[segadc]

http://gamerscoreblo...2/05/gh789.aspx

Quote

Dear Xbox LIVE Members,



On April 15 we will discontinue the Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox v1 games playable on Xbox 360 and Xbox Originals. I want to start by saying this isn’t a decision we made lightly, but after careful consideration, it is clear this will provide the greatest benefit to the Xbox LIVE community.



Seven years ago we laid out our vision for the connected console when we launched Xbox LIVE. We believed then that the power of the Internet to connect people would revolutionize living room entertainment. It started with amazing multiplayer games, and we’ve since seen that bet pay off again and again with the launches of Xbox 360, Marketplace, Netflix and powerful social features like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm. None of this would have been possible without the success of LIVE as a multiplayer gaming network.



There’s no greater example of the power of the Xbox LIVE community than the “Halo” franchise. “Halo 2” has had an amazing run on LIVE, with a dedicated community more than five years after launch and well into the next generation of consoles. It has fundamentally changed the way we play video games. And while it’s difficult to see that run come to an end, the “Halo” franchise continues to act as the benchmark for multiplayer gaming in this generation, with “Halo 3,” “Halo 3: ODST” and soon “Halo: Reach” on Xbox 360.



Your Xbox LIVE community has grown to 23 million strong. And as we look down the road, we’ll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360. To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games. We will contact the Xbox LIVE members directly impacted by this change and if this includes you, I encourage you to check your LIVE messages and associated e-mail account over the coming weeks for more details and opportunities. We view you as a partner in this process.



We’ll share more details soon, but in the meantime I want to assure you that the best is yet to come for Xbox LIVE. I believe we’ll look back on 2010 as a landmark year in gaming and home entertainment, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we have in store with “Project Natal” and LIVE. The LIVE community is the driving force behind everything we do, and it’s because of the community that ground-breaking experiences on Xbox continue to be possible.



See you on LIVE,



Marc Whitten

Gamertag - Notwen

www.twitter.com/notwen

[Red Ronin]

Ah... "Newton, spelled backwards" strikes again! Does this guy ever deliver good news? The only reason this isn't too bad news is that XBConnect and other options have been available for ages for most online or LAN capable games anyway.

The whole "We're doing you a favor, really... Try looking to the future, not the past" notion simply does not hold water though. I could not possibly care less about "...powerful social features like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm" in this realm of reality.

"And as we look down the road, we'll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360. To reach our aspiration, we need to make changes to the service that are incompatible with our original Xbox v1 games."

Yeah? Well, we shall see how that works out, shan't we?


Red Ronin

[whippingboy]

I just read about this on Joystiq as well: Link

I actually DO play some of the original Rainbow 6 games online- there are still people who play- the game looks much sharper on the 360 IMHO- and the grenade launchers alone are worth the price of admission.

This also finally puts a nail in the Line of Contact Steel Battalion online play- although rarely was anyone online as it was. Also kills Halo 2 ONLINE PLAY.

Most disheartening is Xbox Live is NOT DEDICATED SERVER BASED- so why the hell does this have to be done/?

Everyone is exited this means friends list limits will be increased (I could give a hang). Others hope live aware will become a reality- but let's be honest- M$ will probably limit this to Windows Mobile users anyway- so again- how's this help the MAJORITY ? Others say this is necessary for Natal - but I've no idea how Natal affects online infrastructure that is simply a peer to peer online system.

While most of us may not be playing Live Xbox 1 games online that much- it's still a huge loss. Only thing that could make up for it is REMOVE THE YEARLY FEE FOR XBOX LIVE MEMBERSHIP. If they did that- I think all the whiners of xbox1 online loss would quiet down... I know I would.

[Red Ronin]

Yep.


Red Ronin

[Team Andromeda]

I can't see the big deal , next to no one plays X-Box much these days , much less online

Quote

Only thing that could make up for it is REMOVE THE YEARLY FEE FOR XBOX LIVE MEMBERSHIP.

That will never happen (nor should it) as it's one of the few aera's of the X-Box project that makes money . I do wish that MS cut the sub fee in half , slashed to price for the HD in order for X-Box LIVE to really take off , and allow all those with out a 120 gig HD to buy one on the cheap and to enjoy LIVE at its fullest .

[drstan00]

I don't care too much about them turning it off for these old games, but I'm a little surprised by it. I hope the improvements they make to Live are worth any negative publicity this announcement caused. It would be nice to have some sort of integrated clan/group functionality added at some point.

[whippingboy]

Quote

I do wish that MS cut the sub fee in half ,

Hey TA- have you priced the sub cards online? Here in the US- we often get sales on Amazon.com for the retail 12month card between $35-39 USD and you don't have to pay tax or shipping. That's a savings of $10-15 USD before tax is applied at retail (in Los Angeles- that's close to an additional +$5 to the MSRP). I agree M$ should lower the MSRP- but no one should be paying the full price of subscription these days... I know I haven't for years.

[Team Andromeda]

whippingboy, on 12 February 2010 - 04:22 PM, said:

Hey TA- have you priced the sub cards online? Here in the US- we often get sales on Amazon.com for the retail 12month card between $35-39 USD and you don't have to pay tax or shipping. That's a savings of $10-15 USD before tax is applied at retail (in Los Angeles- that's close to an additional +$5 to the MSRP). I agree M$ should lower the MSRP- but no one should be paying the full price of subscription these days... I know I haven't for years.

Yeah I do , but I'm like you, a gamer , That's been one for years and knows all the tricks and what not , I'm thinking of people , who just buy a 360 or their games in the shops and so on .
Live should be cut in Half .... it's a brilliant service and MS deserve to charge for it , but its way way overpriced , same goes for the Hard Drive and Wirless Adp ECT.

I really don't know why MS asks so much for LIVE, and especially the Hard Drive/Wireless , when they're only hurting their Market share and the 360 user . If Live was cheaper (£15-20) and the 120 gig HD about 20 to £30
Then I would imagine, MS would see an much more bigger update of Live Gold subs , and make a mint, with users being able to buy for more content and films over Live (due to more storage space)
I just despair, that the so call business men in MS, can't see this. All it's doing ,is stoping more people using Live to it's fullest , and hurting the 360 fan imo

[Red Ronin]

Yeah, I'd much rather purchase extra hard drives than memory cards, if they are going to stick with the current form factor. It would be much easier though if you could just slide in your own 2.5" SATA drive, format it, and go. Is that option still available with the PS3 Slim?


Red Ronin

[Team Andromeda]

Red Ronin, on 13 February 2010 - 10:57 AM, said:

It would be much easier though if you could just slide in your own 2.5" SATA drive, format it, and go. Is that option still available with the PS3 Slim?

Yes you can still remove and replace the HD on the PS3 slim , you can also use all your USB Memory sticks , or even use a USB hard Drive - Which my mate does to give him over a Terabite of storage .
Bit of a spectacular own goal on MS part , given they more than most are a major force on the PC.

[Red Ronin]

Good! That's nice to know. Do the USB memory sticks or external hard drives used with PS3 have to be FAT 32 or a Linux format (EXT)? Can they be NTFS?


Red Ronin

[Team Andromeda]

Red Ronin, on 14 February 2010 - 02:59 AM, said:

Good! That's nice to know. Do the USB memory sticks or external hard drives used with PS3 have to be FAT 32 or a Linux format (EXT)? Can they be NTFS?


Red Ronin

only Fat 32 I think then the PS3 format the whole drive . Only downside is games and demo's must be installed on the internal HD , all the other stuff can go on the external and it works perfectly ,as that the same set up my mate uses . Its simple and easy to change the internal HD and you can back up all your data to a USB Memory stick ECT.
None of the bulls8t you get from MS and needing to request a transfer kit

This post has been edited by Team Andromeda: 14 February 2010 - 02:37 AM