Microsoft reaches a new low

Wow. So yeah, I've had the update for the 360 for a little while. So I've had access to the avatar market place for a while. Things were a little steep before, but the new content they just added today just takes it to a discusting new level.

Get this, it costs five dollars to purchase your avatar a light saber. Thats not even the worst of it. Not by a long shot. If you want to deck your avatar out in Clone trooper armor, it'll cost you five bucks. Thats with out the helmet. If you want the full set you're going to have to toss in an aditional two bucks for the helmets. Thats seven dollars for a virtual storm trooper to simply stare at. Similarly it'll cost you four dollars to get CoG or Locust armor and another two dollars for their respective helmets each.

Theres a set of UNSC marine armor which isn't quite as bad at five bucks and it actually comes with it's helmet, but it's still far to steep for a set of virtual armor. Still, it just shows that with the Gears and Star Wars sets that they're just holding back pieces to charge a ridiculous price for some virtual duds.

I don't get why people are so surprised by this, Microsoft always tries to rip people off.

Your surprised by this???

They must start the prices high...just to see what people buy and at what prices. Once they see nobody is buying those..they will change the price. Remember PS3's release day price?

So don't buy it?TheSystemLord1

Gas Prices.

[QUOTE="TheSystemLord1"]So don't buy it?vashkey

It is just a shame that you know there are tons of people out there that will pay these ridiculous prices, which in turn will keep the prices ridiculous.

Dude I don't get why people are so angry by this, it's not like bill gates has tyed you to a chair, held your family hostage and say "BUY ALL MY OVERPRICED STUFF ON XBL AVATER MARKETPLACE OR YOUR FAMILY GETS KILLED" if you don't like the prices don't buy it, simple..

[QUOTE="vashkey"][QUOTE="TheSystemLord1"]So don't buy it?SFXL3W15

Dude I don't get why people are so angry by this, it's not like bill gates has tyed you to a chair, held your family hostage and say "BUY ALL MY OVERPRICED STUFF ON XBL AVATER MARKETPLACE OR YOUR FAMILY GETS KILLED" if you don't like the prices don't buy it, simple..

ThatsSimtastic

Dude I don't get why people are so angry by this, it's not like bill gates has tyed you to a chair, held your family hostage and say "BUY ALL MY OVERPRICED STUFF ON XBL AVATER MARKETPLACE OR YOUR FAMILY GETS KILLED" if you don't like the prices don't buy it, simple..

ThatsSimtastic

I thought Gates is no longer the owner..or he's planning on not.

[QUOTE="SFXL3W15"][QUOTE="vashkey"] What kind of response is this? Duh, I'm not going to buy it. Doesnt mean I can't complain about the prices anyway.vashkey

I'm curious how much of this stuff is going to be available by PLAYING games though. Like the Halo armor might be available if you play through ODST. I'm thinking those prices are high so that people have to pay to not EARN those through the game. I would think that they would be awards or something. Like the Star Wars stuff might be available for the new Clone Wars game coming out soon

At least I'm hoping this is the case. Since these games aren't out yet, it's going to be a bit before we know.

I'm betting most avatar awards will be content not on the market place. And for the record, I doubt ODST will come with avatar awards. It was finished before even e3 came around. Although I'd be delightfully surprised if I were wrong.vashkey

As for avatar awards not being available in the marketplace, Microsoft will look for any way to make more money and if they can offer rewards to people for real dollars so that they can get them without effort but pay more money, they're going to do it. And why not, it's smart business. Kids with their parents' credit cards will spend all kinds of money on that stuff so they don't have to go in and be GOOD at a game in order to get it, or even put in any time or effort. I wouldn't put it past them

Very agreed at the rip off prices, we need people to hold strong and not buy a lightsaber while its at 5bucks!

How many Avatars do we need running around in Clone Trooper gear?

I agree with the OP.

Maybe if you could DO something with your avatar, it might be cool to make it look unique by buying clothes or armor, but since all you can do is LOOK at it, there is absolutely no reason to charge so much for useless content.

Wow. So yeah, I've had the update for the 360 for a little while. So I've had access to the avatar market place for a while. Things were a little steep before, but the new content they just added today just takes it to a discusting new level.

Get this, it costs five dollars to purchase your avatar a light saber. Thats not even the worst of it. Not by a long shot. If you want to deck your avatar out in Clone trooper armor, it'll cost you five bucks. Thats with out the helmet. If you want the full set you're going to have to toss in an aditional two bucks for the helmets. Thats seven dollars for a virtual storm trooper to simply stare at. Similarly it'll cost you four dollars to get CoG or Locust armor and another two dollars for their respective helmets each.

Theres a set of UNSC marine armor which isn't quite as bad at five bucks and it actually comes with it's helmet, but it's still far to steep for a set of virtual armor. Still, it just shows that with the Gears and Star Wars sets that they're just holding back pieces to charge a ridiculous price for some virtual duds.

I agree with the OP.

Maybe if you could DO something with your avatar, it might be cool to make it look unique by buying clothes or armor, but since all you can do is LOOK at it, there is absolutely no reason to charge so much for useless content.

You have issues if you're complaining about the price. Who would want a lightsaber anyways? It's an avatar...let it go. Do you expect it to be free? Let's make controllers, battery packs, arcade games free too? Oh wait, that's just MS trying to rip us off correct?boltzcom

They only sell it because someone's fool enough to buy it.

Wow. So yeah, I've had the update for the 360 for a little while. So I've had access to the avatar market place for a while. Things were a little steep before, but the new content they just added today just takes it to a discusting new level.

Get this, it costs five dollars to purchase your avatar a light saber. Thats not even the worst of it. Not by a long shot. If you want to deck your avatar out in Clone trooper armor, it'll cost you five bucks. Thats with out the helmet. If you want the full set you're going to have to toss in an aditional two bucks for the helmets. Thats seven dollars for a virtual storm trooper to simply stare at. Similarly it'll cost you four dollars to get CoG or Locust armor and another two dollars for their respective helmets each.

Theres a set of UNSC marine armor which isn't quite as bad at five bucks and it actually comes with it's helmet, but it's still far to steep for a set of virtual armor. Still, it just shows that with the Gears and Star Wars sets that they're just holding back pieces to charge a ridiculous price for some virtual duds.

vashkey

Does you avatar NEED a clone outfit? Does it NEED a lightsabre? Did Microsoft say "Buy these things or you can't play Xbox Live?

No, No, and No... You don't have to buy it.

[QUOTE="SFXL3W15"][QUOTE="vashkey"] What kind of response is this? Duh, I'm not going to buy it. Doesnt mean I can't complain about the prices anyway.vashkey

No there's not internet rule that'll stop you from complaining. But considering that:

• These new pieces of clothing are optional
• There's still plenty that's totally free

Complaining about it just makes you sound like an entitled, whiney brat. The answer is as simple as other people have mentioned: Don't buy it. Move on. Tomorrow's another day.

What a silly thing to complain about. Why should they offer anything for free that people are willing to pay for?

Kids these days...

I think its it's silly for people to throw in the tired phrase of " no one's forcing you to buy it so don't ". The issue at hand isn't that people are complaining, it's more about how we as consumers have grown to learn or at least assume somethings worth. You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?XT-inc

And YOU are going to dictate to ME what I find value in? Sorry, you're not that important. People will buy it because they want it and think it's worth the points. Why? That's up to them. But you won't find me passing judgment on how they spend their points. Really, that's none of my business. It's none of yours either.

I think its it's silly for people to throw in the tired phrase of " no one's forcing you to buy it so don't ". The issue at hand isn't that people are complaining, it's more about how we as consumers have grown to learn or at least assume somethings worth. You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?XT-inc

[QUOTE="XT-inc"]I think its it's silly for people to throw in the tired phrase of " no one's forcing you to buy it so don't ". The issue at hand isn't that people are complaining, it's more about how we as consumers have grown to learn or at least assume somethings worth. You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?VoodooHak

And YOU are going to dictate to ME what I find value in? Sorry, you're not that important. People will buy it because they want it and think it's worth the points. Why? That's up to them. But you won't find me passing judgment on how they spend their points. Really, that's none of my business. It's none of yours either.

You know people have to design and/or animate the items, right? That takes quite a bit of work -- and I see why they're charging for it (OK, it may be a little overpriced).

I personally think the Avatar Marketplace is a success; easy to use, great previews, and hey, you just know a ton of people will be buying things. Good job to Microsoft on that one.

You know people have to design and/or animate the items, right? That takes quite a bit of work -- and I see why they're charging for it (OK, it may be a little overpriced).

I personally think the Avatar Marketplace is a success; easy to use, great previews, and hey, you just know a ton of people will be buying things. Good job to Microsoft on that one.

[QUOTE="VoodooHak"]

[QUOTE="XT-inc"]I think its it's silly for people to throw in the tired phrase of " no one's forcing you to buy it so don't ". The issue at hand isn't that people are complaining, it's more about how we as consumers have grown to learn or at least assume somethings worth. You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?CNUrGames

And YOU are going to dictate to ME what I find value in? Sorry, you're not that important. People will buy it because they want it and think it's worth the points. Why? That's up to them. But you won't find me passing judgment on how they spend their points. Really, that's none of my business. It's none of yours either.

Oh, but he is. He's defining the term value with the following example:

"You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?"

The premise of the example is based on the assumption that the little blue glowing stick is not worth the same as an arcade game.

I could care less about my avatar, but you wont see prices like that for too long.

[QUOTE="CNUrGames"][QUOTE="VoodooHak"]

And YOU are going to dictate to ME what I find value in? Sorry, you're not that important. People will buy it because they want it and think it's worth the points. Why? That's up to them. But you won't find me passing judgment on how they spend their points. Really, that's none of my business. It's none of yours either.

Oh, but he is. He's defining the term value with the following example:

"You take the 400 point price for an avatar item and then contrast it to the price of an arcade game. Now how could some little blue glowing stick, which you don't control ever be worth the same as a arcade game a team of people worked hundreds of hours on?"

The premise of the example is based on the assumption that the little blue glowing stick is not worth the same as an arcade game.

the people who whine about this are like the people who cry about oblivion having fast travel or fall out 3 having vats its optional if u dont like it dont use it and the only reason u care other people have it is cause u probally cant afford it i know i cant afford buying 500 little gimmicks for my avatar but im not gona cry about it on the forums jeez all it is is a nice little extra u act like microsoft is some corporal giant (which it is) SCREAMING BUY THESE OR U CANT PLAY THE GAME

One of the reasons prices for things like lightsabers and clone trooper armor might be more expensive than folks expect is licensing. The income from the avatar marketplace won't just go to lining MS's pockets. Anything affliated with the Star Wars Universe likely has to pay $$ to LucasArts or whatever. Plus think of it in terms of name brands. You get knock-off jeans for $20. You want Calvin Klein jeans say hello to $60+. Microsoft makes generic avatar apparel for free or extremely cheap. You want the "name brand" stuff, you've got to pony up.mrgrins

One of the reasons prices for things like lightsabers and clone trooper armor might be more expensive than folks expect is licensing. The income from the avatar marketplace won't just go to lining MS's pockets. Anything affiliated with the Star Wars Universe likely has to pay $$ to LucasArts or whatever. Plus think of it in terms of name brands. You get knock-off jeans for $20. You want Calvin Klein jeans say hello to $60+. Microsoft makes generic avatar apparel for free or extremely cheap. You want the "name brand" stuff, you've got to pony up.mrgrins