Apparently MS is restricting free XBL Marketplace content

[Tondog]

http://www.destructoid.co...tent-sunshine-30592.phtml

When a publisher has goods it wants to put up for sale, those prices must first be submitted to Microsoft. As part of an agreement with the company, publishers have signed a document that hands over final say to Microsoft regarding Market place pricing. From here, Microsoft takes a look at the marktet and prices items to maintain a balance among items of similiar value.

Greenburg [Xbox Live/Xbox 360 group product manager] denied knowledge of any motive to restrict free content, but admitted that the company does indeed adjust download prices

Bizarre Creations says they wanted Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved to be FREE over Xbox Live, but Microsoft wouldn't let them do this. They ultimately reached a compromise and charged the lowest amount Microsoft will allow, 400 points ($5).

Back in November Pat Wilson, developer at Garage Games, announced that their team had just finished making a FREE downloadable update (that featured bug fixes, 11 new multiplayer maps, and new gametypes) and that it was in Microsoft’s hands for certification. Weeks later in his blog, Pat explained to fans why the free content will NEVER be made available. (The site he blogged at, angrydev.com, is no more, but you can still find the info he posted on numerous sites) On the record, Garage Games says "...we are unable to come to an agreement with our publisher for the Marble Blast Ultra update." Seeing as Garage Games is both the publisher AND developer of Marble Blast Ultra, you need to read between the lines. The gist of Pat’s blog says Microsoft won’t allow them to release free content for their game, but he doesn’t go into what their motivation might be

And finally...

But now this policy is affecting Gears of War. Multiple sources, including today’s 1UP Yours podcast (1 hour 12 minutes in), support a rumor that Microsoft and Epic are currently fighting over the new Gears of War content. The content is basically finished, they are just fighting over pricing. Epic want to make all the new weapons and maps 100% FREE. Epic doesn’t want to fragment their online community, and frankly we’ve come to expect these gestures of goodwill from Epic. Microsoft, as you might expect, is not letting Epic do this. Mark Rein, as you can imagine, is PISSED about this.

I'm not sure if this is true, but it would not surprise me one bit if it was true. That would explain the cost for such insignificant content like horse armor in Oblivion, or video tips for Madden 07.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Money sucks,

[Tynstar]

Microsoft is paying the bill for the servers so why can't they charge?

[Tan]

If you give it all away for free what the hell are you going to give to soothe angry customers if something goes wrong? 

[OatBob]

...That would explain the cost for such insignificant content like horse armor in Oblivion, or video tips for Madden 07.

The "tips" from Madden 07 were just the basics of gameplay (passing, coaching, etc.) and are the type of thing that would be covered in any regular football manual.  At least one longer than the seven pages they gave for Madden 07.  No expert strategies here for your points, just the basics.

Also, don't blame big brother M$ when other EAvils are responsible.

[Tondog]

Microsoft is paying the bill for the servers so why can't they charge?

If the developers of whatever it is on XBL wants their content to be free, then who is Microsoft to restrict them?

...That would explain the cost for such insignificant content like horse armor in Oblivion, or video tips for Madden 07.

The "tips" from Madden 07 were just the basics of gameplay (passing, coaching, etc.) and are the type of thing that would be covered in any regular football manual.  At least one longer than the seven pages they gave for Madden 07.  No expert strategies here for your points, just the basics.

Also, don't blame big brother M$ when other EAvils are responsible.

Maybe EA wanted to have the videos up for free but MS wanted them to charge.

[Tynstar]

Microsoft is paying the bill for the servers so why can't they charge?

If the developers of whatever it is on XBL wants their content to be free, then who is Microsoft to restrict them?

Again I say it is Microsofts servers.

[Tan]

You can't have a viable market where say a game like NHL 07 charges for it's content and NHL 2K7 gives it all away for free just because their CEO's want it that way. The marketplace has to be a equal opprotunity one for all participants, big or small. No different than how they determine retail game prices as well, otherwise it becomes lopsided and whoever can give away the most free content or at the lowest price will get the most consumers. Then the biggest wallets win because they can afford extra content developement for no profit.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Phht.

Yeah Tan, I'm sure that's just what M$ is going for. You can tell by looking at its history that M$ just loves equal opportunity markets .

[Tan]

Phht.

Yeah Tan, I'm sure that's just what M$ is going for. You can tell by looking at its history that M$ just loves equal opportunity markets .

You gotta look at the bigger picture, if they corner the market everyone has to beg on their knees, that makes it equal. 

[OatBob]

...so long as they never corner the BIOS market.  Linux would die in an instant if they started making BIOSes that only run Windows.

[Tondog]

Great job, you gave them an idea.

[Tan]

...so long as they never corner the BIOS market.  Linux would die in an instant if they started making BIOSes that only run Windows.

LinuxBIOS and OpenBIOS have been around for many years, if Microsoft made a move towards that market interest would surge for those two projects faster than they currently already have. 

[Tynstar]

Death to Linux!!!!!!

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Death to Linux!!!!!!

Y?