Microsoft's game for windows: expects you to pay to play online

[rudedog]

OK, so Microsoft expects us (PC gamers) to pay to play games against console players? Yah right!

What's in it for us? Will this yearly fee cover our high speed servers? Will they guarantee fast low ping servers that we can customize? I'm guessing no.While Microsoft was quite quiet about Live for Windows Vista, today during a press event prior to the Game Developers Conference the company revealed to Game Informer Online the exact pricing structure for the service.

Live for Windows Vista will actually be the same exact price for Vista as it is for the Xbox 360. Just like with the Xbox 360 there will be a free Silver package as well as a Gold package which retails for $49.99 for a year subscription, $7.99 for one month, and $19.99 for three months.

Good news for gamers who already have an Xbox Live Gold Membership – you’ve already subscribed. Your Live membership works on the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Live for Windows. Your gamer tag and achievements will be used across both Xbox and Vista PCs. Upcoming Vista games like Halo 2 and some exclusive Vista casual games will include achievements and will be able to add to your gamer score.
- Source: Game Informer (http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/00401D0E-110B-4260-B579-46A1C89295FE.htm)

[rudedog]

I posted this in another forums and I think this

Now with all that said, I can see paying an extra 50 bucks a year if we get priority downloads for added PC content and demos. Just think of it as a Gamespy/IGN/fileplanet subscription with the added benefit of being able to play against console players.

And to add, if this helps keeping cheaters out them I'm up for paying an extra 50 buck but don't mess with my ability to setup a custom dedicated server!

[GaSplat]

I don't think I agree on that one. I just dropped Halo2 off my wish list. What next, MasterSargeant with product endorsement decals? At least I wouldn't have to pay extra for that. Sorry, but for $50 a year I want some very very serious upgrades and expansion packs. HL2 episodes are cheaper.

I thought the M$ spokesperson quote in this article (http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/2/19/7120) was very revealing. This article is out of date (no, PC gamers won't get free Gold Live), but their statement was revealing. It was a very honest admission of "screw 'em when we can". Just because people that bought a game console that traditionally had no practical on line capabilities felt it was ok to pony up more for on line play, does not mean PC users should now feel obliged to pony up. But apparently they don't want to mess with the Xbox Live revenue stream, so they are going to try and get PC owners to pay a subscription for the "privilege" of playing on line.

Sure hope EA doesn't try to get on that band wagon with MOH:A. If they do, then one can only hope Valve and Unreal 3 stay away from the dark side.

[Dirtynap]

Well its no surprise to me.

I hope they do it like this:
You pay for your account and you can rent a server. or own a server yourself that can be hooked up to the Live network. Those giving admins the ability to modify the game experience and boot out players that are just a pain in the ****.

I fear though it will be like this:
You pay you membership, then you connect to microsfot servers which you have zero control over. Then you play stock, with no admins around to keep an eye on all the players.

Either way time will tell and Halo 2 will be a big test, although alot of people that will buy Halo 2 will get the Xbox version even though they own a PC.

[RaDioAcTivE]

I can just see it now. Pay to connect to my own server that I pay extra for the licensing fee to run a game that I can't change the settings for. All that and the extra added bonus of playing ported console games on the pc for the rest of my life.

[Ghost Dog]

And to add, if this helps keeping cheaters out them I'm up for paying an extra 50 buck but don't mess with my ability to setup a custom dedicated server!You won't need to cheat when gaming from a pc, the advantage over the Xbox 360 controller is big enough :D . I hope for the sake of console gaming that you can filter out servers with pc gamers... but then again I couldn't care less about online console gaming.

Mods all the way! Screw stock gaming!