Posts Tagged ‘feedback system’
September 27th, 2009 | 
Author: At one point in time, Microsoft with the Xbox 360 was the leader in online gaming for any console platform. For a while they offered what no other system did; a unified Friends list, video and voice chat, a superior online marketplace, and a stable online experience. Yet as time progresses we see other online gaming systems such as the Playstation 3 catching up to the Xbox 360; the lure of a Gold subscription starts to lose its appeal. With the Playstation 3 slowly reaching its full online potential and in these difficult economic times we are left wondering why we don’t yet have Free Xbox Live.
Lets do some comparisons here. We already know that Xbox Live touts some of the best online features. But what exactly are we paying for when we choose to buy the Xbox Live Gold subscription? To figure this out we must first subtract the features that are offered by Xbox Live Silver and also the features that the Playstation 3 offers for free. This would also show why we don’t yet have Free Xbox Live.
According to the official Xbox website, some of the Gold subscription features include:
1) Multiplayer games: Invite your friends into a multiplayer match and compete against each other or play co-op through expansive adventures.
2) Marketplace: Gold members get early and exclusive access to select game add-ons, demos, trailers, videos, and more.
3) TrueSkill matchmaking: For every ranked game you play, TrueSkill finds the best match for your skill level.
4) Parties: Invite a group of friends into an Xbox LIVE Party, then you can all join games and play and chat together.
5) Gamer feedback: Use the feedback system to select players you want to play with (or avoid) the next time you’re online.
6) Watch Netflix movies: Xbox LIVE Gold members who also belong to Netflix can watch Netflix’s extensive library of streaming movies and TV shows right on their console at no additional charge.
7) Gamer profile: Showcase your online reputation and achievements for your friends to see.
Avatar: Share the customized Avatar that represents your online identity.
So here we see some of the main selling points of a Xbox Live Gold subscription. However, points one, two, five, and seven can also be found on the Playstation 3 for free. Also, if we include Home on Playstation 3, then point 8 is not exclusive to Xbox Live and depending on who you ask Playstation 3 may have the upper hand in the Avatar department. As far as the Marketplace is concerned, Xbox Live Silver members can still access the Marketplace free of charge but they do not receive early access to some content. Now we are just left with points three, four, and six. Without factoring in other things such as the user base, we are mainly left paying for about three features that can’t be found on other online gaming services.
Three online features for $50 a year. While this may not be a large amount of money, is this price point really justified? Maybe this was the case back when Xbox Live was first introduced back in 2002 but I don’t feel that this argument can still be made when there are other competitors who offer some of the same features for free. Despite all of this, I don’t expect that gamers will receive free Xbox Live anytime soon. As long as users are willing to pay, Microsoft will continue to charge. Yet as the Playstation 3 continues to draw closer to the Xbox 360 in terms of online game play I can’t help but to question the service that I am being provided. Perhaps it is the time that we, the users, begin to expect just a little bit more out of our Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. Whether this comes in the form of a price cut or more online features, I think it’s time that Microsoft offers some sort of incentive for us to keep paying.
Learn the fastest and easiest method to receive Free Xbox Live Gold guaranteed!
Article Source: Why Xbox Live Isn’t Free
Sony PlayStation 3 is designed to fulfill all of your gaming pleasures especially with the right games. Here are the most popular upcoming games to watch out for!
NCAA 09 Basketball
Do you want some hard court action at home? If so then order for your own copy of NCAA 09 Basketball!
Formerly named as NCAA Mega March Madness, the latest installment to the series comes with a new game engine – the same one used in NBA Live – as well as an all-new dynasty mode where you can enjoy roster sharing and playing against online rival teams in an instant. Its coach feedback system gives you critical coaching instructions and add the presence of Division I coaches in the sidelines.
Wolfenstein
A first-person shooter game with single player and multiplayer modes, Wolfenstein is expected to have a 2009 release. News about the game came as far back as 2004 with a TechNews report.
Wolfenstein is set at the peak of WWII with the whole world suffering amidst the chaos and devastation caused by the Nazis. Although the Allied Forces are experiencing a slow and steady progress against the Third Reich, Nazi forces are still substantial. To save the world from far greater horrors, it’s up to OSS agent BJ Blazkowicz to eliminate the secret weapon of the Nazis: an occult force known only as the Black Sun.
Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon
The Path of the Furon is the third installment in the popular Destroy All Humans series. Set with a December 2008 release, the game has also been produced for Xbox 360.
The game takes place in the 1970’s, right after Destroy All Humans: Big Willy Unleashed.
You still take the role of Crpyto, an alien assigned to gather DNA samples, and face a new opponent. In the third installment, Crypto is now a casino owner and collects DNA samples from brainstems of his patrons. Trouble ensues, however, when his casino is attacked by Nexos, a strange cyborg race that represents a huge threat to his “normal” lifestyle.
Eternal Sonata
For true blue romantics, their excitement is probably focused on the anticipated release of Eternal Sonata in October 2008.
The protagonist of the game is a romantic himself, Frederic Chopin, a legendary pianist and composer in real life. Eternal Sonata is based on a fictional world that the romantic musician dreamt of in the remaining hours of his life (he had died at the young age of 39). Battles and attacks are based on the elements of Chopin’s music.
Playing NCAA Basketball 09 will be more fun if you have downloaded the most accurate NCAA Basketball 09 rosters. Learn what your options are.
Article Source: Most Popular Upcoming PS3 Games You Should Not Miss
NCAA 09 Basketball has been released last November 17, 2008 by EA to its eagerly awaiting fans. Is it everything it promises to be?
The Coach is Present!
Don’t you think that the sidelines are painfully bare without the presence of a coach? Haven’t you been entertained when you see a coach flying off the handle, jumping up and down, swearing, and maybe even scoring a technical foul? The presence of coaches definitely adds color to the NCAA but more importantly than that, they’re important sources of wisdom especially during crunch time.
With EA’s NCAA 09 Basketball, players are finally given the chance to work with NCAA Division I coaches. They’re not just there for show. Thanks to the real-time coach feedback system, a new gaming feature implemented for NCAA 09 Basketball, you can also receive critical feedback from coach and know when you’re not playing by his rules and getting the best out of your team.
With their presence, you’re able to maximize the strengths and minimize the weaknesses of your team. Is that great or is that great?
A More Realistic Feel
We fans want everything, don’t we? We know NCAA Basketball is essentially a game and therefore it can never render real-life situations completely, but nonetheless, we still complain and demand for improvements. Thankfully, however, EA is good at listening to its customers and this time, NCAA Basketball 09 comes with a more accurate level of responsiveness.
Taking into consideration the flaws found in NBA Live 09, EA producers made sure this time reactions are more accurate when it comes to ball handling, pick-and-rolls, and even rebounding. With this, NCAA 09 BAsketball has just gotten rougher, tougher, and better!
Responsiveness hasn’t been the only thing improved to add authenticity to the game. Another new feature you’ll find is NCAA 09 Basketball’s on-campus outdoor court practice. Can you practice outdoors and enjoy the adulation of your fellow students? Maybe…if weather permits because real-time weather conditions are also applicable to the game! Perhaps this is too much realism for you?
Scout Your Competition!
Scouting reports are still underestimated by many fans of the NCAA but its long-time devotees are aware of just how crucial scouting reports can be. EA producers know this, too, and that’s why they’ve incorporated scouting reports in NCAA 09 Basketball with the help of the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook.
The reports are surprisingly not run of the mill. They are impressive in the amount of data it provides as well as the accuracy of its information. They don’t just give you overall impressions of your opponents, but they give you detailed reports and suggest strategies on how you can best downplay an opponent’s strengths while exploiting its weaknesses.
All in all, NCAA 09 Basketball is a game that can transport real-life action to your TV screen so get your copy today!
Playing NCAA Basketball 09 will be more fun if you have downloaded the most accurate NCAA Basketball 09 rosters. Learn what your options are.
Article Source: EA’s NCAA 09 Basketball Game – Is It Worth Your Money?