Lumines Live to charge for unlockables
by Kyle Orland 
{ Aug 24th 2006 at 10:55AM }
First they charged for horse armor. Then they announced plans to sell one-time use "consumables." Now, even additional levels for a puzzle games will need to be purchased on Xbox Live.
A review in the latest issue of Official Xbox Magazine reveals that the $15 (1200 MS points) purchase price for Lumines Live on Xbox Live Arcade will not include the entire game. Advancing past a certain point in the game's Mission and Vs. CPU modes will require the purchase of additional level packs for $5 (400 MS points) and $3.75 (300 MS points), respectively. Regular readers may remember rumors back in June that Lumines Live multiplayer would require an additional purchase. While those rumors were denied, these single-player packs may have been the source of confusion.
In a way, this is nothing new -- multiplayer maps for game like Call of Duty 2, Ghost Recon and The Outfit have always cost money on Xbox Live, and players have had to pay for new missions in Oblivion and new cars in Project Gotham Racing 3. But charging to progress in a puzzle game seems different somehow. Success in classic puzzle games of the past was limited only by the player's skill. Now, it seems, it may also be limited by the player's pockets.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Enzo @ Aug 24th 2006 10:58AM
Ouch. Looks like I'll be avoiding Lumines.
nick @ Aug 24th 2006 10:59AM
Sounds like you do have the entire game, and have the option to purchase additional content later on if you want it.
Alcoholic Zombie @ Aug 24th 2006 10:59AM
I am so buying this is it has brains included.
Yes I know. I am a zombie.
What else do I think about other than drinking, brains & videogames?
Alcoholic Zombie @ Aug 24th 2006 11:02AM
That's weird. I posted first yet I got bumped to second. I feel like Sony right now.
Ouch burn!
.ed @ Aug 24th 2006 11:03AM
and you thought the "patch cycle" was crappy...
now we have the "purchase cycle"
i guess we can kiss getting a whole game for one price goodbye. I understnad this works well for them, and some gamers who are bored and have a few bucks burning a hole in thier pocket.. and it prevents people from trading in thier systems when they have so much paid for that is tied into the system... but how short do games have to become before people realize the got scammed?
i don't like the negative press this new business model is sure to drum up in the next few years about the gaming industry as a whole turning into a money grubbing subscription based tack on sales pimp.
C, Ravitch @ Aug 24th 2006 11:03AM
This is the kind of SH*T that makes me mad as H3LL!! You buy the game for a whopping 1200 points and now I have to buy EXTRA LEVELS to finish the damn game!!WTF. What makes this ALL worse for me is that my second 360 died right before I could DownLoad the FREE Texas Hold'em game and when MS sends me a third system I'll have to pay for i!! How F'ed up is that!! I love XBLA but this Nickle and Dime crap has to stop!!
Piranacon @ Aug 24th 2006 11:04AM
Looks Like I wont be downloading this then. Ah the joy of a marketplace
Radix Radicoon @ Aug 24th 2006 11:08AM
This is all a big social experiment to me. At this stage, no one really knows what will work.
Besides, this game did cost $40 when it came out for PSP, so $15+ still sounds good.
Hoffer @ Aug 24th 2006 11:09AM
I'm not surprised by this. Lumines sells on the PSP for like $40 or something. When they announced the game on XBLA, I wondered if it would be priced more than the 1200 points. There's a pretty big different between $15 and $40. This is how they are making up that difference.
The Top Ramen @ Aug 24th 2006 11:09AM
Yay! Let's release unfinished games and the charge for so called "extra levels" and while we're at it include a bunch of bugs in the game too so you can download the "patch" after shelling out 50 bucks for a subpar game. What happened to the days of up, up, down, down, left, right, select start. Extra secret stuff used to be free and a bonus for the hardcore. Download servicedives us SO many extras, like trailers, videos, previews and oh glorious bugs. YAY! oh wait just like a PC but in this case it cost money.
Dracula Jones @ Aug 24th 2006 11:13AM
I agree with #8. $15 is cheap for Lumines. Even with the added content, it's less than $25 and more than $15 cheaper than the PSP version.
Jeff @ Aug 24th 2006 11:13AM
Yeah, see this is why I'll never buy games this way.
It's the old "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" adage. They're just going to push things as far as they can go and take as much of your money as they can. The sad thing is, there are probably enough suckers in the world to support this business model too.
But for me? No thanks. I buy my games once and that's it, and if all of your content isn't in the game I can buy on day one, then I ain't buying your game. Oh, and btw, I normally buy about $4,000 worth of games per year, so, you know, you do the math there. Us old geezers with money to burn are not the kind of consumer you want to piss off.
teknomusik @ Aug 24th 2006 11:14AM
I went from wanting to buy it, to not wanting to, back to wanting it again, and finally not wanting it anymore... I wonder how the $15 XBL version will compare to the $40 new PSP version (content, levels, etc.)
IanC @ Aug 24th 2006 11:14AM
Fuck this, no Lumines for me.
Maps im fine with buying. Cars? Maybe. Missions? Ok sure. But to go fuurther in a bloody puzzle game? No way jose.
Niobium @ Aug 24th 2006 11:15AM
Not. Buying. Lumines.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 24th 2006 11:17AM
I've bought every XBLA game so far. I won't be buying this one though. Seems like the most expensive XBLA games are the ones that I never play (Bankshot Billiards, SF2HF).
It's an interesting concept, but I've already got a large number of puzzle games available to me on XBLA, and they don't give me an in game ad to buy more levels.
David @ Aug 24th 2006 11:18AM
You all are a bunch of whiners. Have you seen how much this game costs for PSP.
Stop being all knee-jerky for a moment and stop to think that maybe they are just giving you more choice.
If you aren't that hardcore you can just play the first chunk and if you really want that extra lumines fix you can pay a little more for the next chunk.
It's no different than just charging more for the whole package, except if they did that you all wouldn't whine as much.
JJ Evans @ Aug 24th 2006 11:19AM
You all need to keep in mind that they could sell this game for $40 bucks or higher if they wanted. Instead they are giving you a low entry fee and allowing you to progress to the level that you want. I think it is actually a good deal. You all just need to keep the big picture in mind.
TiaMaster @ Aug 24th 2006 11:20AM
Isn't this pretty much like "episodic content"??
Folks haven't pitched a fit about that like they are about this. Even Joystiq says this "seems different somehow". Err...why?
If Guitar Hero 2 came to XBL, and you had to pay for expansion packs of songs, would there be an outcry like for this?
foamcup @ Aug 24th 2006 11:22AM
Hey Top Ramen, its up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start. Throw select in there if it's a two player game. Anyway, this is such a scam, but enough dumbasses will buy it so that companies think they can keep getting away with this crap.
Jake @ Aug 24th 2006 11:23AM
This isn't sooo bad. It is still cheaper than PSP. I would rather they charged a flat $24, though.
When I bought Ghost Recon for $60 months after release, I was infuriated to find out that I had to pay an additional $12 for multiplayer maps and guns that were necessary to play on 90% of the online matches. Bastages!
With Oblivion, it isn't so bad. They give you a great value at $60 for the game. The extras aren't necessary like on Lumines and GRAW. If you buy horse armor, you are an idiot and the people at Bethesda get to laugh at you. But buying the extras for, say, GRAW doesn't make you an idiot, it just means that you want to actually play some decent opponents online.
It is frustrating to see some of these "new improved" online strategies by game companies. They are just sneaking money out of us with little tricks and tactics. It is very, very annoying.
I will guarantee you that within two or three months after Gears of War comes out on 360, they will add some maps and guns for $15. You won't have to get them, but you won't be able to play online with people that do, eventually forcing you to get them. Watch, you'll see. And when PS3 comes out, expect more of the same thing. At least the Wii lacks a big enough hard drive for them to do that. (I can't believe I just said less memory can be a good thing.)
logikil @ Aug 24th 2006 11:23AM
So why not just buy the game to play the game as is? It's not as if the game will be any less fun to play in the form that it is, and the multiplayer will be there. Also, for the love of me i don't understand why anyone sees fit to blame MS for this. They don't decide this, Q Entertainment decides this. And if you want to show them that you don't think it's worth it then either:
1. Don't buy the game at all
2. Buy the game and don't buy the DLC stuff
For Christ's sake people are you all such lemmings that you have no willpower to avoid the shit you don't want to buy without saying you were being cheated in some way?
It's been mentioned a million times already, DLC on consoles is a new thing. Price points and what people are willing to pay will mature as the system itself matures. Your money is part and parsel of that decision. So quit bitching and speak with your money.
Paul P. @ Aug 24th 2006 11:24AM
This micro-transaction business is great for Microsoft, Sony, most probably Nintendo(in the form of VC) and every other company out there that plans to use it, but it sure does screw over the consumers.
J B Cougar @ Aug 24th 2006 11:25AM
And so we have descended down the slippery slope towards "pushing content" to gamers via an online service. It's not new, having been in the PC world for a while, but it's certainly a shock to the average gamer who doesn't fanatically read forums like Joystiq and the like. Also on this same slope is in-game advertising. Abused regularly by EA in games like Fight Night, this practice makes $$$ for the developer/publisher but the gamer still pays 60 to 70 bucks. Doesn't make much sense, does it?
Bombsy @ Aug 24th 2006 11:25AM
Games are a luxury. As long as people pay for this content, they will be able to sell it.
That said, under $25 for Lumines? Sure, I'm down. People have said it already.
Bryan @ Aug 24th 2006 11:27AM
For all the people who say the 15/40 dollar argument, keep in Mind that on the PSP I can play whenever whereever, whereas for the XBL i have to have my 360 and tv...
I'm still thinking about getting the game though...
fagaymer @ Aug 24th 2006 11:27AM
I hate to break it to you morons, but the PSP version is only 19.99 and under since this is a Greatest Hits title now. The PSP version also includes the ENTIRE game. No need to buy a 400 dollar console to play it either.
Rogue Soul @ Aug 24th 2006 11:28AM
Bah I was looking forward to this... but now its going to be so avoided. Even 1200 marketplace points is enough to put me off... but to pay more for extra levels?! Major rip-off!
superberg @ Aug 24th 2006 11:30AM
isn't Lumines for the PSP $20 now? It's a best and has been available for over a year. This makes Lumines Live a less attractive "deal."
frankly, Lumines was designed for portable gaming, and that's the only way I plan on playing it.
fagaymer @ Aug 24th 2006 11:31AM
Also...Lumines 2 for PSP is only $29.99 on Amazon.com right now. It comes out soon. So stop the lies!
kalateur @ Aug 24th 2006 11:36AM
Oh, c'mon!! paying for a puzzle game!!! are you dreaming ?? i hope nobody pays for it, 15$ for a pack of levels, incredible!!
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Aug 24th 2006 11:38AM
You know, if the Lumines developer was unhappy with the XBLA pricing levels, it should've never agreed to release it in XBLA, but released the game as a standalone and charged $40 for it just like they wanted.
This is just causing ill will among your target audience.
ZENegade @ Aug 24th 2006 11:42AM
"4. That's weird. I posted first yet I got bumped to second. I feel like Sony right now.
Ouch burn!
Posted at 11:02AM on Aug 24th 2006 by Alcoholic Zombie 0 stars"
^^^FOURTH'D! And don't dis my system.
Also, that really sucks for Live users. I have nothing against the service (though I am against XBOX), and I must say that really bites. I loved the fact that in the original Lumines you could unlock countless skins and have incentive to keep playing. Now they are going to charge progress?! That bites! My condolences to the Live users
ChairmanMah @ Aug 24th 2006 11:49AM
While I am hoping that the part about not getting the whole game for the $15 initial fee is not true, charging for additional levels does make sense if you consider that the fee for those levels will likely include licensing of new songs / music videos. I wouldn't be surprised if this model is widely copied in the future on Sony and Nintendo platforms especially considering that they are both appear to be saying that their on-line gaming services will be free.
Chris @ Aug 24th 2006 11:49AM
It's incredibly deceptive, I think, to charge a price for a game and then tack on things that should have been included in the original game for more money. Additional levels for Lumines definitely fall under that category: It is a puzzle game. Puzzle games are supposed to be self-contained. If they were charging for a different mode of game play (not multiplayer--I'm talking about something more akin to the different modes of Tetris DS), I would be cool with it, just as I am cool with the downloads for Oblivion. But they should have realized that levels in a puzzle game is going to piss people off.
I'll still buy it, only because I think Lumines is a game that is worth $23.75. I just wish they didn't think that they were kidding me.
Advanced @ Aug 24th 2006 11:58AM
This Blog cracks me up. I love it.
"For all the people who say the 15/40 dollar argument, keep in Mind that on the PSP I can play whenever whereever, whereas for the XBL i have to have my 360 and tv..."
Ummmmmmmmmmmm...... that statement is just damn funny.
Only to be outdone by............
"I hate to break it to you morons, but the PSP version is only 19.99 and under since this is a Greatest Hits title now. The PSP version also includes the ENTIRE game. No need to buy a 400 dollar console to play it either."
Sooooooo I can just spin my UMD around on my %$^%. Ohhh wait a minute I need a $250 PSP to play it. Damn. :)
No one forces you to buy these games. Just like walking into the store. The extra charge for more stuff really doesn't bother me. If I get into the game then I will buy it.
OOOOPs @ Aug 24th 2006 11:59AM
They NEED to price it like this. If they could, they would charge you 30-40 USD for this XBL game. But, that goes against MS's pricing strategy for XBL games.
So, this is a workaround/loophole: buy, it in chunks and if you want the full game you pay the full price.
OmahaGTP @ Aug 24th 2006 12:01PM
I hate to break it to you morons, but the PSP version is only 19.99 and under since this is a Greatest Hits title now. The PSP version also includes the ENTIRE game. No need to buy a 400 dollar console to play it either.
LOL. Lumines Live is the same as Lumines II coming out soon for the PSP. A game which will retail for 39.99. I would think before you call others morons. If your brain has the extra power, don't go suffocating on yourself.
ECUnlimited @ Aug 24th 2006 12:04PM
To all of the people who are complaining...why? Why are you complaining when this game has been 40 dollars on the PSP for the longest time, and now you can get it, in HD, with multiplayer and background music videos for less then half of the price you can get it on the PSP?
I swear, gamers have just turned horrible ever since this downloadable content thing surfaced. All they do is complain how they have to pay a little bit more for a game. If you like the game, buy it.
I'm going to buy Lumines because I love the game. For all you who are not getting it, get a job. You buy 60-70 dollar games, why can't you shell out 15 bucks for a spectacular puzzle game that is way better then anything else out on the Marketplace?
Greek @ Aug 24th 2006 12:16PM
Has anyone from Microsoft said you don't get the entire game or is that merely speculation? Perhaps the additional content is NEW content not seen before, on top of the already existing game published for PSP.
I'm sensing some people are a glass is half empty kinda folks.
Derbeste @ Aug 24th 2006 12:19PM
PSP version HAD to be $40 because it was put on UMD...which...as most people know...is an expensive and proprietary. That doesn't make the content WORTH $40 when there is no physical media and you but a $400 console to play it. Not to mention the fact that the game is no longer "new" and now sells for $20 anyway.
So the "well the PSP charges this" argument is flawed, outdated, and moot.
Now then...this is my view on these micro transactions:
Technical service: Hello this is micro transaction Inc. How may I help you?
Gaming sucker: Yes...I'm playing "Over hyped 4" on my Wiistation 360...and there seems to be a problem with the game.
Technical service: Ok sir, We'd love to help. What seems to be the problem with "OH4"?
Gaming sucker: I can't get Stereotyped Hero to jump.
Technical service: That is because jumping uses the "A" button, sir.
Gaming sucker: So?
Technical service: The "A" button is a premium button in "OH4". You'll need to subscribe to that functionality online.
Gaming sucker: WHAT? I just paid $85 for this game AND over $800 for the HDTV to see all the "Revolutionary" visuals your company promised me!!!
Technical service: I understand your concern, sir. As you can see, you CAN see the visuals on the game by using the NON premium "left", "right", "up", and "down" buttons you received with your basic purchase. The gameplay was added in for "hardcore" gamers that wanted to add a little extra content to their experience.
Gaming sucker: Are you kidding? All I can do is walk around?
Technical service: Oh no, sir! We put a LOT of money into this to make sure it's a GREAT value for your money. This game will let you run around, move the camara, stand on your head, and cluck like a chicken.
Gaming sucker: How does clucking like a chicken help me progress in the game?
Technical service: it's really great visual, sir. You ought to try it...over and over. It NEVER gets boring. An amazing value. Especially for the casual gamer.
Gaming sucker: I don't like clucking like a chicken! I want to fight the monsters!
Technical support: Well if you input your credit card to prove you're of age, you can download the violent "monster" content. If you go to the Gold plan, you can download the whole premium package of monsters, "A" bottun", and "b" button to attactk for an AMAZING value of $120.
Gaming sucker: You can't be serious! I bought this EXPENSIVE new console because I was promised the best gaming experience ever created. But even the visuals are that much better than the cubebox 2!
Techicnal support: But you can playes these games at higher resolutions if you have a good tv AND it will help you with your housework
Gaming sucker: I HAVE a device to help me with my housework!
Technical service: But this one will help you in HD. And it will sing while it works.
Gaming sucker: You said that, but it won't wash my windows!
Technical service: Windows are a premium service, sir.
bounchfx @ Aug 24th 2006 12:23PM
the game is amazing of course I'm going to buy it. but extra songs? ehh.. we'll see.. maybe if they drop in price
Rask @ Aug 24th 2006 12:23PM
Could the extra charge for this be because they have to pay royalties for the dumbass music videos that will be streaming in the background for this?
I never played Lumines on the PSP and I despise pop music. If there's no way of turning off the videos/music, I will be avoiding this title like the plague. You couldn't pay me to play a videogame that advertises Madonna in the background of the game.
J.Goodwin @ Aug 24th 2006 12:30PM
You also have to take note that you can charge a lot of money for a PSP game, because people who own PSPs don't have very many games to play.
The XBLA is full of stuff, and there are plenty of retail games and dozens of worthwhile BC games to play as well.
heavyness @ Aug 24th 2006 12:46PM
dear god people...
they aren't charging for the online component, so who cares. if you really like the game and want some harder levels later, you buy them. if you just play online or casually, you won't need those extras levels.
they are making the game expandable.
insane_cobra @ Aug 24th 2006 12:56PM
Why is this an issue now? It's always been said that some Live games will have additional purchasable content. You don't have to buy it if you don't want it. As long as you know exactly what you're getting before you pay for it, you can decide if it's worth your money or not. If you think it's not, just don't buy it. If enough people feel that way, that will send the message. Case closed.
The one thing I don't like about items you can buy on Marketplace are additions that change the balance of multiplayer experience, like those Chromehounds parts supposedly do. Additional content should be singleplayer only or purely cosmetic. *OR* there should be a way to earn it with skill, though even that solution is debatable.
cringer8 @ Aug 24th 2006 12:56PM
It seems like just yesterday I was having a discussion with nalgae about this.
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/15/microsoft-to-take-a-bite-out-of-consumables/
He said, "Name one developer that has charged you extra to finish the game." I responded, "It's only a matter of time." Well, here we go.
I hope Xbox Live users know enough to NOT take part in this activity. If they know you're willing to pay, it will only get worse. Please, for the sake of every other gamer, don't buy into this. In the long run, it isn't worth it.
Pip @ Aug 24th 2006 12:57PM
Luckily there is enough content on Live now that I can safely ignore this. If devs want my money, they'll need to toss in a ton of free stuff from here on out.
Antonio @ Aug 24th 2006 12:58PM
They should have the $15 dollar version and a $20 version that has the extra two packs....I'm not crazy about this per pack thing...also, I hope we can skip on some of these artist tracks...don't mind Madonna but don't really want to listen to Gwen Steffani doing Holloback Girl - Yuck!
Ian @ Aug 24th 2006 1:03PM
It feels kinda like a rip off but this is probably a bigger budgeted games then most Live arcade games. Besides the PSP version was 40 bucks at launch and so is Lumines 2 and neither support online. Comparatively, its a pretty good deal.