. 360s movie player is ass. but then again, people who own 360s arent poor sumbitches who need to buy a game console and bluray player in one. may as well buy a vhs dvd combo. lol

and people who say cross gaming chat being taken out obviously have never used live. thats not whats happening. they are just making it so you cant be in a privatechat together on opposite teams.

atleast with live, you can send a gaming invite GUARANTEED on every damned 360 on live. no ifs ands or butts. ps3 thats bugged right out.


I've had a PS3 for a week, so maybe I'm a little biased here, but I think it's pretty awesome so far. Played it a couple hours every day due to having the last two weeks off, and while a lot of this stuff is just "fluff" like Home, it's still kind of cool or mess around on.

I have not had any problems getting online, joining games, inviting people to my games, watching movies (either DVDs or streamed DivX from my MC Pc that sits in my living room). The only thing I actually had a problem with was getting used to the PS3 Store.

To be honest, I feel Sony really fucked themselves with the entire arrogant $600 price tag, if the system had been competitively priced with the Xbox at the beginning, things might have been a lot different. As it stands, 90% of the games you can get on Xbox are on PS3 anyway, the online play is free, as is the onboard wireless .. so what I did was just grab a PS3 for online games and kept one of my 360s for offline stuff. And games like L4D 2 ... there is a large group of XLink players where I live, or I just hook up with some of my friends on Xlink, so not really missing a whole lot. Maybe game patches or DLC, but seriously, just wait 4 to 6 months for the imminent "Game of the Year" addition, ha ha!

Other than that, I am taking bets on exactly how far up iLLNESS's rectum the Microsoft meat-shaft actually is. I personally believe that it has penetrated his brain, and the syrupy Microsoft spooge acts as a subtle mind controlling substance, causing him to fly off on periodic and idiotic fainboish rants.