Pictures and Theme packs anyone???

DenisDenis · July 18th, 2006, 11:13

We're wondering here at Load Inc. if we should get a picture and/or theme pack.
What do you think?
What's the relevance of a theme? (ie: I got the PGR theme on my box and I don't feel the urge to change it everyday.)
Would you use funky Mad Tracks icon for your gamer pic? (like me on Xboxic)
How many pics?
What should the price be?

Any other comment welcome!

DM2 · July 18th, 2006, 12:33

Personaly I am a cheap skate and I only use free themes and pics, a free pic would work for me and I may well use it for a time, perhaps if it unlocks with the full game or when you achieve one of the achievments. But as for the paid route I prefer to buy arcade games with my billy points.

Others will obviously disagree but I can't see it being worth a lot of effort on your part to make money, but as some free publicity with a free gamer pic it might work better.

Oh and Dennis can you suggest to MS that when someone puts the mouse over a gamer pic on xbox.com it 'pops up' with the name of the gamer pic pack it comes from much like it does when you hover over a game pic like those below, as it's daft that people don't know where a gamer pic comes from when there are so many thousands of them.

TRIGGER M4N · July 18th, 2006, 12:41

I personally wouldn't buy it, sorry, but I know someone who would...

And it's a cheap-way of advertising aswell

YLA G · July 18th, 2006, 12:48

DenisDenis.. i am a professional gfx artist. i could design a couple of themes then you can choose what you could use/or not use.

All i need is the logo (illustrator EPS is the best) and a couple of the cars. If the screenshots are up to date then i could take them as well otherwise.. i need new.

mail me at yves.de.pryck[a]gmail.com

free from use

YLA G · July 18th, 2006, 12:51

btw.. on certain arcade games there free if you buy the full game.

i buy always themes of the game that i play that month. If you want to sell the avatars then it needs be cool or funny.

Number 13 · July 18th, 2006, 13:43

I would never pay money for a theme, because they're generally pretty generic and you're just as well setting your own background from an image on your PC (it costs nothing and is more unique to you).

I think all games should come with a free gamerpic, again, they're not something I would pay money for.

Curry · July 18th, 2006, 13:48

I've bought 2 or 3 themes, and I then use them for months. Unless a theme is specifically appealing and good looking, I don't download it, and yes I do check Xbox.com full versions before installing. Needless to say, I'm still running the Tomb Raider Karima theme

As for gamer pics, I just use one which looks good and don't touch it again for months.

Sir SpankalotUK · July 18th, 2006, 14:21

I only ever bought one picture pack, have considered buying another for the jetpac gamer pic but couldnt be bothered to part with the cash.

I would suggest make the gamer tiles free, charge for the theme. M$ have all the figures, sales, etc.

YLA G · July 18th, 2006, 17:19

i am feeling that i am odd.. i buyed 7 themes and 6 avatarspacks

Number 13 · July 18th, 2006, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by YLA G

i am feeling that i am odd.. i buyed 7 themes and 6 avatarspacks

It's maybe a disposable income thing?

I don't have a lot of money to live on, so I have to budget very carefully and can't afford to waste money on what's bascially a couple of pictures and a colour scheme for the section of the console's capabilities that I'll look at least.

Ponder416 · July 18th, 2006, 20:28

I don’t buy themes but I'm always searching for cool gamerpics...

I liked the idea where if you get a certain achievement/s you would get a gamerpic (maybe like an Easter egg?) not one you could buy but one unique to the game itself...

Curry · July 18th, 2006, 23:41

To answer Denis' question: I think it would be cool if they'd just add 3 free gamer pictures or so with the full game. That'd have a much bigger reach than actually charging 20MP for them, and as such be better advertising for the game. What better promotion than seeing half your friends list sporting a Mad Tracks logo?

Xbox360rulez · July 19th, 2006, 00:23

I usually get a few pictures for each game I am playing, only gotten a couple themes, but I change my picture a lot to games that I am working on the most. I would definately get some pictures, might get a theme. Pictures usually go for 20 points for each picture which isn't bad at all, so like packs of 4 are 80 points, 5, 100 points, etc. I like it though when the pictures are sold individually instead of a pack. I also like the idea that if you get the full game, you get like 1 or 2 pictures. Maybe a special picture if you beat the whole game or something.

cybermans · July 19th, 2006, 11:29

I would release in the weeks before launch every week a new FREE gamerpic, a theme 3 months before launch for free and one about a month for free. After launch you can add more gamerpics for a price. Make sure the free themes are keep a good readability so people will actually use them.

Obvious the free items should be part of the marketing strategy

TristUK · July 19th, 2006, 13:35

Personally I wouldn’t buy a gamer pic or theme. But from your point of view (as others have mentioned) a gamerpic advertising Mad Tracks would be a dead simple and effective way to get more 360 people interested in your game via seeing the pic on LIVE.

I’m really looking forward to this game… any more info about the game that you’re willing to divulge as we slowly edge closer to release???

Studley · July 19th, 2006, 18:01

Is there any way of previewing themes before buying them? (apart from the little preview pic at the top of the guide menu)

I fancied one of the Dead Rising ones but you can't see what they're like til you've bought them, I ended up with the main character thrusting in wrestling clothes on my startup page

DM2 · July 19th, 2006, 18:06

xbox.com has previews of themes a short while after they come out.

DenisDenis · July 19th, 2006, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by TristUK

(...)I’m really looking forward to this game… any more info about the game that you’re willing to divulge as we slowly edge closer to release???

I have ONE info I can give you...
Someone very influent

comes to Paris for a very special review of the game this saturday. I heard he was going to write something on Xboxic.com, so stay tuned!

Cheers!

DenisDenis · July 19th, 2006, 19:51

All,
Thanks for your time & opinion.
My thoughts before opening this thread was that we would never sell 32x32 pixels icons. Not us! You just confirmed it.

We already have an avatarpack, thinking about what YLAG said... Why don't we make a 'made by fans' pack?
Cybermans has a good point also. I know the PR team did it already with SF2, I'll ask them if it had an impact.

Back to work now

Buh bye!