I think Sony and Nintendo's plans are FAR more stupid. For one reason. No server restrictions.
By allowing developers and publishers to set up their own online gaming systems, they will make it MUCH more complicated and MUCH more expensive.
XBox Live: $50 for a complete start up kit, including head set and one year of online play. $9.95 per year after that, play as much as you want of any XBox online game.
Nintendo and PS2: Game at your own risk. Each developer or publisher will have their own subsciption charges. You may find yourself spending over $50 a month for the right to play a couple great online games. Now for someone that owns 8 DVD players, price may not be an object, but in the real world it is. Cost is prohibitive, especially when you add gaming subscription costs on top of you standard internet connection. What will this mean to Sony's and PS2's online games? It means that their customers will most likely play only one online game at a time to avoid piling up the fees. This is not good for business.
Developers will put up with a slightly more difficult process if they think that thier game will sell better. Bottom line.
As for accessiblity... If the Dreamcast online was so bloody accessible to the public, why did most of the owners not use it and why is it basically dead? Answer: Most console gamers don't want to deal with a keyboard and mouse, thats why controllers were invented. If the keyboard and mouse system were ideal for everyone, they there wouldn't be controllers. Saying that most gamers find keyboards and mice more acceptable that controllers is like saying most wrestling fans would rather see Mitsuharu Misawa vs. Toshiaki Kawada and not Nash vs. Hogan. While keyboards and Misawa/Kawada may be better for the hardcore, console controllers and Nash/Hogan will always rule the masses. (Thats my obscure reference for the day)
Now would I like to see a keyboard and a mouse? Sure, why the hell not? I'd love to play Mechwarrior on the XBox (virtually impossible without a mouse/keyboard setup), but once again... NO ONE HAS PLAYED XBOX LIVE YET. AN OPINION MADE ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS IS INVALID, NOT APPLICABLE, UNEDUCATED AND IGNORANT.
Could it suck? Of course it could. It could revolutionize online console gaming also, as could Nintendo and PS2 online. We don't know yet because they haven't launched.
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