For $1 a week I'd say Live is pretty good value.
Strong service, with minimal crashes.
Access to Xbox Marketplace - Games, Music, Videos.
Free shows exclusive to Xbox
Free games
Free Demos
Time-Exclusive/Exclusive DLC (COD especially)
More dedicated servers coming (hopefully we get something decent in AUS)
Probably other things I've forgotten.
I dunno, I feel very comfortable parting with $1 a week for that.
Where's the tangible value though? There's a lot of tenuous items there that you have on the list that aren't actually physically proven in terms of dollar value. I'd like to also think that we're taking into account factual features, future stuff that hasn't been given just adds to the tenuous nature of this so called value.
Free demo's? Like you're really chucking that in the list? Same with XBOX Marketplace? These things shouldn't ever be anything BUT free.
Let's just - as I know everyone will instantly jump to the conclusion of - put PS+ in comparison.
Face_Plain just said he re-subscribed in the PS+ thread. Instantly for his $70 this is what he received (and next to them is current price based on EB Games' website):
- XCOM ($47)
- Kingdoms of Amalur ($23)
- ICO/SOTC Collection ($46 - used outside site, couldn't find on EB)
- LittleBigPlanet Karting ($48)
- Uncharted 3 ($38)
- Demon's Souls ($28)
- Catherine ($23)
- Lord of the Rings: War in the North ($23)
Total = $276
Right there I can put a genuine dollar amount on how much is being payed vs how much is being given back, and there's still 11 months on a subscription to run there, and I'm only including PS3 titles, not Vita or anything else related to the PS+ sub. This is a sign of actual tangible value and benefits, not tenuous links that you
may be getting for putting your money in.
Yes, getting timed DLC might be a nice perk, but it's not really offering tangible value as at the end of the day, everyone will still end up with the option to get it (and let's not forget, this is not free DLC either).
There's still no explanation of why already payed for services have to be put behind a pay wall too. If you already pay for Foxtel, NBA/NFL League Passes or any of the other services like those mentioned before why should you have to have XBL Gold to access what you already pay for?
If we want to go even further. Steam offers pretty much all of what you state for nothing too.