We Goin’ Platinum!
So there’s this dude passing out free “Platinum Service” Xbox Live cards!!! That’s right, you just bought those shiny, all-new Xbox 360 Slims to show off in the drive way and wash next to your car as your neighbor goes to work, but then you hear about the Platinum Possibility. What does Platinum offer that Gold doesn’t? Will this affect your Gold Service? Well there is good news and bad news.
First off, the Platinum service isn’t official, it’s simply a prediction made by Michael Patcher, who is an analyst in the industry. Gold members can expect a swift $10 increase for their subscription by November, which isn’t a major pain in the ass, but it better be going to sick kids or some shit. Microsoft needs money just like anyone else, so they can continue to offer an unbeatable online community and great features for the Xbox Dashboard. Well, we played ball when games took a jump, but we got our money’s worth with amazing graphics and leaps in technology. We’re only paying $199 for the 360 Slim, which purrs like a dead kitten, has built in WIFI and is Kinect Ready. The Kinect Ready process, of course, will make anything run silent. It’s a fact. Patcher believes that with the increase in the Xbox Gold service, we can expect an entirely new “Platinum” service in the $100-range. With no rumor of what this could possible offer to Gold members looking to upgrade or to those completely new to Xbox Live, this prediction just makes Microsoft look like money-hungry Jews (I can say that, I’m half Jewish).
Now, I’m sure PS3 owners are happy as clams with their small network compiled of every cool kid table ever, but Xbox players know that their money is going towards making what they already love even better. Until a Platinum service does come around, $10 isn’t going to break the bank or lead any current subscribers astray. Microsoft would make $80 million more a year easily just from Gold members going Platinum. At the same time, Microsoft knows their community and wouldn’t risk loosing those who buckled down with paid subscribing by abusing that, and creating a more expensive service that probably won’t offer more than a “making of” DVD and some concept art. Do I think I would switch to Platinum? If they send me a sweet card like the Diamond one I might. I like gloating rights and I need something portable to wave in the faces of my enemies. Xbox Live is going to continue to evolve, and the time will come when we have to decide if this is what we signed up for, or if the industry is full of money-hungry, soul stealing, demons from Azeroth. After personally meeting a lot of the higher-ups, I can say that we have nothing to worry about. They are not brain dead; they are pretty much just like you, but with more motivation and business degrees.
