Download Oblivion's horse armor, for a price
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Apr 3rd 2006 at 4:55PM }
Oblivion's infamous horse armor can now be downloaded and imported into your game. Why infamous, you ask?
Because it's not free. To be clear, you won't be splurging from your Tamriel gold
stockpile, no, you'll be using Microsoft (XBLM) Points (a.k.a. real money). Sure, no one's gonna be taking
out a loan to cover the $2.50 expense (200 points), but you have to wonder why we're being charged for a measly game
item, when in the past, a similar charge would have granted us access to an entire game map.C'mon, if this download came with a side quest, then sure, we'd throw down some points. But, despite our ever-growing addiction to Oblivion, we're not itching to hand over additional cash for an item that was supposed to be included in the game's initial release. We realize that extra content takes work, and we're more than happy to compensate the developers and programmers that provide this post-release service, but only when we feel that it warrants compensation. So unfortunately, our (stolen) horses are gonna have to remain armor-less for the time being.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nyc @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:03PM
If I were an Xbox 360 owner I'd be pretty offended by this.
Micro$oft indeed.
Uglypimp @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:03PM
A horse is a horse, of course of course,
unless that horse is an armored horse,
and then, of course, you've spent to endorse,
a raping wallet scheme.
Brym0 @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:04PM
I agree 100%
justin @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:04PM
It just sucks because there are still going to be people who NEED HORSE ARMOR and buy it, thus making more stuff come out for purchase and continuing the never ending chain of stupid micro purchases.
Eric @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:12PM
Why would you possibly NEED horse armor? The horses control so badly, I never use them anyway. I spent points for the oblivion them, but no way in hell am I buying this. It's just pointless. It's like Kameo's Winter Warrior costumes. Cute idea, would be nice as a free download, but it's just not worth money. When you consider it's half the price of geometry wars, it's really not worth it.
Jason B @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:12PM
I was thinking about this the other day too and man it ticked me off. I bought a Honda Civic and I wanted spinners for it. Can you believe that the 'man' wanted to charge me extra for for the spinners? What a scam. What is this country coming to? I can't believe a developer would want to charge extra money for 'extra$' stuff. BTW - it cost extra on both the PC and 360 versions (though the 360 version is $.50 more).
Quit your crying you bunch of babies. If you don't want it, don't buy it.
MarxMarvelous37 @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:13PM
Before everyone jumps on the bandwagon and blames MS for this, think for a second and realize that it is up to the publisher to determine the price point. Blaming MS is akin to blaming the US gov't for everything that is priced in US dollars...
Major Nelson has already confirmed this and has stated that he will let the "appropriate people" (i.e. Bethesda) about the general reaction.
watership @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:13PM
Umm this has nothing to do with Microsoft. Bethesda is offering it. And it's also about the same price on the PC version. Read that again. Bethesda is offering the same content for a price on the PC. ON THE PC. Do you think anyone will read this and understand. Nope, I don't think so either.
So "M$, Xbox sucks!" comments really don't apply.
Nate @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:14PM
Oblivion is amazing....one of the best games I've ever played....
But this is ridiculous. And if I'm not mistaken....aside from protecting your horse (who is generally useless as it is), it does nothing to enhance the gameplay.
I'm not really offended....I just simply won't buy the items....but it's the principle. I mean, the damn game already cost me 69.99 plus tax....these types of things should be included. Now...new quests or access to previously unattainable areas, shoot....even special items for your character, I could understand somewhat....but horse armor? That's where I draw the line. No purchase from me.
Mark D. @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:20PM
Game=$70
Armor=$2.50
Nope, I don't think this armor is worth 3.5% of the price of Oblivion, and won't be buying it.
Dt7 @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:20PM
Well they look terrible from those screenshots anyway. Certainly not worth 200msp. I won't be buying them.
Jouten Za @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:22PM
I'm buying it. Just because I can and to piss off all you whiners. Why? Because people are pissing and moaning about stuff that they don't even need to buy or participate in. I'm a Cheap Ass Gamer in general, but I will spend points just to be mischief as well =D I don't think Wisconsin could make enough cheese to go with all the whine around here!
Evil Inside @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:23PM
Calm down everyone, it's not the end of the world.
Microsoft is merely testing the waters to see if people are willing to shell out a couple of bucks for something that is the equivalent of a cellphone ringer or wallpaper.
You guys will spend $$$ on a Xbox 360 theme, but not an item to customize a in-game element? Doesn't make sense to me.
Get used to it, there is a lot more where this came from. This is just the first in a long line of micro transactions that will be available, that's the whole point of the Xbox Live Marketplace.
I just hope they eventually supply gamers a way of creating and selling their own custom items.
If Oblivion had a way for you to make and sell health potions for $0.25 each, it would be like having your own little online lemonaid stand.
Mark Felps @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:23PM
So, you're willing to pay $10 extra for a lame book and a fake coin, neither of which does a damn thing for the game itself, but not $2.50 for armor for your mount in the actual game. Yeah, that makes sense.
Declan @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:28PM
Bethesda have treated us well until now. I don't know what they are up to with this, but it makes me angry.
I agree that if we got something more substantial like a sidequest, then 200 points is cool. But this is just terrible. A small bit of code is gonna make them a fortune!
Not good enough Bethesda. Not good enough at all.
Nate @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:30PM
"12. So, you're willing to pay $10 extra for a lame book and a fake coin, neither of which does a damn thing for the game itself, but not $2.50 for armor for your mount in the actual game. Yeah, that makes sense."
I got it mostly for the "Making of..." Documentary. Those are always interesting to me....the coin and book were just extras. The book is a nice little read, by the way. I don't mind the extra $10 for a Collector's Edition because it is usually high quality. But horse armor? Come on...
Josh Warner @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:33PM
SPOILER (you've been warned):
Or, instead of worrying about armor for your horse, you could just go through the Dark Brotherhood storyline - you get a very fast black horse near the end that cannot die (like main plot characters), hence removing the need for armor on your horse.
KanoBlade @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:39PM
I agree, this would be worth it, if the item that is purchased wasn't completely useless... If the price was lowered to 50 points, or even 25.. i'd buy.. not worth more then 50 points.
botdeluxe @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:42PM
Mr Felps, It makes sense to me... it's a collectors edition.
I love Oblivion, but shelling out a couple bucks every time they have a new little item seems silly. If they are going to charge for upgrades, Bethsoft should bundle a bunch of things together. Poo on the micro purchases!
btw.. I thought the pony outfits was supposed to be free? Didn't i just give you guys $70?
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:49PM
Yet you all get giddy about forking money over to Nintendo for games of 20 years ago.
Deejay Knight @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:50PM
@ Mark Felps:
The "lame" book and fake coin add to the lore of the game. For those that are interested, it gives more of a backstory and explanation to the races in the game and the coin is the equivalent of showing us what they worked for. When the game says you have 1500 Gold, you can easily imagine the weight of it.
The horse armor, on the other hand? If you ride the horse you'll like it. It kinda makes the horse look badass, but I won't pay for it since I don't ride the horse much and probably won't consider it until I've beaten the main quest.
That's just my opinion though.
KevinM @ Apr 3rd 2006 5:55PM
"6. I was thinking about this the other day too and man it ticked me off. I bought a Honda Civic and I wanted spinners for it. Can you believe that the 'man' wanted to charge me extra for for the spinners? What a scam. What is this country coming to?"
Yea.... different context there. The rims are real, and you can take them off and sell them. The digital stuff is a little different.
At least Everquest II gave us a whole area to go into and explore for 5 bucks.
tratch @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:00PM
I know people are complaining because it's Micro$oft and all, but honestly--this is the exact purpose of the Live Marketplace. Microtransactions, people. That's the name of the game.
You want a kickass custom paintjob on your car in Burnout? $1.50 plz.
Extremely rare sword for Oblivion? $3.00, son.
This was the plan all along and I don't understand how people are surprised at all.
wanderer @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:02PM
"Yet you all get giddy about forking money over to Nintendo for games of 20 years ago."
- Enigma
Are you comparing Super Mario Brothers to pony armour? I thought Joystiq was for gamers, not fashionistas.
If I cared for the armour I would just wait until someone mods up a free one for PC.
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:04PM
My point is, that this adds a new element to the game.
Where people will pay for something they already played and paid for in the past.
Not to mention when Nintendo starts doing this too, is when the bashing will stop on here, and it will be "accepted".
Windy @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:04PM
For me the main problem with this is the price. at 20 or 30 points I would byte but not at 200...
But that is me and I expect that they have focus groups and MBAs crunching numbers on spreadsheets to arive at the 200 price point to maximize the profit they make... that is the way of the world
Pex-Corrh @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:08PM
Y'all know they're charging the same thing for the PC version of this mod too, right?
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:12PM
"Y'all know they're charging the same thing for the PC version of this mod too, right?"
Silence! You are taking ammunition away from the Nintendo/Sony Fanboys bashing of XBox and MSFT!
How dare thee mention it was Bethesda all along!
Only Nintendo can charge for things that are silly, and when they have DLable charged content as well, only then will they have invented it and for it to be accepted in life!
:-P
Jeremy Wright @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:14PM
I don't see a problem with this. It's free market economics. If nobody buys it, the price will either go down, or the quality will go up or the product will disappear.
Nobody's being unethical. It's not like they witheld it from the game JUST so they could turn around and sell it later, after all. And even that isn't unethical. Stupid, sure, but not unethical.
wanderer @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:15PM
"Y'all know they're charging the same thing for the PC version of this mod too, right?"
-Pex-Corrh
You know that in a week or less one of the many many people pumping out free mods for the PC version will have one that does this, too, right?
me @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:18PM
WHY CAN'T YOU ALL JUST WAIT FOR THE FREE MOD THAT WILL DEFINATELY BE COMING! just download the thing if you have the pc version. i dont know if the construction set is included with the 360 version though.
Steve @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:19PM
I really don't get what the big deal is. This is not, as far as I understand, an item that is required for the game, nor does it really give much of an advantage to the player. It's a mostly cosmetic thing and is being sold in much the same way as themes or ringtones for mobiles.
Now when an item is available for purchase that is required to complete a game or if an item gives a big boost to the player in a competitive environment (i.e. multiplayer) THEN it becomes an issue. As it is I don't think this will sell particularly well, there will be a lot of bitching about it and future items might well be released for a cheaper price point. As this whole system of micro (I use the word loosely) is still pretty new to the gaming world it seems silly to expect everything to be perfect first time out.
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:20PM
"You know that in a week or less one of the many many people pumping out free mods for the PC version will have one that does this, too, right?"
Always looking for ways to hang onto the fanboy bashing of a system amirite?
Regardless, they are still charging for the PC version. And that can not be argued as MSFT's doing.
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:24PM
#30
You said it best!
Rabish12 @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:24PM
#23: The problem is that it doesn't add a new element to the game. You're not going to get more time out of the game just because your horses can suddenly wear armor that does virtually nothing. Comparing that to offering full games for a price is insane - it's like saying that charging for Geometry Wars is as bad as charging for the addition of horse armor that doesn't do anything useful in Oblivion.
Oh, and stop trying to make it seem like the only ones complaining about this are fanboys, or like people won't care if Nintendo does it. Just skimming through the other comments makes it fairly clear that a lot of the people complaining about this happen to own a 360, and have bought Oblivion, so the complaints are coming from people who buy Microsoft's stuff and not just a bunch of idiots who want [insert company of choice here] to look better.
rasterpix @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:29PM
I love Oblivion. It really is a solid game and I find it very enjoyable. I didn't buy the collector's edition for the "fake coin" or the "lame book". I bought it primarily for the DVD format and the added "making of" bonus is somewaht interesting.
I find it somewhat annoying that the growing trend is that if you want the DVD install, you have to shell out an extra $10 to get the "collector's edition" even though single DVDs now cost less to manufacture and distribute (due to less required packaging and reduced shipping weight).
Sorry bout that tangent... I just wanted to get that off my chest. I go ahead and spend the extra for convenience of not having to swap discs during the install. That probably makes me lazy... so be it.
As for the real money for individual in-game items, no thanks. I will be more than happy to shell out for expansion packs for my games, but I am not going to encourage the practice of piecemealing a product.
What keeps a company from intentionally leaving out game elements and then coming back and saying "Ooooh!! you want access to the armor/item on the box. Well now, you can have access to that lil yummie for a mere $2.50."
I agree that a person has a right to choose whether or not to support this practice; however, I believe that it is setting a very bad precedent.
zig @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:43PM
I don't really give a shit who's "at fault." Microsoft or Bethesda or Cthulhu or Al Gore, whatever. Charging 2.50 for something so insignificant is ridiculous and I'm kind of insulted that they feel it is a fair price. Hopefully I'm not alone and the market will push the price for such tiny things down. Though I'd probably not pay even 1 cent for something that adds so little to the game. Bundle 10-15 of these type of things together and charge 5 bucks, that works for me.
Pickypants @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:44PM
Enigma, just because you comment 17 times in the same thread doesn't make you right.
If you ignore this issue, it won't just go away. Its aggrivating to people, why won't you let them have that?
LaughingMan @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:52PM
This is not good news. I don't care who's responsible, but this was one of the huge draws Microsoft pimped to developers regarding the 360. Microtransactions. And don't expect Sony not to follow suit.
As consumers of games we've been screwed over the past few years countlessly. Given unfinished games, manuals and packaging have become shittier, and now this.
Be prepared to see cars in the next edition of Forza that you'll have to buy individually. Weapons in that badass FPS that you'll have to pay for additionally. We're already accustomed to maps, and serial gaming content is a great idea. But creating a marketplace in which a game is enhanced only by paying more money, come on, it's a jack.
It's going to get really worse when those items are also much more enhanced than what you can find in the game you bought.
Akbar @ Apr 3rd 2006 6:55PM
@34:
rasterpix, you realize they have a DVD version that's not the collector's edition, right? So like.. you can get oblivion for the PC with DVD-Rom {or} get the collector's edition for all the neat extras (which I did, because I wanted the book, the coin {and} the making of) there's no argument as to how they "rope" people into buying the CE for the DVD... unless you can't research it yourself and Gamestop rooks you into it. You know, whatever. And just to make sure nobody tries to deny it: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BC38LA/qid=1144104690/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4452485-0397720?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=468642
As for the whining about price? It's a completely non-essential item. If you don't want it, or you don't think it's worth it, just don't buy it. You don't need it, let it go
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:01PM
#36
17 times, eh? Where did you learn to count?
Of course I am not a supporter of this, and I do think it is silly to charge for something cosmetic, in the same respect this isnt something "game altering" that is it "needed" to whine about so much as well.
Especially coming from people who are fans of other systems, and think they have amnesty and it wont effect them either.
With all (3) systems going online this next-gen, this type of thing will be the norm. Do I agree with it in it's current state, not really, not unless there is more fluff for the price. But do I understand this is something new and it doesnt always go perfect the first time? Yes!
This type of thing will be the norm for gaming. It is something we have to get used to. But save the hardcore complaining for when it does count, when they decide to charge for multi-player advantages (which I dont see happening).
kagai @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:05PM
I think that this is ridiculous, especially as I've heard that the armor doesn't improve the horses armor rating, it's just horse clothing! Expect a lot more of this "horse crap" in the future! Eventually, you will see stuff like the best car for a racing game or the best armor/weapon for a RPG. It's coming and it ain't gonna be pretty!!!
jp007 @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:10PM
rasterpix
Um, the regular PC edition of Oblivion is DVD. There is no CD version.
As for the topic at hand, I'm not necessarily pissed that they're charging for horse armor but I personally think they should give it away like they gave away a few official Morrowind mods. The departure from their previous goodwill is NOT going to bode well with their long time fans.
But more importantly, this game has BUGS. It shouldn't be to anyone's surprise, especially to those who played previous Elder Scrolls games. But what DOES piss me off, is that instead of releasing or concentrating on a patch or fix for some of these bugs, they decided it is more important to release a pay for cosmetic improvement to the horse. That my friends, is complete bullshit. They should concentrate on tidying up the experience that gamers already paid for before trying to gauge more money from their customers.
jp007 @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:15PM
Enigma:
"But save the hardcore complaining for when it does count, when they decide to charge for multi-player advantages (which I dont see happening)."
If there is no hardcore complaining now, companies will just continue to incrementally charge for more and more things. "Well, you didn't compain before when we did X, Y isn't so much different." And then " Well, you didn't compain before when we did Y, Z isn't so much different." I think this whole concept is awful and have been railing against it since it first came up. Hardcore complaining NOW, at these initial stages BEOFRE it gets to an even worse situation, is exactly what is needed.
Enigma @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:24PM
#42
In the corporate world they seldom listen to complaining and write it off as vocal minorities. They look at sales.
The biggest way to show your displeasure for something is not purchase it at all. That will send a larger message, than "hardcore complaining" (and by that I mean just senseless bashing), not posting constructive displeasure.
jp007 @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:42PM
Vocalization of complaints is more useful for swaying opinions of other gamers. Gaming in this day and age, unfortunatly, is at the mercy of various trends, what is cool, acceptable, etc. The trend needs to be set by the hardcore, longtime, gamer that this kind of activity is bullshit. XBox live needs to be poliferated with gamer outrage, etc. The PC forums are already irate, but PC gaming isn't nearly as mainstream as console gaming. The mainstream needs to obtain the perception that the backlash against these style micropayments for content IS the trend, and the "correct" response. Then the mainstream itself will adapt the response as their own and, hopefully, refuse pay up.
It's all about attitude and who's attitude will the mainstream adopt. The one the industry wants them to have: "cool, look at the extras I can buy." Or the one that many longtime gamers seem to have: "Bullshit, that was supposed to already be in the game for which I have already paid." The lack of a vocal prescense calling BS is simply going to surrender to the mindset that wants to pay for what should have already been provided.
rasterpix @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:43PM
Akbar and jp07-
Lol. Oops...my bad. Both of you are correct. It was Battle for Middle Earth II that pulled that lil stunt and they were not the first. I am glad to see that they are coming out with more DVD media installs for games.
I still hold to my statments regarding the sell of in-game items. The horse armor really is not the problem. What I am afreaid of is game companies getting used to the idea that they just sell individual items to enhance their bottom line. It is not too far a stretch for them to leave out key elements of the game and then offer them later as individual "enhancements". I pay for a complete game, I expect a complete game. If you want to sell a solid expansion pack, then do so. If the game is good enough and the expansion pack truly adds value to the game, then I will gladly plop down the money for it.
LaughingMan @ Apr 3rd 2006 7:55PM
Think of it this way, kids. Would you pay $25.00 for an addon expansion disc to any of those games of old that featured one that consisted of a CD-Rom which added 10 cosmetic, pointless changes to the game? If the upcoming WoW expansion featured nothing but 10 cloth shirts, would you buy it?
rasterpix @ Apr 3rd 2006 8:19PM
LaughingMan- Well said, good sir.
Rob Stevens @ Apr 3rd 2006 9:14PM
I think the biggest problem (and it's been alluded to by others here) isn't that they're charging for the content, it's that they're charging _too much_ for _too little_ content.
As some have said, if this had come with an additional quest, they'd pay gladly. If this had cost less (perhaps half to a quarter of the price), they'd pay gladly. They simply mis-priced the content.
Looking to Rafi Mohammed (author of "The Art of Pricing) for guidance, perhaps this is a calculated choice. Release the content now at 200 M$P, and see how many bite. When the adoption rates tail off, drop the price and see how many more people buy it. Effectively, you'll find out what everyone's value proposition is for this particular piece of content.