Xbox One

[Xboxsegafan187]

@rchbh yeah that's true to a point but IMO the real difference will be the x1 dedicated servers vs the PS4 (so far no news of dedicated servers) non dedicated servers. And don't misquote my statement about the cloud as I'm very skeptical about it and so far has nothing to do with dedicated servers.

So when players of both x1 and PS 4 play BF4, COD Ghosts, and other online multiplayer the difference between the two will be readily apparent. But we will see come end of Nov which one has a better service when it comes to "multiplayer".

[RCBH928]

Did the 360 have dedicated servers?
because we played on both, and I didn't notice any difference. Others switched from 360 -> PS3 no one complained that they had better online experience on the 360.

if PS4 is hosted on the user's console, why do we pay for the service?

[MrPopo]

Did the 360 have dedicated servers?
because we played on both, and I didn't notice any difference. Others switched from 360 -> PS3 no one complained that they had better online experience on the 360.

if PS4 is hosted on the user's console, why do we pay for the service?

The 360 did not have dedicated servers. Which was why I thought it was completely crap that they charged for Live; I can play a PC game on dedicated servers for free. I can understand paying for dedicated servers if they're expecting the overall volume to be huge (servers for an entire console, rather than a single game) but for peer-to-peer is just a ripoff.

As for why you're going to pay for the PS4's service, Microsoft demonstrated that the Console Gaming Peasants are willing to pay for online multiplayer; Sony's attempt to use free multiplayer was not enough of a selling point to convince people to choose the PS3 over the 360. So since they can't pick up sales by having free multiplayer then it only makes sense for Sony to start charging; that's a cash cow.

[Xboxsegafan187]

@RCBH as the ^poster already mentioned xbox 360 did not have dedicated servers and a few had dedicated servers ran by the publishers not Microsoft. Using anecdotal evidence to back up your bias claim that "other" people switched from xbox 360 to PS3 is not fact. It may be opinion but I can flip your statement and say that many PS3 users switched to Xbox 360 as my anecdotal evidence to back my bias claim. So who's statement is right you or me neither because we can not back both statements without meaningful data to suggest one or the other is correct.

If you can't tell the difference between Peer to Peer and Dedicated Servers well then too bad I guess because even though the difference may not appear to be apparent in the early run as you continue to play games I noticed a lot less lag and host advantage when I play YMMV.

But like I previously mentioned I haven't heard any details if any about Dedicated Servers being available at launch for the PS4. And the only thing that was mentioned was that Sony was going to let publishers and developers decide which and what game will have dedicated servers. while on the flip side Microsoft stated that it will have dedicated servers at launch for every game leaving publishers to work on other things instead of wondering if dedicated servers will be a question.

But we will see when the end of November comes around and see if there is or there is no difference between dedicated servers and peer to peer multiplayer. IMO the dedicated severs will be the difference between the two when it comes to multiplayer experience.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I know some people who chose PS3 because of free online multiplayer. While it may not have helped Sony outsell Microsoft in the US, it did contribute to their success. This is one less reason to by PS4 over the competition, really.

I still doubt charging will hurt them more than it helps them, especially if they're cheaper.

[ZenErik]

I already use PS+ for the free and discounted games. It being required for PS4 online games doesn't really affect me much as long as the free games and discounts continue for Vita, PS3, and PS4.

[RCBH928]

@Xboxegafan

As mentioned by Mr.PoPo , both didn't have dedicated servers so its only natural that no one noticed any difference.

I am not sure about the USA, but here people are dedicated to the Playstation brand. When the 360 was out many people purchased one with Xbox Live subscription . It was only natural that when their favorite brand, the playstation, was out people switched and the fact that it had free online was like adding Nitro into a race car. It had a rippling effect, as more and more people joined the Playstation group to play online, their friends who were stuck with the Xboxes didn't have any one on Xbox Live to play online so they made the switch to the ps3.

In 2007 when Gears of War was just released, it was an Xbox world. It has been couple of years since I heard people logging in Xbox Live to play. A friend of mine who got an Xbox 360 during a time when people were highly switching to ps3s , few months later he bought a ps3 and since then the 360 got not much use use.

Just trying to explain how the free online did actually help.

[ZeroAX]

As for why you're going to pay for the PS4's service, Microsoft demonstrated that the Console Gaming Peasants are willing to pay for online multiplayer; Sony's attempt to use free multiplayer was not enough of a selling point to convince people to choose the PS3 over the 360. So since they can't pick up sales by having free multiplayer then it only makes sense for Sony to start charging; that's a cash cow.

At least we are renting a bunch of games with that same package. It sweetens the bitter pill a bit.

[oxymoron]

As for why you're going to pay for the PS4's service, Microsoft demonstrated that the Console Gaming Peasants are willing to pay for online multiplayer; Sony's attempt to use free multiplayer was not enough of a selling point to convince people to choose the PS3 over the 360. So since they can't pick up sales by having free multiplayer then it only makes sense for Sony to start charging; that's a cash cow.

In all honesty the only reason I originally bought the PS3 over the Xbox was because I didn't have to pay for online. There's many more people that did exactly that. I wouldn't say i'm happy about them charging for online but that's just capitalism. They know for a lot of gamers atm it's PS4 or bust, so they'll be willing to pay up. Plus with all the discounts, free games and the online back up (which saved my ass a few times), its really is worth it.

[Violent By Design]

PSN gives you free games, so it pays for itself pretty quickly.