Xbox live family plan this Nov $99.99

[MrFloopy]

But you have a standard monthly bill no matter how much or how little you use it , nor does it matter how much others use it .

You do actually remember your post don't you.

No I do not have the same bill each month, read my post.

My problem was paying for the same service twice. If I have 1 X-Box I can only use the online services for 24 hours a day. however if I have two seperate accounts then I am paying for two lots of 24hour service although I cannot use that much. Unless you are just being contrary I'm not sure what you don't understand about that?

Your paying not for the xbox or acess to the xbox. Your paying for acess to the online functions . So its tied to your gamer account.

Not sure where this stuff about accessing my X360 is coming from. I'm pretty sure it was implied that we are talking about XBox live gold membership right?

The problem is I cannot access two lots of online services at once yet I am paying for them.

You can play as much as you want on the 360. If you want to acess the server then each unique gamer tag pays for it.

I see nothing wrong with that

I cannot access it for the amount of time I am paying for it, I see something wrong with that.

Look, I'd be happy paying a small nominal fee for the massive cost of maintaining a seperate set of data for additional profiles, but since you don't have to pay for that on silver, MS are basically pricing that for free anyway, so it only becomes an issue about accessing multiplayer services. Since I cannot access two online services at the same time, why should I be paying for two?

I know why they expect me to pay for two and it's because MS is betting that people are willing to pay for it regardless of this situation, and I guess you prove they are right.

I just wont be one of those people.

 

[eastmen]

No I do not have the same bill each month, read my post.

My problem was paying for the same service twice. If I have 1 X-Box I can only use the online services for 24 hours a day. however if I have two seperate accounts then I am paying for two lots of 24hour service although I cannot use that much. Unless you are just being contrary I'm not sure what you don't understand about that?

I read your post and unless your telling me that your bill will shrink down to $0 a month when you don't turn on your tv , then your whole arguement against xbox live and why it should have a sliding price scale is invalid. Your going to pay a fixed price that wont go lower to keep your cable service active. It wont go lower than that price.

Do you or do you disagree that you have to pay a minimum price each month to keep your cable activated no matter what channels you use or if you even used your cable service ?

Not sure where this stuff about accessing my X360 is coming from. I'm pretty sure it was implied that we are talking about XBox live gold membership right?

The problem is I cannot access two lots of online services at once yet I am paying for them.

With a second xbox you can. As I said your paying for xbox live , You can both play the xbox at the same time with diffrent gamer tags and both get gamer scores. Just like with cable if someone wants to watch a diffrent channel than you they need to on another room with cable acess. Its the same with xbox live. Its the same with psn.

I cannot access it for the amount of time I am paying for it, I see something wrong with that.

Look, I'd be happy paying a small nominal fee for the massive cost of maintaining a seperate set of data for additional profiles, but since you don't have to pay for that on silver, MS are basically pricing that for free anyway, so it only becomes an issue about accessing multiplayer services. Since I cannot access two online services at the same time, why should I be paying for two?

I know why they expect me to pay for two and it's because MS is betting that people are willing to pay for it regardless of this situation, and I guess you prove they are right.

I just wont be one of those people.

You can't watch multiple tv channels at one time on a single tv either (well i guess picture and picture but its not optimal just like split screen halo isn't optimal either)

The point of the matter is that they have introduced a package for those with multiple users in a household. Now for the price of two people you can have four xbox live gold accounts .

Mabye it be wise for them to introduce a 2 person xbox live card. At $75 bucks . That way its only a $15 price increase for a couple to maintain thier accounts instead of an aditional $50.

However the 4 player planis a great step i the right direction. I will be moving onto that as I'm the one who has to keep my little cousins in line on xbox live.

 

[MrFloopy]

I read your post and unless your telling me that your bill will shrink down to $0 a month when you don't turn on your tv , then your whole arguement against xbox live and why it should have a sliding price scale is invalid. Your going to pay a fixed price that wont go lower to keep your cable service active. It wont go lower than that price.

Do you or do you disagree that you have to pay a minimum price each month to keep your cable activated no matter what channels you use or if you even used your cable service ?

Sure, but I have to pay a minimum price for keeping just 1 gold account too, and I have no problem with that.

With a second xbox you can. As I said your paying for xbox live , You can both play the xbox at the same time with diffrent gamer tags and both get gamer scores. Just like with cable if someone wants to watch a diffrent channel than you they need to on another room with cable acess. Its the same with xbox live. Its the same with psn.

But that's my point. I don't have a problem with paying twice for two 360's and I would for two seperate cable box's (although the additional box would only cost me 10% of the first one per month).

You can't watch multiple tv channels at one time on a single tv either (well i guess picture and picture but its not optimal just like split screen halo isn't optimal either)

but I can have ten people watch my cable at one time so..............

The point of the matter is that they have introduced a package for those with multiple users in a household. Now for the price of two people you can have four xbox live gold accounts .

Sure, it's a step in the right direction, but not good enough value for me yet.

Mabye it be wise for them to introduce a 2 person xbox live card. At $75 bucks . That way its only a $15 price increase for a couple to maintain thier accounts instead of an aditional $50.

However the 4 player planis a great step i the right direction. I will be moving onto that as I'm the one who has to keep my little cousins in line on xbox live.

I agree (how did it take that long for you to see my point )
It IS a step in the right direction (although again to compare to cable I think 10% per extra account is right).

The previous situation was terrible value for money. It meant since I don't play more than one player multiplayer at a time, that after the first account I was paying full gold price for the features of silver for each extra account. Can you see how that's doesn't seem like good value to me?

 

[goonergaz]

blah blah blah

lol, I can't believe you're bringing TV into this arguement - it's like a totally different ball game. In the UK I pay ~£20pm for TV and £5pm for each additional box...that's extra TV box that can watch any channels whilst I watch my channels. So, not only is it massively cheaper, it also means we can have 2 people watching what the want at the same time.

Here's another TV comparison for you (if that wasn't enough). XBL is a premium service, right? Well movies are a premium TV service. I don't watch many films on TV, so I chose not to subscribe to the monthly movie channel, however, I can still watch a massive selection of films via on demand which is chargable on a film by film basis.

Also I don't quite understand how you keep coming back to the way XBL is linked to your account. The PSN is exactly the same, my account is the main account - my CC details are on there and my family have sub accounts, each with their own friends lists, achievements (etc) and restrictions - be it what they are allowed to play online or if they are allowed to purchase things can be set up individually.

XBL does not run anything like these...either of these options would be much fairer than the current system in place IMHO.

 

[eastmen]

Sure, but I have to pay a minimum price for keeping just 1 gold account too, and I have no problem with that.

but you do because you said so in your post . You should go back and re read

But that's my point. I don't have a problem with paying twice for two 360's and I would for two seperate cable box's (although the additional box would only cost me 10% of the first one per month).

And with this new plan the additonal live accounts will cost you less , 1/4th the price of the single account plan.

but I can have ten people watch my cable at one time so..............

You can have 10 people watch you play xbox 360 also.

The previous situation was terrible value for money. It meant since I don't play more than one player multiplayer at a time, that after the first account I was paying full gold price for the features of silver for each extra account. Can you see how that's doesn't seem like good value to me?

If it wasn't a good value why pay for it ? Its obvous you got something from it or you wouldn't keep paying.

 

[NavNucST3]

I'm buying it. At one point I was paying retail for three now I'm down to two. Given that I have no intentions of letting my account or my sons account lapse the family plan only makes sense.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

Isn't this beating the same old drum that Sony has just announced can be thrown to the wayside?

Live is the Microsoft strategy for everything, far more than the actual console itself is. It is about a subscription based content delivery model. What is old is new again, and AOL must be kicking themselves. But with the launch of the PSN+ service, what you've got is an admission from Sony that the trend is towards subscription models, not away from them.

Oh, and all those companies that charged you $4 for a 2 day DVD rental went bankrupt because even us stupid Americans are able to do the math and realize if we're going to rent more than 2 movies a month, the Netflix monthly rate (cancel at any time) is a superior deal economically. Especially when you include all those ridiculous late fees that Blockbuster, etc were trying to charge.

The only problem I have with subscription services is when they charge outlandish cancellation fees, but that isn't the case here. You don't have to buy 1 year of Live if you don't want to. You can cancel your Netflix subscription at any time.

Hell, I wish Microsoft would just give away the consoles and games for free, along with Live.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Live is the Microsoft strategy for everything, far more than the actual console itself is. It is about a subscription based content delivery model. What is old is new again, and AOL must be kicking themselves. But with the launch of the PSN+ service, what you've got is an admission from Sony that the trend is towards subscription models, not away from them.

That's not strictly true. PSN+ is perhaps badly named, as what it really is is a bundle deal. It's a standalone additional service and that's nothing new in terms of subscription. When Sony roll out a subscription where you gain access to any and every game you want off PSN for a flat fee, then we'll have an admission that the subscription model is best, but until then it's business as usual with Sony, only with another option for consumers to consider in how they gain access to content.

 

[dobwal]

Value is relative.

I don't understand why we get into these circular arguments as if those on here who find value in a particular product/service is trying to buy that product/service with the money of those on here that don't find value with that product/service.

 

[corduroygt]

The hardrives were more expensive. But at the time the 120 gig drive came out , 120 gig laptop drives were still above $80. Add to the fact that on the xbox 360 its a simply click into its spot on the top of the console instead of the hoops you have to jump through on the ps3 and to me its a good deal. Yes I can easily instal the hardrive in a psp. However I know many who have no clue how to do it nor have the other required parts to get it down and back up the original data , while on the 360 its a simple process to do.

It's not as simple as you make it sound like, you still need the data transfer cable and besides it's only a one time deal. Still you think that's worth $100, and I definitely don't.

Even now the $100 for a 5ghz wireless N is not pricy esp considering its unavalible on any of the other systems.

Fail, here's a 5Ghz N bridge for under $50, and you can use it with any console or other device that has an ethernet port, as always, MS off customers and I vote with my wallet to not get ripped off

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wireless-N-Access-Bridge-WNHDE111/dp/B00126V3EI

Microsoft pricing is unuexcusable and undefendable from a non-investor standpoint.

 

[eastmen]

It's not as simple as you make it sound like, you still need the data transfer cable and besides it's only a one time deal. Still you think that's worth $100, and I definitely don't.

You get the cable with the 120 gig hardrive. Also when the 60 gig drive came out it was $100 with 3 months of xbox live ($20 ) and transfer cable. It may not be worth it to you for ease of instalation but bestbuy charges $50-$100 for a hardrive and os install.

Fail, here's a 5Ghz N bridge for under $50, and you can use it with any console or other device that has an ethernet port, as always, MS off customers and I vote with my wallet to not get ripped off

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wireless-N-Access-Bridge-WNHDE111/dp/B00126V3EI

Microsoft pricing is unuexcusable and undefendable from a non-investor standpoint.

Wait so there is a cheaper alternative that you can easily go buy ? Oh my god no way.

Oh wait thats huge , needs its own power connector and is only $25 less than what the wifi adapter is selling on amazon for.

Wow what an epic fail on ms's part

 

[corduroygt]

Oh wait thats huge , needs its own power connector and is only $25 less than what the wifi adapter is selling on amazon for.

Well, it's 50% less for a more capable device that can hook 2 consoles wirelessly to the internet at the same time. MS is always on the wrong side of the value equation, that's a fact.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

When Sony roll out a subscription where you gain access to any and every game you want off PSN for a flat fee, then we'll have an admission that the subscription model is best,

Does any service offer that model? Live doesn't offer any and all content for a flat fee. If I pay DirecTV for their highest premium package that supposedly includes "everything", I still have to pay extra for On-Demand movies. Netflix charges me a fixed fee, but that doesn't include all features. -Instant streaming only works on some of their catalog, that comes with DVDs through the mail rather than BR, etc.

Bottom line is that I can't think of any subscription service that offers service for a flat fee that doesn't also offer higher-tier, premium "on-offs". So there is no "any and all" content delivery service that I can think of in any entertainment sector. It's just a matter of cost of entry, services available at the entry cost, and the value of those services to the individual. The cost of entry for PSN and Live Silver are both free. The services available are different, but the differences in the services are weighted by the value to the individual.

I understand that some people want everything to be ala carte, because they don't use much of the functionality, so they don't want to perceive that they are paying for what they aren't using.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

MS is always on the wrong side of the value equation, that's a fact.

As is Porsche, Nike, Aquafina bottled water, Hanes boxer shorts, or any number of other products from manufacturers where generic alternatives are available.

Additionally, believe it or not, some consumers like the idea that buying like-branded merchandise from a single vendor gives them a single customer service point of contact. So they don't have to deal with Net-Gear customer service telling them it doesn't work because their xbox is faulty, or MS saying they can't help them connect to Live because their access point is unsupported.

Some people willing pay a premium for that. Call it "insurance", if you will. Others are too uninformed to even know of their choices. Some are knowledgeable and choose to "Self-insure" against those issues.

What does any of that have to do with the ability to form a "family group" and link 4 live accounts to one main account for an extremely discounted rate?

 

[MrFloopy]

but you do because you said so in your post . You should go back and re read

I know what I think, I really don't need you to explain it to me thanks.

And with this new plan the additonal live accounts will cost you less , 1/4th the price of the single account plan.

And I said it was a step in the right direction.

You can have 10 people watch you play xbox 360 also.

Oh dear. Anyone think I really need to even answer this one. Ok, so you are just being contrary.

If it wasn't a good value why pay for it ? Its obvous you got something from it or you wouldn't keep paying.

Um, I think I've made it pretty clear I haven't paid for more than one account and I've also said I don't mind paying for the one account I do have.

 

[Silent_Buddha]

Fail, here's a 5Ghz N bridge for under $50, and you can use it with any console or other device that has an ethernet port, as always, MS off customers and I vote with my wallet to not get ripped off

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wireless-N-Access-Bridge-WNHDE111/dp/B00126V3EI

Microsoft pricing is unuexcusable and undefendable from a non-investor standpoint.

I totally agree with you that both Sony and MS should remove the wireless connector to reduce cost and allow the consumer's that actually use it to choose what wireless connection they want.

Both Sony and MS are shafting their customers by forcing them at gunpoint to use only their wireless solutions.

People will pay for whatever they feel offers value. Noone is forcing anyone to buy the stuff.

People can also eat steak at home that is cheaper and better quality than what they can get in restaurants. Guess what? A lot of people still buy ridiculously overpriced food in restaurants. 10 dollars for a steak in a restaurant. OMG they are freaking ripping me off. Oh wait, I choose not to go there.

Get over it. If you don't want to buy it fine. But dear god stop whining about it OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again.

State your point like many others have that you don't like it and move on. Some people like it, some people don't.

I can't stand the fact that rather than lower the price of the console, both MS and Sony have forced the wireless on us. But I'm not going to sit here and whine about it until the world ends.

Regards,
SB

 

[corduroygt]

Get over it. If you don't want to buy it fine. But dear god stop whining about it OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again.

State your point like many others have that you don't like it and move on. Some people like it, some people don't.
Regards,
SB

I have no problem with people buying overpriced electronics because they like the user experience, I have an iphone for example But I'd never say that it's good value, because it isn't based on how much it costs Apple to make it, (including research, operating expenses, etc.) I bought it because I wanted it, simple as that. I just didn't want anyone to mistakenly believe that xbox accesories were ever good value.

I define better value as markup over cost. A Bugatti Veyron is excellent value because it costs about $4 million to make one and yet it sells for $1.5M. Using the same definition, anything more than $10/year for Live is poor value based on what it costs MS, but if you can't live without it, you won't care how much it costs and buy it, and that's FINE.

Point taken though, and I won't drag this any further.

 

[AzBat]

Point taken though, and I won't drag this any further.

Thank the lord. Back to the original topic...

I'm thinking that there is way more to this than the retail product they will be selling. Makes sense because not only will there be new owners of 360s that have never bought Live, but there is also large number of existing subscribers that want to use the new family settings too. I have a feeling you'll be able to use the "Family Center" to link all the members(including existing accounts) of your family to your primary billing account. I'm not convinced 4 GamerTags will be the limit. That's just the number of accounts that's included in the $99 bundle. Again, Major Nelson has promised some more details in his next podcast.

Tommy McClain

 

[goonergaz]

As is Porsche

lol, I don't think Porsche engines are made by Ford! What's special about the components inside the MS products other than they restrict you to only being usable on one item!?

 

[AzBat]

More details on Family Pack from Kotaku...

1) It could be free for you. Depends on the total value of what's left on your combined accounts. They will rollover whatever credit you have to the $99 plan. If you have more than the $99, then it's free, but they will also extend the length of the plan depending on how much credit you have over the $99.

2) The family plan currently only supports a max of 4 members. They are considering increasing it, but want to see how 4 does for now.

3) Here's a screenshot...



http://kotaku.com/5572764/xbox-360s-live-gold-family-plan-could-be-free-for-you

Tommy McClain