More crap content rears its head on Xbox Live (And it's not just EA)

Written by Dan Zuccarelli

Wednesday, 15 November 2006 07:13

via Major Nelson's blog, the following two items are available on the fast-becoming rape fest known as the Xbox Live Marketplace.

I'm suprised anyone can keep a straight face when they actually ask for money for this stuff.

Name: FIFA 07 Pitch Crests
Price: 100 Points
Available in: All Xbox Live Regions
Dash Details: Customize your in-game practice arena with a crest from your favorite team!
*This content will be available for Xbox Live Silver members on 11/22/06

EA's at it again. Pay 100 points and have the ability to put a logo on your practice field?!???! Are they for real? Also note the availability for Xbox Live silver members. They're starting to test the waters on withholding content from Silver members.

Name: Gears of War - Angry Titan Strategy
Price: 100 Points
Available in: Canada and the U.S.
Dash Details: Experience BradyGames strategy for Gears of War with Cliff Bleszinski. Do you have what it takes to kill the Corpser?

A fraking video showing you how to kill one of the bosses (and it's not a hard battle). This is less of a deal to me because it's like buying the strategy/cheat guide. But still...

I know they're just throwing a bunch of shit at a wall to see what sticks, but it's still shit. Give us some good games and original content.

Comments (8) Add Comment

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written by jimmycanuck, November 15, 2006

Again, I find myself defending microtransactions. I hate to tow the company line so well, but honestly, the consumer dictates the content on the marketplace, not the producer. If someone is going to pay 100 points for a walkthrough, or to unlock a car already on the disc, or buy in game money, that's their business. If the demand is big enough, it'll continue, and if it's not, it won't.

I'm absolutely amazed by how many people are outraged by this sort of thing. If you don't want it, don't buy it. It doesn't affect you. Are you outraged because Wal-Mart sells yarn and you don't knit?

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written by danzuke (NetPhantom), November 15, 2006

I'm not against the walkthrough stuff and I actually have no problem at all watching people pay for cheat codes. People should have to pay to cheat.

But 100 points to put a logo on the field? Cmon... I know consumers dictate the market and hopefully consumers will not buy this, but I find it insulting that they'd even try to sell it to me in the 1st place

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written by jimmycanuck, November 15, 2006

But here's the question - are they trying to sell it to you, or to the specific niche market that this would appeal to? It just seems to me that too many 360 owners feel that anything that pops up on the marketplace is aimed directly at them.

Don't get me wrong - I have my fair share of gripes with the marketplace too, but all of my complaints revolve around things that aren't there, rather than things I don't want - ie where the @#$% are the free gamerpics and themes? Couldn't they put out one or two every month? And why in the @#$% do I get screwed out of content on a regular basis by not being in the US? I paid my 8 bucks to go see Nacho Libre when it came out, why in the hell couldn't I come home and download a free gamerpic? And what- we don't watch Family Guy up here in Canada?

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written by danzuke (NetPhantom), November 15, 2006

You make a very good point that I never really considered before. You're right in the sense that it's pointless to complain about the things that are there, because you're right. Not all content is supposed to appeal to me.

I guess my complaints were misworded but are probably more similar to yours than it would seem. The fact that they spend time on content like the stuff above means that they're not spending it on more useful content. (Or easy stuff like free gamerpics)

It's all new territory to be sure, but I just get the nagging suspicion that the reality of the marketplace will fall far short of the potential of it

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written by jimmycanuck, November 15, 2006

lol. I think we've found a point we can all agree on.

If it helps any, the past few posts on Live have gotten me off my duff to write my own complaint in my blog. I'll warn you, it's a little profane, but if you'd like to find issue with my writing, we can call it even. smilies/wink.gif

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written by greshkov, November 15, 2006

it's only a matter of time before they do something that screws everyone. my problem with xbox live as a whole will be posted really soon.

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written by danzuke (NetPhantom), November 15, 2006

jimmy, I'll defintely read your stuff on the subject, but I'll never need to find a problem with it to be even. I enjoy a good debate and that's honestly what this site is hopefully about. We never censor anyones ideas or dismiss anyone out of hand.

You made some good points that honestly shifted my way of looking at this stuff. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pissed about 100 points to put a graphic on a field, but it is what it is.

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written by jimmycanuck, November 15, 2006

My post is actually more on my gripes with the age of certain people on XBox Live - but I know I've got an "In Defense of Microtransactions" post in me somewhere.

In case I haven't said it yet - I love bbps. This is easily one of my favourite blogs. Keep up the excellent work!