Stifler
January 21st, 2007, 01:58 PM
<p>It has been a long time coming, but it’s finally done. I’ve been loyal subscriber to the Xbox Live service since the beta testing days. That’s a loyal subscriber, not a loyal or active gaming member. With my credit card locked and loaded into the original Xbox and Xbox 360, it was very easy for Microsoft to charge me with another year of the service when my annual subscription ran out. Every year when that time came, I vowed to actually get good used of the Xbox Live service and get my moneys worth. That would never happen, and I would go through stretches of several months where I wouldn’t log onto Xbox Live.</p>
<p>Just a few days ago Microsoft sent me an email notifying me that they would automatically renew my Xbox Live membership at the end of January. I ignored it at first, but it wasn’t long before I started to question my decision. Sure, shelling out another $59.99 for the entire year doesn’t sound so bad, but you begin to question your decision when only $10.00 of that $59.99 actually gets put to good use.</p>
<p>When it comes to the next-generation consoles, the Xbox 360 is backed by the Xbox Live service. It’s one of the key selling points, but unaware consumers are really lacking any kind of experience with the service. You’re definitely going to end up playing with someone you don’t like. It’s only a matter of time before it happens. While the service has so much potential, the actual game experience you get online can be portrayed as a flaw. To many, it can be overlooked. To some, it cannot. Then again, many gamers suggest only playing with those people on your friends list. That option isn’t always available to online gamers.</p>
<p>No matter what game experience you’ve had in recent times, the Xbox Live service has evolved into more than just playing games online. Were now at stage where we can head into the Xbox Live Marketplace and download arcade games, movie trailers, game trailers, game updates, television shows, and so much more. Yes, the service has evolved greatly as demands for more content has risen. With these great strides in the Xbox Live service, membership has hit new milestones.</p>
<p>With all these options and features at my fingertips, how could I possibly say no to the service anymore?</p>
<p>Whatever doubts I had were erased when I called up 1-800-4MY-XBOX and had a fairly lengthy conversation with a Microsoft employee that eventually cancelled my Xbox Live gold account.</p>
<p>At first I thought the man on the other end of the phone was going off a script, trying to convince me to keep my subscription going, but it wasn’t long before I would find out that we had quite a bit in common. In our conversation he told me he never had to deal with an Xbox Live beta tester ending their account, something that caught me off guard. Just a few minutes later I would discover that he too owned an Xbox 360, played the console in moderation, and wasn’t the greatest fan of playing games online after numerous disappointing experiences. At the end of our conversation we were both in agreement that the Xbox Live service is one of Microsoft’s biggest weapons in the console wars, but it has many glaring weaknesses.</p>
<p>The phone conversation left me convinced that I was making the best decision. While it’s quite obvious that many don’t share the same feelings towards the Xbox Live service like I do, I’m very confident is saying that Microsoft is going to have to do a heck of a lot more in getting me to dish out the dollars to subscribe again in the near future. I’m aware of what the present holds for the service, and I’m looked at what the future holds. The Xbox 360 has become a fixture for many households across the globe, but it’s not one in mine.</p>
<p>Label me as a person that is not interested in the console anymore. There might be a little truth to that statement, but I am very fond of the Xbox 360. I personally still can’t get enough out of games such as Fight Night Round 3, NHL 07, and Call of Duty 2. The interest level in specific titles, mostly sports, is still there. I can easily see myself buying an Xbox 360 game at some point in 2007, but I don’t know when. The Xbox 360 is wonderful to have around the house, but in the daily grind it lacks attention. Weekends provide the best opportunity to get away from it all where I can spend an hour or two and wind down. While the time is occasionally there, the Xbox 360 doesn’t always stand out.</p>
<p>To make things simple, you could break down Xbox 360 users into three simple categories: light, medium, and heavy users. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m a light user. I’ve gone months without laying a finger on the console and it doesn’t bother me one bit. However, there really has never been a moment where I’ve pondered the opportunity to put the console up for sale. I could still make some decent money on it, but I enjoy having it around. I love what it can do, and I love the future of the technology.</p>
<p>Just what am I going to do without a subscription to Xbox Live? Well… probably survive just fine. Microsoft will just turn me into a silver account user, limiting my access to numerous features and options on their service. I do, however, find it amusing that I can indulge in the Xbox Live Arcade and purchase as many titles as I want. Quite honestly, the silver subscription status, which is absolutely free, is exactly what I need. In so many words, it’s just smart business from Microsoft.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
</p>
<p>Just a few days ago Microsoft sent me an email notifying me that they would automatically renew my Xbox Live membership at the end of January. I ignored it at first, but it wasn’t long before I started to question my decision. Sure, shelling out another $59.99 for the entire year doesn’t sound so bad, but you begin to question your decision when only $10.00 of that $59.99 actually gets put to good use.</p>
<p>When it comes to the next-generation consoles, the Xbox 360 is backed by the Xbox Live service. It’s one of the key selling points, but unaware consumers are really lacking any kind of experience with the service. You’re definitely going to end up playing with someone you don’t like. It’s only a matter of time before it happens. While the service has so much potential, the actual game experience you get online can be portrayed as a flaw. To many, it can be overlooked. To some, it cannot. Then again, many gamers suggest only playing with those people on your friends list. That option isn’t always available to online gamers.</p>
<p>No matter what game experience you’ve had in recent times, the Xbox Live service has evolved into more than just playing games online. Were now at stage where we can head into the Xbox Live Marketplace and download arcade games, movie trailers, game trailers, game updates, television shows, and so much more. Yes, the service has evolved greatly as demands for more content has risen. With these great strides in the Xbox Live service, membership has hit new milestones.</p>
<p>With all these options and features at my fingertips, how could I possibly say no to the service anymore?</p>
<p>Whatever doubts I had were erased when I called up 1-800-4MY-XBOX and had a fairly lengthy conversation with a Microsoft employee that eventually cancelled my Xbox Live gold account.</p>
<p>At first I thought the man on the other end of the phone was going off a script, trying to convince me to keep my subscription going, but it wasn’t long before I would find out that we had quite a bit in common. In our conversation he told me he never had to deal with an Xbox Live beta tester ending their account, something that caught me off guard. Just a few minutes later I would discover that he too owned an Xbox 360, played the console in moderation, and wasn’t the greatest fan of playing games online after numerous disappointing experiences. At the end of our conversation we were both in agreement that the Xbox Live service is one of Microsoft’s biggest weapons in the console wars, but it has many glaring weaknesses.</p>
<p>The phone conversation left me convinced that I was making the best decision. While it’s quite obvious that many don’t share the same feelings towards the Xbox Live service like I do, I’m very confident is saying that Microsoft is going to have to do a heck of a lot more in getting me to dish out the dollars to subscribe again in the near future. I’m aware of what the present holds for the service, and I’m looked at what the future holds. The Xbox 360 has become a fixture for many households across the globe, but it’s not one in mine.</p>
<p>Label me as a person that is not interested in the console anymore. There might be a little truth to that statement, but I am very fond of the Xbox 360. I personally still can’t get enough out of games such as Fight Night Round 3, NHL 07, and Call of Duty 2. The interest level in specific titles, mostly sports, is still there. I can easily see myself buying an Xbox 360 game at some point in 2007, but I don’t know when. The Xbox 360 is wonderful to have around the house, but in the daily grind it lacks attention. Weekends provide the best opportunity to get away from it all where I can spend an hour or two and wind down. While the time is occasionally there, the Xbox 360 doesn’t always stand out.</p>
<p>To make things simple, you could break down Xbox 360 users into three simple categories: light, medium, and heavy users. There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m a light user. I’ve gone months without laying a finger on the console and it doesn’t bother me one bit. However, there really has never been a moment where I’ve pondered the opportunity to put the console up for sale. I could still make some decent money on it, but I enjoy having it around. I love what it can do, and I love the future of the technology.</p>
<p>Just what am I going to do without a subscription to Xbox Live? Well… probably survive just fine. Microsoft will just turn me into a silver account user, limiting my access to numerous features and options on their service. I do, however, find it amusing that I can indulge in the Xbox Live Arcade and purchase as many titles as I want. Quite honestly, the silver subscription status, which is absolutely free, is exactly what I need. In so many words, it’s just smart business from Microsoft.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
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