PSN finally better than Xbox Live? – Devs think so
Playstation Network (PSN) and Xbox Live (XBL) have become the two dominant console services out there currently. Both services pretty much cater to the same audience, with the purpose of providing multiplayer capability. It is difficult to say if the Playstation Network is better than Xbox Live from a consumer perspective, but the developers seem to think so.
There is no doubt about it, even though the PS2 had free multiplayer capabilities early on, the original Xbox really brought the whole package together. Xbox Live popularized the concept of Achievements and an online store. However, with the current iteration of consoles there is no arguing that the gap has been narrowed.
Gamers can argue till they are blue in the face on which service is better – the PSN still lacks cross game chat and XBL still lacks dedicated servers. However, it seems developers are now voicing their opinions on which service is better for them. Recently, I wrote a story regarding the lack of the free Unreal Tournament III: Titan Pack due to the patch size limitation imposed by Microsoft. EPIC Games even had a dispute of sorts earlier on because of Microsoft’s unwillingness to give away free Gears of War maps to their loyal fans.
According to Casual Gaming, Creat’s executive producer Mikhail Glazyrin indicated that the PSN service was favorable in contrast with what else is out there. He stated, “The PSN platform has very few limitations, and it compares favorably to its rivals.” He also gushed over how supportive Sony is towards third party developers. Apparently Sony makes tools such as the Havok engine available for free to third party developers, helping studios make games for the PSN with a small budget.
The company is currently working on a title for Xbox Live and WiiWare as well. It is apparent that Sony has fewer limitations and restrictions when compared to Microsoft. It seems to have really allowed PSN to flourish in regards to original indie titles. Relaxing some of the limitations could be something Microsoft should be looking into to improve Xbox Live even more.
Related Posts:
80 Responses to “PSN finally better than Xbox Live? – Devs think so”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
March 17th, 2009
Erm… who is Creat?
And you’d have to be smoking pot if you think PSN is better than Xbox live. But then again, this is another FERRO post, where logic has no home…
March 17th, 2009
yes, lets attack the developers credibility because Microsoft clearly does not impose any heavy limitations on their services.
Where did I say PSN was better than XBL again..?
March 17th, 2009
ill say it 4ya then.. PSN is MUCH beta than XBL… by miles! u hav to f*ckin pay for XBL. PSN free free free free!!! everything is beta when its free… and ya can still play ya games online, same as XBL. got both consoles itsPSN all the way. BOSH!!!
March 17th, 2009
Alternatively, you could say in a bid to attract developers, Sony arent picky about who or what gets put on their service, ie lower quality standards.
You get what you pay for.
March 17th, 2009
*facepalm*
March 17th, 2009
For real, how is XBL better than PSN, play both all the time and I see not difference.
March 17th, 2009
I’ve gotta go with Simmons on this…Creat hasn’t had a 360 published game that I can find, and even their published games don’t look too great…
I like this whole Havok/Intel/Sony thing that may be going on….Intel own Havok…Intel rumoured to be in PS4…Intel to make Havok physics engine PS4 exclusive?
Tonnes of game use Havok software, like Halo and Fallout.
….that should start something.
March 17th, 2009
Noby Noby Boy. Enough said.
Keep your filthy cross game chat, whatever that is.
March 17th, 2009
XBL costs pennies per day.
If you’re really too tight/skint to pay that then maybe gaming isn’t for you.
Mike you asked “Where did I say PSN was better than XBL again..?”
I’d suggest the title is saying exactly that
(like as if you didn’t know and didn’t know the flaming effect of the post).
In fact the best you managed to come up with was ONE vague comment from someone that appears to be unknown in the Xbox world – “Creat’s executive producer Mikhail Glazyrin indicated that the PSN service was favorable in contrast with what else is out there.”
From what I’ve seen XBL is way ahead of PSN.
Still.
March 17th, 2009
@chillyfish
I guess you can say the same about MS! Ever hear of XNA? I’m so very sorry your Sony slam backfired.
March 17th, 2009
I hate biased people who make topics like this just to attract attention.
XBL and PSN are both good for consumers. XBL is more user friendly and organized. PSN offers less limitations to developers so the odd (and I mean odd) thing is free that isn’t on XBL. However I like the organized structure of XBL, that means we have standards they must meet. Such as voice chat. One of PSN’s biggest games (GT5: Prologue) doesn’t even have voice chat. So this unwillingness to have some sort of seamless integration is lost on PSN. XBL has created an online community, PSN has created some great games to play online like Warhawk and Killzone 2. I’d rather have continuity, even if it contains a small fee.
I play most of my games on XBL but I do enjoy a few PSN games like Warhawk and Killzone 2. The money isn’t really an issue for me. If it was I wouldn’t have paid more for a PS3 that plays virtually 90% of the same games as my cheaper Xbox 360 does. So on one hand I get a great community based service like XBL plus exclusives like Halo 3 and Gears 2 and on the other hand I get some great games like Killzone 2 and Warhawk plus a blu ray player.
It’s the best of both worlds, something the fanboys out there seem to neglect.
March 17th, 2009
Mike what a stupid post.
“PSN finally better than Xbox Live?”
“Where did I say PSN was better than XBL again..?”
March 17th, 2009
Remind me how the lack of dedicated servers are a bad thing for Live?? P2P is by far the more superior method.
Seriously this is an awful post
March 17th, 2009
Just because the PSN is free… does not mean that it is inferior to XBL. If you actually used the two services, you would realize that. Most people who pay the fee for XBL try and justify the cost by trying to make the case that XBL is in some way a better service… but it’s just propaganda. How can you seriously try to criticize Sony for providing the exact same service for free? Do you like paying M$ for no apparent reason? Do you like paying an extra fee just to be able to play your games online?
March 17th, 2009
“Cross Game Chat” has become the new Xbot defence mantra. It has replace “PS3 doesn’t have any games” for obvious reasons.
This too shall pass.
March 17th, 2009
Thank you Level Head. That was the best post I’ve seen in a long time.
March 17th, 2009
If I was Sony I would make it easy for developers to create a game. Hell, for something that is going to be that complicated to create a game on it better be free. Sony needs to attract developers by offering free because we all know the diffuliculties being voiced by the real developers about how hard it is to program a game for the PS3 But Mike you forgot XBL Community games. It’s also free and does the same thing. There is also a demo for every game on The community games plus whats on the arcade. Levelhead summed it up nicely by saying that it’s about standards. No one can just drop what ever they want on the system. They have to meet all the requirements which translates into to every 360 game, Arcade & Community games. So Mike don’t say developers when your only talking about a devoloper. Lets also not forget that a market research done by NDP said that the 360 is the most played console online compared to it’s rivals. The Wii came in second and the PS3 Third. So does this mean that Nintendo’s online is better then PS3’s? Mike like I’ve said before, Sony’s PS3 is becoming a 360 with every updated. I just wish Sony would do something great instead of copying. Home was a good waste of money but that seems to be trickling to amount to absolutely nothing.
March 17th, 2009
Regarding standards over freedom. That is a debate that could go on forever. Though there is no arguing that developers are very grateful for the freedom they are given by the PSN.
For me it is the paying for Xbox Live that stops me from picking up a 360. Sure, it may only be pennies a day, but if this generation is supposed to be sticking out longer than any before, I don’t want to pay for the whole of it. It all adds up.
Make Live free and I’ll sign up. In fact I’m sure a lot of people would.
March 17th, 2009
It’s been proven on blorge that all XBL users are pedophiles. I just don’t want to be affiliated with those kinds of people.
March 17th, 2009
As oppossed to the Homos running around in Home!!!
March 17th, 2009
Hey Barnabe, it that the qute little picture that you use to attrack little children online.
March 17th, 2009
New Famitsu has Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 coming out for the PS3 in the fall.
I like how slowly buy surely all the 360 games that matter to me find their way to the ps3. With all the improvements being made on this game it’ll probably rate higher than 360 ver. as well overall.
http://colt.twbbs.org/imgboard/src/1237277319012.jpg
March 17th, 2009
“If I was Sony I would make it easy for developers to create a game. Hell, for something that is going to be that complicated to create a game on it better be free. Sony needs to attract developers by offering free because we all know the diffuliculties being voiced by the real developers about how hard it is to program a game for the PS3 But Mike you forgot XBL Community games. ”
What the hell did you say?
That makes NO sense at all!
March 17th, 2009
lol I knew that would get a response. If running around with a bunch of other men doing the running man dance together is wrong… then I don’t want to be right. (joke – in case you couldn’t tell)
“If I was Sony I would make it easy for developers to create a game.”…. actually Sony gives developers the use of the Havok physics engine for free. This is one of the many perks that make developing games on the PSN more attractive to smaller developers with fewer resources.
See above article: “He also gushed over how supportive Sony is towards third party developers. Apparently Sony makes tools such as the Havok engine available for free to third party developers, helping studios make games for the PSN with a small budget.”
March 17th, 2009
Whats GAY about xbox live is that you get ads thrown at you unlike psn and home…sure home has ads in it but im not forced to “look” at them
March 17th, 2009
Also… Home is not the PSN. Home is a separate application, which runs on the network. I agree about the advertisements. I was amazed when I first saw that… what’s next pop-up adds trying to sell Viagra?
March 17th, 2009
Yes i know. It’s still lame.
March 17th, 2009
So what ads did you see because I have no idea what your talking about. All the adds I see are related to something free to download or a Movie on XBL. I don’t understand why being informed about things going on in the xbox community is a bad thing. If you talking Billboard or tv commericial ads then I have never seem anything like this.
March 17th, 2009
Barnabe Jones:
“Do you like paying M$ for no apparent reason? Do you like paying an extra fee just to be able to play your games online?”
But it isn’t for no reason.
I’d be careful if I was you, there’s no guarantee PSN is going to be ‘free’ forever.
I don’t mind paying pennies a day for a service that is rock solid and 100% reliable.
These ads you guys are talking about.
Where?
I’ve never seen any.
March 17th, 2009
There are ads. Even if they show content on XBL (which you need a gold subscription for) they are advertising to the Silver members.
My main point is that the PSN is 100% reliable. I’ve spent about an average of 20 hours a week for the past year and half… and I think I couldn’t get one once during a scheduled maintenance. 100% reliable and 100% free.
March 17th, 2009
GrumpyHockum,
“I’d be careful if I was you, there’s no guarantee PSN is going to be ‘free’ forever.”
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/4757.html
Sony says it will be. Of course, that doesn’t mean they can’t change their minds later. Either way, I won’t be paying for online multiplayer on ANY console. They charge a fee, I’ll just do without, thank you. I am grateful that their is such a great, free alternative to XBL though.
-Arvis
March 17th, 2009
Barnabe Jones
What ads?
I’ve never seen any. Ever.
Mind you I am a gold member (are you saying they have ads for silver members?).
As for the rest?
You’re hoping I and those like me are going to give a f*ck about something which costs me about £30.99 for 13 months = £2.38 a month = £0.55 per week.
($43US/$65.75AUS for 13 months = $3.34US/$5.05AUS a month = $0.77US/$1.17AUS)
Sorry but I couldn’t care less.
It’s just ridiculous that you or anyone else is working so gard trying to pretend that’s any big deal to anyone.
March 17th, 2009
Link to £30.99 13 mth XBL gold cards for those interested (also includes US & Aussie sales)
http://www.jasper1675.com/index.html
March 17th, 2009
They’re both pretty similar imo for us users imo.
Such a whole lot of wining/arguing over nothing.
As for the 30 notes a year. I won’t pay it out of principle. Ill be fucked if I’m forking over the money to have the privilege of playing online (the exception to this would be an mmo with persistent servers).
March 17th, 2009
Happy, it is a big deal to me, hence why I don’t own a 360.
I do like the feeling of ‘owning’ my gaming experience from the day I pick up my console.
Just because you have to pay does not make it a superior experience.
March 17th, 2009
“lol I knew that would get a response.”
Which is kind of the whole point of your agenda with such immature posts as typing M$ as opposed to MS and saying such meaningless crap like all XBL users are pedophiles. Do you even think before you post? It seems anyone with a keyboard now thinks they can say anything they want. The irony is you are no better than those on PSN and XBL who are also dip*****. Thankfully they are few and far between but they still want to speak louder and cruder so that somebody may actually take the time to respond. Now here we are doing just that. I guess this is your 15 minutes of fame or should I say shame.
At the end of the day all everybody should want is the best product possible but it seems all some want is one product to be better than the other. Anyways it’s become abundantly clear there are 2 sides. Those that can respond intellectually and those that can’t.
March 17th, 2009
“It seems anyone with a keyboard now thinks they can say anything they want.”
Umm they can. And will.
As for the paedophile thing, he was a referring to the topic of a previous post, which you were clearly not aware of.
March 18th, 2009
Barnabe Jones
Get your facts straight. The only difference between a Gold and Silver Membership is that gold allows you to play online. Your so delusional Stop making up lies like the Ads on XBL. Here are todays so called ads: Ninja Blade Demo, Halo Wars Demo, 12 Months of Gold $10 dollar savings, March Maddness offers, Download to win 8000 Points sweepstakes, Avtar Western Wear, Photo Party, 360 Prophecy episode 45, Wolfenstein Preview, Halo Wars Tactics Video, Halo Wars Tips, RE5 Interview with Major Nelson. Video of RE5 Launch Event, Halo Wars Launch Event. Plus all the movies in the Video Marketplace and the games in the games marketplace.
March 18th, 2009
That’s a lot of advertisements…
(I’m sorry, I could help but poke the angry bear that is CAD – teehehe)
March 18th, 2009
Royzy, im waiting for DWH to start yelling about the paedophile again… though not sure how much brain cells he has left after all these facepams…
btw this is just cold hard flame bait man… just look at the title…
and kev… PURPLE MONKEY DISHWASHER
March 18th, 2009
Does it matter? No. Not like you can run XBL on a PS3. Stupid premise in the first sentence, since we users get no choice.
March 18th, 2009
The headline PSN finally better than XBL ? is posing a question, not making a statement. The question mark at the end is the giveaway there…… Basic english skillz my friends.
March 18th, 2009
Spideydog
Oh come on.
It’s the lamest cop-out.
The question mark (and claims someone else said it, when they didn’t specifically anyways) is just to cover Mike’s very well deserved blushes.
March 18th, 2009
Levelhead, Yes I was purposely being inflammatory, but the pedophile reference was from a previous article that was posted a hiwle back. It was kind of an inside joke. I’m sure CAD got it. He may not have liked it… but he got it.
I think both services work equally well, offer there fair share of great exclusive games, and so on… XBL does offer a few nice additional services, but I don’t think it justifies the additional fee. Nintendo and Sony manage to provide free services – which is the way it should be. My main concern is that Sony and Nintendo will see a quick easy way to make a buck, and follow M$’s lead next gen.
March 18th, 2009
Also… doesn’t it kind of erk you that when developers create and release free demo’s… PSN users can play the same demo with out paying anything? The fee that you need to pay to play demos does not go to the developers the demo.
March 18th, 2009
You think with that extra money Live would at least have dedicated servers.
CON.
can you please explain how p2p servers are better?
March 18th, 2009
p2p ain’t as good as a2p in my opinion.
Oh sorry, you were talking about servers.
March 18th, 2009
Mike, so one developer under sony’s wing says it’s so and it’s “devS”…
one is now plural? nice job fanboy….
barnabe/royzy/dwh…this is for you…
http://www.thetechherald.com/article.php/200911/3220/Pedophile-uses-PlayStation-3-to-target-young-girl
March 18th, 2009
i think the fact more people choose to buy xbox live than take psn for free kinda proves you get what you pay for.
you can eat for free out of a dumpster, but i’d rather pay for the meal in the restaurant.
it’s no suprise the only one’s saying psn is better are those w/o xbox live….
ps3 fanboys are great entertainment…..
March 18th, 2009
phranc – p2p are better in that you will always have someone to play with.
servers are limited life. they can’t keep them running forever at their expense.
besides, what good are servers (GT) when you lack the basic features of p2p..ie; voice com in every game…
March 18th, 2009
royzy – “Though there is no arguing that developers are very grateful for the freedom they are given by the PSN.”
the fact more developers are making games for xbox live/xbla than the ps3 proves your point is hollow.
nice opinion tho.
the “grateful”ness of the developers is hindered by the obligation to pay for the servers out of their own budgets. not good when the economy is the way it is, the ps3 is failing, and the outlook looks bleak for the ps3…
March 18th, 2009
Key, You are showing us you know nothing about networking with the last two posts.
March 18th, 2009
Kev I ment.
March 18th, 2009
Barnabe Jones:
“Also… doesn’t it kind of erk you that when developers create and release free demo’s… PSN users can play the same demo with out paying anything? The fee that you need to pay to play demos does not go to the developers the demo.”
Well it’s pretty obvious that the fee does go to the devs (if indirectly) when Microsoft buy exclusive content or fund a timed exclusive release.
You’re still expecting me to gurn & whine (like you) over £0.55/$0.77US/$1.17AUS per week.
It’s laughable.
I get an excellent service with content & features that are not all on PSN.
I’m happy.
It seems to me to be a bit odd that you spend so much of your time bashing XBL’s tiny cost, but then I guess you have nothing else to moan about it with.
I wasn’t forced into anything. i could have stayed a silver user had I wished or not bothered with online at all.
I didn’t.
£0.55/$0.77US/$1.17AUS per week is nothing to me.
Obviously it’s a big deal to you.
Too bad.
How is the soup kitchen these days?
March 18th, 2009
“servers are limited life. they can’t keep them running forever at their expense.”
While it wouldn’t need to be as beefy as a ‘real’ server. There would still need to be some kind of ‘master’ server that clients connect to in order to ‘advertise’ thier game. Otherwise how would any 360 know that any other 360 is hosting a game.
March 18th, 2009
Meh forgot to add :
‘But that is what the fee is for’.
Fuckin’ early mornings.
March 18th, 2009
Well..I expected a stupid answer from CON and I instead got one from kev.
LOL…wow.
“p2p are better in that you will always have someone to play with.”
As opposed to what? Bots? wtf are you talking about?
“servers are limited life. they can’t keep them running forever at their expense.”
And this makes P2P better? That seems like a good time for p2p servers to pop up. Once the good servers are shut down. You do realize some games use both right?
In my P2P experience, the only time where its superior is when you are the host.
Imo it should only be used in 2 player games (sports/RE5…etc).
March 18th, 2009
S’funny how the PS3’s staunch fanclub leap to react to this one.
On the one hand they used to sneer down their noses (without a shred of evidence, naturally) that people were buying Xbox or Wii cos they couldn’t afford the PS3’s.
Now they expect everyone to fall in with their need to paint a price of £0.55/$0.77US/$1.17AUS per week as outrageous.
Very funny.
Consistent, much?
It’s the same deal with them & people buying the Wii (or Xbox).
They really just don’t get it.
In short it comes down to them baffles and asking the question
‘Why don’t more people like what I like’?
To bad they picked the wrong hoirse in this gen.
The PS3 is in deep troub (along with Sony) right now and there’s b**ger all sign of that changing any time soon.
The tanking economy will be hitting everything.
March 18th, 2009
“To bad they picked the wrong hoirse in this gen.”
I wasn’t aware we purchased our machines based on whos going to win ‘TeH c-nS0le3 W44444444RZZZZ’……… Its not a fuckin’ horse race.
The PS3 has plenty of good games and a free network, the 360 has plenty of good games and a network you have to pay a small fee to play online. Lots and lots of people are obivously ok with paying the small fee, so everyone is happy, no?
Great now we can all go to a BBQ!
March 18th, 2009
SW stop trying to bring any sort of sense to this punch & judy show.
You know very well (if only from the title) this is a knock-about thread.
Get with the program, fanboy!
March 18th, 2009
So you don’t want BBQ?
March 18th, 2009
SW,
You got ribs? I’m there.
-Arvis
March 18th, 2009
Got 12 in my chest right here. How do you want ‘em done?
March 18th, 2009
*12 pairs.
March 18th, 2009
I hope it’s British Beef you’ll be using SW.
March 18th, 2009
Nah, too much mad cow.
March 18th, 2009
Yeah, British girls are like that.
March 18th, 2009
Correct me if i’m wrong, but I am pretty sure that 360 has the option of dedicated servers also? From my understanding, don’t EA have servers for their games? And doesn’t Valve have servers for Left 4 Dead?
March 19th, 2009
I’m still waiting for that apology Kev….. you can dodge the other thread, but it can rear it’s ugly head elsewhere ……
March 19th, 2009
Ok, I think i got it here. I have ONLY a PS3, but my brother, friend and cousin have both.
They don’t pay to sign up for Live Gold. Really, the only thing that LIVE has over PSN at the moment, is cross-game chat, and a smoother method of replying back to texts/messages. To A LOT of people, $50 is NOT worth just those two features, to some it is.
Here is the thing though. This generation is expensive enough as it is, so “just” shelling out $50 bucks JUST to play online, can be too expensive. In fact, out of the 20million+ 360s out there, less than half are Gold subscribers…that says something..
Also, on top of this, those $50 DO NOT give you more stable servers, you get DC’d on LIVE about the same amount as you do on PSN, only you feel a bit more cheated since you paid $50 bucks.
Now, i’m not trying to knock LIVE, hell, we have LIVE to thank a PSN even exists (competition rules) it’s just it really only offers one feature over the PSN, cross-game chat, which Sony most likely has in the works
What will LIVE subscribers say then?
In terms of community, that is very subjective. Home IS PART of Sony’s PSN, and Home is usually PACKED with people in groups….its only getting started…ironically i really don’t use Home lol, so community for me, is pretty moot and not a feature worth $50 bucks over…again subjective…
I hope what im trying to say makes sense. Here goes the best example i can make.
Street Fighter 4. Both IDENTICAL ports on both 360 and PS3. Neither has a graphical edge, or a gameplay edge or a sound edge…what’s left? Let’s see who’s online is better.
Oh, wait..they are equal there as well. They both offer the same semi-stable servers. Neither has a quality advantage in terms of server stability. Online on PS3/360 is equal…but wait..
On the PS3 i just pop in the game and play online. On the 360 i pop in the game and…shoot, my Gold Subscription ran out, i got to make sure its renewed to bam $50 bucks EXTRA, just to make sure i can play other players online…
Thats the point. If the game is the exact same on both consoles, server quality is equal, then why pay $50 bucks?
March 19th, 2009
***i forgot to mention they don’t pay for LIVE Gold after seeing that the server quality is about the same as PSNs….
March 19th, 2009
“Ok, I think i got it here. I have ONLY a PS3, but my brother, friend and cousin have both.
They don’t pay to sign up for Live Gold. Really, the only thing that LIVE has over PSN at the moment, is cross-game chat, and a smoother method of replying back to texts/messages”
So Jojo29 if your friends don’t pay for it how do you even know. Your not crediable. Good effort though!!!
March 19th, 2009
CAD, i posted a rebuttle for that, read up one please, they don’t pay for it anymore….
March 19th, 2009
@CaD
Also, its a common known fact that PSN server stability = LIVE Gold stability, why don’t you address that fact instead of trying to attack me
Answer that.
March 19th, 2009
When you attack his 360, CAD turns into the incredible hulk and goes on a rampage across blorge.
You’ll do well to remember that.
March 19th, 2009
hehe, it wasn’t an attack, it is an honest to goodness comparison
March 19th, 2009
“Your not crediable”
Come on CAD, you’re being ironic right? Anyone who can’t even get the spelling and grammar right in a three word sentence surely isn’t in a position to accuse anyone else of lacking credibility?
Perhaps he’s green with envy of PSN haha
March 19th, 2009
not green, MS takes your green, probably another color…red?hehe
March 21st, 2009
“Where did I say PSN was better than XBL again..?”
You imply it in the damn title. “PSN finally better than Xbox Live?” Absolving bias with a question mark at the end. Yeah, that’s never been done.
March 23rd, 2009
apparently the devs of psn don’t think it’s so…
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/03/someone-pays-sony-charges-publishers-for-ps3-bandwidth.ars