Microsoft's European Xbox Live roll out gets underway today with the Internet service launching across eight countries. But despite the fact that the American giant is the first of the three main console manufacturers to establish network support on both sides of the Atlantic, its control over the system and management of subscriptions is putting off some major industry players.
This is the main concern of Eidos, who claim that Microsoft's intended monopoly over subscriptions leaves them with no incentive to collaborate.
"We're not supporting Xbox Live for the time being because we don't feel comfortable with Microsoft's business model - they own the consumer'', Eidos Chief Exec Mike McGarvey said last week. A spokesman for EA said merely, "We have no plans for online games with Xbox because we couldn't agree on the terms,''
So it seems that Microsoft's evil plans to take over the world have been mirrored in its latest venture - something that hasn't gone down too well with two of the bigger publishers. If this lack of support is to escalate, it may not bode well for Xbox Live in the future.
This is the main concern of Eidos, who claim that Microsoft's intended monopoly over subscriptions leaves them with no incentive to collaborate.
"We're not supporting Xbox Live for the time being because we don't feel comfortable with Microsoft's business model - they own the consumer'', Eidos Chief Exec Mike McGarvey said last week. A spokesman for EA said merely, "We have no plans for online games with Xbox because we couldn't agree on the terms,''
So it seems that Microsoft's evil plans to take over the world have been mirrored in its latest venture - something that hasn't gone down too well with two of the bigger publishers. If this lack of support is to escalate, it may not bode well for Xbox Live in the future.
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