Microtransactions or: Death by a thousand paper cuts. Sure, it all seemed so innocent at first, but then we started having Oblivion horse armor, Kameo Uno decks and now EA’s Need for Speed: Carbon shows up exploiting the system to its full and most disgusting potential — oh wait, EA already did that charging for Madden tutorials. And how many are willing to pay and feed this exploitation?

A group of writers at GamerFeast created a microtransaction tracker and started keeping tabs. Guess who’s the top offender? (Find out in the list below) They’ve also broken everything down in spreadsheet form to review with a fine tooth comb, if you wish. It’s a great resource and know we’ll be checking back in again soon. The top 10 (MSRP + Content as of 11-3-2006):

1. Need for Speed Carbon - $94.97 - Electronic Arts
2. The Godfather - $90.79 - Electronic Arts
3. Chromehounds - $83.73 - Sega
4. Tiger Woods 07 - $74.23 - Electronic Arts
5. Oblivion - $74.11 - Bethesda
6. LotR - Battle for Middle Earth II - $68.74 - Electronic Arts
7. Prey - $59.99 - 2K Games
8. Call of Duty 2 - $54.98 - Activision
9. Lego Star Wars II - $52.49 - Lucas Arts/TT Games
10. Kameo - $39.99 - Microsoft

found at www.joystiq.com

And be sure NOT to download it, that’s right don’t get it. Do you wanna know why I’m telling you not to get it? Its because WE need to tell Microsoft that enough is enough. Enough of these retro rehashes, Enough nickel and dimeing us, Enough of it all. If my counting is correct we have had 4 that right 4 new games for us on the Xbox Arcade, 4 out of 31. Every single other game has been remakes. Our newest game to come out was Totem Ball (which was free and we all know why) and before that was Cloning Clyde. Every thing else has been old games ported over to the 360 with achievements and enhanced graphics put into it and those don’t make always make the game enjoyable. I have my beliefs why all these retro games are coming out, and for those of you I’ve talked to know what I think is the reason why, but I’m not going to say it here.Remember way back when MS was telling us that the Xbox Arcade was going to be one of the difference makers in the next gen because it will allow us to get all these new games that smaller developers create but normally couldn’t get them out there because of the extremely high production costs for new games (Gears of War cost nearly 10 million to make), they were telling us that we (Xbox 360 gamers) would have this new place to go to try out all these new games and try new ip’s. But where are they? We have been told that developers are lining up to get there games to the Xbox Live Arcade, but again, where are they? Or are these retro games the games that the developers were lining up for?This is why I urge you NOT to download DigDug or any other game until we see the Arcade Marketplace improve. This is the ONLY way that Microsoft will hear us and work on this situation. So please help me boycott this and any other future retro games until this has been resolved.

Whats that? NBC is releasing things in the Xbox Live Marketplace? Wow, how cool is this! Soon full tv’s shows will be coming our way (minus the one that has already hit the market place). Well here is the rest of the story as reported by Major Nelson.

Xbox Live members in the U.S. will find a few new pieces of free NBC TV content on the Xbox Live Marketplace:

NFL Kickoff Weekend on NBC
NBC’s NFL Behind the Scenes

And available Tuesday:
30 Rock Trailer (720p)
Kidnapped Trailer (720p)

This content is only available in the U.S.

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Dan Connors, the CEO of Tell Tale Games sits down with Steve519 and talks about Tell Tale Games, Sam and Max and more!!

Download the bristle 5 minute interview here (right click, save as)!

Rent is due for EA, and its time for you to pay up, thats right, new picture packs and themes for ‘NCAA ‘07’ are now available. Each school theme is 150 points each and each school picture pack is 60 points each.

This content is only available for United States Xbox Live members.

I for one, am tired of these dollar here, dollar there things, if I spend 60 dollars for the damn game it should include some damn picture packs and themes, I shouldn’t have to spend money to show I like the game. So far very few games has done this, cloning Clyde, table tennis. I really think the community needs to be behind me on this one and let the big companies know that this isn’t right and we are not going to pay for something that should have been included if you spend so much for the game.

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