Xbox Live Market Place - General Discussion Thread 1

[Skull Commander]

Remember it's R.Type 1 AND 2 for the 1200 points. Technically thats 600 points per game, complete with new modes, graphics and online features.

[Brats]

like has been said before 1200 points for braid as its a new and original game is fair enough but 1200 points for r-type when things like sonic were 400 really is taking the piss its a retro game re skinned or not.

I'm not trying to detract form the game as r-type has its fans and I'm sure plenty of people will love it and happily pay 1200 points but it dose seem a tad pricey for a game thats been around for 20 odd years.

How long a game has been around for is irrelevant to me. If I think I'll get 1,200 points worth of enjoyment from it, I'll buy it. I'd buy an update to Space War if I thought it was worth the points.

[CMcK]

R-Type is up and it's awesome! I know 1200 points seems steep but there has clearly been a lot of work put into it. There are all sorts of graphic options including 4:3, 16:9, 2d, 3d, various camera angles and assorted filters for that authentic retro look. Not to mention the online stuff and local co-op.

Gameplay is arcade perfect as is the sound. I already really like the updated visuals in the strict side scrolling view in 16:9 mode. Feels so familiar but has lots of lovely touches like the lighting effects and enhanced animation.
The achievements list looks quite interesting with stuff like complete the first two levels of the game only using rapid fire. There are rewards such as gamerpics for taking out the first boss on R-Type 2 for example. I don't know if there will be anymore though. There is the option to download two bonus pics when you buy the game as well.

GOTY 2009!

[Womble9]

R-Type is up and it's awesome! I know 1200 points seems steep but there has clearly been a lot of work put into it. There are all sorts of graphic options including 4:3, 16:9, 2d, 3d, various camera angles and assorted filters for that authentic retro look. Not to mention the online stuff and local co-op.

Is there a graphic option to have it looking as it originally did as on all the screen shots I've seen it seems to have been smoothed out / given some sort of sheen if that makes sense?!?

[Lebowski]

How long a game has been around for is irrelevant to me. If I think I'll get 1,200 points worth of enjoyment from it, I'll buy it. I'd buy an update to Space War if I thought it was worth the points.

its a re skinned version of r-type 1 and 2 there is no way that this has had the same amount of work put into it as braid and there in lies the problem with pricing.

[CMcK]

Is there a graphic option to have it looking as it originally did as on all the screen shots I've seen it seems to have been smoothed out / given some sort of sheen if that makes sense?!?

If you select the 2d and normal screen options its just like playing R-Type in the arcades.
The enhanced 3d visuals are quite shiny but are very nice as well.

[CMcK]

its a re skinned version of r-type 1 and 2 there is no way that this has had the same amount of work put into it as braid and there in lies the problem with pricing.

Thats probably a bit harsh. The enhanced versions of the games were probably built from the ground up and then there is the matter of having an emulator to build as well.
Who actually sets the price of games? Would it have been Tozai or Microsoft in this case?

[Charlie]

Who actually sets the price of games? Would it have been Tozai or Microsoft in this case?

My understanding is Microsoft set the price for all XBLA titles.

Brats' argument is a valid one. If someone doesn't mind mind paying 1200 points for a game they feel is worth ?12 then that's perfectly understandable - they're basing their decision on the personal enjoyment they expect the game to provide. But the other side of the argument is equally valid - the pricing of XBLA titles regularly doesn't match up with the time, effort and money spent creating them and increasingly it seems Microsoft are charging more for certain titles solely on the basis they believe the game will be popular. It's not a matter of spending an extra ?4 in my book, it's a matter of principle. But, again, both sides of the argument are valid and, ultimately, it's a question of personal philosophy.

[Womble9]

Remember it's R.Type 1 AND 2 for the 1200 points. Technically thats 600 points per game, complete with new modes, graphics and online features.

That's the way I see it too. Sure at 1200 points it's one of the pricier releases but it wouldn't have suprised me at all to have had R Type 1 released first at 800 point with 2 following on later for another 800. For me getting them both with the extra options (I really like some of the graphics modes) for 1200 all in is pretty damn good .

[Brats]

My understanding is Microsoft set the price for all XBLA titles.

Brats' argument is a valid one. If someone doesn't mind mind paying 1200 points for a game they feel is worth £12 then that's perfectly understandable - they're basing their decision on the personal enjoyment they expect the game to provide. But the other side of the argument is equally valid - the pricing of XBLA titles regularly doesn't match up with the time, effort and money spent creating them and increasingly it seems Microsoft are charging more for certain titles solely on the basis they believe the game will be popular. It's not a matter of spending an extra £4 in my book, it's a matter of principle. But, again, both sides of the argument are valid and, ultimately, it's a question of personal philosophy.

It is, but sometimes I think 'principle' and 'personal philosophy' can get in the way of just buying something and enjoying it.

Anecdotal story time: Our family went to Cambridge before Christmas with our parents. We went in in two cars. Anyone who knows Cambridge knows that parking is a nightmare, so they have a Park and Ride. Unfortunately we missed the turning to the Park and Ride so we ended up in Central Cambridge in the one way system. The traffic was heavy and I just wanted to park. I suggested we go to the car park near Jesus college. I knew it would cost more and it did - £22 for the day!

My Dad refused on principle to pay it, turned his car around and decided to park elsewhere. I knew the price was a lot but weighed up my options and decided it was worth it. So we parked up and went shopping. Nearly two hours later we finally saw the parents again, they had got stuck in a gridlock on the way back to the park and ride and then had to wait ages for the bus. Even though my dad acknowledged we did the right thing, he said he still wouldn't have done it 'on principle'.

We went for a meal in the evening, but when we finished they had missed the last bus to Park and Ride and had to get a cab to take them there (which cost them nearly £10 - ho ho), whereas we had a two minute walk to the car and were home in no time (we did offer them a lift, but we had the kids).

Anyway, the moral of this story is bugger the principle. If in the situation it's worth it - buy it.

Regarding, the time and effort put into a game, it doesn't make any difference to me whether a game took ten years to make or a day - what matters is how much I'll enjoy it and I base my purchasing decisions on that.

All films are charged the same price at the cinema and yet some clearly cost more and took longer to produce than others. Yet no-one thinks that cinemas should charge less for In Bruge than The Dark Knight.

[SmokeMeAKipper]

I just wish MS would reduce the price of older XBLA games - 800 points still for some of the earlier releases is patently silly

[Matt]

like has been said before 1200 points for braid as its a new and original game is fair enough but 1200 points for r-type when things like sonic were 400 really is taking the piss its a retro game re skinned or not.

I'm not trying to detract form the game as r-type has its fans and I'm sure plenty of people will love it and happily pay 1200 points but it dose seem a tad pricey for a game thats been around for 20 odd years.

I agree. I'm not too keen on the whole concept of Points as it is, it's like getting Gift Certificates at Xmas because, you know, real money isn't as valuable somehow

When a new, original title like Braid is the same price, it's hard to justify buying a game I've already played on numerous consoles and computers over the years. For 600 I'd probably pick it up just for the odd game. Then again I can say that for a load of titles on Live. Paying a tenner for a 20 year old title I've completed numerous times and which has no resale value is too much for me.

And I say that as a big fan of RType and the Arcade. I've a load of titles, and continue to buy. Just before Xmas I stocked up on 6300 points, giving me 7600 at the time. I now have under 2000 left

[Spatial]

TellTale Games brining Wallace & Gromit to XBLA

http://www.console-arcade.com/2009/02/04/telltale-bringing-wallace-gromit-to-xbla/

[bcass]

its a re skinned version of r-type 1 and 2 there is no way that this has had the same amount of work put into it as braid and there in lies the problem with pricing.

R-Type Dimensions took a small team over 2 years to complete.

[Charlie]

It is, but sometimes I think 'principle' and 'personal philosophy' can get in the way of just buying something and enjoying it.

Anecdotal story time: Our family went to Cambridge before Christmas with our parents. We went in in two cars. Anyone who knows Cambridge knows that parking is a nightmare, so they have a Park and Ride. Unfortunately we missed the turning to the Park and Ride so we ended up in Central Cambridge in the one way system. The traffic was heavy and I just wanted to park. I suggested we go to the car park near Jesus college. I knew it would cost more and it did - £22 for the day!

My Dad refused on principle to pay it, turned his car around and decided to park elsewhere. I knew the price was a lot but weighed up my options and decided it was worth it. So we parked up and went shopping. Nearly two hours later we finally saw the parents again, they had got stuck in a gridlock on the way back to the park and ride and then had to wait ages for the bus. Even though my dad acknowledged we did the right thing, he said he still wouldn't have done it 'on principle'.

We went for a meal in the evening, but when we finished they had missed the last bus to Park and Ride and had to get a cab to take them there (which cost them nearly £10 - ho ho), whereas we had a two minute walk to the car and were home in no time (we did offer them a lift, but we had the kids).

Anyway, the moral of this story is bugger the principle. If in the situation it's worth it - buy it.

Regarding, the time and effort put into a game, it doesn't make any difference to me whether a game took ten years to make or a day - what matters is how much I'll enjoy it and I base my purchasing decisions on that.

All films are charged the same price at the cinema and yet some clearly cost more and took longer to produce than others. Yet no-one thinks that cinemas should charge less for In Bruge than The Dark Knight.

Interesting story and I do understand the point you're making and accept it as a valid and logical one. However I cannot help but take exception to Microsoft and their pricing of Marketplace content. Some of their prices are blatant attempts to rip people off and, when that happens, I won't swallow it. Principles might get in the way of buying things and having fun, you're right, but they're important. They define who we are.