The XBL microtransaction tracker
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Nov 2nd 2006 at 11:15PM }
Microtransactions or: Death by a thousand paper cuts. Sure, it all seemed so innocent at first, but then we started having Oblivion horse armor, Kameo Uno decks and now EA's Need for Speed: Carbon shows up exploiting the system to its full and most disgusting potential -- oh wait, EA already did that charging for Madden tutorials. And how many are willing to pay and feed this exploitation?A group of writers at GamerFeast created a microtransaction tracker and started keeping tabs. Guess who's the top offender? (The list after the break) They've also broken everything down in spreadsheet form to review with a fine tooth comb, if you wish. It's a great resource and know we'll be checking back in again soon.
The top 10 (MSRP + Content):
1. Need for Speed Carbon - $94.97 - Electronic Arts
2. The Godfather - $90.79 - Electronic Arts
3. Chromehounds - $83.73 - Sega
4. Tiger Woods 07 - $74.23 - Electronic Arts
5. Oblivion - $74.11 - Bethesda
6. LotR - Battle for Middle Earth II - $68.74 - Electronic Arts
7. Prey - $59.99 - 2K Games
8. Call of Duty 2 - $54.98 - Activision
9. Lego Star Wars II - $52.49 - Lucas Arts/TT Games
10. Kameo - $39.99 - Microsoft
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BFeld13 @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:23PM
Personally, the EA microtransactions don't bother me as long as they are also available as unlockables. If people would rather pay so they don't have to race over and over again or do pointless side missions, let them. If you're sensible enough to not pay, then don't
HoodOrnament @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:26PM
How long until EA is charging you for achievments?
jchensor @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:27PM
I actually don't think they should have included the cost of the game in that chart. Or at least listed it out as game + enhancements, rather than the totals. LEGO Star Wars II looks worse than Kameo until you realize that there are 10 dollars worth of additions to buy via microtransactions for Kameo, but only $2.50 worth of additions to buy via microtransactions for LEGO Star Wars II.
People know what they are getting into when they buy the game. Knowing how much the add-ons are is the more important part, IMO.
Joe smith @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:32PM
You know, if I bought every option for my car, it would have cost me a lot more, but I only bought the options I wanted. Thre is not a single itme on that list that is required to play an enjoy the games. If the items are overpriced, then people won't buy them.
This is a new business model and it is going to take time for pricing and such to settle out. But get used to it -- it isn't going away. When games cost what they do to make, any chance to make any extra money is going to be seived on by the publishers.
reppy @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:40PM
Paying extra to unlock secrets you don't want to work for? Isn't that what a Gameshark is for?
Dirtyboy @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:49PM
Just don't forget that in a full-priced game you get the wonderful in-game ads that EA is now so fond of...
I don't buy into their "oh, next-gen is soooo expensive" crap. They can cut costs and streamline operations just like any other company. Besides, beyond Fight Night, have they really even made a "next-gen" game?
supersloth @ Nov 2nd 2006 11:57PM
Uhhh, where is Ghost Recon: AW on that list? Doesn't seem like that list is entirely accurate.
Also, to be fair, the content in Need for Speed is unlockable, you don't have to pay for it, whereas with GR:AW and Oblivion you can't get to the content without handing over the credit card.
exctacy @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:00AM
EA's Nickel and Dime to do list:
charge for Game Manual
charge for Power Ups
charge for Bonus Levels
charge for Editing Controller Configurations
...etc... you get the point
team EA are a bunch of scumbags, trying to nickel and dime everyone to death.....
Not surprised that they are leading the pack on the The XBL microtransaction tracker top 10 list. It should be the Nickel and Dime scumbag list!
Dan @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:04AM
Gran Turismo is gonna kill me! I have stayed away from all MT so far, but GT is going to have far FAR too many MT and I'm going to go broke!
Dan @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:10AM
As I said in the article about the Carbon unlockables, the real worry is that EA is going to realize that making the unlockables in their games harder will drive more people to pay instead, and it's very likely that they'll take that as far as they can. Even if they don't make the specific decision to make things as hard as possible, there will always be the lingering question: is a particularly tough unlockable hard because the developers wanted it to be a great reward, or because they want to squeeze a few more bucks out of their players?
just a guy @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:15AM
Yeah, charging money to unlock stuff that is a free cheat code on other platforms is just wrong. But I cringe every time I see Oblivion on one of these lists. The horse armor was a little silly but that was their first content drop. They were trying to see what the market would bear, and I think they found a good balance with the rest of them. The core game has more content than some MMOs; I'd have spent almost $150 if I were playing an MMO as long as I've been playing Oblivion.
I'd be interested to see that spreadsheet broken down into estimated value, say dollars per hour of entertainment or something.
SALvation @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:44AM
Thanks for your opinions guys as this list is going to be an ongoing project, and we will take all suggestions for things that may be missing or you would like added.
-SALvation
GamerFeast.com
Mike @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:29AM
What people are not getting is the fact that developers might go as far as making aspects of the game, like side quests, nearly impossible to beat without buying some MT content. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that in the game The Godfather EA charged you to unlock some special gun and then made it so that you had to spend a ton of in game money to actually use it. Not only that, but in the 360 version of the game they removed the money cheat! Tell me that you'll get used to something like that.
Edge of Blade @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:32AM
I'm really sick of all the slippery slope arguments, suggesting that we will be paying for bullets or achievements. It's all bullshit and you know it.
Now, whether you buy EA or not, it seems you are in control of your own nickels and dimes. Stop blaming everyone else except yourself for spending money.
Everyone wants to see an immediate change because they complained. It just doesn't happen like that. The market works when you decide to buy or not buy. I really anticipate this feature will fail and EA will stop offering these pay-for-cheats.
Just vote with your wallet, untangle your panties, and get back to playing games.
hambone @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:50AM
You might note somewhere on the spreadsheet that some of those items are perishable and could thus be potentially bought over and over again. For instance, the Godfather money. Once you use it up, it's gone.
jimjo @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:53AM
what about all of us who paid full price for our games ehh? take away the price breaks on call of duty 2, 74.98. pgr3, 69.99. what about graw!!! 74.98 as well. this isnt even taking into account the shit we fanboys pay for in terms of gamerpics, themes, COLLECTOR editions etc...full blown rape!
jimjo @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:56AM
whoops gotta keep it real, collectors dont count
Splinter @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:02AM
Wow, for the price of the extras for NFSC you could buy one of the following:
3200 Wii Points
7 NES games via VC
5 Turbo Graphics Games + 1 NES Game
4 SNES games via VC + 300 Wii Points
4 Genisis games via VC + 300 Wii Points
3 N64 games via VC + 1 NES Game
1 bargin wii game
Makes you really think twice...
todzillla @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:40AM
all of these are optional. i have played all of these games and without buying any of the microtransactions you can play the game and be entertained, especially oblivion. Play Tiger Woods online against some people. Entertaining and no extra money. Wow! You can play oblivion for 100 hours and not have to buy any of the extra stuff!!!!
Seriously though none of this stuff is gonna stop. Look at the list of the Wii VC or the rumored PS3 Gran Turismo. #4 put it perfectly "This is a new business model and it is going to take time for pricing and such to settle out. But get used to it -- it isn't going away." I was gonna say the same thing until i saw this. If you don't like it vote with your wallets and things will change. If everyone keeps on buying the microtransactionns then guess what...... They will keep on following this path. Don't be stupid people
Graeme_N @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:52AM
EA really sickens me. And don't feed me this "just don't buy it" line, either - a lot of this stuff used to (and should be) be free considering the cost of the game in the first place.
SALvation:
Very interesting idea, but I think there are some errors on your list, as certain items are included in bundles and you have double counted them by adding the standalone versions of them. For example, the Don collection for the Godfather includes all the top weapons, the extra money, possibly the extra missions, too, so you can't add the cost of those to it if you've already added the bundle. Also, I'm fairly sure the ultimate performance bundle on NFSC includes the other three performance bundles.
schwal @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:52AM
Why is prey on that list? all the extra content is free, and most 360 games start with an msrp of 60 bucks. they should be thanked, not put on the offenders list.
ROd @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:53AM
You people are saying that it's not so bad if the content is unlockable. If you want to pay to have upfront, it's okay.
You are all forgeting that up to this point, we all got this option for free, it's was called cheat codes.
Proof of this is the Godfather. All version but the 360 have cheat codes. On the 360 you have to pay in order to get it.
Lame
Bender @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:36AM
If you're an Australian you get used to paying through the teeth for any game anyway. We pay the equivelant to US$93 for a single xbox 360 game (AU$120)...
Seems like you lucky Americans get your games with all the paid unlockables for the same price we pay just for the game!
That said, these micro's are even more expensive over here... I can't be bothered adding it up properly but we're probably looking at AU$180 for NFS Carbon with all the unlocks.
There's no way in hell I'm paying that sort of money.
daeval @ Nov 3rd 2006 3:50AM
This data would be infinitely more interesting if it contained some meaningful information on each title/microtransaction. For example:
Which MTs are unlockable through regular play vs. those you can only purchase with cash?
Which affect gameplay vs. those that are purely aesthetic?
Which would normally be available via cheat codes vs. those that are more like expansion-pack fare?
Etc.. These things are what, to me at least, make the difference between a reasonable MT and a rip off. I don't mind paying a small fee for new, non-essential content, as it amounts to a fine-tune-able expansion pack. However, I refuse to pay anything for a cheat code.
Look at #s 4 and 5 for a great example. Oblivion looks just as bad as Tiger Woods '07, coming in just a few cents under after all the MTs. What the list doesn't make clear is that the extra $14 bucks got you a bunch of new content for Oblivion (and some horse armor), while everything you got with Tiger should have been free on gamefaqs.
Jdoki @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:06AM
We have to face it... cheat codes on the PS3 and Xbox360 are a thing of the past!
I really don't care if EA or whoever charge for additional content or quick ways to unlock in-game content.
Every game developed has features cut due to deadline pressures - if we get these extra features a couple of weeks after the game ships, and the publisher wants to charge us for those then that's fine by me. We'll soon start seeing certain publishers/developers winning or losing fans depending on whether they charge for content or not (Prey being a good example of free content - Godfather a bad example).
As long as we do not get to the point where games are shipped intentionally lacking features that could have been included, or where key parts of the game can not be experienced unless more money is handed over.
This whole Mictotransaction market on consoles is very much in it's infancy. As the business model and market matures then we may see changes - hopefully these will benefit the gamer, but for now it seems like EA is taking the opportunity to try and pick our pockets.
bobbyfab @ Nov 3rd 2006 4:46AM
I think it's quite depressing really. I have a good job, but I have trouble justifying spending £50 or so on a game as it is, without these poxy microtransactions.
Perhaps since we have a new business model emerging, we also need new pricing labels in the shops:
Basic game: £blah
Full game (with microtransactions): £blah blah
That'd do it I reckon.
Dave @ Nov 3rd 2006 5:13AM
I smell a boycott brewing.
otakucode @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:06AM
reppy: Thanks to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, developing a Gameshark for next-gen systems would be illegal. You won't see one unless it comes out of China or somewhere where the DMCA doesn't kill puppies.
Recongoddess @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:20AM
Other than not liking the fact that I can't play GRAW with anyone on my friend's list that downloaded chapter 2 for GRAW, since I will not download it.... I agree with 'todzillla'
mrNelson @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:41AM
Vote with your wallet people, not with your opinion! These microtransactions are here to make companies ric... I mean, to complete your gaming experience. Nothing in these games should have been included by default, no sir.
futanari futanari futanari @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:42AM
I admit that I totally would have skipped over this story if not for the accompanying picture. Rawr.
Pixelantes Anonymous @ Nov 3rd 2006 8:56AM
The charts are nice and all, but they're missing a lot of "color" that's important.
For example, the DLC is not classified in any way. New content 2 days after a release of the game (looking at you EA) is in a whole another level of scammage than paying to unlock features already in the game or extending the life of an older game with new content packs six months into the life of the game (PGR3).
Ranking by total cost is meaningless without reporting the percentage of that total cost that's attributed to paid DLC. Say, I pay $15 for the game, then another $20 to get the full game (looking at you Lumines Live), I'd say the scammage is, again, in a whole another level compared to a game priced at $50 with a $1.50 horse armor DLC.
jc @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:15AM
futanari - did you just say "rawr" to a cartoon woman?
mrNelson - god forbid a company should do something to get rich. after all, it makes much more economic sense for companies to work hard for your "attaboys" and pats on the back.
capitalism is built on money. money makes the world go 'round in a capitalistic society. the direction these companies are taking makes sense from a business standpoint. yes, cheat codes are becoming a thing of the past. so have members only jackets, but i ain't b!tching.
futanari futanari futanari @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:28AM
@#33: My name *is* futanari, after all.
Todd @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:59AM
EA = Whore
Rabidkeebler @ Nov 3rd 2006 9:59AM
The issue isn't as simple as "Well if they want to cheat then let them play."
Oblivion (excluding horse armor) showed how additional content is a good thing. All sorts of new chains of quests are for sell.
Chromehounds shows things taking a turn for the worse, with payments for new weapons. Creating a have and have not society.
EA has done it worse. Excluding the payments to get ahead. Their are the payments to cheat in the first place. Take Godfather for instance. With the PS2 version of the game to get cash you punch in
Square, Circle, Square, Square, Circle, L3.
With the 360 version you have to pay real cash for the fake cash. This means that something that is free in one game we have to pay for in another!
EAs codes for cash is to the whole point an immoral process. There were probably codes already in The Godfather for the 360 that would give cash, but EA intentionally took them out so they could then impose microtransactions for what is free in other games. (This is one of many reasons that I don't play EA games anymore).
Thryon @ Nov 3rd 2006 10:30AM
You must all remember that all these extras are "extras". They are not required to enjoy your game. They are not required to complet your game.
My wife is into pimping her car. So far, she changed her car's body kit, added a carbon figer hood, 19" rims, low profile tires, new spoiler, and a new paint job, new electronics, etc.....all these "extra" cost her about $10000...this is $10000 over the cost of the car, for which she paid $20000. So can I say that her car's actual cost is $30000? Or if someone else wants to buy the same car, and then change the cd player, will it also cost them $10000? Other views of this site is that these extras should be free (I would like that, since I pay the bills, but it is not very realistic).
Companies like EA can charge for anything they like, it is up to the consumer to purchase the product or not. If EA wants to sell a copy of Need For Speed with only 1 car, and only 1 track, and then charge you for anything extra, they are allowed, and you are allowed to purchase the competitors game. What would be wrong is if EA sold you that game, without telling you that you paid full price for only 1 car and 1 track, and must spend even more money to enjoy the game. That would be the equivalent of buying a real car, and only getting half a car.
Microtransaction are a good thing in that they can extend the enjoyment out of a game. I know some gamers are purchase a few games a year, and like playing these games over and over again. With microtransaction, they can do this. For the cost of a coffee and donut, they can get a new track to race on...what is the problem with that?
Matt @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:39PM
Some of the games on that list don't bother me at all, such as Oblivion and Chromehounds. Both were full games when I bought them at the store. Nothing was missing or stripped out of the game. The content available for purchase is legitimate content that extends the life of the game (for the most part horse armor).
The stuff that upsets me is when publishers/developers intentionally degrade the quality of the retail game so that they can sell you more stuff afterwards (I'm ****ing looking at you EA). Things like cheatcodes, in game money, and demo videos are less than worthless and I refuse to support anyone who is going to try to profit of of these.
anonymous @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:18PM
Isn't the prey content free? Kind of misleading considering it's just the price of the game ($59.99)
Mario Elenes @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:37PM
Whoa, some nice bias action there. Why are content packages being considered separately? Some of the purchasable downloads are nothing but a package of several other downloads, so they should not be counted. For starters, that would drop the price of EA games by $10.
Also, while the Godfather was an impressive moneygrubbing scheme, I don't think NFS is such a big ripoff. After all, you don't actually need to purchase any of this to get the content... only if you're too lazy or don't care about the single player. God knows I've had dozens of games I really don't care about in SP, and only play it in order to unlock cars/maps/weapons/whatever for when multiplayer madness is to be had.
Austin @ Nov 3rd 2006 12:58PM
If you are really that upset about it don't buy the game not just the downloads. Until people hit them where it hurts they will only see this as extra cash no-matter how small the purchase numbers are.
onegoodman @ Nov 3rd 2006 7:18PM
If you buy it, they will obviously do it more often. When microtransactions were first mentioned I thought that good things could come from this. But charging for content which is already available in the last gen titles is just a rip off, plus the etc £10-20 on the next gen price tag alone.
If people dont want to get ripped off then they should not buy the content in the first place. Thats the only way like money grabbing companies, such as EA, will learn that they cannot extort the gaming community. And make them actually create content speciafically for microtransactions to download, not stuff thats locked away on the DVD.
360_Rools_U_All @ Nov 3rd 2006 1:37PM
"22. You people are saying that it's not so bad if the content is unlockable. If you want to pay to have upfront, it's okay.
You are all forgeting that up to this point, we all got this option for free, it's was called cheat codes.
Proof of this is the Godfather. All version but the 360 have cheat codes. On the 360 you have to pay in order to get it."
There is a lawyer here in Toronto looking at this situation. Apparently in Canada, this sort of activity is illegal. Not the charging for cheat codes part, that's up to the company, free enterprise. The problem for EA may lie in the fact the these same things are available in different versions of the game for free via cheat codes, yet only on the 360 (and coming soon to PS3, don't kid yourselves) do you have to pay for them. According to him, it may run against our discrimination laws or some such legal loophole. I hope this is the case and EA gets schooled because to be fair, if one has to pay, then EVERYBODY has to pay. Can't facilitate microstransactions for the other versions? Tough, then it's free for all. A word to the wise, if you MUST have an EA game, then buy it used and DO NOT support this garbage.
Konchu @ Nov 3rd 2006 2:25PM
My biggest gripe is with the EA stuff. I wouldnt have a problem with buying extra content but it is obvious looking at the file sizes these are purly unlocks. This wouldnt be as bad if they were not offering alot of this content for free in last gen versions.
I have no problem with most the other map packs or the Oblivian content they add content and gameplay that was not already there. And I dont mind them adding customizing things like on Chromehounds as long as they dont break balance and add gameplay for those that get them.
Content on games like Kameo only cater to the fans, who else cares what she looks like or wants to play with a harder difficulty. This is a service for the fans and I cant see why anyone cares if this is done.
But really is there really any problem with developers developing a product with upgrades in mind or develop both at the same time. They are two seperate products they have to market. Now the thing developers have to keep in mind is that the main product needs to be well featured and worthy the cost. And they also need to realize that holding content back for easy profits may be the diffence of a AAA game and a Meh game.
Christopher @ Nov 3rd 2006 6:24PM
I bet all you people who are mitigating the bullshit that these companies are doing are going to agree that it's bullshit once Rockstar pulls all the cheat codes from Grand Theft Auto and begins demanding microtransactions to get that same stuff. Mark my words you idealist queers