MASSIVE DAMAGE

Remember the days when online gaming consisted of playing on a dedicated server with a good connection? When map packs were free, or came included (in good number) with new gameplay features? When you could play in a server with 48 people with ease? When you could play a game without a bunch of kids shouting racial slurs and swears? Thankfully, there is no longer a need to worry about any of that, thanks to the wonderful Xbox Live.

Xbox Live has allowed a wonderful world where you can play a game with someone on the other side of the country using his 768k DSL line on his non-dedicated Xbox. Afterall, a ping less than 150 and some people may have trouble keeping up. Sure the entire game is only going on as long as he feels like playing, or his Xbox still functions; afterall, who needs redundant power, right? The best thing is, they are practically giving this service away. A mere $50 annually isn't too much to ask for to play in high ping unstable matches. Match making is a very heavy function for a server and it connection, I'm just glad that my 50 dollars is helping to handle this incredibly trying task.

Another great thing about Xbox Live is how companies are able to give new content to their customers for a price. Anyone can tell you, after you've played the same maps enough times 10 dollars for 3 maps, well, maybe 2 good ones, is fair. Afterall, I'm sure a great deal of company resources were spent to make those maps, as a matter of fact, I'll bet that they did what they could to reduce costs and passed the savings onto the consumer, 3 maps is a rather heavy financial burden on a company. Actually, it makes me think of all the people in the modding community that make maps and release them for free. They're just taking money away from the company, money that could be used for more games, and why make a total conversion mod of a game? If its worth doing the company will make it, and give me the pleasure of buying it from them.

Before the wonderful advent of VoIP people were reduced to typing out words and acronyms. When you're dodging bullets, this can be difficult without practice. Thankfully, VoIP was created, but it was limited in use, someone would have to host server, and only people with the right software (and an invitation) could join. Who would want to play a game, but only talk to friends or clanmates, you ask? Exactly, no one. Thankfully Valve got the ball rolling by putting integrated voicechat into all of their games, of course for this to work everyone would need a microphone, you can see the problem can't you? Microsoft had the foresight to give everyone microphones for free and make sure all the games have voicechat, even the ones not made by them. Remember, communication is important in battle, I'd much rather hear JMoney307 talk about how he got head from my mom last night than the footsteps of my enemy behind me any day.

Remember, whenever you pay to play with lag, get a few maps, and be insulted, just think of Xbox Live.

Thanks Xbox Live!

# posted by Don Roberto : 1:32 PM