Xbox 360 Fanboy

I'm wondering why they can't just get it sponsored again like the last pack?

Personally, I'm willing to wait until they're free, but I know people who won't...

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I'm starting to wonder why it is I still have to pay for Xbox Live just to have to pay for almost every piece of content as well.

Much like the *new* media blade which will have it's own 'skin' or to call it what it will really be 'advertising'. Oh look at all the good things to come!

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I should add that I don't mind paying for maps or anything else but I shouldn't have to pay for a membership in order to have the ability to pay for content or play multiplayer.

I just don't like the feeling of being double dipped...

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Yeah. I'm not buying Rein's statements.

It sounds like he's trying to maintain Epic's stance as a "gamer's buddy" than just admit they are willing to sell the maps to line their pockets. Wasn't there numbers floating around that a developer can pocket as much as 70% of the profits from marketplace sales? (Less if Microsoft has a bigger hand in it)

I doubt anyone can make a real argument for not paying for the maps based on the quality of the previous ones either.

I'm just sick of developers running their mouth off, but not sticking to their guns. If they really wanted us to have these for free from the get-go, he should have shown them off to the media and said "Too bad guys. We're not going to release these unless you, the gaming community, can put pressure on Microsoft to make them free."

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i dont think people would have a problem with payin for the maps if epic didnt want it to be free

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I also think that people will pay for the maps in a second, even if they are pissed about it. I certainly don't mind shelling out a few bucks for some new maps.

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f'in money whores... they already rape us with the cost of the console, and all the accessories. $60/game instead of the traditional $50. XBox Live $50/year... plus XBLA games, and marketplace movies... it makes me sick when I add up how much money I've spent on all of this...

The greed is unquenchable... why can't there be a good game company that has a main goal of producing great games at a reasonable price... cuz this is insane...

I know the maps won't probably cost that much... but it's just the fact that we have to pay for every little thing that gets released.

and on another note... anyone wanna buy my 20gb hard drive? so i can get a 120gb?

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whats the big deal, if you want the new maps pay for it, if not, then don't. I like free content as well, but if its something you want go ahead and pay for it. It's better than them not making any new downloadable content at all....

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I already posted this on joystiq, but I'll reiterate here:

It's Microsoft's store. In order for a store to stay in business it needs to make money.

Just like at the grocery store, they mark up the price of your Cocoa Puffs so that the store can stay in business. It's the way the economy works. Sure, it would be great if everything in the world were free, but that's just not reality.

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this is bullshit...if epic wants to release the maps for free...why is microsoft such a profit-whoring little bitch and not letting them do it?

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Alright Les Doodis, I'll bite.

So I give you credit in trying to make people think of the service as more or less a physical store.

That would make Gold membership similar to membership to say Sams Club or CostCo. So far...no big issue there.

But with membership usually comes 'perks'. It can be free stuff every now and again or it can be everyday discounts on all content. Gold members don't get either of those really. Most 'free' content is usually advertising.

Also, the pricing issue you raise brings some other questions to mind as far as fair pricing across the board. Map packs and other additional gaming content seems fair game to charge for as long as the pricing is fair.

Again, I agree with your points here but a good share of content available is already overpriced. Themes and Gamerpics come quick to mind. Mainly because you can't often get to see what you are buying first. The Xbox website doesn't update their 'Themes and Pics' often enough.

And the pricing of TV shows still rubs me a bit because for around the same price I can 'own' shows via iTunes. The 'rental' pricing is set just a touch too high for me. But that is personal preference because clearly many, many people think the pricing is just fine the way it is.

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I posted this exact same thing at the 'stiq:

Give one good reason why this content should be free? It costs resources to put this on Live, maintain the service, distribute it, etc. and even if it didnt they have something you want - supply and demand, free market economy all that jazz. If it made the product unusable then I would have an issue, but this is a bonus, nothing more. You guys must have gotten retard in your easter basket instead of chocolate.

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I have no problem paying for extra maps for GoW. We were fortunate enough to get 2 maps and a new upcoming gametype for free. This is Microsoft's business model and plan for the future so get used to it or go "Home"

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The game has sold millions! They've made enough money already! The maps should be free!
It would be a different if it was a game that was struggling to make sales!

If it costs, I'm not sure I'll bother buying.

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Yeah, I do agree that people forget the fact that this bandwidth costs money. What exactly is MS's interest in giving this for free with a game that's already sold millions of copies? Essentially putting 4 big maps out for free guarantees them at least 100s of thousands of downloads... That costs a LOT of money, as anyone with a website could probably attest to.

I'd rather they'd be free to, but MS is a business, they're not my buddy. I don't think this nullifies Rein's statements either. Epic isn't exactly going to get a huge ROI for what they're doing.

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Paul,

I often see advertising for some new crappy movie when I log into Xbox Live. I pay for a membership to that service and have blade after blade of advertising of movies. This isn't "Hey we want you to know there are new things to buy here on XBL". This is advertising to go out and see some film in theatres.

Where does the money from that advertising go? Microsoft didn't let the companies but ads on there free of charge.

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Ciaran - that makes no sense - if a game is struggling then there is no demand - so the supply should be free.

If a game is selling TONS then demand is high and therefore you can charge.

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Joshua,

Sure! But they are a business! Their DUTY to their stock holders is to turn a profit. The fact that there are advertisements is no reason for them not to have the right to charge for something.

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"Give one good reason why this content should be free?"

Because it's Epic's intellectual property and they can do whatever the hell they please with it. If they want to pay me to download it, then that's the way it should be.

Microsoft is already covering their costs of operating XBL, incl. downloads, by charging all of us $50 / year.

Microsoft is just trying to train us like Pavlov's dogs to accept that all content, horse armor included, costs money. It can't be any more transparent than this.

What I don't understand is why some consumers reading about this are so quick to jump in Microsoft's defense over DLC pricing. It's just mind boggling. Why don't you go to your local supermarket and demand they raise the price of beer while you're at it? I mean, those poor supermarket people gotta make a living somehow, too, right?

Even better, form a Corporate Charity through which people could directly donate money to corporations of all kinds. I bet it'd be very popular.

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the point is... they don't need the money. We already pay for live, and have paid for the game. They just want MORE money because they're greedy f'in money whores...

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