News > Geek > XBOX 360 Downloadable Content Sets New Standards of Crap

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 5 2006 10:28 AM

XBOX 360 Downloadable Content Sets New Standards of Crap

Submitted by Seanbaby

Edited by WilWheaton

XBOX Live is working hard to destroy the meaning of money, according to 1up.com. On one hand, you can download the greatest game of all time, Geometry Wars, for about six bucks. On the other hand, you could spend that money to download a picture of the Charlotte Hornets logo or get a "theme."

These themes are nothing other than constant reminders of how you make poor decisions. Microsoft wants me to spend nonrefundable, real money for the ability to change my system menu colors? I think it'd be easier to convince me to buy a sick baby's diaper. Of course, that's the kind of thing you can't know about yourself until you're actually confronted with it.

Now they're taking it to a new level. Oblivion, the huge new RPG, has just released its first downloadable content. For $2.50, you can download a new outfit for your horse. It doesn't make it fly, or even turn it into a majestic unicorn... it's only an outfit. Fans of horse fashion might say that it's very easy for gamers NOT to pay for this stupid thing, and they're right. It's just insulting that they thought anyone would.

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Comments

alpha_hazard

Fort Collins, CO

April 2004

APR 05, 2006 10:36 AM

especially since you could probably get it for free on the pc..hell, the one for free on the PC probably would make your horse into a flying unicorn with ninja throwing stars and fire breath.

Luminaire

Seattle, WA

August 2003

APR 05, 2006 10:36 AM

Tycho of PA fame had this to say, and I really agree with him:

I reject the idea that we teeter at the apex of some "slippery slope" - the slope you're referring to already done slipped. It slipped on mobile phones when people bought a vanity cover of the American Flag and a ringtone from Office Space and a strip of lights that twinkles on ring. Marketplace isn't a slippery slope - it's the codification of a recognized market tendency. You'd better believe there are motherfuckers riding those Goddamn horses along the shore of the Niben right now.

Half the people in my office bought that Goddamn horse.

Luminaire

Seattle, WA

August 2003

APR 05, 2006 10:37 AM

alpha_hazard said:
especially since you could probably get it for free on the pc..hell, the one for free on the PC probably would make your horse into a flying unicorn with ninja throwing stars and fire breath.

Nope, it costs money either way, actually.

https://obliviondownloads.com/StoreCatalog_ProductList.aspx?SubCategoryId=1

sirloins

Huntington Beach, CA

October 2005

APR 05, 2006 10:48 AM

There's one born every minute, and that's a low estimate.

Trust me, people will buy into it. Just like the whole buying ringtones thing.

xlascaux

I'm lost

September 2005

APR 05, 2006 11:00 AM

just wait until microsoft gets into pharmaceuticals

NinjaTech

Minneapolis, MN

November 2003

APR 05, 2006 11:12 AM

I failed to read anywhere in the article that the price tag for the horse armor and other such nonsense is actually a brainchild of Bethesda Software, as they are charging PC users the same thing for the exact same mods.

Microsoft actually had little to do with the Oblivion nickle and diming other than probably saying "great idea!" to Bethesda.

aegies

Oakland, CA

June 2004

APR 05, 2006 11:30 AM

you're also ignoring the fact that there are free themes available, and you can customize some elements of the user environment; i had manko as my 360 background for a couple of months (until i had mixed and possibly offendable company over). now it's a nin wall paper. i think the marketplace is just that: a market place. it's somewhere for companies to screw up or succeed based on the merit of what they offer and how much they charge for it. microsoft is only making something like 35 cents on this particular piece of content per download, so really, blame bethesda. what i will blame microsoft for is fostering accessory consumerism, and fucked if it isn't working. there have been three seperate occasions where i was seconds away from buying additional faceplates for the fucking thing, and i already have a second one that i got from zero hour. and these are essentially useless save for their aesthetic value. that's not only good business for them, it's been fucking genius.