Microsoft has put a lot of work into Xbox LIVE, and it certainly shows. Around the clock and around the globe, you can jump into any game at any time and nearly always find someone to play with. Plus, with the additions of Netflix and the soon-to-come Last.fm and Twitter integration, we’ve seen this simple service go from a convenient way of matching up gamers to something the whole family can enjoy. Unfortunately, it does cost $50 a year for a Gold Membership, and while many I’ve spoken with consider it a worthwhile investment, the latest news regarding the service has left a bad taste in our mouths. Over the past week, several announcements have been made about Microsoft bringing something new to the Xbox experience, something called Silverlight.
In a nutshell, Silverlight is Microsoft’s answer to Adobe’s Flash — a Web plug-in that anyone who’s watched a YouTube video or played a game in their browser is more than likely already familiar with. One of the most ubiquitous uses of Flash, however, is to drive advertisements. Silverlight, likewise, will offer advertisers a simple, cross-platform medium to connect to potential customers. These potential customers will be, of course, paid-in-full members of Xbox LIVE.
Needless to say, the news hasn’t gone over too well. Message boards and online forums have been aflame with angry gamers wondering just what in the heck they’re actually paying for when they log onto a service that is already rife with ads and then learn that, soon, there will be even more. This anger is understandable, but is it justified? We’ve already seen games with in-game advertising despite the game costing $59.99. Cable TV is extremely costly, yet there’s a commercial break every few minutes. The cost of a movie ticket just keeps going up, but you sit through commercial after commercial until the movie starts. Radio, magazines, billboards along the highway ... even the shirt on your back probably has a logo or brand name on it somewhere — and you paid for the privilege of wearing it! At this point, do we really reserve any right to complain about seeing more advertisements? Well, despite your view on the topic at hand, at some point, as a gamer, you’ll want to know about upcoming games and special deals on gaming-related products. More than likely, you’ll learn about them through, what else? Advertising.
Of course, in all the hoopla over advertising, a few points about Silverlight were left out. Like, for example, the fact that it’s actually a pretty neat technology that’s being used to do some innovative things. Shared Netflix viewing, for one, is a way for two LIVE members to watch the same movie at the same time in sync. Imagine something like “Mystery Science Theatre 3000” between you in Pennsylvania and your best friend California. It’s going to happen, and Silverlight will make it possible. Another enhancement is streaming video in 1080p with 5.1 surround sound. Want in on that? That’s what Silverlight is bringing to the table. Even so, the core audience remains skeptical. Promises that LIVE members won’t be spammed with constant, irrelevant ads and the possibility of seeing some really cool applications come down the pike don’t seem to be doing enough to settle the seething, roaring masses.
In a perfect world, Xbox LIVE would be completely free, and we’d never have to sit through another boring commercial again. Unfortunately, times are tough and people are trying to make a buck any way they can. Could it be that Microsoft just isn’t turning that much of a profit on LIVE? While we probably won’t be seeing major changes right away, the Silverlight enhancement is slated to be rolled out very soon. Of course, none of this affects you if don’t subscribe to LIVE or even connect your Xbox 360 to the Internet, but what fun is that?
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