xbox 360 why charge

[smurfx420]

iv had my xbox for a while now and i love it i pay to play with my frends but a lot of them wounder why thay charge
for it . i tell them it takes a lot of work to run it and $40 dollors ant much but i guss thay wount something to say but my ? is why do you thank thay charge for it and should thay charge or should it be free

[plaguezombie]

You are going to charge your friends to play with you? Or did I misunderstand?

[liljp617]

What do you mean?

Are you asking why they charge for Xbox Live?

Because they're a corporation in a market based economy.  They provide a product that is created by skilled professionals and they have to pay those people (along with attempt to make a profit from the product).  Why should it be free when they know people will pay for it and they have costs to cover because of the production?

[OCBeachRat]

Why not just say what it really is ---  It's Microsoft trying to sqeeze every penny they can from the consumer .  I use a PS3 myself, and enjoy the fact that ALL online gaming is FREE.......  Why buy a video game and then have to pay to play online?  That's just plain ridiculous!

[liljp617]

Why not just say what it really is ---  It's Microsoft trying to sqeeze every penny they can from the consumer .  I use a PS3 myself, and enjoy the fact that ALL online gaming is FREE.......  Why buy a video game and then have to pay to play online?  That's just plain ridiculous!

If people pay for it in huge numbers, it's not squeezing people for every penny.  The price is what it is simply because the demand for the product is high, and the marginal benefit of the product is great.  If less people bought Live and started substituting PS3s for Xboxs, the price would go down.  You can't blame them for charging a specific price when there are substitutes for a product and people decide not to purchase those substitutes.  It's not like you don't get what you pay for...Live is clearly a great product or people wouldn't keep subscribing to it.

[yolandazwei1]

xbox what is the point. something is always coming out and people will go out and spend over 200 dollars for a new machine anyway.

[liljp617]

xbox what is the point. something is always coming out and people will go out and spend over 200 dollars for a new machine anyway.

What is the point in buying anything?  Why would you buy a big screen TV?  There are always new advancements being made in the TV industry.  Why would you buy any computer?  The minute you start up a brand new computer, it is outdated.  Why would you buy a car?  They are making more efficient, safer cars constantly.  Why would you buy new shoes?

Your logic implies people shouldn't buy anything beyond what is absolutely necessary to live.  And that is plain silly.

[PMZ908]

i got PS3 we get to pay onlne for free 

[AmyTrivitt]

My husband loves hes Xbox 360 although he has never played the live version he says its pointless to pay the money, when friends can just come over to the house and play along side with him.

[dexterjrh]

Someone had told me a few days ago, that playstation is coming out with ps4. Is this true

[PMZ908]

Someone had told me a few days ago, that playstation is coming out with ps4. Is this true

well on day there will be a ps4 but not anytime soon there also going to be a xbox1080

[shanesimms14]

Why not just say what it really is ---  It's Microsoft trying to sqeeze every penny they can from the consumer .  I use a PS3 myself, and enjoy the fact that ALL online gaming is FREE.......  Why buy a video game and then have to pay to play online?  That's just plain ridiculous!

I use Ps3 also and xbox 360 is jus ridiculously ripping you off for paid online play that most of the time is not stable. I suggest you try ps3 and look at the difference.

[lightstar240]

If people pay for it in huge numbers, it's not squeezing people for every penny.  The price is what it is simply because the demand for the product is high, and the marginal benefit of the product is great.  If less people bought Live and started substituting PS3s for Xboxs, the price would go down.  You can't blame them for charging a specific price when there are substitutes for a product and people decide not to purchase those substitutes.  It's not like you don't get what you pay for...Live is clearly a great product or people wouldn't keep subscribing to it.

True, but I think that Microsoft's stuff is way overpriced anyways. For example, a PS3 comes with:
80gb hard drive
Blu-Ray technology
HDMI cables
Built-in Wi-Fi
Headset
Big hard drive
Internet-ready
2 (I think) controllers
Total cost: $299
In addition, the PS3 has free online multiplayer,  several good game franchises, and the ability to surf the Internet and store stuff like music and videos. For all you know, I could be writing this on a PS3.

The Xbox 360 (standard edition) comes with:
60gb Hard Drive
1 controller
A crappy headset
And....nothing else?
Total cost: $299
Requiring you to buy
Extra controller:$60
Wireless Headset:$60
HDMI cables: $20-$30
Wi-Fi adapter: $100 (they've got to be joking)
That last one got me. I know for a fact this is true, but still. $100 for that, when in 5 minutes I just ran an Ethernet cable under the floor?
Total cost: $5.  Although, I had an unused hole in the floor that used to contain a cable line. Results may vary.
Grand Xbox total: around $550. Add that to the 40% failure rate (yes, that's a fact), the limited function of XBL, and the idiocy of Microsoft customer service, and I'm surprised they kept the brand alive. It probably wouldn't be if not for the Halo franchise and a few others. If they don't release Project Natal soon, I doubt it will.

[liljp617]

The question was why does XBox Live cost money.  The answer is that it is in high demand and does require maintenance and upkeep, which costs Microsoft money.  The fact that it's in high demand being the main reason it costs money.  This isn't a thread about the price of the 360, which might I add, is also at its current price because it was and still slightly is the highest demanded console on the market.

[fishpicnic]

WTF