MS was right to charge for Geometry Wars - Bizarre Related content
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MS was right to charge for Geometry Wars - Bizarre News
Xbox 360 News by Tom Bramwell
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.
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Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
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Comments: 1-14 of 14 in total
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alimokrane
16/03/07 @ 11:01
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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.
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alimokrane
16/03/07 @ 11:15
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@ 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! |
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@ 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. |
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The_Programmer
16/03/07 @ 12:05
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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." |
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It's my favourite xbox360 game. I love it.
Can't wait for Space Giraffe . . . http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=... |
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MasterGrief
16/03/07 @ 15:30
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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 :) |
Comments: 1-14 of 14 in total
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