Comment Re:Observe the trends (Score 1) 453
If the history of the Internet is any guide, soon any company that is running "free" servers for PS2 online games is going to have the game be 75% advertisements and 25% content.
I really don't know which model will work. The advantage Microsoft gives is that the individual game companies don't have to pony up the cash to run their own servers. The game company probably won't get a dime from the online usage of their game (unless they decide to charge an additional fee for their games), but they won't have server expense. It gives game makers the additional option of making an online experience. The advantage Sony gives is that the game companies will get 100% of any online fees charged. This means Square gets all the money for PlayOnline charges from people playing Final Fantasy XI. However, this means that Square also has to pay for all the servers and maintanence. EA is the same way.
In the end, I don't think one will end up being cheaper than the other. I imagine most companies making PS2 games will charge for online content because the servers will be costly to run. Pay $10 for all your games or pay $3 for one, $3 for another one and $4 for another one. It's all the same.
I really don't know which model will work. The advantage Microsoft gives is that the individual game companies don't have to pony up the cash to run their own servers. The game company probably won't get a dime from the online usage of their game (unless they decide to charge an additional fee for their games), but they won't have server expense. It gives game makers the additional option of making an online experience. The advantage Sony gives is that the game companies will get 100% of any online fees charged. This means Square gets all the money for PlayOnline charges from people playing Final Fantasy XI. However, this means that Square also has to pay for all the servers and maintanence. EA is the same way.
In the end, I don't think one will end up being cheaper than the other. I imagine most companies making PS2 games will charge for online content because the servers will be costly to run. Pay $10 for all your games or pay $3 for one, $3 for another one and $4 for another one. It's all the same.
