PC vs. Xbox in online play

Simul4ti0n · #1 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 05:42 AM

So, what's better? The Gamepad or the Keyboard + Mouse

Quote:

Recently, users of the Xbox Forums (via Kotaku) found they could play Shadowrun online on Xbox Live with a silver membership.

As word got around, other users were finding the same to be true for other cross platform titles such as Universe at War: Earth Assault and Lost Planet. Wondering what's up, we decided to contact Microsoft for their official statement.

To our surprise, it seems everything is as it should be. A representative from Microsoft wrote "for a limited time, Microsoft is offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross-platform play. This promotion won't last, so we can encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can." They also added that this promotion is an extension of their initiative of no longer requiring PC users to have a Windows-LIVE Gold membership to play multiplayer games.

We also asked Microsoft if this is any indication of Xbox Live pricing possibly being reduced. They reassured us that the service will not be going free, citing many of the features of Xbox Live (such as Netflix on the 360) and calling Xbox Live Gold "the best bargain in the industry." Such a bold statement is expected of the company providing the service, but in reality the consumers are the ones who decide such matters. So cross-platform online play is free for now, but is there enough to keep you coming back once the promotion is up?

Original Article Here:
It's PC vs. Xbox, Online, for Free - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

**YMAA** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 05:56 AM

I couldn't stand Shadowrun. Cross-platform is fun though.

**siraaron** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simul4ti0n

So, what's better? The Gamepad or the Keyboard + Mouse[/url]

I believe that niether one can be called better than the other. for instance I think it it easier and better to play fps games on the keyboard and mouse, but on the other hand i find it easier to play games such as legend of zelda on the gamepad.

**Clue69Less** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YMAA

I couldn't stand Shadowrun. Cross-platform is fun though.

Shadowrun got about an hour of play time in our house before reverting to the more popular titles. We certainly have gotten our money's worth out of our 360.

Simul4ti0n · #5 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 07:49 AM

You know what though, it's an age old debate since the console was invented. I don't think there is a winner, I think it depends on the person. I have seen some insane accuracy on both sides. Guys playing Halo on 360 can run around like chickens with no head and pull off 90% accuracy and numerous headshots. I've also seen keyboard and mouse guys do the same thing.

Anyway, I think it's cool that the 2 can play together.

**JKflipflop** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 08:12 AM

In ONLINE play, the PC utterly destroys everything else. XBL is $50 a year, and it's nothing more than a friends list and a matchmaking system. There are very, very few dedicated servers for any X360 games. Most of the time you connect to another guy's x360 that is connected to a 256k DSL line along with 12 other players.

You have that, Vs. a dual xeon dedicated server with 16 gigs of ram and a 100MB connection that ONLY hosts games, that you can play on along with 32 or 64 of your friends for free.

Simul4ti0n · #7 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:45 AM

LoL. That wasn't the point of the article. The point was that people playing on PC can play against Xbox360 users.

TechnologyCoordinator · #8 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:49 AM

I wonder if it's a level playing field or not. But it's still really cool!

**YMAA** · #9 (**permalink**) 07-30-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simul4ti0n

LoL. That wasn't the point of the article. The point was that people playing on PC can play against Xbox360 users.

It is a point of the article, indirectly. How many people miss headshots because of lag? It hits their neck or misses completely if a spike comes up because of the latency. PC players minimize that to some extent by connecting to dedicated servers.