Xfire and Sony gang-up on Xbox Live
by Ed Stasick 
{ Sep 12th 2006 at 7:45PM }
We all know that Xbox Live has had a huge head-start in the online console gaming market. Now comes news that Sony is looking to jump-start their PlayStation Network Platform for the PS3 by bringing in some re-enforcements:
According to Viacom's 2nd quarter earnings conference call, "Xfire just signed a deal with Sony to create a version of their platform for the new PS3, which will now enable Xfire to extend its reach further into the huge console gaming market." Xfire is a tool that automatically keeps track of when and where gamers are playing games online and lets their friends join them easily.
There are pros and cons to this news. On the positive side, we know that we're going to get some tried and true online gaming technology right out of the gate with the PS3. More concerning is the thought that Sony is so far behind in their online strategy that they've had to create a patchwork solution that resembles some sort of online Frankenstein rather than the seamless experience we would like.
I suspect that this is a temporary solution and that 12 to 18 months from now the Xfire technology will be removed as Sony brings in their proprietary framework (we know that they love their proprietary stuff!). Of course, only time will tell...
[Via Gamespot]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aragorn @ Sep 12th 2006 7:58PM
Before we get into the Xbox Live vs PS3 online... lets make something clear.
when people heard that ps3 online service was going to be free... they heared "PS3 Live (R) free"
and that's simply not going to be the case.
just a fair warning.
Frosty22 @ Sep 12th 2006 8:17PM
Why wasn't Sony working on their own proprietary software a year ago? Or two years ago? Is this whole online gaming thing that new to them?
Holy crap, Sony! Get your act together!
Adam @ Sep 12th 2006 9:24PM
LOL, Sony is such in a deep hole for their online platform, they need to outsource it.
LMAO
Geof @ Sep 12th 2006 9:29PM
Seems like an afterthought to me. CAn't build your own, so just pay for something that has already been built.
What this tells me is Sony knows that they can't compete with MS's xb live.
This just apply's to Untold Legends. The rest of psn is still unknown.
JJ @ Sep 12th 2006 10:31PM
Well Sony is a HARDWARE company and isn't known for their awesome online services like MS has with MSN messenger, MSN, etc.
Seems only natural they'd outsource it, i mean why waste vast amounts of money on something you can just purchase from another company?
I mean its not like it'd be THAT difficult to compete with live. I mean after all at its basic its only a matchmaking service that's always on. It's basically a souped up AIM truth be told.
There's tons of those out there, only difference is, MS wanted theirs to be proprietary so they spent a vast amount of money building it up.
So either way, the end result is the same.
So who cares if they outsource it or not as long as it gets the job done?
nick @ Sep 12th 2006 10:32PM
Hmm, Xfire is owned by the same company that owns Paramount Pictures. It's funny to see that company helping Sony.
captn blasto @ Sep 12th 2006 10:45PM
What a completely incompetent company. What has Sony been doing for all these years while Xbox Live has ushered millions of gamers online with downloadable content and multiplayer experiences. Nothing, Zippo, Nilch. I hope we hear something coming out of tgs or I am really going to completely loose faith in Sony. Sony's online strategy might end up a gimmick just like it was last gen. I consider Xbox Live service to be revolutionary. I consider Wii to be revolutionary. I consider PS3 to be more of the same with a candy coating. Wake up Sony.
hahaha @ Sep 12th 2006 11:07PM
LMFAO XFIRE, its a cheap little 2 second download thing that shows what you're playing so your friends can see, crap crap crap.
Make up your own, instead of copying the PSP dashboard and XFIRE friendslist, jesus, its gonna SUCK.
No wonder its free LOL. I'd rather pay for an excellent, proven and quality online service than play some xfire online for free.
TagsxA @ Sep 15th 2006 8:23PM
LMAOROTFLBBQ!!!!11!!!111one!!11!!one!
Sonyguy @ Sep 13th 2006 9:00AM
Are you kidding me? They hype up the online experience we are all going to have and then we find out they are going to use this crappy software to run it? I have used xfire on PC and it is a novalty at best!! Why even compare it to xbox live unless its worth comparing? Right now its like a tank vs a plastic hotwheels car, pathetic!
JJ @ Sep 13th 2006 9:24AM
Blasto... i could understand XBL being evolutionary... but revolutionary? How so? Its not doing anything new. The onlything new its doing is bringing downloadable programming to consoles, that's hardly revolutionary. Online gaming isn't revolutionary.
Its only doing things that have been done on PCs and other consoles for years.
I understand this isn't the greatest, but it is sony's first foray really into a unified system, of course its not going to be a precise or complex (if you can even call it that) as XBox service they've been pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into for 4 years.
and despite that with the numbers, Ps2 had more people online than the original xbox did and it didn't even have a unified network either.
seriously whats with all the 360 fanboys on this site? I can understand not liking the system but come on. I swear you guys would be complaining if Sony had come up with a service that in spec, rivaled or surpassed XBL and you guys owuld still harp on em.
Give it a rest.
Brian @ Sep 13th 2006 1:50PM
Why is this a bad thing? Isn't XFire almost exactly the same thing as XBox Live? And with XFire you could get some PS3, PC interactivity which won't be possible on the 360 without Vista. This is a very shrewd move by Sony if true.
Aragorn @ Sep 13th 2006 3:11PM
JJ: it's true, fundamentally Xbox live is just a series of functions, as you described, and as a design... isn't necessarily the most robust online community design.
But I feel that one of the things that most xbox fanboys seem to forget is that the xbox live service it’s self, while very solid and stable, isn’t what makes the xbox go… it’s the part where about 80% of the games have some online function or another, from simple content download, scoreboards, to full bore online play. And this is why xbox live is such a rocking element. If Xbox live was as feature as it is now, but we only had a small handful of games that actually utilized it, then no one would give half a fart.
As for Sony and Xfire, I think it was a smart decision. Sony has no idea how to implement said online structure, and it’s a shortcoming that they obviously recognized (that’s a first…). It makes sense to outsource the program, especially to a company that has experience in this field. And guys, you have to remember, outsource & hiring third parties to produce separate elements of your product is completely standard business. Microsoft Windows required heaps of outside help (though… lots more would’ve been nice). I mean, the xbox 360 and the ps3 is mostly parts from dozens of different companies.
But back to my original point, I’m a little dubious about how many different games are actually going to support online elements… cuz historically… Japanese developers don’t really give a damn. If it’s not street fighter, capcom won’t bother. Konami only implemented mgs online cuz it wanted to stay competitive with Splinter Cell (why do people keep grouping these games together. Aside from the espionage element THEY’RE NOTHING ALIKE!!! It’s like comparing a mclaren F1 racer to a 1968 mustange Shelby! EVEN THE DEVELOPERS GET INTO IT!!!! AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!). Namco wouldn’t even know where to begin.
So…. Whether or not ps3 developers actually utilize the online element is pretty much going to be the make or break of the sony online structure… under the assuming that Xfire will provide a solid service
Sponge @ Sep 18th 2006 8:29PM
and despite that with the numbers, Ps2 had more people online than the original xbox did and it didn't even have a unified network either.
Says who? How many people do you know have played online on the PS2? I know ONE. And I have about 26 friends who were and still are online on their Xbox.