MS laments Lumines confusion; new packs in 2007

by Ross Miller { Oct 20th 2006 at 9:35PM }

John Porcaro, Senior Group Manager in Microsoft's Global Games Marketing Team, has responded to the Lumines Live fallout on the official Gamerscore Blog. Porcaro admits that "when we said 'full version,' we didn't make what that meant clear enough." He also reveals that the VS CPU and Mission / Puzzle packs will be released in 2007, as well as an Artist Pack that features music video skins (pictured).

For those just tuning in, Lumines Live has been released on Xbox Live, but there's a catch. For 1200 MS points (that's $15 in old money), you receive 12 skins for the the basic version of the game, multiplayer, time attack mode, and samplers of VS CPU, Mission and Puzzle modes. Many of those who purchased the game (self included) were outraged by what was marketed as the "full version" of Q Entertainment's puzzler. Ultimately, it appears the full version of the game (Artist Pack notwithstanding) will cost gamers 3000 MS Points ($37.50), more than the cost of any retail version of Lumines.

Here's a query: how much more content was added by upgrading the demo to the $15 basic pack? We don't have a problem with the business model, but perhaps a lot of fury could have been avoided had Q Entertainment not charged (or charged much less) for the base pack and instead released that as the free sampler.

Despite our temperament, it is assuring to know that Microsoft is listening to the community.

[Via 1UP]

Tags: Q Entertainment, QEntertainment, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, TetsuyaMizuguchi, X B L A, XBLA

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ed @ Oct 20th 2006 9:58PM

I'm really, really pissed about the model involved here.

That said, for me it's a $22.50 game, since we probably won't buy the mission/puzzle/vs CPU packs, nor the "Artist" pack. Not because of the expense, which isn't a big deal (although it's high for XBLA), but because, honestly, those modes don't do much for me.

So, I've already bought the base and advanced packs. And, I think, that'll do.

I just hope other studios don't start doing the same thing.

Spilt_Milk @ Oct 20th 2006 10:00PM

They can go fuck themselves with a rusty drill.

Erec @ Oct 20th 2006 10:01PM

I'm wondering where you guys are getting the $37.50 number. From what I've seen, the Vs. CPU and Mission/Puzzle pack will both be less than the Advanced pack, putting the whole thing around $31.75, which is a bit more in-line with other versions of the game.

http://www.videogametalk.com/read.php?ID=503

PhillyRampage @ Oct 20th 2006 10:15PM

Look, I know it sucks and they shouldn't advertised it that way, but if you see it as a disc game and not as a Live Arcade game, it's pretty much in line with the pricing of "next-gen."

The game is fun otherwise.

Seventy5 @ Oct 20th 2006 10:42PM

"Despite our temperament, it is assuring to know that Microsoft is listening to the community."

"Oops, sorry you're pissed. kthxbai" is listening to the community? Kudos to them if they do something about it, but for now, they're putting on a consoling face while giving it to us raw (no vaseline!). I have 17 XBLA games, but unless this gets fixed, sadly, Lumines won't be one of them.

PS- Couldn't do it without positive MS spin, could ya? I remember JS bitching from May til September about no HDMI on the core PS3, then instead of eating crow when Sony "listed to the community", or at least giving them props for doing so....nothing. I wish I knew howta quit yew, Joystiq.

And where's my props for the scoop?

Infil @ Oct 20th 2006 10:42PM

PhillyRampage: While that may be true, we shouldn't be forcing ourselves to think of a digitally distributed game as if we bought a hard copy from the retailer. Lumines Live cannot be sold, or brought to a friend's house, or lent to someone. It is an expensive game that is stuck to your hard drive. There is no benefit to having it digitally distributed in this way, except if you like to make money off non-suspecting, ill-informed casual gamers.

And the other packs not until 2007?? That's absolutely, completely unacceptable. They're going to have this half-completed game on the market for several months before they do anything about it?! I agree with Spilt_Milk.

JUJUSTSHUTUP @ Oct 20th 2006 11:03PM

They can go fuck themselves with a rusty drill.

haha classic b

heavyness @ Oct 20th 2006 11:17PM

ok, $15 for the game and $7.50 for the advance pack. that is only $22.50 for both... that isn't bad for a game that is still $29.95 for the PSP [and has been updated with HD graphics and dolby sound].

now, i'm not going to defend how they broke the game up, that was totally done by the developer and i think they could of done better.

computer gamer @ Oct 20th 2006 11:33PM

Seriously bad mistake on the part of MS (who ultimately control what goes where and for how much on XBLA).

It's not that it's that expensive to buy everything (if Lumines is your bag) but the underhand way they sold it without the full content and without having that written in big neon letters!

From now on people are probably going to wait for reviews before PAYING for XBLA content.

Ed @ Oct 21st 2006 12:12AM

You can bring Lumines Live to a friend's house. Put it and your XBLA profile on a memory card and bring it over.

I will say that I find Lumines Live to be a better game than the PSP version. The nice high resolution (which allows you to see a lot more detail in the skins, which were pretty bland on the PSP) helps, as does the 5.1ch sound, especially in levels where they really take advantage of it.

I don't regret it, if only because it makes my wife happy as she tries to get to the top 8 in the leaderboard.

PhillyRampage @ Oct 21st 2006 12:17AM

@Infil

Totally good points there. But I'm not saying to force yourself there, I'm just trying to make a point that the QUALITY of this game is pretty much in like with a disc game that's worth $50-$60 game.

Peace

puddlejumper @ Oct 21st 2006 12:34AM

rusty drill. very funny:)

but seriously, talk is cheap. q entertainment needs to address this fast. not only are they screwing us over by breaking up the pieces, but you can't even order the rest even if you wanted to. 2007? talk about falsesly advertising when they prostituted that madonnan video since e3.

yup, time to wait for arcade game reviews before buying. and even then, buyer beware.

Wilky @ Oct 21st 2006 2:45AM

I honestly cannot beleive that anyone is defending this shite. Imagine Tekken. Great fighting game. Now imagine you wanted to play VS mode. Ooops, sorry have to download that. What about when you get to the bosses. Ooops, you have to download that. Different backgrounds, download that. Different music, download that. And, another things downloaded games should be WAAAAY cheaper. Your cutting out a large slice of the pie. No manufacturing, no distribution, no retail. Saying its cheaper than the PSP is pathetic. Of course it should be cheaper. As for HD graphics, get real, its a bloody puzzle game. How HD do you want those squares?

But my comments fall on death ears. There will always be suckers. Just sit in your rooms, on your big backsides. MarketPlace Live is just another reason not to go outside and socialise. Buying a game was at least one occasion that gamer misfits got a bit of fresh air. Now, it appears they are prepared to whore themselves as a slave to MS marketplace and pay in installments for the scraps from the gaming table.

Kendall @ Oct 21st 2006 3:20AM

They may be "listening" but they sure aren't making any attempts to rectify the mistake.

Consumers "We don't like how you misled us"

Microsoft and Q Entertainment "Oh, sorry. we see your comments, but we aren't really going to do anything about it except make you pay even more money to get the game you thought you were getting in the first place...and not until 2007 at that."

I don't feel better because Microsoft recognizes that they *may* have misled us. I'd feel better if they'd actually pony up and do something about it.

The absolute full psp version plus extras is coming to PS2 before the end of the year. And you can be damn sure that it will indeed be the full version. It will include all the licensed music from the original that's sadly absent in this game. I mean come on, Shinin' is basically the face of Lumines, and you don't even include that on the XBLA iteration?

I don't want Microsoft's faux sympathy or Q Entertainment's bullshit stance that this method of distribution allows us to "create our own game." Releasing and charging for bonus skins is fine, but not chopping up the core game and making us pay for it piece by piece is shady, especially when you advertise it as the "full" game.

First of all I want them to make this situation right with all of us. And second I want the Marketplace to be revamped with more in-detail descriptions of what we are actually getting.

KineticOnline @ Oct 21st 2006 4:50AM

If they want to release a game and give the user choice then its fairly simple.
Full game = all game modes, 1 or 2 "skins". (1200 points)
Add-on Pack 1 = More Skins (about 20) + new cpu opponents (400 points)
Add-on Pack 2 = More Skins (about 20) + new puzzles (to add to the 30+ from the original) (400 points)
Add-on Pack 3 = More Skins (about 20) + new missions (400 points)
Various Artist Packs (varied points)

But then Q Entertainment have a problem. How do we get it all into 50mb (heres an idea learn to optimize you code so there no or little redundant data, and compress the textures)

jayen @ Oct 21st 2006 10:01AM

If they released it as a free sampler, then we're back to the good ole shareware model of distributing software, which, when paired with something like XBox Live is the perfect way of getting good games out there while rewarding the really good game developers.

Microsoft should've really just open up the XBox Live marketplace, release all games for free and let the market dictate which games they'd want to pay the full versions for.

MikeG @ Oct 21st 2006 10:50AM

I was completely under the impression that we would be getting the version with the music videos and everything. I know I read that you would have to purchase added content later (i.e. music videos), but I figured we'd at least get a "full version" of Lumines along with maybe one music video skin as a teaser.

MasterDePong @ Oct 21st 2006 2:01PM

If people are really upset about this, stop complaining on the message boards as it gets you nowhere. Contact the Attorney General's office in your state, or the FTC and file a complaint. If enough people do this, M$ will get the message and this crap will be avoided in the future.

It's especially effective in an election year. I'm sure there's at least one politician out there who wouldn't mind getting a few Nader type points by taking on a big company like M$.

Fight the power!

CB

xboxer @ Oct 22nd 2006 12:36AM

I am so frustrated an angry at this whole situation.

Given other PSP titles like the uber popular "GTA:Liberty City Stories" have since come out, on PS2 at least, at $15, I thought I was reasonably expecting "PSP Lumines" functionality with more "next gen" skins and such coming out for later download.

Instead, I get the crippled vs and puzzle modes and only 12 skins (most from the PSP version) in challenge mode. I got through everything in less than 90 minutes.

Woo-hoo... multiplayer... That is kinda nice, I guess. I can't say that increases playability tremendously since it is all the "same old" 12 skins from challenge mode.

I just can't support the lack of clarity around what was in this "full version".

It is funny, if this was a retail product and it came out $10 higher than the PS2 version with the addition of a handful of skins or such, I probably wouldn't have a problem. But this poorly thought out, scheduled and communiated XBL experience has me seriously feeling like I paid 1200 points for nothing more than a demo.

Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

HoverX @ Oct 23rd 2006 1:29PM

I think $15 is a fair price for what you get. Early reports about how little you get for your money were overexaggerated. i have no complaints about this game at all. well worth the money.