Xbox 360: XBLA prices getting out of hand
Xbox Live Arcade games have been following an unpopular trend lately. Microsoft has been bumping up the prices of many of the latest XBLA game available for download. The consumers who actually purchase the games are just as responsible for this increasing trend as Microsoft.
I remember the days when XBLA games were pretty much 800 MS points or less. However, games like Braid and Castle Crashers have paved the way for the 1200 MS point class. New games continue the trend with bit sized games like Load Runner going for 1200 MS points.
For you non-Xbox folks, 1200 MS point converts into $15 USD. I understand that developers need to recoup costs, but I feel that Microsoft may be charging a bit more for some of these games than needed. I can clearly understand the need to charge 1200 MS points for a game like Portals: Still Alive or Watchmen. These games require the use of high powered development tools and engines with high production values.
However, where is the justification for a game like Load Runner where the graphics aren’t that intensive and the file size (73MB) is a little bit bigger than the video trailer of it? The same can be said for other games such as R-Type Dimensions as well. I admit that pretty much most of the mentioned games are fun to play, but does that justify the markup in price?
I recall a question that was asked during E3 of 2005 regarding pricing for XBLA content. I clearly recall the Microsoft representative stating that pricing will be determined by what the public is willing to pay for to get the content. In the end, it seems like the pricing is really in the hands of the consumer more than anyone else.
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April 27th, 2009
MS nickel and dime-ing the customers? no, never!
what next? SONY over hyping a game and garentee-ing it on time?
April 27th, 2009
$15 for a 73mb game is pretty steep.
I’ve only purchased 3 games on XBLA, Double Dragon, Ninja Turtles and UNO. All of them have had plenty of use.
April 27th, 2009
Wow, I just played this game for free (trial) and had a blast. That said I am not going to pay $15 for it (let alone $400 for a non-PS2bc PS3 with the majority of it’s titles the same as 360’s, $250 for a Wii that doesn’t even have achievements or trophies in it’s titles, let alone half the amount of quality titles), but I can understand those who might. For the rest of us, free is more than fine.
$15 for a quality XBLA game which is a modernized classic or $30-$60 for a presumably not-so-quality PS3/360/Wii/DS/PSP game (Shellshock 2, Haze, MLB Front Office Manager, X-Blades, Ready2Rumble Revolution, Lux-Pain, Dragon Ball Evolution)? Not to mention both R-Type Dimensions and Lode-Runner are still relatively new releases.
They are finally getting smart and realizing that digitally downloaded titles on home consoles are not that much different than physical copies, in that people are much more willing to pay higher prices at release than they are a year later, especially if they have a large fanbase/nostalgia.
Geometry Wars released for $10 (now $5) on XBLA and now you have the honor of paying $20 if you so choose for a version with less capabilities on DS or Wii years later? Bad NES games regularly appear on VC for $5 with no changes in graphics, no achievements, no online capabilities, and no lowered prices over time and MS is overcharging? Please.
If you want free to $5 games get an IPhone. If you want $20 plus games that are often worse than several XBLA titles, get a DS. $15 is more than worth it for a quality classic remake upon it’s initial release. Too expensive for you? Wait and the price will come down. There will still be free to $5 XBLA games and there will also be $15 ones. Bottom line is supply and demand.
“Included in this new Lode are the classic single-player journey, competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, 50 puzzle levels, a survival mode called “Hang On,” and a visual history of Lode Runner. It’s a great package that makes revisiting the aged franchise more than worth the download price.”
xboxlive.ign.com/articles/974/974611p1.html
April 27th, 2009
How on earth did you manage to cram the PS3’s price into your post…
April 27th, 2009
In reviewing the history of the game in the XBLA trial version, I saw that there is a famicom version, which then led me discover it is on wii vc. The NES version is $5, The Turbo-Grafx-16 version (Battle Lode Runner) is $8. $7 more for achievements, upgraded graphics, sound, 200 more levels, co-op multiplayer, survival mode, a much more functional level editor, and history.
So what other games are they initially listing for $15 ($14.99, whatever) on PSN besides Age of Booty and Super Street Fighter HD Remix? (Here’s betting Fat Princess will be $14.99)
(just played free trial of castle crashers… excellent and more robust free game than R-Type)
April 27th, 2009
@SW,
There are a lot of things in the console world I am looking/waiting for the price to come down further on. XBLA games, Wii, PS3, etc.
April 27th, 2009
XBLA always makes me think of basketball.
April 27th, 2009
Anyone dumb enough to pay $20 for a colourful version of asteroids deserves to be ripped off.
Games like Mario Bros and double dragon are worth $5 I loved those games. But they are so easy to get and play on the PC or anything that has NES emulators.
April 27th, 2009
The only game on PSN i’ve played over $10 for was WipeoutHD…WELL worth it IMO, as for Microsoft overcharging its customers…meh, nothing new to see here:
Overpriced Hard Drives
Overpriced Wireless Adapters
Overpriced LIVE Service
About that last one: I remember an article not long ago, where the topic was Sony was charging publishers of PSN titles money per GB to be released on PSN. ( it was like 4cents/GB) and thats how Sony was able to keep PSN free: Pass that payment to the publisher.
Now, a lot of the xbox fans and the op of the article stated that MS passes that costs to consumer in order to have LIVE the way it is, in order to save money later…yet, it seems LIVE consumers are the ones paying for everything…not only are you paying for LIVE and the “priviledge” of playing online ( which besides cross game chat, is NOT $50 worth “better” than PSN, on top of that, server quality is either equal to or better than LIVE or vice versa….what is your $50 getting you?? if not better servers…) you THEN pay again for the content, whereas on PSN, you only pay for the content….weird…
April 27th, 2009
Er, just about every XBL Arcade game comes with a free demo or the full game (at whatever price).
In fact as far as I can see all games available on XBL (not just the Arcade ones) come with a free demo.
Lots of them are 800 points too btw.
You’ll even find that some of them start at 1200 points and after the initial rush fall to 800 points, just like happens with new games.
No-one’s forcing you.
April 27th, 2009
Happy
OMG a revelation! We agree with something!
Yes, if a PSN/LIVE game is “too expensive” just do not buy it…
Actually i think that is one neat feature that LIVE has, is the preview demos of their Arcade titles, a trend im starting to see on PSN which is pretty nifty
But back to the article, i think thats the thing tho Happy, even if though you don’t “have to” buy it at that price, people still are, and publishers are seeing that and adjust their prices accordingly.
Thats why most people were so adamantly against the recent RE5 multiplayer DL content…if publishers continue to see dumb xtards or ps3rd boyz purchase this, they will continue to release games with locked content and make you pay for it later….Well, as a protest i didn’t buy RE5 when it came out, i waited what a whopping 4 days after and it was already at Gamestop used…sure i only saved about $20 ( yay for +% off to used game coupons ) but that $$ didn’t go to Capcom…and i didn’t buy the DL content….my way of saying F U capcom….i did buy SF 4 on release though…lol..
April 27th, 2009
“I admit that pretty much most of the mentioned games are fun to play, but does that justify the markup in price?”
Isn’t that the point. Games which have higher prices should be more fun than games with lower prices. Besides no one is forcing you to buy those games, so of course price is dependent on consumer demand. So obviously if the majority of consumers are willing to pay $15 for it, the prices are justified.
April 27th, 2009
Games should not be priced based on how fun they are but on the quality and the work put into them.
And people that say just don’t buy them are stupid. People want to play the games and should get a fair price so they can play them.
What if all the landlords just started charging 10X more to rent their homes? Would you say just don’t rent them?
Fair is fair and that’s it.
That is why we have laws for monopolies and companies with no competition.
April 27th, 2009
jojo29:
“OMG a revelation! We agree with something!”
Bound to happen sooner or later my friend, enjoy the moment.
Of course it’s a slam-dunk to say we all would love everything cheaper or free but fairs-fair almost everything (I honestly can’t think of a single Arcade game that doesn’t) comes with a decent freebie version.
ncaissie:
“people that say just don’t buy them are stupid.”
No, realistic and not indulging in silly rhetoric.
No-one ever got an official game free (promos excepted) anywhere.
(oh, actually that’s not quite true, when XBL turned 5 they gave everyone a birthday treat of a free Arcade game – something that had a lot of PS3 owners bitching that they didn’t get similar)
April 27th, 2009
If a game is fun then the quality of work put into it is probably quite high. But just because the quality of work put into it is high doesn’t mean it will be fun. And also you don’t play games for fun then?
All the landlords wouldn’t do that and couldn’t sustain it for a couple of reasons so your point is moot. When you say fair it just comes to me as whining. Since when is it a right that things should be fair?
April 27th, 2009
ncaissie:
“What if all the landlords just started charging 10X more to rent their homes?”
Like as if that is in any way a fair and honest parallel or analogy here.
How about if your landlord gave you a stripped down place about a third of the fuill sized place for free?
Very very silly ncaissie.
April 27th, 2009
LMFAO @ Micr1$0ft and almost every fucking game on Xbox Live Arcade is garbage. Xbox Live Arcade is an EPIC FAILURE. PSN gives cheap prices for awesome must have games.
April 27th, 2009
IVAN seriously what age are you?
I have to agree that arcade is a rip off. I play the demos, fall in love with the games but some really aren’t worth what is being asked.
April 27th, 2009
I think this would fall under the old “vote with your wallet” thing. If you think the price is reasonable and you want the game, then buy it. If it, than pass it up.
April 27th, 2009
Ivan_PSP:
“almost every fucking game on Xbox Live Arcade is garbage. Xbox Live Arcade is an EPIC FAILURE”.
Yeah, of course, things like Chess (only centuries old and probably the most difficult game to master of them all) and Tetris are the very definition of “FAILURE” (shout shout shouty shout), right Ivan?
Do you have toi really train hard to make this much of a t*t of yourself or is it all just natural, er, ‘talent’?
You do realise that Microsoft themselves produce only a tiny minority of the games on Arcade, hmmmmm?
April 27th, 2009
Ivan is just an AI you know.
He just strings posts together using a preset list of words.
April 27th, 2009
Do you guys remember the Iraq Minister of Information. He was the guy giving infrmormation about Iraq after the 9/11 attacks. He came on the air everyday saying the opposite of what was really going on. Ivan reminds me of this guy so bad. Ivan, are you and the Information Minister of Iraq cousins?
April 27th, 2009
All you Xbots if you don’t feel like wasting money like you have any but still just go to popcap games that’s where most XBA games are from. Cya all later to busy getting ready for the new fucking TROPHY that Guerilla Games added.
Shitbox
Xbots
Crapbox
JunkBox
Xbox 180 (Sony’s name for the Xbox 360)
April 27th, 2009
So is that a Yes?
April 27th, 2009
“Anyone dumb enough to pay $20 for a colourful version of asteroids deserves to be ripped off.”
Actually, Asteroids with Asteroids deluxe is only $5 on XBLA (and I still play the free version on XBL).
“it seems LIVE consumers are the ones paying for everything…not only are you paying for LIVE and the “priviledge” of playing online ( which besides cross game chat, is NOT $50 worth “better” than PSN”
Actually, Live silver members don’t pay anything, which works out well if they are not into multiplayer online (like me), and Live Gold Members subsidize this while getting the added capabilities of multiplayer online, video cross game chat, parties, and Netflix streaming capability (silver/PSN members can get this capability too, but only through PlayOn, which is of downgraded quality and you eventually have to pay for the full version).
I paid $38.99 for a 13 month XBL Gold membership through Amazon (it has since risen again back to it’s regular price) when it was on sale, which works out to about $2.99 a month. This mount is worth it to me for Netflix alone, as I was able to downgrade my 2 DVD at a time membership to 1 DVD at a time and save a five spot in the process. For those that are interested, the PlayOn Netflix streaming quality/convenience/simplicity/speed is nowhere near 360 Gold Netflix streaming which can be DVD or higher quality.
“Sony was (is) charging publishers of PSN titles money per GB to be released on PSN. ( it was like 4cents/GB) and thats how Sony was able to keep PSN free: Pass that payment to the publisher.”
Actually it is reported to be 16 cents/GB, which works out to some serious money for millions of free downloads (2 million free RE5 demo downloads on PSN = $350,000).
“Actually i think that is one neat feature that LIVE has, is the preview demos of their Arcade titles, a trend im starting to see on PSN which is pretty nifty”
Uh… yes… this is part of the reason you have had PSN for free. Since PS3’s launch it has basically been a beta Live service. First no achievements, then after enough customers complained long enough, achievements on some games, then finally new releases. First no free game demos, then later some free game demos. First no video chat, then later text chat. With few exceptions (YouTube -which you can now get on 360 via PlayOn, and Home -which has yet to catch on) PSN has basically been slowly adding on capabilities that XBL has had or gets first.
While Sony experiments and tries to get PSN right this gen (they are still one gen behind XBL), you get it for free. The model still has not been standardized, and we could definitely see one of two switches next gen: PSN/XBL for free to all users, multiplayer included… or, PSN/XBL “basic” membership and a PSN/XBL “deluxe” membership with added capabilities for a small fee.
Another possibility is paying for each added capability which has significant bandwidth: HD video streaming, multiplayer gaming, level editing, video chat, music services, quality internet browser, etc. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing GameTap working extensively with one or all of the consoles to bring it’s service, with tight controls complete with achievements/trophies.
“You do realise that Microsoft themselves produce only a tiny minority of the games on Arcade, hmmmmm?”
Good point HH, as Tozai developed and is probably key to deciding how much is being charged for both R-Type Dimensions and Lode-Runner, and the same is probably true with Behemoth and Castle Crashers.
April 27th, 2009
“Cya all later to busy getting ready for the new fucking TROPHY that Guerilla Games added.”
While you are at it, you can thank Microsoft and the 360 for your “TROPHY” capability on PS3 Ivan. Have fun with it, as I know I have on 360 for the last three and a half years… welcome to the party, finally standard on PS3 (at least for new releases), this year.
April 27th, 2009
CarlB:
I thank Sony for making it fuck Microsoft they suck. PS2 was the first console with a camera.
Xbox is a epic failure
April 27th, 2009
Yes, better to take pictures of your mustachios with. GameBoy and cellphones had it before PS2, and PC before then. I still do not have a game console camera, nor do I care about them, my built-in laptop camera and IPhone work fine, and if I need a higher quality pic I can use my standalone.
XBox is no longer being sold. XBox 360’s are, and much better than it’s predecessor, to the detriment of Sony sales. Fortunately that equates to features like achievements, chat, and free game demos eventually being added to PS3 that were not there before. Hopefully these added features combined a with the few AAA quality exclusive titles Sony has planned to release will equate to significantly increased sales for them.
April 27th, 2009
Ivan if microsoft sucks so much why do you claim to have downloaded and played all of their games???
April 27th, 2009
“PS2 was the first console with a camera. ”
Ahahahaha, that killed me.
Fuck your sucky 360’s, my toilet flushes GREAT!
April 27th, 2009
CarlB:
???
CON:
Are you high, when please give me a link to read that.
PS2 was the first gaming console to have a camera.
April 27th, 2009
@ Ivan,
I thought you were leaving to go play your game? Can you please hurry up and do so?
April 27th, 2009
LOL
I see Ivan is demonstrating his ’special-ness’ again.
Anyhoo, just got off a nice session of COD 4 & 5.
Funny thing is tho, the XBox 360 COD 4 looks pretty much identical to my PC version and the PS3 version I’ve seen
(although the PC versions go higher than 600p resolution, but it doesn’t really make much odds on my HD TV, everything gets upscaled to 1080p by the REON chipset in my HD receiver anyway).
Lots of fun. Not a hint of lag and it seems like there’s always a good game to be had.
I’m impressed by COD4 (I only got 5 today).
Anyone care to say if the earlier ones worth bothering with if you already have 4 & 5?
April 27th, 2009
It may just be nostalgia, but I thought CoD2 was excellent (my launch day game), followed by 3 with more of the same… going back through again for all the achievements was icing on the cake.
April 27th, 2009
I dont know why you have to bring in that same old argument in here carl… the whole thing about backwards compatibility and the ps3’s price… youre better than that…
Mike only usd the 360 in the title so that we can accuse him of being a fanboy… this pricing system is clearly out of hand…
on another note… MARVEL VERSUS CAPCOM TWO YO!
arvis… you and me dude… cmon… you know you want to…
April 28th, 2009
darkwhitehair,
I don’t know why people are picking 1 thing out of a list of things I said to wonder about… but let’s try to explain:
If you notice, I stated I also thought Wii is too expensive (for me) and why. The reason I mentioned PS3 is because while it may be an old argument, it is still relative (for me) because they have not alleviated these things. The list used to be longer with achievements, no so anymore. Two more things and I may take the plunge.
If I were a PS3 owner at this time (which I am not), I would be more than happy with my extra investment in the console by this time, my console’s games, and trophies (perhaps even having the 60GB version with full PS2 bc compatibility and having not already owned, but needing wireless, bc, and getting it on sale for $100 off with a Sony card or something). In that state, I would not care to spend another $200-$400 on a 360 for only a few more games, let alone $250+ on a Wii for even fewer titles and no trophies/achievements.
The main theme here is some people have the money to spend and will do so because they truly want to. Some people would and have spent money for all three consoles, and the majority have not. This relates to games in the same way, because some people have the money to blow on maybe not only Lode Runner for $15, but perhaps also Max Payne 1 and/or 2 (also $15 apiece on XBLM today).
April 28th, 2009
CoD 4 is better than 5 imo. 5 should’ve been an addon and cost less…
Within a month or so my entire clan dropped 5 in favour of 4.
Still, zombie mode was a riot.
April 28th, 2009
Gameplay
Nathan firing a FN FAL at an enemy armed with a ballistic shield.
Uncharted 2 will feature new gameplay mechanics, such as stealth action segments, and will change the climbing mechanic to allow free movement over walls, in a manner similar to Assassin’s Creed. Nathan will be able to flip over certain pieces of furniture to use as cover. The game is also stated to have no loading screens. Drake himself will have a darker side in this outing, and the player will learn what makes him a thief, hence the title.
Bruce Straley, the game director for Uncharted 2, has revealed that the artificial intelligence of the enemies will be updated to match the new action-stealth gameplay. Enemies will have peripheral vision, so that they will hunt for Nathan if he briefly appears in their vision cone. Additionally, the enemies will interact with the environment more, following Nathan as he climbs on buildings or jumps from ledges.
In addition to new gameplay mechanics, the game engine will also be revamped to take advantage of Naughty Dog’s increased understanding of the PlayStation 3’s architecture. Naughty Dog are aiming to maximize the utilization of the Cell’s SPUs, as their estimates for utilization in the first Uncharted were around 30%. As a result, the game is expected to have more realistic environments and animations.
Multiplayer
Uncharted 2 will feature both competitive and co-operative multiplayer. The co-operative multiplayer will allow a maximum of three players to take the roles of Nathan, Sully and Chloe and will feature missions involving gunfights, platforming, and teamwork-based objectives. Players will also need to assist their comrades should they become critically injured or be grabbed by an enemy.
The competitive multiplayer will allow a maximum of ten players to play against each other. Two competitive modes have been revealed, “Deathmatch” and “Plunder”. Deathmatch features two teams of five, with one team acting as “heroes” and the other as “villains”, and players will be able to choose their own appropriate character models (such as Nathan, Sully and Chloe for the “heroes” team). Players will also be able to select two Boost abilities which will assist them in the matches themselves. Plunder is similar to the traditional capture the flag game mode, and sees each team attempt to capture the gold treasure from a central point in the map and return it to their base; the player carrying the treasure is slowed down a great deal, and may also choose to hurl the treasure away at any point, in order to keep it out of reach of the enemy, or to pass it to a teammate.
Plot
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves picks up a couple of years after the story in Uncharted ends. Similar to the previous story, Drake’s new adventure revolves around an unsolved historical mystery – this time surrounding Marco Polo and his doomed voyage home from China in 1292. After spending almost 20 years in the court of the emperor Kublai Khan, Marco Polo departed with 14 ships and over 600 passengers and crew – but when he arrived at his destination a year and a half later, only one ship remained, and only 18 of the passengers had survived. Although Marco Polo described almost every other aspect of his journeys in minute detail, he never revealed what happened to the ships that were lost.
So Drake, attracted by the potential treasure to be found and inspired by the intrigue around this historical mystery, embarks on a quest to find Marco Polo’s lost fleet. But he soon discovers that Marco Polo was hiding a much greater secret – he had gone on a secret expedition on behalf of the emperor to find the mythical kingdom of Shambhala, otherwise known as Shangri-La, and to recover the legendary Cintamani Stone, the wish-fulfilling jewel of Buddhist mythology. The stone is described by Marco Polo as a massive raw sapphire which, if it truly exists, would be worth billions of dollars today. These discoveries set Drake on a new course, following Marco Polo’s 700-year-old trail through a diverse range of exotic environments to find out if the lost city of Shambhala, rumoured to lie deep in the Himalayas, really exists. Following him on his quest will be Chloe Frazer, a new character voiced by Claudia Black of Stargate SG-1 and Farscape.
April 28th, 2009
And what has uncharted 2 got to do with alleged “overpriced xbla games”
April 28th, 2009
Save your money for PLAYSTATION 3 exclsuive games like inFAMOUS and UNCHARTED: Among Thieves. Go pre-order it now…
April 28th, 2009
Carl B
I think you pushed Ivan over the edge today he has completely lost it.
April 28th, 2009
Ivan the PS3 advertising spam AI.
April 28th, 2009
^
lol, beat me to it SW. Sony does not need to spend millions on advertising and marketing, they got Ivan!
April 28th, 2009
Cad, I think you called it.
Mike (and Dave), keep up the great work… I know you don’t get paid much for these (and you are probably underappreciated) but it is enjoyable and even somewhat meaningful to have a place to comment on (that is not overcrowded) what is going on within the gaming community.
Op-eds or whatever, you all are doing a great job (you too George, thanks for the gravitars… are we going to see that forum and editing now? You’re the man!). Not to mention John who makes it all possible and everybody (not many, I know) who keeps on coming back on a regular basis.
(thank you now everybody I am on my fourth glass of wine and fallout 3 quest: Finding the Garden of Eden – I just finished all the achievement side quests *not the unmarked ones -saving those to help level up w/Broken Steel* and got the Alien Blaster, Xuanlong Assault Rifle, Terrible Shotgun, Ultra SMG, etc… also just watched Jericho pilot HD with my wife over 360 Netflix with excellent quality for streaming… I hope this is a trend that spreads to most all rentals because it is truly a pleasure to experience for a pittance compared to even SD downloads over XBLM. If anything is overcharged, it is rentals and video downloads over XBLM/PSN. The convenience factor is there, sure… but why should we have to pay extra for it when the people who earn money off of it spend less because it is digital media vice physical?)
April 28th, 2009
SW:
Knighthawk:
Hell Yeah,… Everything i do is for profit remember that. And Sony doesn’t need to spend millions of dollars like Microsoft because they are already known by the entire universe. They need to tell people who they are we know very well they rule the electronic world with an IRON FIST.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644522780
April 28th, 2009
DWH: “on another note… MARVEL VERSUS CAPCOM TWO YO!
arvis… you and me dude… cmon… you know you want to…”
Ok, fine. I want to. And I know it. Now, when does it come out?
@SW: That’s the same theory I have about kev. It would figure that Microsoft would write the better program…
-Arvis
April 28th, 2009
(sorry double-post)
@Carl: Did you just win some kind of prestigious award? I think the orchestra was about to play you off the stage!
-Arvis
April 28th, 2009
@Arvis,
Sorry to cramp your style Arvis, it was the wine speaking. Did George really put an orchestra in here too? Impressive. ♠
April 28th, 2009
Ah, Carl, you know your posts are some of the best here.
-Arvis
April 28th, 2009
LOL at orchestra comment. He is definitely one of the more rounded commenters here, I will agree.
And ….IVAN – you have lost it m8. Time for your medies !!??
April 29th, 2009
So it wasn’t pillow talk, carl?
April 29th, 2009
…oh no… I went and got Harry aroused…
April 29th, 2009
@ Ivan,
“they rule the electronic world with an IRON FIST.” –> Yeah and I can make you squeal with a RUBBER FIST.
April 29th, 2009
Are you off your medies as well Harry ?????
April 29th, 2009
Yep, ran out of horse tranquilisers.
April 29th, 2009
Careful on those ’special Ks’ harry, they might make you come over all horsey.
Oo’er missus.
(no, please don’t link to that kind of thing, for the love of God no!)
April 29th, 2009
BTW I’m getting some excellent deals on points atm.
I just bought 4200 for £28.60 ($42 US/ $58 AUS).
April 29th, 2009
Where from happy? Whenever I realise that I have points in my balance I normally end up blowing them on Rock Band tracks.
April 29th, 2009
harry
Play.uk are doing them 2 x 2100 for £30 then you get an extra £1.40 off with Quidco.
Quidco is the smart way to buy.
It’s a cash-back internet thingy, it takes a while for them to pay out – it can be months – but they gave me an extra £70 of the car insurance this year just for going through their site.
All you have to do is visit a member retailer by logging in and going via the Quidco link, piece of pi$$.
Obviously not all retailers are members (Amazon is a big notable absentee, unfortunately) but people like HMV, Play, Memorybits and my good mates at Littlewoods Direct are, between their 1st time buy discount & Quidco is how I got my Elite for £135.
April 29th, 2009
You a rock band fiend then harry?
I’m just getting started on that one.
I really liked Guitar Hero 3 (HMV were doing that and the wireless guitar for £35 at X-mas, total bargain), I’ve just got the Aerosmith one (for £12) and I bought Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 1.
Rock Band 2 is still a silly price and now Guitar Hero 2 seems thin on the ground they appear to be going for silly money now.
Argos were doing the wired Explorer style guitar for £10 here a few weeks back so I’m all set for some co-op stuff now.
Guitar Hero track packs seem expensive for what they give your, how do rock band’s work out?
April 30th, 2009
harry, did you see this?
More XBL goodies on the way for everyone.
Came in my email today…..
“XTIVAL is back.
Xtival is almost here! Get ready for more action-packed Xbox LIVE antics
and entertainment on the weekend of 1-4 May.
We don’t think anyone should miss out on the treats we’ve got lined-up this year, which is why we’re giving EVERYONE Xbox LIVE Gold membership FREE for the entire weekend.”
April 30th, 2009
ARVIS! DEMO OUT ON PSN TODAY! I think…. BUT VERY SOON!
Ima kick yo ass ho…. Ohhh yeah…
April 30th, 2009
it’s funny the ps3 fanboys whine about xbox live prices (which is funny since they’re not using it) and cry at a $15 game but feel okay spending $600 for a ps3 with less games, less functional online, and rumbleless controllers (the launch model).
proving once again; the ps3 fanboys are idiots…. oh…and hypocrites….
April 30th, 2009
dwh
Was that aimed at my post?
Don’t you know that (as well as being a long weekend freebie for XBL) XTIVAL is a Guitar Hero/Rock Band related ‘festival’?
April 30th, 2009
Bring it, DWH. Bring it on.
-Arvis
April 30th, 2009
“it’s funny the ps3 fanboys whine about xbox live prices (which is funny since they’re not using it)”
Especially when just as many are $14.99 when they first come out on PSN as well. Where was the uproar when Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy came out at $14.99, when Lumines and Zuma were both $5 more on PSN vice XBLA? Not here… mysteriously.
April 30th, 2009
It’s not just the absolute silence from the PS3 fans that amuses me on this sort of thing.
Where oh where are those who often come in & declare themselves to be ever so neutral and balanced about all of this?
April 30th, 2009
Happy, if I bought them from a UK store, could I redeem them on my Aussie Xbox? I am assuming it should be ok because we’re both in PAL region 4.
And yep, am a Guitar Hero/Rock Band fiend, well just really starting on them anyway. I bought the World Tour full set over the Rock Band full set mainly because the Rock Band drum kit only has 4 pads, it’s missing the top right high-hat.
April 30th, 2009
I wouldn’t think you’d have any diffs with that harry.
I know there’s a PAL/NTSC region lockout (f*cking reegion coding, nothing but an anti-consumer PITA and licence to print money) but I doubt points would be region-coded.
(but bear in mind I couldn’t swear to it…..maybe ask on a dedicated xbox board?)
I’m pretty new to it myself, I’ve completed World Tour, Rock Band 1, Aerosmith GH and GH3 on easy on guitar
(mainly so as to unlock all the songs for a mate of mine & his wife & kids coming over at the end of the month, few drinks and it ought to be a good laugh).
It’s funny cos I play guitar and I reckon it’s easier on the harder settings (cos if you’re used to music & timing your instinct is to play some of the notes they leave out & that are not there on easy, if you see what I mean).
I’ve resisted the temptation to buy a drum kit & bass and the mike so far but it’s appealing (but the kit is so expensive).
May 1st, 2009
Some of us have a life beyond this web site and computing HH. Assumptions are the mother of all f%$^ups. You just made one.
To answer the question in regard to this thread, I have found both PSN and XBL prices to be comparable.
Unlike you m8, I can say positive and negative things about both systems. YOU CAN’T.
You seem to be mimicing our friend Kev (who has graced us with his brief presence again and dribble crap as usual.
May 1st, 2009
Spideydog:
“Some of us have a life beyond this web site and computing HH. Assumptions are the mother of all f%$^ups. You just made one”.
Spidey, seriously, I have no idea what you are referring to.
Care to elaborate?
May 1st, 2009
Quote: “It’s not just the absolute silence from the PS3 fans that amuses me on this sort of thing.
Where oh where are those who often come in & declare themselves to be ever so neutral and balanced about all of this?”
Is this clear enough for you ?? Sometimes silence does not mean you have won an argument or there is nothing to say !! Silence may be from persons not being around to have a say !!??
May 1st, 2009
Spideydog:
“Sometimes silence does not mean you have won an argument or there is nothing to say !! Silence may be from persons not being around to have a say !!??”
Righto, er, any other pearls of the bleeding obvious you’d care to share?
Bit touchy about this are we?
May 2nd, 2009
“Where oh where are those who often come in & declare themselves to be ever so neutral and balanced about all of this?”
If they’re neutral then they’re somewhere else not giving a fuck.
Jeez, just assign a value to the game in your head and if its too expensive don’t buy it… How did we get to 60+ on this one
May 2nd, 2009
Wow… somebody’s keeping track too… amazing
May 2nd, 2009
Quote: “Righto, er, any other pearls of the bleeding obvious you’d care to share?
Bit touchy about this are we?”
You asked the question ??? I replied. Don’t like it when your contradicted HH and then your only comeback is “Bit touchy”. Don’t like the answers, don’t ask the question …. der !!
LOL. There is only one person here that I have seen take things to heart m8. I will give you a clue. It’s not me
Keep smiling
May 2nd, 2009
LMAO
You wish.
May 2nd, 2009
No problem HH. I can guarantee I’m not the only one here of that opinion. So I suppose we are ALL wishing eh ??
May 3rd, 2009
Spideydog.
Wake up.
It’s a blog with a message board about gaming and game consoles.
I could give a flying one whether you or a little group of posters share an opinion.
The collective opinions of some Sony/PS3 fanboys, wow, well, case closed obviously.
FFS.
You don’t know me or jack about me.
The same applies in reverse.
No matter how hard you wish (or anyone else wishes) that I, or anyone else here, takes this seriously or to heart it just doesn’t make it so.
Sorry and all but it doesn’t.
Still, your projections are amusing (and probably more revealing than you imagine).
May 3rd, 2009
“You don’t know me…”
…”You know nothing. In fact, you know less than nothing. If you knew that you knew nothing, then that would be something, but you don’t…
…”I see NOTHING! I know NOTHING!”
May 3rd, 2009
‘You don’t know me or jack about me.’
We know you use the moniker ‘Happyhockum’ on gamer.blorge.com…
Proved you wrong again!!oneone1
Mwhahahahahahahahahaha…
Yes, its quite late….
May 3rd, 2009
Oh so predictable. When you have nothing you revert back to your generic “fanboy” rhetoric.
Cry me a river.. You spill enough tantrams here for everyone to get a good idea as to what you are.
May 3rd, 2009
“We know you use the moniker ‘Happyhockum’ on gamer.blorge.com…”
Actually… you don’t even know that SW… somebody could have given him that name and he can’t even see it from his end.
“You spill enough tantrams here for everyone to get a good idea as to what you are”
A good rule of thumb for online forums is to only speak for one’s self… but that’s just my personal belief.
May 3rd, 2009
I didn’t mention any names. But thats just my personal belief.
May 3rd, 2009
Spideydog
When I need a laughably 3rd rate amateur psychologist I now know where to turn.
Thanks for that.
May 3rd, 2009
“I didn’t mention any names.”
You didn’t have to when you said “everyone”.
May 3rd, 2009
“he can’t even see it from his end.”
Well, now I know HH is a blind man too! Mwhahahaha!111111111111111111111111111
May 3rd, 2009
“When a blind man carries a lame man both go forward.”
“He who thinks he knows knows nothing, he who knows he knows nothing knows.”
May 4th, 2009
“He who quoteth quotes, quotes quotes.”
SW – 2009 – About ‘going thru DQ’ time.
May 4th, 2009
“To be amused by what you read–that is the great spring of happy quotations.”
May 4th, 2009
I’m too lazy to look up quotes. You win this battle!
*shakes fist*
May 4th, 2009
C’mon HH you can do better than that …..
Carl re-read my post in the right context.
May 4th, 2009
(*after much mutteeing, um-ing and ah-ing)
HH blows inordinately long raspberry at Spideydog.
(you either get the Python Oscar Wilde’s party ref or you don’t…..look up, it’s a true classic…..but the version that went out on record was better)
May 4th, 2009
Spidey, “everyone” is almost always misused, regardless of the context. But that’s just my personal belief.
May 5th, 2009
LOL to you all