"Xbox 360 continues not to disappoint their fans

After seeing the latest numbers from the NPD, it’s safe to say the Xbox 360 is a beast! As for the Xbox Live, just when people thought Microsoft couldn’t do anymore with this incredible feature, they’re about to show and prove once again, when they introduce “V.I.P. Membership”.

But Xbox Live is already spectacular, what else can they do?

According too a customers survey done in France, Microsoft is considering a new level of Xbox Live called the VIP service. Now with this upgraded version, users will be able to get online storage for their content, a brand new matchmaking option, a option that allows the user too send free invitations to silver members, and better connectivity. It’s no denying that Xbox Live’s gold members are reaping the awards that Microsoft has provided them and with this optional addition it can’t do anything but expand on this already great feature.

Is this new feature worth it?

Xbox Live members should give the “V.I.P. Membership” a warm welcome, the upgrade will allow for better connectivity for online gaming, online storage, etc. Only time will tell if users will adapt to this upcoming addition, hopefully we hear some more news about V.I.P. at E3."

EDIT 2:  Now X360A even has an article about it.

EDIT 3:  AnalogHype has an article debunking the rumor.  It's worth checking out.

Wow, that article sounds like marketing BS from an MS representative.  Regardless, I was hoping they'd do something like this a long time ago.  Except, you know, give the non-paying connected people "gold" status and make other people pay for some stupid special features.  Hopefully this doesn't mean there are going to be three tiers of XBL. 

Doesn't sound legit, but it'll suck if true.

Not interested.

If this is true, then I'm calling shenanigans for those of us who already pay a hefty price for Gold status.  Honestly, the added features should be something we receive in an upgrade - not something extra.

Would this be another paid tier on top of gold and silver? Eh, I just bought a 120 gig drive, I figure I'm good on storage for a while. I've even been doing full installs of games, just because I can.
Instead of this, I'd rather see the tier structure go away. Usual arguments apply: online play should be a given, demos are advertising and should not be witheld to Gold members and pre-orderers, and if more people can access Netflix then more people will buy Netflix.

Awesome! Now I can pay more for a feature that should befree!

your first mistake was using n4g.com
N4g.com=scum of the gaming internet.

Wow, that article seems totally unbiased!

N4G is terribly unreliable... so is hiphopgamershow.

Sounds and is stupid, separate from Xbox Live Gold? Great, something that costs even more.

If true, EPIC FACE PALM!

Unnecessary.

That's total bullshit. Sooner or later they'll lock out Silver members from even logging in.

Who wants to bet Achievement Points will be VIP exclusive? That'll get people to drop $100 a year.

"If this is true, then I'm calling shenanigans for those of us who already pay a hefty price for Gold status.  Honestly, the added features should be something we receive in an upgrade - not something extra."

This must be bullshit, especially considering the horrible spelling and misuse of words in that article.

Honestly, the more I think about it, this has to be their way of making XBL free.  I mean, they have to do it eventually because of how PSN has finally start to hit its stride and almost(?) reached feature parity with XBL.  However, they still want a source of revenue from XBL (other than ads) if at all possible.  As well as the fact that people have already paid a year+ in advance for XBL gold and they certainly don't want to refund that.  Of course, assuming any of this is true. 

If this is true, then I will expect Microsoft to get rid of silver membership and make gold membership free. If its 3 different memberships...

My personal opinion but 50 dollars a year is not that much.  Compared to $20 a month for netflix, and the fact that most gamers spend ten times that on games themselves.  Though I do think it should be free to play online.  They are denying us access to the full content of the games we have purchased for their products.  And something has to be free with PSN being free and catching up to XBL capabilities.

I don't see this happening.

If that's true... well, no way I'm paying for that.  I'm glad playstation network is free.

 God, you're right.  $50 a YEAR is SUCH a hefty price.  MS should stop raping us like the cable internet providers we use.

-_-

"

sounds stupid

I would only pay for this is they dropped the price of gold to like $30 a year and make this V.I.P. stuff $50 a year.

"I would only pay for this is they dropped the price of gold to like $30 a year and make this V.I.P. stuff $50 a year."

"JJOR64 said:

"I would only pay for this is they dropped the price of gold to like $30 a year and make this V.I.P. stuff $50 a year."

Not going to happen."

""According too a customers survey done in France, Microsoft is considering a new level of Xbox Live called the VIP service."
What does that even mean? "

""According too a customers survey done in France, Microsoft is considering a new level of Xbox Live called the VIP service."What does that even mean? "

I found another article disproving the HipHop one.  I edited it into the first post.

"Honestly, the more I think about it, this has to be their way of making XBL free.  I mean, they have to do it eventually because of how PSN has finally start to hit its stride and almost(?) reached feature parity with XBL.  However, they still want a source of revenue from XBL (other than ads) if at all possible.  As well as the fact that people have already paid a year+ in advance for XBL gold and they certainly don't want to refund that.  Of course, assuming any of this is true.  "

"EvilTwin said:

"Honestly, the more I think about it, this has to be their way of making XBL free.  I mean, they have to do it eventually because of how PSN has finally start to hit its stride and almost(?) reached feature parity with XBL.  However, they still want a source of revenue from XBL (other than ads) if at all possible.  As well as the fact that people have already paid a year+ in advance for XBL gold and they certainly don't want to refund that.  Of course, assuming any of this is true.  "

Actually didn't they hit 17 million subscribers in january? Xobx live gold isn't becoming free in any hurry at all. Especially with those fat billions of profit."

"If this is true, then I'm calling shenanigans for those of us who already pay a hefty price for Gold status.

"Sparky_Buzzsaw said:

"If this is true, then I'm calling shenanigans for those of us who already pay a hefty price for Gold status.

hefty price ? How?  If you're that poor then gaming isn't for you man. "