ninjabee.com

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/ ... arity.aspx

"Since Microsoft is the first-party publisher of Shadowrun, the company doesn't have to pay itself the customary console royalty on the 360 version of the game. Why, then, do Xbox 360 gamers have to pay $60 for the same game that PC gamers only have to pay $50? Is this the pricing strategy that consumers should expect for future 360/PC cross-platform titles from Microsoft?

The $59.99 for Xbox 360 and $49.99 for Windows Vista price points are our standard pricing for each platform. This pricing structure is not uncommon in the multiplayer-only first-person shooter genre, as numerous titles have seen success at this price point and gaming model. I think it’s premature to speak to pricing for all future projects, but as of now this is our pricing structure for our marquee titles like Shadowrun. Additionally, MGS has the same development costs as other developers and publishers out there. One advantage other publishers have that we do not is that they can leverage their marketing and development costs over all platforms, while we are focused on Windows and Xbox 360 as a first party publisher. "

No offline mode, no split screen, requires Gold service to play the 360 version online. I was interested as I am a big cyberpunk fan and squad FPSs are much more appealing than straight FPS'rs, but not if I am paying more for less.

Sorry, that just ticks me off. As stated in the article MS is the publisher and so does not have the extra fees related to releasing the game on the 360 (licensing and such). If they want to build a Windows LIVE user base and the long term profit predictions don't work out at $60 then sell both at $50.

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That monkey is going to pay...

I had not even thought of that...No extra content? Exclusive maps? Thats stupid. I know PDZ, Kameo, and PGR3 retailed at $50, and MS planned on retailing all of their published games at that price. That ended with GoW, which I thought was understandable. Shadowrun is not understandable though...I think paying 60 bucks for 50 dollar content is stupid.

Although...I won't be buying anyway, because I hate the only multiplayer aspect of the game. Total disappointment for me. I loved the SNES, Genesis versions.

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1. I really would have no issue with buying a multiplayer (or bot only game) as long as it is playable offline with multiple players. If it was $40 I might even pick it up with just online play. MS is just shoting themselves in the foot though. You want people to start signing up for Windows Live then give all the 360 packages dedicated server software or something to run on their PCs from a silver account.

What aspect of Live online play is the worst? Lack of dedicated servers in my opinion. RS:V isn't worth running a dedicated server unless you have a spare 360 and the $50 for another copy (and if you do have that sort of cash I would like to talk to you in a dark alley...). Shadowrun could have eliminated that weakness I believe with some good planning. I am betting it will do alright for a bit then will flop with Halo 3, Half-Life Orange, Quake Enemy Territory and Unreal all offering different superior aspects (so they say) of FPS online play.

PS: A $10 arcade game with online only multiplayer only game play is entirely different from a $60 game. While I think every game should at least have an offline practice mode for 1/6th the price I don't care nearly as much.

2. It isn't Shadowrun in anything beyond name, but I can get over that if the game play is good. I guess I'll never know if the this variant is any good.

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That monkey is going to pay...

Yeah, i'm sure it will do well for a while with it's intended user base. I still don't get how controller users can match the mouse users accuracy. I don't play any PC FPS's, but from what I have played, the control is so much more fluid. If it had offline 1-4 players/bots, maybe I would pick it up, when it drops to $20.

Team Fortress 2 looks awesome though, and is just a bonus to the aforementioned Half-Life 2 (which I have never played...read above). Portal looks awesome as well. I will pick that up in a heartbeat.

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I totally hear what you guys are saying. It's kinda a shame considering that Street Trace: NYC (an XBLA title, likely for $10) has 8 player online, 4 player split screen *and* bots. Oh yeah, *and* single player content too. I mean, c'mon MGS!

The pricing isn't that big of a deal for me really. I can see the $10 difference and the argument with that though. Most games are a lot cheaper on the PC, and the gap has gotten wider with the next-gen consoles. The only real difference in features is that with an Xbox 360, you are guranteed the amazing graphics and fast frame rate. On a PC, that varies. Not exactly worth $10 for most people, who have fast hardware anyway.

Well, with my limited play in the beta (I was in, but my internet was shot until the beta ended ) I can safely say this is an amazing game. I will most likely buy it at some point, but I will at least rent it for a couple of weeks.

Also, on single player vs. multiplayer, this game has a good enough multiplayer mode to make me want to buy it. I would have like single player (this could have had a good storyline too!), but it is just that good of a game. I would still buy Halo 3 without single player, but I would really prefer it to have a campaign mode. Look at it this way. If it did have a campaign mode, it would go along the lines of Battlefield 1942, where the single player is just a multiplayer game you have to win.

The game already has an established story though (unlike Battlefield), which was awesome back in the day. I would love for them to revisit that story. That's what bugs me.

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Without trying to offend the best way of desrcibing it is bastardizing the story. Remove it from its roots and past. However after Crimson Skies and Mechassault I can accep that changes have to be made for video games.

The politics and such that are part of the Shadowrun universe would not go over too well to the general public. If people will make a big deal out of calling a weapon in WORMS the Holy Handgrenade I can only imagine what they would do over Genepeace and other story bits from the original Shadowrun.

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That monkey is going to pay...

The Holy Hand Grenade is already a piece of history (Monty Python). I think most people "Get" the idea behind it. I don't think the story was left out due to people's understanding of the subject matter, I just think they wanted to make a FPS.

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To be fair to Shadowrun while browsing Amazon.com it seems they have decided to add offline bot mode(s). There will also be a demo first week of June if my memory is correct.

I'll look into it more and post actual release facts when I have a chance.

For now I have to go play with my new smartphone . Yeah I know they aren't amazing devices, but it was free and just having email access and IM on wifi around here is nice. Tons of free wifi from UofMN to downtown Minneapolis. Might actually have to start using MSN even...

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That monkey is going to pay...

What kind of smartphone did you get? I am thinking about getting a BlackJack (that new price is just so sweet!) or a Cingular 3125.

T-Mobile SDA (which is a rebranded HTC Tornado).

My last phone died on me and they decided to credit me for the full phone price (finally). The SDA was free (actually less than free, I still have $50 creditted to my account for bills) so I took that one. Seems to work fine so far since I only need to read emails and the occasional IM from my phone. Blackjack and such seemed like serious overkill.

Also the SDA can run Skype over WIFI have to use a headset or speaker phone though.

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That monkey is going to pay...

I feel like a hypocrit, but oh well. After a long saga of 3 seperate trips to Gamestop amassing a total of 7 used games which were unfunctional I was given a $20 discount on a single new game. Seeing as how I have already preorderd Blue Dragon, Mass Effect and Project Sylpheed elsewhere (thank goodness too) I decided to get Shadowrun.

I feel a bit silly after starting this thread but I did learn some valuable leasons.

1. Gamestop doesn't test their games and often reshelves returns which were listed as bjorked on the sales slip.

2. Mangers are terrified when you stumble upon lesson 1. Explaining why reshelving unfunctional games is bad business in a stern tone which is loud enough the entire store starts putting used games back down on the shelf will get you a discount.

3. Gasoline is about $0.25 less a gallon (if not more) in suburbia than it is in Minneapolis. In hindsight this is probably the most important lesson.

The price difference still irks me though. The 2 capture the flag types and single elimination mode has me worried, but Crimson Skies and Mech Assault (the first one) were really good games so I have hope.

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That monkey is going to pay...

Wow, that sucks man. I have only bought used games through GameFly, because of they usually are top notch refurbs. I bought Indigo Prophecy and 24 the game from them. While they were both in excellent condition, 24 did not function at all. I told them, and they immediatley reimbursed the 8 or so bucks. They didn't even ask for the game back.

Maybe I should sell the 24 disc to them if they indeed do not check, so some poor shlep (no offense) will buy it.

On another note, gas over here where I live, the most expensive I've seen is 3.49! WTF!

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All I can really say is that the Gamestop in Roseville MN doesn't seem to check their games. Initially the manager tried to convince me that most returns were because people didn't like the game and wanted somethign different. While that may be true it still is not a valid reason. Then he told me they do a quick visual only generally since that is all they have time for. May also be true, but also not a valid reason. I probably did have a string of bad luck.

I also did some quick math in my head while I was there. I asked about trade in value of Just Cause (Buggiest. Game. EVER. I was determined to finish it, but I gave up after three missions required exploiting to complete). They will give you $10 for it and then sell it for $35.

Alright then:
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$35 remaining:$5 pay for employee time and overheard (most likley far less)

$30 remaining:$10 removed in store credit paying you.

$20 direct profit from selling a used Just Cause at current rate.
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$10 store credit used on a $10 in used games.

$5 profit assuming the formula stays the same.

$25 profit from you trading in Just Cause and using the in-store credit on a used game after selling the copy of Just Cause to someone else.
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$10 store credit used on a new game with a standard $5 markup

$15 profit from trading in Just Cause and buying a new game (3x as much as someone buying the game with straight cash) again after sellign the copy of Just Cause to someone else.
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Selling Just Cause to Pawn america who resells it for $25.

Pawn America makes $10 and I get back $15 cash which can be traded for goods and services anywhere.
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Math is depressing.

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That monkey is going to pay...