Free Xbox games for the persuasive

You can see what Microsoft were thinking here.

"Anyone stupid and gullible enough to buy our evil corporate bile will probably have even more stupid and gullible friends. Possibly too stupid to read our propgoganda, probably not too stupid to accept being marketed to by their 'friends'."

"Now, how can we turn these people into (almost) unpaid Microsoft marketing drones. I know, we'll toss 'em a free game."

I mean, do the maths, dude! So far, Microsoft have spent £456,000,000 to get about 1,000,000 subscribers. So one game per subscriber marks a CONSIDERABLE cut in their per head acquisition costs.

I know plenty of guys who use LIVE and really enough it, personally i havent myself but thats just because i think its too expensive.

Its not a bad bonus for these guys to get free games for referrals though, afterall im sure plenty of people bought an XBox and other consoles on the strenght of a mates recommendation.

Quote:
I mean, do the maths, dude! So far, Microsoft have spent £456,000,000 to get about 1,000,000 subscribers. :End Quote

At least the money was well spent from the consumers point of view. Xbox Live is the ONLY console online service that is worth having.

Microsoft know that if they want to rule the console market like the do the PC OS with Windows, they must be better than the competition. They have managed it with the console, they have managed it with Live.


I think that if Microsoft were to monopolise the console market it would be a bad thing. Competition is good for the consumer.
Blindly defending an inferior machine or service because of a company name is just stupid.
Sony will only start to compete if everyone only buys the best products. Once their sales drop they will realise they cannot rely on their past reputation forever.

Dont let the company name fool you, because it does not matter, they are all are after the same thing. If not they will end up like Sega.

Well, kinda. They are all after money. But they are all after it in very different ways.

Microsoft don't give a dying duck about games, gamers or gaming. They just want to control the means of digital distribution. Xbox and Live are just tools to achieve this goal.

Sure, but Sony is after the hardware aspect, they don't give a flip about the consumers either they just want to have every vcr, dvd player, laptop, and sound system with the Sony name on it.

I agree with you.

BUT, I am a consumer, I don't give a dying duck about Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo or any of them. I just want the best.

The point I was trying to make was that over the past couple of years, Sony has got sloppy - they had the best console, the best name, the best games etc.etc. They rested on their laurels and now they are not the best. They have stood still while others have moved on. Their live service is pitiful and even though this is one of the main areas where the future console market will be won or lost, they are content to just offer a token service. I know for a fact that the PS3 will recitify this, but how many pepole will have already turned to Microsoft.

I have already upgraded to an Xbox because I have been upset by the apparent lack of commitment by Sony. Pro Evo, GT4 not online - its a crime. A lot of other people will not wait a couple more years to play online or with decent graphics either. Some will not go back to Sony. In fact most will not go back because, for whatever reason, Microsoft provide a better service, better console, and seem to listen to consumers.