Xbox Live Hits One Million Users

Thanks to Reuters for its news story revealing Microsoft's Xbox Live online service has reached one million users, additionally noting that "...more than 100 game titles can be played over Xbox Live, and it expects to see about 150 titles by the end of this year." The story also reports on some comparisons: "Microsoft said in a statement that it reached the 1 million mark for Xbox Live users three times faster than other subscription services, such as Time Warner Inc.'s AOL and TiVo Inc." This impending milestone was previously mentioned in an interview with Microsoft's Andre Vrignaud last month.

Comments

To MS

[SilentChris]

Congratulations. No, seriously. Mainstreaming online gaming is anything but a small feat. I have Xbox Live (along with PS2 online and play PC games online) and aside from Blizzard games, Xbox Live commands my most online gaming attention.

P.S. Don't screw this up.

If this is true

[superpulpsicle]

If this is true and not some M$ marketing BS, I'd seriously give them credit. Console online gaming is in need of some fuel for development.

I wonder

[LennyDotCom]

How many of those accounts were paid for and not included free with an xbox promotion Like the 3 1 year accounts that my family is using and won't be renewed when they expire.

Re:I wonder

[Captain Splendid]

Good point, bu this is about more than just money, it's about building an online community, and by all accounts they've done that very well. As Gabe from Penny-Arcade points out, it's a lot more user-friendly than Sony or Nintendo's offerings.

Microsoft should definitely get the credit for doing the job right in the area that's going to matter most for console gaming: online play.

Re:I wonder

[bigman2003]

While there are certainly some morons, assholes and annoyances on Live, I think the percentage is actually a lot lower than with on-line PC games.

Why?

Because your gamertag stays with you- and the gamers run the servers.

On a PC, if I want to be a jerk, I can run around like an ass, and piss people off. Tomorrow, I can come on with a different name, and attempt to be serious.

On Live, people will start to know you as an ass, and avoid you. Changing your gamertag is difficult (unless of course they ask you to change it!)

Also- most games on the PC are played on central servers. With Xbox Live, the games are hosted by one of the people playing the game. (Certain games like Rainbow Six 3 allow 'dedicated' servers, but that is a different story) So, the host has the ability to kick someone who is being a total ass.

I know that when I host a game I try to have fun, and let people play the way they want to play. But, if someone starts killing their own team-mates, or making racist remarks, or TRYING to annoy other people, they'll be gone in a second.

Hey, 9 year old kids can't help it, they're annoying- but it's not their fault, so what the hell, let them play. But some jerk out there who wants to scream into his mike the whole time, or call people stupid n&G^#r or something like that...that shit ends quick.

From your post, it seems as though you've never played on Live. It *IS* different from playing on a PC- in most ways, a lot better. Give it a try before you just assume that it sucks.

Re:I wonder

[bigman2003]

If you're only playing Rainbow 6, then how could you NOT renew your Live subscription?

Rainbow Six is one of the best, and the most popular Live games out right now. Every once in a while I try to play the single player campaign, and it usually takes 4 or 5 minutes before I quit that, and go back to some Team Survival.

Crimson Skies is just about the same thing. The game is *ok* single player- until you start playing Live- then it gets REALLY good.

Of course, maybe you are playing system link, and playing the cooperative missions. I guess that would be okay, but you are still playing against AI instead of the real thing.

Re:I wonder

[KeeperS]

Online play, the area that's going to matter most for console gaming? I certainly hope not.

This may seem like blasphemy to much of the Slashdot crowd, but I don't think that online play is the be-all-end-all of console gaming or even PC gaming. It's a nice feature, but I'd rather have a rock solid single player experience or a great local multiplayer experience. Dealing with random asshats over the internet isn't very much fun.

It's kind of interesting that there was a poll on GameFAQs about this recently. It's probably just as inaccurate as a Slashdot poll, but the gaming community seems sharply divided on how much weight online play has. It'd be even more interesting to see some real numbers on how many people actually play games online vs offline.

figures as in?

[Turn-X Alphonse]

1 million people, accounts, IPs logged or what?

Theres so many different ways to measure this.

Re:Its easy and fun

[Ayaress]

Easy, yes. But personally, I don't find it much fun. Penny-Arcade hit the nail on the head when they said that the people you meet on Xbox Live are complete and utter cockmongers.

It's no better on any of the online PC games I play online, but the microphone makes it ten times worse. Give an idiot a microphone, and they invent entirely new ways to be stupid.

not free then not going to pay

[jeremywjones.com]

I think online gaming is great. I used the free xbox live that came with it, but thats it. I am not going to pay $50 for a game and monthly fees just to play with others. I think the game prices should cover the fees of xbox live.

Re:not free then not going to pay

[bigman2003]

That's fine, and I'm not going to argue with you, and say you're dumb, or anything like that.

But, over the past 2 years I bought about 40 Xbox games. Most of them I've traded in, or given away after being finished with them.

The only exceptions are Xbox Live games.

Crimson Skies, Rainbow Six, Top Spin, Mechassualt...these are games that I can keep putting in to my Xbox, because there is always something new (different opponents). I'll probably hang onto these games until the next Xbox comes out, because it's just fun to play against other people.

Each of the games I mentioned (and other Live games that I can't think of right now) have had their playing hours tripled, quadrupled, or increase 10-20 times because of Live.

So is it worth $50 a year to take Crimson Skies from a 10-15 hour game, to a 150 hour game?

Yes...it is for me. And don't forget downloadable content. Splinter Cell, Armed & Dangerous, and many others have downloadable missions that make the original game much more valuable.

So, if you don't think that $4.17/month is worth it, that's okay. But for me, that $4.17 constitutes about half of my gaming (on Live). So I think it's a great value.

In other news,

[Inoshiro]

Nintendo is now up to 3 online games for the GameCube! You have a stunning array of choices, as long as you choose Phantasy Star Online Eps 1 and 2, Phantasy Star Online 3, or Phantasy Star Online Eps 1 and 2 plus!

This is why I have both a GameCube and an Xbox. Nintendo may make great games, but they sure as hell don't know how to establish a presence in a market that's fairly large and enjoyable.

Re:Its easy and fun

[bigman2003]

Simple answer- host your own games, and kick the cockmongers.

After a few rounds, the 'normal' gamers will stick with you, and all the losers will go elsewhere. Soon you'll find that you have a group of 16 fun people playing games together. Losers usually leave quick when they find out that their 'childish antics' aren't appreciated...especially if the host doesn't have a problem kicking them.

Free Alternative

[Inda]

XBConnect

Support for 50 games.

I don't pretend to understand the technology; I plugged a crossover cable between the XBOX and PC, installed the client on my PC and it just worked. Neat.

" Xbox Live Hits One Million Users"

[Anonymous Coward]

OUCH! That must've hurt.