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Lumines Heralds New Costs for Xbox Live Games

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the down-the-wrong-path-forever-will-it-dominate-your-destiny dept.

Game|Life reports on the upcoming release of Lumines for the Xbox 360's Live Arcade. Despite the high interest in the unique game (previously only on the PSP), gamers may be frustrated to learn that playing through the whole game will require additional purchases. From the article: "But then, once you hit a certain point in the 'Mission' or 'Vs. CPU' modes of the game, you'll be asked to pay up again for the ability to keep on progressing. All in all, you'll have to spend another 700 points ($8.75) to get the rest of the levels, bringing the real cost of Lumines Live to nearly $24. What lesson can we take from this? Clearly, Microsoft understands that there's a major disconnect here between what they'd like to make off direct-download game sales and what customers are willing to pay based on their perceived value. That's why, rather than go with straight dollar amounts, everything is priced in 'points.' 1200 points seems somehow cheaper than $15."

3 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Just a Rumour by Avacar · · Score: 5, Informative

    While this may end up being the truth, right now it is just a rumour.

  2. Re:Old News by clontzman · · Score: 3, Informative

    Is this the same Nintendo that was charging $20 for GBA ports of ExciteBike, Ice Climbers and the NES version of Xevious? The Nintendo download service isn't going to be free, and I wouldn't get too excited before you see some pricing.

  3. Except there's a demo by Asmor · · Score: 4, Informative

    Except that there's a demo for all arcade games, and I doubt lumines will be any different.

    This is greed at best, and honestly I'd call it bait and switch at worst.