XBL Silver: Let Them Download Cake
Maybe there’s a Marie Antoinette running the show at Xbox Live, since the rift between the obscenely rich (Gold members) and the lice-ridden poor (Silver members) seems to widen with each batch of new content. Opposable Thumbs over at Ars Technica points out the staggered access to the awesome new Gears of War trailer, which was released for download on XBL…for Gold members only. True, Major Nelson assures us that “Silver members WILL get access to this…probably in about a week,” but he also slips in a cautionary sales pitch:
This is going to happen more and more (Gold getting things before Silver) so you may want to think about upgrading if you want all the latest and greatest trailers, demos etc.
Gamer reactions have been mixed, with some understanding the mercantile nature of the beast and others afraid of an even further marginalization of the second-class Silver service. Penny Arcade’s Tycho thinks that maybe this strategy is less about strong-arming Silver members into an upgrade and more about convincing Gold members that they’re getting their money’s worth, but he also points out: “When you make people pony up for instant access to ads? They might get the impression that you are taking advantage of them.”
Right-o. Given other recent shenanigans over at Xbox Live and the strong impression left by our own microtransaction poll, I’m interested in how the situation develops. I know gamers who think a Gold membership is a prerequisite to owning an Xbox 360, and I have friends who could barely afford the box itself, let alone pay for pretty commercials.
What do you think, darlings? Does Marie get to keep her head or shall we shorten her a little bit?
Via Slashdot.
tiny dancer
Posted to Video Games on 29 October 2006
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: gold, silver, xbl, xbox, xbox live
If Microsoft doesn’t get its act straight, the only thing it has going for the 360 right now – XBOX Live – will come down in flames if the Wii’s and PS3’s live is indeed to be free….
Well I think Tycho is right , having to pay to get the “right” to see adds is ludicrous. Especially when you can see those same add for free on the internet.
I for one am completly sick of this microtransaction bullshit. And if the PS3 is better in this aspect, I will defenitly get rid of the 360.
Are you new to games? PS3 will be completely based on microtransactions… that is why it’s going to be “free”. Get informed before you post.