Is Microsoft forcing us to pay for Downloadable content?

In April's Game Informer News, they had an article called, ""The Content Microsoft Doesn't Want You to Have" on page 32. It talks about the publishers wanting to put out "free" downloadable content but Microsoft isn't letting them. According to the article Microsoft is placing prices on content that the companies wanted to give us for free, because "Microsoft wanting to make gamers accustomed to paying money for goods above and beyond wallpapers."

I almost wrote this off as an April Fools joke or something like that until I remembered an interview that Ben Ward of Bizarre Creations (Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved) had with IGN UK.

I think that maybe we should do some kind of petition, so this problem is brought up to Microsoft just to let them know that, as customers, we don't like being "nickel and dime" for content that game companies want to give us free.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? I think this is more legit then petitioning Capcom over Devil May Cry having a multiplatform release. I want to gauge everyone about this idea, and perhaps someone noticed this too.

IGN UK interview: http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/772/772651p2.html

gears content is free, and supposedly GHII content will be free. So idk about that article's arguement. it sounds plausible, but really i don't mind paying, its not like its that expensive.

i just read that IGN article and i must say that is intruiging that MS made them do that. 

It isn't that much but looking at how we are charged to play on-line and to see advertisments. It would be nice to see a price drop on Xbox live memebership or if game companies are wanting to give free content away Microsoft shouldn't charge.

I don't understand how people don't mind paying for stuff that game companies want to give away for free. Could some one explain how paying for free stuff is cool? Don't get me wrong, I love to play on-line but since we pay for Xbox Live; why advertisements? Shouldn't ads reduce the cost?thomasonfa

I honestly don't find a problem with it as I don't pay for anything on Xbox Live other than the $50 a year.

I think we are being ripped off. It's obvious when you download new maps, cars, expansion packs etc and the download is tiny that something isn't right.

The content is probably on the disc. The download you just bought probably acts as the key that unlocks it.

It's business. Don't like it, don't buy it. Kuruption84

It's business. Don't like it, don't buy it. Kuruption84

exactly!

[QUOTE="Kuruption84"]It's business. Don't like it, don't buy it. _Xeauz_

It isn't always as simple as that though. I wanted to play a bit of GRAW the other night but I got refused from every room because I don't have the "Chapter two" expansion pack. This makes the purchase necessary if I want to play GRAW online.

[QUOTE="Kuruption84"]It's business. Don't like it, don't buy it. OfficialBed

exactly!

In April's Game Informer News, they had an article called, ""The Content Microsoft Doesn't Want You to Have" on page 32. It talks about the publishers wanting to put out "free" downloadable content but Microsoft isn't letting them. According to the article Microsoft is placing prices on content that the companies wanted to give us for free, because "Microsoft wanting to make gamers accustomed to paying money for goods above and beyond wallpapers."

I almost wrote this off as an April Fools joke or something like that until I remembered an interview that Ben Ward of Bizarre Creations (Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved) had with IGN UK.

I think that maybe we should do some kind of petition, so this problem is brought up to Microsoft just to let them know that, as customers, we don't like being "nickel and dime" for content that game companies want to give us free.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? I think this is more legit then petitioning Capcom over Devil May Cry having a multiplatform release. I want to gauge everyone about this idea, and perhaps someone noticed this too.

IGN UK interview: http://uk.xbox360.ign.com/articles/772/772651p2.html

thomasonfa

MS, are theiving bastards. They charge us to use the online, then put ads on aswell so they make money, and then charge us for content companies want free. QTF?death1505921

yeah i read the same article in gameinformer and i was just pissed because that means that certain games and downloadable content that i have downloaded could have been freed i mean i cANT BELIEVE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY ARE FINE WITH GETTING THEIR MONEY MILKED FROM THEM SLOWLY its ridiculouse i know its not expensive but if we are being charged for things that could be free then we are losing money... PETITION!

First of all - it's a business, they're going to try to continue to turn a profit.

Second, this isn't a higher tax that their placing on food - a necessity of life. This content is typically an add-on to a game you already have. NO ONE is forcing you to buy it.

Finally, what kind of petition are you going to organize here? Are you going to get 14 people from a message board to write a nasty letter to the multi-billion dollar Microsoft corporation? The only petition that have a slight chance of working is if you got a SIGNIFICANT portion of the population to STOP buying the content...good luck with that...oh, and there are more important battles to fight out there...like that whole homeless thing - or the world hunger thing that seems to bother some. 

First of all - it's a business, they're going to try to continue to turn a profit.

 

Second, this isn't a higher tax that their placing on food - a necessity of life. This content is typically an add-on to a game you already have. NO ONE is forcing you to buy it.

 

Finally, what kind of petition are you going to organize here? Are you going to get 14 people from a message board to write a nasty letter to the multi-billion dollar Microsoft corporation? The only petition that have a slight chance of working is if you got a SIGNIFICANT portion of the population to STOP buying the content...good luck with that...oh, and there are more important battles to fight out there...like that whole homeless thing - or the world hunger thing that seems to bother some. 

slidet22

i couldnt agree with you more, MS is a buissness and their out there to make money.

if you dont like it, dont buy it. get an efing job so ou can afford a simple $40-$50 a year, which is nothing.

the extra content is like pocket change for me, it really isnt that much.

It's only a few dollars anyway and it's not like you can't play game unless you download this content.

It's business. If you don't like it, just don't download it.

I don't mind paying for content if a software developer put the time in to it and wants to charge. What gets me about this article is that if you are charging me for something the maker wanted me to have for free, now thats a problem. Not to mention their point system which is also mentioned in game informer as well. Where you buy five dollars worth of points and nothing costs exactly that so you are left over with points. So either they get your money for free or you are forced to buy more points to get something cuz you had some left over but not enough. The article compares it to a carnival, you buy 20 tickets for whatever amount of money and you want two sodas which cost 9 tickets each. What do you do with the two extra, buy more or lose your money...DrewBlood08

gears content is free, and supposedly GHII content will be free. So idk about that article's arguement. it sounds plausible, but really i don't mind paying, its not like its that expensive.

 

i just read that IGN article and i must say that is intruiging that MS made them do that. 

butkis689

it should be free we're already paying for live and we already shelled out the money to buy the new xbox so why do we have to pay more for these downloads. I know people are saying no one is forcing you but its stupid I still have all these useless themes i thought would be cool but aren't(like the prey one) at least make the themes or gamer pics free. Really the only things that make sense to pay for are arcade games and actual expansions(shivering isles) not useless ones that you got because they were the only one out(horse armor).

 

the extra content is like pocket change for me, it really isnt that much.

it should be free we're already paying for live and we already shelled out the money to buy the new xbox so why do we have to pay more for these downloads. I know people are saying no one is forcing you but its stupid I still have all these useless themes i thought would be cool but aren't(like the prey one) at least make the themes or gamer pics free. Really the only things that make sense to pay for are arcade games and actual expansions(shivering isles) not useless ones that you got because they were the only one out(horse armor).

Zigmond1

I'm sorry, I'm just failing to see the point here where I think this is an issue that seriously needs to be addressed. For my first three reasons, read my post above.

Fourthly, you're now asking for content for free. You're asking for someone to simply hand something over to you for no cost. The additional content is something that people put in time and work on. They're trying to turn a profit. Why would someone just give it to you for free? This isn't some noble volunteering opportunity. If I'm going to give something away for free, it's going to be something that someone NEEDS - like help providing food, clothes, or any other number of charitable things.  

Fifth - I'm not buying the "some of us are just less fortunate." The fact that you own a 360 and have internet access right now tells me that you're at least doing well enough to buy those things instead of the necessities in life.

Look, I'm not suggesting that Microsoft isn't turning a huge profit here. I'm suggesting that if this is what we have to complain about, maybe we should appreciate everything we've got cuz it can't be too bad. 

I'm sorry, I'm just failing to see the point here where I think this is an issue that seriously needs to be addressed. For my first three reasons, read my post above.

Fourthly, you're now asking for content for free. You're asking for someone to simply hand something over to you for no cost. The additional content is something that people put in time and work on. They're trying to turn a profit. Why would someone just give it to you for free? This isn't some noble volunteering opportunity. If I'm going to give something away for free, it's going to be something that someone NEEDS - like help providing food, clothes, or any other number of charitable things.

Fifth - I'm not buying the "some of us are just less fortunate." The fact that you own a 360 and have internet access right now tells me that you're at least doing well enough to buy those things instead of the necessities in life.

Look, I'm not suggesting that Microsoft isn't turning a huge profit here. I'm suggesting that if this is what we have to complain about, maybe we should appreciate everything we've got cuz it can't be too bad.

slidet22

[QUOTE="slidet22"]

I'm sorry, I'm just failing to see the point here where I think this is an issue that seriously needs to be addressed. For my first three reasons, read my post above.

 

Fourthly, you're now asking for content for free. You're asking for someone to simply hand something over to you for no cost. The additional content is something that people put in time and work on. They're trying to turn a profit. Why would someone just give it to you for free? This isn't some noble volunteering opportunity. If I'm going to give something away for free, it's going to be something that someone NEEDS - like help providing food, clothes, or any other number of charitable things.

Fifth - I'm not buying the "some of us are just less fortunate." The fact that you own a 360 and have internet access right now tells me that you're at least doing well enough to buy those things instead of the necessities in life.

 

Look, I'm not suggesting that Microsoft isn't turning a huge profit here. I'm suggesting that if this is what we have to complain about, maybe we should appreciate everything we've got cuz it can't be too bad.

death1505921

Yes I read it - sorry the DEVELOPERS not Microsoft - that doesn't make my point any less valid. You're all angry because you ahve to pay a few bucks for extra gaming content that developers put time into making. So, you're wanting something for nothing. I think it would be great if some was put up for free. If someone wants to give that out, that's fine. When we don't get something for nothing though, it doesn't mean we're somehow picked upon. The point is, you're well off.

Visit the aftermath of hurricane Kitrina. I'm sorry, but once you wade around the wreckage there for any amount of time and you hear kids just whining about having to pay $5 for video game content, it triggers a pretty big nerve. 

If you re-read my other arguments i clearly said, I wouldn't be bugged if the devs wanted to charge us. It's because MS is imposing a charge on somthing they have little right to do so. They put no effort into making said patch/maps ect. So why should they have the right to decide the price? And i'm putting too much on price, it's the principle aswell.   

    And like I said, just because my family are well off, doesn't mean I am. I donated before you go all fundamentalist on me, I'm doing geography GSCE, so me and all my class mates got a pack together with basic essentials like old cloths ect, and sent it to some charity along with a £1 each. The same went for thailand. SImply because we were studying it at the time, and I'm not an ass like you think i am.

MS, are theiving bastards. They charge us to use the online, then put ads on aswell so they make money, and then charge us for content companies want free. QTF?death1505921