Microsoft : Guitar Hero II Track Pricing Is OK
It's not the same as iTunes, you know
Microsoft has responded to complaints about downloadable track pricing for Activision's Guitar Hero II. In short, it's not apologising.
Speaking in an interview Microsoft's Xbox Live Director of Programming, Larry Hryb (A.K.A.) Major Nelson, defended the pricing (500 Microsoft Points, or £4.25, for three tracks), saying:
But what about the way the packs are bundled? Couldn't the tracks be made available individually? Major Nelson says 'no':
SPOnG contacted Guitar Hero II publisher, Activision, in the UK to see what it has to say about the pricing. We - like Acivision UK, are having to wait for official word from the US parent company. However, we have been assured of a response and will update you as soon as we get it.
You might expect supporters of the Guitar Hero franchise to be paying the complaints of fans a bit more attention. After all, it's no more than eight months until Electronic Arts' Rock Band starts chomping at its fender!
Are you feeling miffed at the amount you're being charged for Guitar Hero II tracks? Let us know in the Forum.
Source: Joystiq
Speaking in an interview Microsoft's Xbox Live Director of Programming, Larry Hryb (A.K.A.) Major Nelson, defended the pricing (500 Microsoft Points, or £4.25, for three tracks), saying:
“It's not like you go to iTunes, and you're buying the same thing. There's testing that's involved, and there's also licensing involved. There's a lot of elements involved. When there's music involved, that brings up a lot of licensing issues... You can't get interactivity with a song on iTunes, and I don't want to defend it: it is what it is.”
But what about the way the packs are bundled? Couldn't the tracks be made available individually? Major Nelson says 'no':
“You guys know: it has to be processed, it has to be developed. Is it easier to process one song and release it and would have it to be more expensive? Or can you take some of that development, bundle it together, and drop the price down. All those songs have to go through that process. If you have three songs entering the approval process, individually, that's three times more problems--and there's more probability for error. So, let's bundle them together, and test them as a unit and drive the price down.”
SPOnG contacted Guitar Hero II publisher, Activision, in the UK to see what it has to say about the pricing. We - like Acivision UK, are having to wait for official word from the US parent company. However, we have been assured of a response and will update you as soon as we get it.
You might expect supporters of the Guitar Hero franchise to be paying the complaints of fans a bit more attention. After all, it's no more than eight months until Electronic Arts' Rock Band starts chomping at its fender!
Are you feeling miffed at the amount you're being charged for Guitar Hero II tracks? Let us know in the Forum.
Source: Joystiq
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Comments
theflc 13 Apr 2007 11:26
1/5
to be honest, I think it's a bit steep for 3 tracks. especially considering they are all from the original. hasn't all the testing, licensing stuff already been done?
I think it's this reason people are miffed. if these were completely new and exclusive GH2 tracks I don't think anyone would be arguing.
I think it's this reason people are miffed. if these were completely new and exclusive GH2 tracks I don't think anyone would be arguing.
Spanky2090 13 Apr 2007 14:43
2/5
theflc wrote:
to be honest, I think it's a bit steep for 3 tracks. especially considering they are all from the original. hasn't all the testing, licensing stuff already been done?
I think it's this reason people are miffed. if these were completely new and exclusive GH2 tracks I don't think anyone would be arguing.
I think it's this reason people are miffed. if these were completely new and exclusive GH2 tracks I don't think anyone would be arguing.
Yeah i totally agree, this is a bit much. I admit i payed for the packs, all 3 of them. BUt now finding out that they are from the original game for the PS2 i feel ripped off now.
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Doody 16 Apr 2007 11:40
3/5
It works out at £1.41 per song roughly.
Stop going on about it, do you think about how much 3 pints are gonna cost ya, more than 4.25 thats for sure.
Get on with it and move on...
Stop going on about it, do you think about how much 3 pints are gonna cost ya, more than 4.25 thats for sure.
Get on with it and move on...
theflc 16 Apr 2007 12:05
4/5
At least with three pints, I know that someone else hasn't drunk them before me, captured the 'run-off', re-bottled them and charged me full whack again for them.
Why don't you do us all a favour and post as a registered user then we can ignore trolls like you.
Why don't you do us all a favour and post as a registered user then we can ignore trolls like you.
Dreadknux 16 Apr 2007 12:14
5/5
I'm just waiting to hear President Evil assure us that corporate ripoffs are OK. :)