Pictures and Theme packs anyone??? - The Return.

[DenisDenis]

New news from the dev pit.

Mad Tracks will be released with two gamer pictures for free.
The rest will be in packs on sale in the marketplace.
Before you guys say anything, Microsoft does not allow giveaways anymore. So it's not like we have a choice.
It looks like NRV (our AD) has found inspiration and delivered some cool themes and picture packs (three of each).
Price will be 100mp at the most.

Have an awesome day!!
Denis.

[Nino]

Awesome, free stuff is always good and it should help promote the game. Could you give us a little preview perhaps?

[Rival24]

^^

Paying for picture packs is baaaad

[Curry]

Originally Posted by DenisDenis

It looks like NRV (our AD)

Uhm yeah, I understand you

[Alphega]

I'm betting it's either Art Director or Alcocholic Developer, both seem plausible.

But seriously, I don't know how many people buy picture packs, it seems like kind of a waste of money to me.

[Nino]

It's not a waste of money, they'll probably make a profit as soon as more than 10 people buy it.

[Alphega]

Originally Posted by Nino

It's not a waste of money, they'll probably make a profit as soon as more than 10 people buy it.

I ment a waste of money for the buyer
And I don't know what and art director earns per hour, but if it's 100 points (1euro) top and he spend 1 hour on it they'll probably have to sell more But yes production costs are low and therefor it might be possible to earn back your investment. Though less people will be buying the picturepack since they already have some mad tracks gamer pictures for free.
Creating a picture pack is probably a low budget way for the game to get some more attention.

[DM2]

They may of created them with a view to giving them away, but found from MS that they are not allowed to apart from the two with the game so selling them seems to be their option. MS control what goes up and have a say how much it will cost.

[Nino]

Yup, it's not only direct profit (the profit you make from gamerpicture sales) but the attention your game is getting as well.

That said, I'm not a fan of the way microtransactions are working out at all except for arcade games. Most content is way overpriced and companies like EA are using it as a way to make more money out of you by cutting stuff from the game to release it as payed content later on. We're basically getting stripped down versions of last-gen games only to be forced to buy the rest of the stuff we already paid for when we bought the game. EA ftl.

[Rival24]

I can't really think of any arcade games that are missing out on features..?

[Nino]

I was talking about the EA Sports games that are lacking features in favor of DLC. Ignore the Arcade games part, that was just an example of how microtransactions should work.

[YLA G]

looking forward to see it denis

[DenisDenis]

Well we made picture packs and themes thinking we could give them away.
Now that we have them, we might as well sell them, no?
We tried to give as much preview in the marketplace banner, so you know what you'll be buying.
The good thing is that you can buy it or not!

Have a nice one!
Denis.

[Nekro Neko]

EA like to rip people off. They even charge 160 points for some tips videos for some NFL game. WTF.

Anyway, I'm sorry to learn that all but 2 pictures will be a microtransaction. I'm one of those people that think that paying for a 86kb image the size of a postage stamp that takes about 10 minutes to make is a rip at 100mp (85p). All you get is an image you may use for a short period of time. This is why I'm still using the Helena GP that came with the console.

[WhetWurm]

Originally Posted by DenisDenis

Mad Tracks will be released with two gamer pictures for free.
The rest will be in packs on sale in the marketplace.
Before you guys say anything, Microsoft does not allow giveaways anymore. So it's not like we have a choice.
It looks like NRV (our AD) has found inspiration and delivered some cool themes and picture packs (three of each).
Price will be 100mp at the most.

The bolded part disturbs me. Does this mean they don't allow the XBLA games to unlock free gamerpics?? Or do they not allow free content in general? This kinda bothers me because this takes the control out of the hands of the content providers (what if they WANT to give free stuff away) and puts in the distributor's hands (money money money).

[kobejonez]

Originally Posted by Nekro Neko

I'm one of those people that think that paying for a 86kb image the size of a postage stamp that takes about 10 minutes to make is a rip at 100mp (85p). All you get is an image you may use for a short period of time. This is why I'm still using the Helena GP that came with the console.

I can't help but agree, but then its stuff like that pays the developers rent and serves as advertising for the game and the gamers indorsment of the game. might buy one meself and let the whole of XBL know that I'm playing Mad Trax and its great.

[DenisDenis]

Originally Posted by kobejonez

(...) but then its stuff like that pays the developers rent and serves as advertising for the game and the gamers indorsment of the game. might buy one meself and let the whole of XBL know that I'm playing Mad Trax and its great.

Awwwww.
Thanks for your heartwarming message whoeveryouareKobejonez.
We get money out of every pound spent on the marketplace. So you might think of buying a theme or picture pack as a "donate" thing, except you actualy get something in return.

I say, you like it, make it live!!

Have a fantastic day,
Denis.

[Nekro Neko]

I'll get the game, I'll prolly get add ons, but it stops at picture packs for me. Themes may get a purchase from me one day, but it has to be something really special.

[kobejonez]

Originally Posted by DenisDenis

Awwwww.
Thanks for your heartwarming message whoeveryouareKobejonez.
We get money out of every pound spent on the marketplace. So you might think of buying a theme or picture pack as a "donate" thing, except you actualy get something in return.

I say, you like it, make it live!!

Have a fantastic day,
Denis.

I feel starstruck hehe. I think its one thing buying picture packs from big companies like EA or Ubisoft(oohbi or yubi??) but when its Independent firms like Load Inc you got that warmy fuzzy feeling of knowing you are helping the frontline guys...also I'm prepared to back them cos they actually listened to us and were prepared to add MP and not keep it for a sequal or charge for it months after it came out and 1200MP is nowt(considering a full retail game can cost over 4000MP) so a 100 on some nice gamerpics is less than nowt.
I only hope that Denis and his crew never sell out and he will always be a part of our comunity
ce est bon jeux.
whoeveryouareKobejonez

[DenisDenis]

Originally Posted by kobejonez

I feel starstruck hehe. (...)I only hope that Denis and his crew never sell out and he will always be a part of our comunity
ce est bon jeux.
whoeveryouareKobejonez

So that you know, I just forwarded your post to the crew

Originally Posted by WhetWurm

The bolded part disturbs me. Does this mean they don't allow the XBLA games to unlock free gamerpics?? Or do they not allow free content in general? This kinda bothers me because this takes the control out of the hands of the content providers (what if they WANT to give free stuff away) and puts in the distributor's hands (money money money).

Free gamer pics are allowed (two pics, only in original game).
I think they came up with the 'no theme or picture pack for free' rule because some major players were making money (I heard GRAW made massive money just with packs on it's first week) and did not want to be in competition with free stuff.
In addition, M$ is also making a couple o'dimes on the dollar...

Cheers y'all!

[Curry]

Originally Posted by WhetWurm

The bolded part disturbs me. Does this mean they don't allow the XBLA games to unlock free gamerpics?? Or do they not allow free content in general? This kinda bothers me because this takes the control out of the hands of the content providers (what if they WANT to give free stuff away) and puts in the distributor's hands (money money money).

Problem is of course that Microsoft gets a percentage of all Marketplace sales, and any percentage of $0.00 still sucks to get