I was talking with my wife earlier about Xbox live, in the context of getting it once I get NFL 2k5. We always talk about this, and then blow it off, mainly because I don't look forward to getting smoked by kids who are way better at these games than I am.
First of all, I'm surprised that they are estimating 150 games for Xbox live by the end of 2004. Does this count games with downloadable additions but no gameplay (I'm thinking Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)?
If you've ever had Xbox live, do you still have it? Is it worth the cost? Are you able to find people with skill levels close to your own, so that it is fun to play?
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On one hand, I enjoy the multiplayer stuff, and the downloadable content (most of which is free).
The tech stuff, however, leaves a lot to be desired. For one, I'm still having a problem with Rainbow Six 3. Nobody anywhere seems to know what the problem is, but I cannot hear anybody when I'm playing the game. They can hear me, though. It only seems to be for RS3, and only when I'm in game (lobby works fine). Tech support people say that it's a slow connection, but I think they're dirty liars, and I'm still trying to fix the problem. It might be an incompatible cable modem, so I would make sure your ISP is XBOX Live friendly. Mine says that they are, but I'm convinced that my cable company is owned by some 14 year old named Trevor who simply pirates the signal from the big guys.
I don't have any trouble finding people that are my skill level. Everybody, for the most part, is very friendly and helpful, and as long as you stay out of the hardcore rooms (you'll know who they are by looking at the menu) you'll be fine as a n00b, as the cool kids call it. Sure, you'll have some bad experiences every once and a while (I just had one with a particularly irritating 12 year old), but for the most part, it's a positive experience.
As for the number of games coming out, I belive they are counting downloadable content games and games like Ninja Gaiden that let you post scores online. The number of games with head to head stuff and voice chat is smaller, but is still a very good number.
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X-Box Live has the best online play in the world. It runs rings around PS2 and even PC games. I have never had problems with Rainbow Six 3. There isn't as many assholes as on the PS2 online. Hardly any cheating. And the voice chat can bring out elements in a game you never thought it possessed. It's not all roses of course. Especially with me being in Japan where there isn't a lot of Live users I sometimes have to deal with slow connections from the state. But I think it is worth it if not for this one little word and number. Halo 2.
I am like GZ. I got it, but constantly get smoked by teeny boppers in games like unreal and apmed 2, and by euros in top spin (I still have only played 1 person from America in Top Spin). That being said, it still is very fun. Not to mention the added benefit of improving at the game so when friends come over you smoke them. And if you are worried about the 14 year olds making fun of you, you can also play the "At least I can drive" blast (I would say drink or smoke, but they all say they do that anyways)
Lisa: They used it to settle fights at taverns Homer: She said tavern! I'm going to Moe's Marge: I never agreed to that rule
Not trying to hijack this thread, but I've been seeing this a bunch lately. "Up above" Seven is showing up twice in a row. In this case, one has a message X-Box Live has the best online play in the world. It runs rings around PS2 and even PC games. I have never had problems with Rainbow Six 3. There isn't as many assholes as on the PS2 online. Hardly any cheating. And the voice chat can bring out elements in a game you never thought it possessed. It's not all roses of course. Especially with me being in Japan where there isn't a lot of Live users I sometimes have to deal with slow connections from the state. But I think it is worth it if not for this one little word and number. Halo 2.
and the second shows as
(deleted by SeVen ™ on 12.6.04 0056)
In this case both "posts" show as 294/295.
I'm thinking I've seen an instant where the "second" post wasn't a deletion, but I'm somewhat suspicious of that memory.
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Originally posted by SirBubNorm But I think it is worth it if not for this one little word and number. Halo 2.
I can't say I'm a fan of this type of logic. I'm sure that Halo 2 will be great and all, but for now, to say that it alone is enough to justify joining Live seems a bit much. At least wait till the game is out to decide whether or not its worth the investment.
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Originally posted by SirBubNorm But I think it is worth it if not for this one little word and number. Halo 2.
I can't say I'm a fan of this type of logic. I'm sure that Halo 2 will be great and all, but for now, to say that it alone is enough to justify joining Live seems a bit much. At least wait till the game is out to decide whether or not its worth the investment.
Any other game and I would agree. But this is Halo 2. I don't have to wait to know it's going to rock. Like I don't have to wait to know the new Zelda game will be incredible. This is especially true since all the hands on impressions from E3 came out. There is enough info in those to let anyone (me at least) know that it will be well worth it. Either IGN or Gamespot said it would take an epic kinda disaster to ruin this game. And if you've played Halo over XBC you know the game works in an online forum. At the very least you shouldn't have any problems finding Halo 2 games online. And even if Halo 2 somehow isn't worth an investment, many consumers have already decided to make that investment. And many more will before it is released. Either way it will bring more players to Live, which is good no matter what.
I have Live, and though I haven't played it as much recently (bc Riddick is so freakin good) i'd say its worth it. I played around 100 or so Espn Nfl games last year. I'd say out of the first 25, 15 were against people who would cheat or exploit money plays or pause games, etc. But the 10 good ones were really fun, and from those 10 I found out other good people to play and after that I had no problems. This year Espn will have online leagues (Madden too?) which will be really cool.
Splinter Cell is the best game I've played on Live. I made a thread about it once so i won't repeat myself. It's easy to find good games of Rainbow 6 and Counterstrike. Doom 3 is coming with coop mode. And with Rallisport 2 and PGR 2, racing games are pretty well covered. I've never had any technical issues. It's just a matter of finding the right people to play with. My tag is Yakanator X and I have Splinter cell, Counter-strike, Rainbow 6, and PGR 2. It's fun. Get it.
Originally posted by SirBubNorm But I think it is worth it if not for this one little word and number. Halo 2.
I can't say I'm a fan of this type of logic. I'm sure that Halo 2 will be great and all, but for now, to say that it alone is enough to justify joining Live seems a bit much. At least wait till the game is out to decide whether or not its worth the investment.
Any other game and I would agree. But this is Halo 2. I don't have to wait to know it's going to rock. Like I don't have to wait to know the new Zelda game will be incredible. This is especially true since all the hands on impressions from E3 came out. There is enough info in those to let anyone (me at least) know that it will be well worth it. Either IGN or Gamespot said it would take an epic kinda disaster to ruin this game. And if you've played Halo over XBC you know the game works in an online forum. At the very least you shouldn't have any problems finding Halo 2 games online. And even if Halo 2 somehow isn't worth an investment, many consumers have already decided to make that investment. And many more will before it is released. Either way it will bring more players to Live, which is good no matter what.
I have Live, and though I haven't played it as much recently (bc Riddick is so freakin good) i'd say its worth it. I played around 100 or so Espn Nfl games last year. I'd say out of the first 25, 15 were against people who would cheat or exploit money plays or pause games, etc. But the 10 good ones were really fun, and from those 10 I found out other good people to play and after that I had no problems. This year Espn will have online leagues (Madden too?) which will be really cool.
Splinter Cell is the best game I've played on Live. I made a thread about it once so i won't repeat myself. It's easy to find good games of Rainbow 6 and Counterstrike. Doom 3 is coming with coop mode. And with Rallisport 2 and PGR 2, racing games are pretty well covered. I've never had any technical issues. It's just a matter of finding the right people to play with. My tag is Yakanator X and I have Splinter cell, Counter-strike, Rainbow 6, and PGR 2. It's fun. Get it.
Don't forget cheap bargain games such as Unreal Championship and Mechassault, very fun games. I also got Amped 2 and Top Spin and would highly recommend both!
Lisa: They used it to settle fights at taverns Homer: She said tavern! I'm going to Moe's Marge: I never agreed to that rule
I have XBL and love it...but I barely ever play it these days. Whenever I have free time for online gaming I seem to be sucked into Unreal Tournament 2004 (and more specifically the mods for it).
I can't play FPS games on XBL - Halo 2 excluded, since it was made specifically for a controller. But playing something like Rainbow Six 3...I dunno. I can't get used to it without a keyboard and mouse. I had the game, enjoyed the singleplayer mode, played online a few times, and sold it.
However, stuff like Crimson Skies and, if you have a decent group of people, Project Gotham 2 are entertaining as hell. Even the older freebie stuff like Tetris Worlds still gets a spin from me once in a while.
Like Roy alluded to, that "150 games" bit is padding on Microsoft's part. Online co-op/versus and downloadable content are perfectly valid uses (downloadable content being my personal fave, since it actually uses that huge-ass hard drive for something) but going by the stuff we get at my store, a lot (I'd even say close to the majority) of the "Live Enabled!!!!!" titles only use it for high score-ish stuff.
I guess it'd depend on how much you wind up using it. Personally, I'd shy away from getting it if there's only one game you're going to use it for unless you plan on playing the HELL out of that game. :)
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