Microsoft raping for the new GOW Maps...
Discussion
Looks like there going to cost wonga to download. They can 
right off seeing as I've given them 30 notes for the game.
They'll be free after a few months apparently.
www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/04/09/microsoft-wont-let-new-gow-maps-be-free/
Post from thread here
I know I'll be tempted just to download the maps and pay, but I really don't want to on principle. It depends how much they are at the end of the day. I think the most I'd pay is 400-500 gamer points.
right off seeing as I've given them 30 notes for the game. They'll be free after a few months apparently.
www.xbox360fanboy.com/2007/04/09/microsoft-wont-let-new-gow-maps-be-free/
Mark Reim Epic GOW Dude said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by sTreeT
"We always take care of our customers, we always give them stuff for free, and we're going to keep doing that forever. That's how we do it. This is Epic." -Mike Capps, The President of Epic Games
As Tim Sweeney said on the podcast - we believe in a mix of free content and paid content but . Content is expensive to develop. Yes we're generous and yes we're always giving you some for free but that doesn't mean every bit of it will be free. In this case these maps will be free if you'll willing to wait a few months for them. That's a fair deal.
Quote:
You didn't ever try and nickel and dime people to death
Yes we believe providing exceptional value is important. Games aren't cheap and if you feel that you're getting your money's worth when you buy our games you'll buy more of our games. We get that because we're gaming consumers just like you guys.
Quote:
Yes, I've read your explanation about why you can't go ahead and release the content for free because it's "microsoft's store", but let's be completely honest here, I'm sure if you guys actually pushed a bit more, microsoft really wouldn't have a choice.
That is not the case. We can't force them any more than we could walk into Best Buy and make them put something on their store shelves that they're not making any money off. In this case it actually costs Microsoft money to cert, test and deliver this content and that cost isn't inconsequential.
Quote:
And it's not like the maps have to be put up on marketplace....they could always be released update style where when you pop the game into the box
No you can not do that because then people with the Core system would be locked out of playing the game because they don't have enough storage space for the update.
Quote:
you guys made a promise and you didn't keep up your end of the bargain and as a result, people who can't afford or don't want to pay for 4 mp maps are going to get screwed out of playing the multiplayer portion of the game
People who don't want to pay for the maps don't have to pay for them. They just have to wait a bit but they're still ultimately free.
Quote:
we all know most people are going to buy the maps and as a result the few who don't buy it will be able to play in next to none of the servers because either they'll get dropped as soon as the server rotates to the new map or they won't be able to join the server at all if it has the new maps in rotation.
That hasn't been a significant problem with the existing free maps (which are free, OPTIONAL downloads) so it shouldn't be the case in the future. Putting them in a single pack of 4, rather than two packs of two, should help alleviate any concern about that. In the mean time there's nothing we can do about that. All additional content has to be optional otherwise the Core owners couldn't play it. So there are still lots of servers playing the original games and you can always host your own games.
Quote:
In other words we're being backed into a corner: either we HAVE to buy the map pack or a game that we payed 70$ for and another 60$ to play online with, won't be completely accessible to us for months. Does that sound fair to you? because it sure as hell doesn't sound fair to me. So the gamer get's the short end of the stick again..what's new.
That is simply not the case and frankly I'm a little discouraged by your attitude. Posts like this sure don't make me feel good about the work we've done to make this ultimately free for you and all the money we've spent making this content. Thankfully most people welcome the news that they're getting something for free to extend a game they love. I know I would if I were in your shoes. Do you own a PC? Are you paying $15 a month to play your favorite MMO? How much new free content did they give you for all the months you've been playing? None? Oh they charged you full price for an expansion set in addition to your monthly fee? Yeah, that's what I figured. In the mean time you've been playing our game online for months and the only additional cost is your XBox Live subscription (approximately $4.17 per month) which covers all of the Xbox Live games, and soon Games for Windows Live games you play and we don't see a penny of it.
Originally Posted by sTreeT
"We always take care of our customers, we always give them stuff for free, and we're going to keep doing that forever. That's how we do it. This is Epic." -Mike Capps, The President of Epic Games
As Tim Sweeney said on the podcast - we believe in a mix of free content and paid content but . Content is expensive to develop. Yes we're generous and yes we're always giving you some for free but that doesn't mean every bit of it will be free. In this case these maps will be free if you'll willing to wait a few months for them. That's a fair deal.
Quote:
You didn't ever try and nickel and dime people to death
Yes we believe providing exceptional value is important. Games aren't cheap and if you feel that you're getting your money's worth when you buy our games you'll buy more of our games. We get that because we're gaming consumers just like you guys.
Quote:
Yes, I've read your explanation about why you can't go ahead and release the content for free because it's "microsoft's store", but let's be completely honest here, I'm sure if you guys actually pushed a bit more, microsoft really wouldn't have a choice.
That is not the case. We can't force them any more than we could walk into Best Buy and make them put something on their store shelves that they're not making any money off. In this case it actually costs Microsoft money to cert, test and deliver this content and that cost isn't inconsequential.
Quote:
And it's not like the maps have to be put up on marketplace....they could always be released update style where when you pop the game into the box
No you can not do that because then people with the Core system would be locked out of playing the game because they don't have enough storage space for the update.
Quote:
you guys made a promise and you didn't keep up your end of the bargain and as a result, people who can't afford or don't want to pay for 4 mp maps are going to get screwed out of playing the multiplayer portion of the game
People who don't want to pay for the maps don't have to pay for them. They just have to wait a bit but they're still ultimately free.
Quote:
we all know most people are going to buy the maps and as a result the few who don't buy it will be able to play in next to none of the servers because either they'll get dropped as soon as the server rotates to the new map or they won't be able to join the server at all if it has the new maps in rotation.
That hasn't been a significant problem with the existing free maps (which are free, OPTIONAL downloads) so it shouldn't be the case in the future. Putting them in a single pack of 4, rather than two packs of two, should help alleviate any concern about that. In the mean time there's nothing we can do about that. All additional content has to be optional otherwise the Core owners couldn't play it. So there are still lots of servers playing the original games and you can always host your own games.
Quote:
In other words we're being backed into a corner: either we HAVE to buy the map pack or a game that we payed 70$ for and another 60$ to play online with, won't be completely accessible to us for months. Does that sound fair to you? because it sure as hell doesn't sound fair to me. So the gamer get's the short end of the stick again..what's new.
That is simply not the case and frankly I'm a little discouraged by your attitude. Posts like this sure don't make me feel good about the work we've done to make this ultimately free for you and all the money we've spent making this content. Thankfully most people welcome the news that they're getting something for free to extend a game they love. I know I would if I were in your shoes. Do you own a PC? Are you paying $15 a month to play your favorite MMO? How much new free content did they give you for all the months you've been playing? None? Oh they charged you full price for an expansion set in addition to your monthly fee? Yeah, that's what I figured. In the mean time you've been playing our game online for months and the only additional cost is your XBox Live subscription (approximately $4.17 per month) which covers all of the Xbox Live games, and soon Games for Windows Live games you play and we don't see a penny of it.
Post from thread here
I know I'll be tempted just to download the maps and pay, but I really don't want to on principle. It depends how much they are at the end of the day. I think the most I'd pay is 400-500 gamer points.
Polarbert said:
I know I'll be tempted just to download the maps and pay, but I really don't want to on principle.
What principle?
Downloadable content is the way forwards - and "premium" content is always going to be paid-for. Why assume that just because you paid for the original game that you should get any add-ons for it free of charge too? There's not much incentive for developers to support existing games on your business model, is there?
I'm not trying to be confrontational about it - just playing Devil's Advocate. I'm not keen on having to pay for add-ons either - but as long as they don't take the piss when it comes to pricing them - 150 MS points for horse armour in Oblivion, anyone....? - I'd probably buy them if I played the game regularly online. 400-500 MS points (which equates to, what, about £3.50-4?) doesn't sound unreasonable.
paul99 said:
Tonsko said:
I'd rather save my points for something like... SENSIBLE WORLD OF SOCCER! OMG OMG OMG! 800 points. bargain.
Sensi is out on X-Box live???!!!
Not yet. But it's coming. Oh yes.
They're talking about two modes - one with enhanced gfx and sound (same gameplay) and the other mode will be old gfx and sound (same gameplay). They're busy assuring everyone that they're basically using the same code.
Edited by Tonsko on Thursday 12th April 16:41
The thing I object to is the so called 'downladable content' being only very small (~44-108k) which is being reported as a 'key' to unlock content that is already on the disk! So this is content you already own, but they want to charge you for? That is a very naughty thing indeed.
www.gamingbits.com/content/view/1418/2/
Proper downloadable content, I don't really have an issue with, and as the chap says, it will become free after a while.
www.gamingbits.com/content/view/1418/2/
Proper downloadable content, I don't really have an issue with, and as the chap says, it will become free after a while.
Tonsko said:
That's just the height of cynical profiteering, if that's correct.
I wonder how long before companies start seriously using microcontent as a marketing tool?
For example, I go to the Ford website. On the Focus page, next to the usual photographs and configurators, it's got some kind of link to, "Download the Focus ST for Test Drive Unlimited!"
So I click, and I now have this car in my game. Every time I go out for a drive I might see an AI in the Focus, or I might even be driving one myself.
It probably makes more of an impression on me than the usual microgames that car manufacturers provide, and also it's great for the game developers who can boast "100 cars in game with over 50 downloadable from major manufacturers!"
The same principle could be extended, as well as driving games you could have things like The Sims (clothing, household goods) golf games, flight simulators...
For example, I go to the Ford website. On the Focus page, next to the usual photographs and configurators, it's got some kind of link to, "Download the Focus ST for Test Drive Unlimited!"
So I click, and I now have this car in my game. Every time I go out for a drive I might see an AI in the Focus, or I might even be driving one myself.
It probably makes more of an impression on me than the usual microgames that car manufacturers provide, and also it's great for the game developers who can boast "100 cars in game with over 50 downloadable from major manufacturers!"
The same principle could be extended, as well as driving games you could have things like The Sims (clothing, household goods) golf games, flight simulators...
Timberwolf said:
I wonder how long before companies start seriously using microcontent as a marketing tool?
For example, I go to the Ford website. On the Focus page, next to the usual photographs and configurators, it's got some kind of link to, "Download the Focus ST for Test Drive Unlimited!"
So I click, and I now have this car in my game. Every time I go out for a drive I might see an AI in the Focus, or I might even be driving one myself.
It probably makes more of an impression on me than the usual microgames that car manufacturers provide, and also it's great for the game developers who can boast "100 cars in game with over 50 downloadable from major manufacturers!"
The same principle could be extended, as well as driving games you could have things like The Sims (clothing, household goods) golf games, flight simulators...
For example, I go to the Ford website. On the Focus page, next to the usual photographs and configurators, it's got some kind of link to, "Download the Focus ST for Test Drive Unlimited!"
So I click, and I now have this car in my game. Every time I go out for a drive I might see an AI in the Focus, or I might even be driving one myself.
It probably makes more of an impression on me than the usual microgames that car manufacturers provide, and also it's great for the game developers who can boast "100 cars in game with over 50 downloadable from major manufacturers!"
The same principle could be extended, as well as driving games you could have things like The Sims (clothing, household goods) golf games, flight simulators...
To be honest I don't think we're that far away from it. Valve and HL2:Episode x have shown that episodic content will sell and sell very well. The problem is I think that publishers will demand their cake and want to eat it, so it'll be pay £40+ for the game now pay £ for content. A lot of MMORPG's do this in that you pay for the client and pay your subscription; I disagree with this and hence do not play WoW but have played EVE:Online (free client). I'd also be worried about publishers going totally overboard on the micropayments front; take TDU for example.
Best case: Game and the equivilent of a pushbike is free, everything you can do in the game you can do (bit pointless respraying a bike but hey). Cars start at £2, Houses for £5, additional areas/tracks/challenges £££.
Worst case: Game £40 with the bike, Houses £10, cars £5, respray £2, tuning starts at £2, tracks/challenges released as 'mission packs' £20 a pop.
Haven't turned on the old eggs box for weeks now, I'd definately be up for a PH re-union though, we need to set a date.
Personally I see nothing wrong with charging for new content. I too though am waiting with baited breath for sensi, I'm hoping I can plug in my competition pro into the USB port, I'll be on
Personally I see nothing wrong with charging for new content. I too though am waiting with baited breath for sensi, I'm hoping I can plug in my competition pro into the USB port, I'll be on
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