What game? There might be differences. Anyway I don't know, perhaps it has to do with the other guy's connection. Bottom line, there's always something. But the Xbox Live was certainly easier to setup. On the other hand, I don't like the fact that you have to use a credit card. I know lots of people who don't have one. That's a bad call by MS - they could have sold it in the way you buy pre-paid cards or something. Let's also not forget though that the service costs are yearly. That still adds up. The extra cash over four years could have gotten yourself a PSP.
Some are. But some want to offer something extra in the online experience and can't. It's a bit like Windows - Microsoft can build core functions into Windows if they need it, others can't. The coders of Tony Hawk Underground had some great ideas that they could not pull off. Also Microsoft could collect statistics on what kind of gamers run which games and for EA that was a no-no as Microsoft was producing games that were competitors to EA. It is no wonder that the deal with MS includes cancelling that whole game division. And finally, developers have to pay for this service. This increases the financial risk for releasing a game. Combined that made enough publishers to keep out online in the Xbox version of a game. And by enough I mean piles.
But on the other hand I have said before that the Xbox Live service has certain very nice advantages. I'm also certain that some companies are glad with the services offered. But I was just balancing out the rather one sided article that was posted here.
They're not running a crappy service, but it took them a while to figure out how to code the online stuff properly. I do blame them for that, but they were also the first out there with online games. However, the Madden games are one of the most popular franchises in the U.S., so if you don't play them, that doesn't mean they don't count. NFSU did not suck online, btw Don't know why it did for you. I didn't play it, but I can list a fair number of people who liked it a lot (Mr.P for one, if I remember correclty). Maybe on Xbox as it was the first online game ever by EA for Xbox.
That's because it is very lowcost to enter some limited support. If you do it for Xbox, you have to really go for it or you won't get a return of investment.
So did microsoft. But they are well on their way now, after the EA settlement things are improving fast. Witness for instance PES4, which is only online on Xbox, or NFSU: Underground 2, which is now also online on Xbox.
On the other hand, when I started up F1 2004, that worked with my standard Control Panel username and password. The only extra thing I had to do compared to Live was enter that password. I also just got an upgrade for PS2 Online btw, a new software disc. I have no idea of the new features supported, but I do know that they are working towards the one username option.
Bottom line, I think both approaches have their merits. You pay for Xbox, but you get something extra. You don't pay for PS2, and you get the basics. In the end it depends on your own situation. If you don't have a credit card, money to spare, or want to drive a game like Race Driver 2 with a Force Feedback wheel, the PS2 is the way to go. The Xbox has other advantages ...
Like I said, I have both, and I'm happy with both. But I can see the flaws in both, and the article above seemed to me a little biased.
