Yesterday, the first batch of downloadable content for Guitar Hero II released onto the XBLM with a very negative reception from fans. Red Octane released three packs to the Marketplace each containing three songs from Guitar Hero and costing 500 Microsoft points ($6.25 US) each. And there in lies the problem ... this content is expensive! The negative buzz surrounding the new tracks has not only spilled onto Major Nelson's website sparking a 560+ comment debate, but inspired angry fans to take action. Enter an online petition aimed at getting Red Octane and Microsoft's attention to do something about the over priced DLC. The online petition has gained a bunch of steam racking up over 3,600 signatures and is sure to gain more throughout the next few days. Will Red Octane respond to fan's anger towards the DLC's pricing scheme, or will they simply turn a blind eye? Well, there's only one way to find out. If you don't agree with the pricing for Guitar Hero II's new DLC and are willing to boycott any such purchase until the price comes down, then sign the online petition. If it's one thing we've learned in the past few weeks it's that sometimes those online petitions actually do work.
[Thanks, MightyHealthy]












Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-12-2007 @ 1:57AM
vid33nyc1 said...
Im not into this type of game but this is happening much to often now.Kind of feels like your getting nickel and dimed after awhile.Why not just release 1 pack for 800 points.Thats what, a buck25 a song?
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4-12-2007 @ 2:19AM
Ninegauger said...
They've gotten nothing from me. These prices are too high... and this coming from a guy who has bought every Oblivion pack released (including the expansion but excluding the horse armor) without a second thought.
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4-12-2007 @ 2:32AM
jason said...
Its ludacris what they charge on xboxlive marketplace epic games wants to give out there new 4 maps for free but microsoft said they won't cuz they paid alot on marketing gear of war that was microsofts choice not epics choice, you get free upgradeson the pc usually ps3's online is free but i know its not as good as xbox livw which you pay 50 dollars fora year you should get more free or cheap downloads cuz the competitors give you free online and come with wifi even in the ds. To get all of guitar hero 1 songs its 100 dollars i don't even think it should cost as much as the game since its been out since 2005 let alone paying more then double the price of the game thats 2 years old u can buy a song on itune for $1 and listen to it on ur ipod not just on ur 360. I say 45 cents for songs from the old guitar hero and $1.00-$1.50 for new songs that were never on guiter hero before. Microsoft needs to realize to give better prices for updates,maps,songs,content and so on cuz we pay for the online service
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4-12-2007 @ 3:09AM
DeadPlasmaCell said...
Eh, it is a bit pricey.. I'm hoping RedOctane addresses this and doesn't use the old "Er.. it's MS that decides the prices not us.. so our hands are tied" that I've seen before.
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4-12-2007 @ 3:26AM
Mike said...
Stop buying it. Who am I kidding, that will never work. For everybody who takes a stand, ten people with Microsoft Points burning a whole in their virtual pocket are going to piss 'em away. Overpriced downloads are here to stay. Corporate America FTW.
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4-12-2007 @ 3:27AM
Mike said...
oops. hole, now whole.
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4-12-2007 @ 3:28AM
Mike said...
oops. not, not now. 7th post!
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4-12-2007 @ 3:48AM
Eric said...
A petition is a nice pipe-dream, but the only thing that will REALLY have an effect on pricing is if people don't buy it. Horse armor was too expensive. People didn't buy it. Future oblivion content was MUCH more reasonable (except shivering isles). You think it's too much (and I agree), don't buy it, no matter how much you might want it. Remember, you won't have free cards from circuit city for the other 39 songs, so unless you want to pay $100 for all the songs from GH1, DO NOT BUY THESE, or else the prices will stay the same, and that will be that.
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4-12-2007 @ 4:11AM
dennis shamrock said...
man fuck the police!
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4-12-2007 @ 5:00AM
jason said...
don't just have a petition for guitar hero songs but for xbox live marketplace pricing read below for my point
the oblivion expansion i think it is more than or exactly 30 dollars worth of marketplace points 2400points and the pc version of the expansion pack is also $30 usa real dollars and epic games said if they were to come out with there map pack at stores instead of marketplace it would be more expensive cuz of packaging which i know that is true so why is the expaansion pack for oblivion in stores the same price as marketplace Micro$oft is riping their customers off. it should should be 1600 to 2000 marketplace points not the same as the store so the songs should be the same or really should be less than $30 dollars if you can get all of them but maybe redoctane is only releasing the popular ones from guitar hero 1 so thats why they r more which is wrong
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4-12-2007 @ 5:04AM
Boff said...
Signed.
4223 signatures now.
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4-12-2007 @ 5:32AM
Jack the Ripper said...
Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours, baby.
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4-12-2007 @ 6:05AM
James Sullivan said...
You know, I think we should start an Online Petition to send to Konami for MGS4, and to Square Enix for FF 13.
I realize that the Xbox 360 has games like Halo 3 and Mass Effect that are considered quite a bit superior to MGS4, and games like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey that are superior to FF 13, but it still wouldn't hurt to have those games available on the Xbox 360, because it would help Konami and Square-Enix generate revenue and profits for their shareholders, and it would make a certain percentage of Xbox 360 owners happier, since they have no plans to purchase the Playstaton 3, since it is such a disappointing gaming device that is so overpriced.
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4-12-2007 @ 6:18AM
Jack the Ripper said...
Yeah, I actually agree with you, James. I don't own a PS3, but not because I'm a Microsoft fanboy. I don't own a PS3 because there isn't a single title that would merit me spending nearly a thousand dollars on hardware and accessories just so I could play it. If any really good PS3 games decide to jump ship to the 360, I would pick them up, but I'm not going to buy a PS3 just to get in on FFXIII.
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4-12-2007 @ 6:59AM
dale_furr said...
I made the mistake of purchasing one of the packs.. thinking it was going to be worth it. My Bad...It sux, not the original songs, just coverbands doing the songs.. and I paid to much for the download. Didn't really pay attention to the price when i click confirm... Learned my lesson!!!
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4-12-2007 @ 8:06AM
aic007 said...
Didn't RO say that pricing would be similar to itunes? that would mean .99 a song not $2. I have it on the PS2 so I am in no rush to get these but would prefer to play them on the 360. unless they restructure the price they wont get a dime from me. Bad enough they screwed ps2 customers when they made it so that the ANT controllers weren't compatible with GH2 on PS2 forcing ANT to make an adapter for them.
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4-12-2007 @ 8:32AM
Paul said...
Averaging about 400 signatures an hour... that isnt too bad at all - i dont have hope, but this COULD send a statement...
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4-12-2007 @ 8:37AM
Smacksmackums said...
So for the 35 or so big artist songs from the first guitar hero, we'd end up paying over 70 dollars?
That's more than the cost of a regular game!!! GH1 for ps2 is only going for 40 dollars. That is the max price they should charge for all GH1 downloadable content. End of story.
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4-12-2007 @ 8:40AM
cormier6083 said...
:O Tek Jansen even signed! http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c276/Cormier6083/8ef59557.jpg
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4-12-2007 @ 8:41AM
Michael said...
"If it's one thing we've learned in the past few weeks it's that sometimes those online petitions actually do work."
No, they don't. Do you really think 2k Games WASN'T going to grab an opportunity to make more money? They just wanted to drum up some good publicity for their game.
I'm not saying people shouldn't complain, but internet petitions are far more ignorable than e-mailing Microsoft and Red Octane. Get up in their faces about this if you want something done.
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