Free multiplayer for silver Live members Comments by Robert Purchese

"Until then, we suggest taking advantage of the deal - although that entails buying the games, neither of which are very good."

Maybe that was Microsoft's plan all along...?

"For a limited time, we are offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross platform play," a representative explained. "This promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can."

The representative concluded that, "When the new Xbox experience launches this fall all multiplayer gaming on Xbox 360 will be for Gold members only."

From Shack Noos

Shadowrun is brilliant, fools.

Hmmm need to play some more Shadowrun.. what a kick ass game.

Shadowrun is pretty good if you buy it from a bargain bin.

How come EG haven't picked up on the full story like everyone else - i.e. it's a time limited offer?

MS screws up and turns it into a promotion. Hopefully one day they decide to make online play free full stop and don't have to worry about this rubbish.

online multiplayer should allways be free this is the sole reason i didnt buy in x360 and went ps3 .

There's a strategy involved in this promotion... Free Live could become a real possibility. About time too.

"These titles are Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault, and Lost Planet: Colonies...Make the most of the offer while you can, then - although that entails buying the games, neither of which are very good."

Ahem. Three games there, old chap.

Agree with Universe at War (it's pants), Shadowrun is okay, but Lost Planet is awesome!

I am more amazed that MS can unlock certain games... never seen that before in any SDK documentation. Nifty.

give em their first hit for free, then they are yours for life ...

Muftak, so you paid £100 more for a PS3 that is generally worse online than a 360 to save yourself £40. Clever lad.

SUNDANSS, Yeah, cause Blu-ray, Wifi and larger HDD don't come into the equation.

Dizzy, Wouldn't you be more amazed if they were all unlocked... ;o)

They should just keep them free. It's only the 3 games, it's not like people will unsubscribe, people wouldn't give up the ability to play CoD4, among others.

I'm the same as muftak, I focused on my (free) PS3 as soon as I got it, and traded it my 360 in the first week. No point in paying for something I get free now, and in my own experience equally good. Except Team Fortress 2, which is admitedlly far superior on 360 and PC.

But I digress, it's nice to open these games up to all, though who in their right mind would buy Shadowrun on 360 without Live Gold is beyond me. It's not ideal for the sinlge-player.

"promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to "... not bother

>SUNDANSS, Yeah, cause Blu-ray, Wifi and larger HDD don't come into the equation.

For games not really.

"Except Team Fortress 2, which is admitedlly far superior on 360 and PC. "

Hardly much better on 360. If there is one huge difference, it is between the console versions and PC with the automatic updates. AFAIK 360 still hasn't received the medic/pyro updates.

Well allow me to smugly polish my crystal ball.

Who was it, only last week, telling me this was NEVER going to happen? I don't just roll dice and make this shit up you know.

@APHIZM

"Time limited offer" is just another name for testing the water. I think MS are re-assessing their pay-to-play service, and this is part of that process.

PS3 version of Orange Box is awful, 360 is good and PC is by far the best.

What's next? WoW free? :)

Oh wait...

@SUNDANSS

40quid a year in which ive saved £120 on yearly subs and 50 on the wifi internet addon and problery having to buy 2 xbox's cause of the red ring so i reakon in the 3 years the 360 has been out ive saved myself min of £170 so whos the clever boy now then.

Shadowrun was really layered with subtle depth. To this day I fail to understand why so many reviewers seemed to hate it. The elf class equipped with a glider, teleport and a ninja sword was one of my favourite gaming experiences of last year. Yes it was counterstrike in new clothing but so what? It innovated and provided a really great team based multiplayer environment.

*teleports through wall*

*flys to ledge*

*stabs human through the heart with sword*

*teleports off*

>so whos the clever boy now then.

Hint: Still not you.

>To this day I fail to understand why so many reviewers seemed to hate it.

Because the Internet are a bunch of whiners and they all wanted their PRECIOUS Shadowrun RPG. Tossers.

having played both online on ps3 and xbox id say the 40 quid is money well spent on a much more stable platform

@Dizzy

im sorry does this conern you no it dosnt now go outside and play sonny will you


you can tell its the school holidays

>you can tell its the school holidays

Yeah.. you can. I think you didn't study very hard last year apparently.

Well allow me to smugly polish my crystal ball.

It wasn't me saying it wouldn't happen, but this is a very long way from free multiplayer which is what you were suggesting. It's just free MP for three specific titles. It will make an imperceptible difference to MS' revenue, unlike free multiplayer which would cost them millions.

Shadowrun is excellent. The review on here even says so.

But the review on here for Halo 3 gave it 10/10. And it's crap. I mean, even the comments said so!

"But the review on here for Halo 3 gave it 10/10. And it's crap. I mean, even the comments said so! "

Oh dear.. here we go again.

/ignore

paulf "having played both online on ps3 and xbox id say the 40 quid is money well spent on a much more stable platform "

Forgotten all the outages to the Live service already have we? I think you brain just farted.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/03/xbox-...

Live is about as reliable as the console itself.

"For games not really."

Ah, the old, "if it's not for games, it's not worth discussing" argument. I bore of that elitism bull. This is about price of hardware and the need of the consumer. Maybe that stuff isn't important to you and your gaming tastes, but that's ultimately your opinion and not fact.

@Carlo

Didn't that only happen once?

The online experience on the 360 is well considered, easy to match up / join in with friends, has good voice comms. I'm often left a little cold when trying to play online on the PS3.

I'd happily pay £40 a year for the same user experience on PS3 but we've been promised we won't have to, when home eventually arrives. Despite the ups and downs Live service has had, it IS the yardstick when it comes to online play.

"I mean, even the comments said so! "
wow! do you really take the coments for real? OMG!


please, please listen to me:
"Halo is the bestest!"

"Didn't that only happen once? "

In six years?

And with 2.40 still fresh in PS3 owners "minds" I'm surprised. Tsk.

"This is about price of hardware and the need of the consumer. Maybe that stuff isn't important to you and your gaming tastes, but that's ultimately your opinion and not fact. "

Maybe.. but it is called a GAMES Console.

Maybe if your tastes are broader or specific a Hummer with a build in Wii would be better value for money. Where are you going to draw the line? Hence the "for games" statement.

@Carlo

"Live is about as reliable as the console itself."

Have you actually used Xbox live? I will gladly keep paying for it as I think it is easily worth the money. Coming from online gaming on the PC which has always been free I would still rather pay and have use my 360 on live. I have tried PSN and yes it's free but it is also quite shit compared to live, it comes down to how much you like online gaming but you cannot say Xbox live is unreliable.

Dizzy, if people want the extra features then wjhat's wrong with them pointing out the value of them? People buy the PS3 for what it is, not what you believe a games console should be.

>People buy the PS3 for what it is, not what you believe a games console should be.

Fair enough.. but of course by that definition ANYTHING you buy is good value since you wanted it ;)

Exactly. Which is why I can appreciate that Xbox Live is good value for you, but terrible value from my perspective.

Lol you guys can make a fanboy console dicksize war out of any article...

It's actually quite impressive.

@ Carlo:
all the outages: 1 (and you got a game for free because of that). As your link shows.

"People buy the PS3 for what it is"
And what's that?

well im a 360 owner and generally happy with it but have always resented having to fork out £55 to go wireless and take it online (wired network connection wasn't feasible in my case). Blatant profiteering by MS - an outrageous price.

"Lol you guys can make a fanboy console dicksize war out of any article..."
The reason why "MS is da evil fascist company dudes" all popped up, is because the reasons to sustain why they are vilains are disapearing.

Maybe the dude that threw eggs at Balmer is among us. It's politics, not reason, imho.

imho

I hope that H stands for honest, not humble ;)

"People buy the PS3 for what it is"
And what's that?

Is that a serious question? If it is, I'd say for most people it's a games console with media functions, although for others it may be just a Blu-Ray player. Maybe for others it's just a gadget to show off to their friends. That was kind of my point, it is what you want it to be and you decide its value for money based on that. Xbox owners shouting that not everyone needs wi-fi or that Blu-Ray isn't needed for games really make no difference to those people for whom those features are worthwhile.

Edit: and just to make it clear, neither console offers for value for money for money for me, which is why I don't own one. As a PC gamer I get this all the time, with people saying it's a waste of money etc. Obviously, for me, a PC is good value for money or I would have bought a console a long time ago. But as usual, for EG comments threads, personal satisfaction is not enough, and we must all be shouted into submission by the herd.

GIVE US FREE ONLINE ON ALL GAMES FOREVER ON SILVER ACCOUNTS!