MS was right to charge for Geometry Wars - Bizarre

By Tom Bramwell Published 16 March, 2007

Wasn't always the plan.

Bizarre Creations originally intended to give away Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved as a free download, but the developer's community and web lead Ben Ward told Eurogamer this week that he's glad Microsoft convinced them not to do so.

"Microsoft were totally on the right wavelength," he said. "Charging for the game was the only way to ensure that future downloadable content could have any kind of credibility. I mean, imagine the public reaction to a game like Boom Boom Rocket [Bizarre's next Live Arcade title] if we had put out Geometry Wars for free."

"It wouldn't have been good, and thus games which require larger teams (like BBR) probably wouldn't have been made... or at least not as soon as this."

Earlier in the week, Ward told IGN that the developer "really intended [Geometry Wars] as a gift to hardcore gamers" and initially "wanted to give the game away for free".

"When it became evident that we couldn't do this, we said to Microsoft 'what's the absolute bare minimum we can charge?' They said 400 points, so we went with that."

Geometry Wars went on to become one of Xbox Live Arcade's best titles - an accolade that the developer hopes to retain for Boom Boom Rocket, which it's producing in conjunction with Electronic Arts.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • alimokrane #1 5 years ago

    What a load of crap. that doesnt make any freaking sense at all. if the game was given to people for free, more will even consider buying the next game.

  • Steroyd #2 5 years ago

    Or they'd be wondering why the **** isn't this free as well?

  • bushwod #3 5 years ago

    @alimokrane

    No they wouldn't! They would expect it to be free as well, and then probably moan it wasn't as good as geometry wars. Think about it.

  • alimokrane #4 5 years ago

    @ bushwod

    Perhpas Yes. Im not complaining about the game in anyway. bought it, played for ages and it never got old. just his comments sounded a bit bull to me but I guess it depends on how you look at it!

  • Barry619 #5 5 years ago

    @ alimokrane

    Not really mate, sure we would have loved it being free, but as EXACTLY what he is saying, how could any company then charge a price for a newly made arcade game after one of the best was free? It makes complete business sense, and even though we would all have loved GW for free, if we want great arcade games in the future, it's better for us that we paid the tiny 400 points for a game that good.

  • Beano #6 5 years ago

    If they just had given Geometry Wars away for free with the 360 console (like Hexic) or as a bonus with PGR3, nobody would have complained that later games would cost money.

  • reality_cheque #7 5 years ago

    400 points is what, £3.75? Worth every penny :D

  • The_Programmer #8 5 years ago

    I think this expantion from 'raredevice' on C&VG is a good explanation:-

    "I can see their point. Geometry Wars was one of the first titles on XBLA, so giving it away would have devalued the service and created unreasonable expectations for the future. Developers wouldn't be so keen to create titles if the margins were too low, so in the end we'd all lose out. It's a sound business model, whether the consumer recognises that or not. Once the service was established, Microsoft gave us Totemball and Poker for free, plus you can pick up Uno! and Robotron just by buying a 12 month subscription. It's not all bad. And no, I don't work for MS, I just don't like to complain about good business sense."

  • old_man #9 5 years ago

    It's my favourite xbox360 game. I love it.

    Can't wait for Space Giraffe . . .
    [link url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-43949975387 25969856
    ]http://vi deo.google.com/videoplay?docid=...[/link]

  • simo #10 5 years ago

    GW is one of the best 360 games for me. And that isn't me saying that the 360's library is crap. Far from it. I think it's excellent, and getting better all the time. But GW is awesome, and I would have paid £10 for it, no question.

  • brooza #11 5 years ago

    How is this the 3rd time I've read this when I only read 2 sites to do with games?

  • MasterGrief #12 5 years ago

    I agree with M$ on this one. I mean when you've got a userbase that is prepared to pay for online, gamerpoints and horse armour among other things you may as well bend them over and shaft them for all they are worth.

    Whats better than being able to screw people over and still have them run to your defence every time :)

  • bicky316 #13 5 years ago

    To me Geometry Wars represents what XLA is all about. It's still the best game available and could easily have went for 800 points (going by how much I have and will continue to play it).