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Microsoft is Screwing Up Live on Vista

Posted by Zonk on from the get-with-the-program dept.

Joe The Dragon wrote with a link to an ExtremeTech article lambasting Microsoft for its confusing rollout of the Live service on the PC. While the vision of achievements, a gamerscore, a consistent friends list, and one sprawling multiplayer network is tantalizing, the reality falls somewhat short of that goal. "The biggest mistake Microsoft is making with Live on the PC is the way they're treating the PC as if it's a console platform they can control. They're trying to lock out the rest of the world and to charge for features that PC gamers have had for free for ages. It's a shortsighted, greedy scheme that could only come from a product manager or VP who simply doesn't "get" PC gaming. The free Silver level of Xbox Live lets you log in on the PC and earn Achievements just like you do on the 360--but only single-player Achievements. Multiplayer Achievements are only for those $50-a-year Gold members. Player matchmaking is for Gold members only. Voice in games is for Gold members only. Cross-platform play between 360 and PC is for Gold members only. In fact, the only thing silver members can really do is view a server list and hop onto a specific server." Article author Jason Cross warns Microsoft at the end of the piece that it is 'not too late' to turn things around. Vista is still a young platform, and once driver issues are ironed out and Vista becomes the standard there are still opportunities for success.

6 of 114 comments (clear)

  1. ob by Bastard+of+Subhumani · · Score: 4, Funny

    What, right now? Which channel is it on?

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    Only three things are certain; death, taxes, and apocryphal quotations - Ben Franklin.
  2. Videocast? by u-bend · · Score: 5, Funny

    When I first saw this, I thought it was a videocast: "Watch MS screw up LIVE!!"

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    u-bend
    1. Re:Videocast? by Applekid · · Score: 4, Funny

      My first glance at it: "Microsoft is Screwing Up Life with Vista" ;)

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      More Twoson than Cupertino
  3. Bill Cosby by MyOtherUIDis3digits · · Score: 3, Funny

    A bit OT, I know, but every time I see a Vista story on Slashdot, I think of the line from Bill Cosby's act, "Let the beatings begin!"

    And I smile...

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    Ignore anything I said above, I actually agree with everything you believe - mod accordingly.
  4. Re:Is it just matchmaking? by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

    you won't be able to show off your e-penis.

    Well, you can always log onto Second Life for that.

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  5. Re:standard? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Does this mean no support for my Sound Blaster Live!?