Xbox Online (1 Viewer)

[Dan B]

I just read this in the article at the NY Times

On Monday, the company plans to announce that it will begin consumer tests of Xbox Live this summer with a one-year subscription and a headset, for $49, that will enable Xbox owners with high-speed Internet connections to compete and converse with one another online.

I expect we will by hearing a lot about Xbox Live tomorrow at the press conference & later this week at E3. What do you guys think? $50 a year is a fair price, IMO. (unless they mean that the headset alone is $50) What about the headset & lack of keyboard & mouse. Can you even get broadband in your area? I CANT. I'm in a very rural area. Thoughts?
-Dan

 

[Dan B]

I guess that price could be for the beta test only.

How do you feel about $10 a month?

-Dan

talks to himself in real life, too

 

[Dean Cooper]

I wouldn't mind spending 10 bucks a month, turns in to 17 for me once you convert. I think they will have some type of deal where it’s more expensive for a shorter commitment. Something like $15 a month or $120 for a year...we’ll soon find out I guess

There is a lot of cool tools to use with the communicator that will make a keyboard and mouse extra baggage you don't need. If I wanted to play with those I'd play a game on my PC. I'm looking forward to talking instead of missing half of what’s said because I'm looking at the keyboard to type.

Dean

 

[Carl Johnson]

If the deal is $49 for a one year membership then it sounds great. Is it known exactly how the X Box will go online? I've got cable internet access in my library, it would be great if all I have to do is run a seperate cable from the modem to my home theater.

 

[Dave F]

I kind of wish that the communication was via text, rather than voice. I prefer the anonymity that it provides - it's more fun if you don't know the age or gender of the person you are playing with (unless it comes up in conversation, and even then there is the matter of trust).

-Dave

 

[Dan B]

Dave, that's where the voice morphing comes into play. They plan to let you morph your voice to disguise your identity or let you sound like Darth Vader if you wish.

-Dan

 

[Dan B]

Ooh, here's a tasty morsel of information at Xen Gamers.
EDIT the new & working URL is linked now
I've officially caught E3 fever.
-Dan

 

[Carl Johnson]

I tried that link Dan, got a "Content Item not found" error message.

 

[Dan B]

Hmm, maybe they removed it temporarily. Try back later. (I'll see if I have it in my temp files)

 

[Kelley_B]

Check these pics out:
Panzer Dragoon Orta
Doom III
I am so excited for Doom III, worst thing is if you look at the sign it says 2003 :frowning: I was really hoping for a late 2002 release.
I wonder how much it would cost to get that PDO sign...its pretty cool and I love PD...but still Doom III, man I cannot wait to hear some news about that bad boy.

 

[Dan Brecher]

Can you even get broadband in your area? I CANT. I'm in a very rural area.

Me too. I'd assume Microsoft's online plans would hit Britain by Christmas, but broadband rollout in the UK is such a complete and utter mess I don't expect I could have access to it even then.
Dan

 

[Dave F]

I heard about the whole voice morphing thing, but that just sounds even worse. Kinda like using the default taunts in Unreal Tournament - it's just kinda cheesy.

-Dave

 

[Dan B]

That article I linked to at Xen Gamers must have been put up early. I should have copied it after all, even though it was 3 pages long. :rolleyes
Dave, I have reservations about the voice communication, too. Is the technology up to snuff?
Anywhooo...TechTV has a 30 minute E3 highlights program on tonight. Tech Live @ 7:30 & repeated at 10:30...that's on DirecTv central time so check your local listings. I assume it may cover the press conference. I believe they will cover Sony & Nintendo's tomorrow & continue to cover E3 this week.
-Dan

 

[Morgan Jolley]

Unlimited online play for as many games as are available for less than $5 a month? Thats pretty damn good.

 

[Dave E H]

If that's the pricing scheme, count me in. I will NOT do it if it costs per game. Just ding me once and don't bother me again for a year.

 

[BrianB]

There's lots of conflicting rumours flying around... Like an initial (limited!) roll-out of the headset + one year sub for $49, with later subs at $10 a month.

I can't honestly see publishers being keen at effectively $5 a month...

The XBox media gig is coming up in an hour or two, so all will be revealed I'm sure.

 

[Larry Seno Jr.]

At $50 a YEAR (Originally said month) Im TOTALLY in. At $10 a month, Im out. I plan on paying $10 a month for that star wars game, and $50 a year is worth it to have access to the kind of servers that Sega provided, assuming they dont move to the shitty Sega pricing scheme. I saw a VERY cool show on ESPN about Sports Video Games, and they had Matt Hasselback and Peyton Manning playing fever on the x-box and it looked VERY smooth, the voice communication looked very smooth, and they had no issues with lag whatsoever. Fever looks a lot like Gameday when it first came out, with a league, I'm in as I will only be buying games that work on the broadband network when it comes to sports, my friends just aren't ready to make the kind of commitment that I need Here's hoping that Microsoft integrates a GOOD league system into NFL fever, so that you can sign up on one central computer and it will track stats, shit that has me excited.

 

[Dan B]

The article is back up at Xen Gamers at this new url:
http://www.xengamers.com/sections/news/7414

 

[Michael St. Clair]

I've thought for a long time that $10 a month was the 'magic number' for online console gaming; I personally was willing to go as high as $15 but I don't see nearly as many people falling in line.
This is encouraging, but now let's see some more developer support. And I do mean some quality racing titles.
Edit: teamxbox.com says Rallisport is among future online games....

 

[Larry Seno Jr.]

I know for a fact that NFL Fever will be online this fall as well.