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Microsoft Explains the Lumines Live! Mess
1up has up a discussion with Microsoft's Greg Canessa, Group Manager for Xbox Live Arcade. There, he attempts to explain what's the deal with Lumines Live!. Specifically, why are they charging us an arm and a leg for a rerelease of an already well-sold portable title? "That's actually done by the developer. As a platform, we provide a list of available price tiers. And we work very closely, of course, with the developer. We provide suggestions and it is a consultation between the two companies, but ultimately it is up to the developer to set the price." I'm looking at you, Q!.
Actually, the cost of gasoline is a core component in measuring inflation.
One of the things that constantly amuses me are the print articles comparing the cost of gasole in the late 70's to now, using inflation adjusted figures. Of course it isn't going to look like the cost of gas has risen much -- you essentially just performed a calculation designed to factor out the changes in gas price over time...
Ultimately, it is the developer that sets the price... but only after lots of consultation and suggestion from Microsoft? How much of a cut does MS get from each sale? Does that cut change depending on what the price of the software is?
If Microsoft is actively influence the developers and making more money when developers raise the prices and/or split software into multiple pieces, then yes, we are justified in blaming MS for being too greedy.
It looks to me like MS got caught with their hand in the cookie jar, and is now trying to find a scapegoat to pin the blame on.