›

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register

Quick Links

General: Microsoft To Open Live Online For PCs

GFullsGFulls Member Posts: 478
in News & Features Discussion

Microsoft to open Live Online service to Vista PC gamers in May. Understand you must have the Vista operating system to use this service. Read up on the future of gaming and check out Bill Gates quote on "gaming anywhere."

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday said its Live online service, which has attracted 6 million Xbox 360 console gamers, will be open in May to PC gamers who use its new Windows Vista operating system.

The move comes nearly a year after Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said the company's vision was for "anywhere" gaming that would link video game consoles, cell phones and computers, and is a key step toward reaching that goal.

The PC version of Live will debut on May 8 with the launch of the Windows Vista version of "Halo 2," Microsoft's popular alien shooter game.

In June, Microsoft Game Studios will release "Shadowrun," the first game where Live will support competition between players on the Xbox 360 and PCs.

Live members will need just one account, whether they play on the Xbox 360, the PC, or both machines.

Microsoft offers two Live subscription levels. Silver membership is free and the Gold level, which includes cross-platform play and other multiplayer features, costs about $50 per year.

Microsoft's online gaming service has been a key selling point for its Xbox 360 video game console, which was released in November 2005 and competes with Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news).'s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co. Ltd.'s Wii for top billing in the $30 billion global video game market.

Read more here.

Comments

  • pallen_97pallen_97 Member Posts: 6
    Does anyone think that MS is going to pick up *any* PC-only gold subscribers?



    We can play 95% of all non-MMORPG's for free online, any time we want.  And there's free software that provides the same services that the Live Online Gold package has.  I can understand people that have X-Boxes being excited about this, but they already have their subscriptions...
  • NitrosEagleNitrosEagle Member Posts: 2
    So lets see...

    If we want to play with 360 owners we have to pay, but if we want to play with other PC users, its free? and there's absolutely no charge?

    Good..I guess..Ill be damned in hell if I buy gold to play with morons (its a steryotype I believe in, sue me)



    Also, this is just going to cause problems as the PC users easily beat the 360 owners in shooters and then the complaining begins over unfair advantages....ah well.
  • GlacianNexGlacianNex Member UncommonPosts: 654
    Originally posted by NitrosEagle

    So lets see...

    If we want to play with 360 owners we have to pay, but if we want to play with other PC users, its free? and there's absolutely no charge?

    Good..I guess..Ill be damned in hell if I buy gold to play with morons (its a steryotype I believe in, sue me)



    Also, this is just going to cause problems as the PC users easily beat the 360 owners in shooters and then the complaining begins over unfair advantages....ah well.
    It is the other way around. If you own 360 you have to pay.
  • Unknown

    I don't think its computer users are better then console users, but computer users do have several advantages. Like a mouse is much more reactive then a stick on a control, also computer users would have access to third party tools such as aim bots, or weapon respawn timers that might not run on a console.

  • ClassicstarClassicstar Member UncommonPosts: 2,697

    beginning of end free play MS will slowly own it all and if you dont pay no play.

    Do i want to play with console gamers hmm dont think so have you seen what games they play.

    Soon all concentrated towards fight game race games soccergames and some silly platform games tailor made for console users awkward controls will be awafull for pc gamers.

    Ms will force it upon us i say in about 5 years we have no freedom to choose pc gaming almost dead console rules:(

    Hope to build full AMD system RYZEN/VEGA/AM4!!!

    MB:Asus V De Luxe z77
    CPU:Intell Icore7 3770k
    GPU: AMD Fury X(waiting for BIG VEGA 10 or 11 HBM2?(bit unclear now))
    MEMORY:Corsair PLAT.DDR3 1866MHZ 16GB
    PSU:Corsair AX1200i
    OS:Windows 10 64bit

  • lorddeath101lorddeath101 Member UncommonPosts: 315
    i HAVE VISTA BETA AND I CAN PLAY WITH XBOX   WAHOO  .   I ALSO KNOW A TIME BUG THAT LET ME USE VISTA BEYOND JUNE 1 2007 .    FYI    I HAVE NOT TURN ON WIN VISTA UPDATE SO I WON'T BE RECEIVE THE PATCH THAT PREVENT ME FROM USING VISTA BEYOND  JUNE 1 2007
  • KremlikKremlik Member UncommonPosts: 716
    hmmm... I hope it IS free for PC to PC users, as with this I'm guessing AoC will end up on 'PC Live', I an't playing double to play a game and it certianly screws over the cross-server issue for an game wanting it

    Bring on the WARRRRGGHH!

  • project8sixproject8six Member Posts: 271
    vista sucks and MS is stupid. no one that games(PC) is gonna' get vista for a while because it sucks for gaming.

    eventually it will get better and dx10 yeah yeah.

    but for now its pretty lame.

    die. <3

  • HolyAvengerOneHolyAvengerOne Member UncommonPosts: 708
    Originally posted by project8six

    vista sucks and MS is stupid. no one that games(PC) is gonna' get vista for a while because it sucks for gaming.

    eventually it will get better and dx10 yeah yeah.

    but for now its pretty lame.


    QFT !!



    I wouldn't dare say it in these words, but basically, yeah, I agree.


  • CiredricCiredric Member Posts: 723

    Let's see Microsoft last good game on the PC was..........Oh yeah, that is right, they never had one.

    I am surprised that we have not seen a Wow killer from them....Oh yeah, their games division is game challenged...

  • LaserwulfLaserwulf Member Posts: 2
    Originally posted by Ciredric


    Let's see Microsoft last good game on the PC was..........Oh yeah, that is right, they never had one.
    I am surprised that we have not seen a Wow killer from them....Oh yeah, their games division is game challenged...
    I'm guessing you didn't care for any of the Age of Empires series? They're showing their age now, but when looked at as of when they came out, they weren't bad; 3 has some fun concepts in it, even if the basic gameplay is a bit stale. Also, Age of Mythology was fun, with its 3 factions having Starcraft-style differing strategies.



    Even though it was a niche game, Train Simulator was good for those of us who grew up with HO & O27 Lionel sets.



    MechCommander 2 was another innovative RTS, but I think it may have catered too much to the hardcore MechWarrior fans to receive the praise it was due.



    They may not be WoW killers, but Asheron's Call 1 and 2 had good runs. Apparently there are still folks that play 1, and to 2's credit, it tried to do something different than the Tolkien-esque humans/dwarves/elves/orcs fantasy stereotypes, and had an ongoing story that was updated monthly.





    (But then, is it fair to lump together the works of Ensemble, FASA, and Turbine, since they were simply added to the Microsoft Collective?)
Sign In or Register to comment.