Shivering Isles on March 27, $30 (2400 Microsoft Points)

by James Ransom-Wiley { Mar 10th 2007 at 7:23PM }

Bethesda's Todd Howard has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles will be available on March 27 for PC ($29.99 at retail) and Xbox 360 (downloadable for 2400 points). While not unreasonably priced for an expansion -- especially for one that claims roughly 30 hours of gameplay -- Shivering Isles nevertheless will enter Xbox Live Marketplace with an unprecedented price tag. (Good thing Bethesda is no stranger to testing the limits of consumer practice.) No doubt the expansion's price will be met with skepticism when the content arrives on Xbox Live.

Xbox 360 Fanboy reports that Shivering Isles might also be included in a future retail edition of Oblivion, providing Xbox 360 owners without Xbox Live access to the expansion. According to statements made by senior game designer Bruce Nesmith during an interview with Gamertag Radio, if sold at retail, the expansion would have to be included with the full game, forcing many fans to re-purchase Oblivion. This is "not really an ideal situation," admitted Nesmith, explaining that current Microsoft limitations do not offer an alternative. Nesmith also confirmed that at least one more piece of downloadable content is being produced for Oblivion. "A fighter stronghold kind of thing", said Nesmith. "It's the one character class that we haven't really dealt with yet, so it'll be something for those guys who are into the heavy armor and the big, big sticks."

Bethesda has also confirmed that the PS3 version of Oblivion will release March 20 (Shivering Isles not included).

Tags: 360, Bethesda, Download, ElderScrolls, Expansion, Oblivion, ShiveringIsles, Xbox360, XboxLive

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justin U @ Mar 10th 2007 7:34PM

Damn! Oh well.... Any idea on how big it is? I'm starting to run low on HD space...

Mike @ Mar 10th 2007 7:37PM

UGH!!!!! So expensive!

I was really looking forward to this but... 2400 points? I'm going to have to spend more than $38 Canadian dollars now because of the intervals points can be bought in.

Maybe I won't buy it. But... ugh... this must be what it feels like to be overcharged for crack. Maybe I'll get it as a gift or something.

Justin U @ Mar 10th 2007 7:46PM

Thats what I"m hoping for Mike...

"Hey grandma, I need a new game! BUT, how aobut an expansion, since its CHEAPER!"

Yeah. I love grandma's

epobirs @ Mar 10th 2007 7:48PM

The Morrowind Game of the Year Edition for Xbox had a LOT of additional content over the original. Yet it also marked the game's entry to the Platinum Hits lineup and a much lower price. At the time I hadn't yet played the Morrowind I'd picked up cheap, so I gave it it as a Xmas gift to a friend's kid and got the GOTY version for myself.

So long as there is room on a DVD for all of the content to date, I don't think many would complain if it all came in one package at PH pricing. Plus it would create a surge of new interest in the game. It worked before, it seems, so why not do it again? If an existing Oblivion owner buys te now low price package for the added content but gives his original to someone else, that recipient is likely to buy the low price version as well if he becomes hooked. Seems like a good way to keep growing the game.

Greg @ Mar 10th 2007 7:50PM

Your grandma buys your crack?

jc @ Mar 10th 2007 7:53PM

Seems like a good price for a whole new world to explore. I'm really looking forward to this.

I'll probably also buy the game again with the expansion included for 60 bucks. Better to have it all on one disc.

By making the best RPG ever, Bethesda has earned our money.

Elatis @ Mar 10th 2007 7:56PM

I wouldn't mind $30 if I got a disc to keep it on, but not for virtual content.

KC @ Mar 10th 2007 7:59PM

Damn, I wonder how long it'll take to download 0_0

That free SouthPark HI-def episode took long enough. Will I have to leave my xbox on for an entire week straight to get this thing on there?

Screw buying it over Live. This thing needs a hardcopy.

Tim @ Mar 10th 2007 8:16PM

I'm definately downloading this when it comes available, but why can't they release just the expansion on a disk that loads to your hard drive for everyone who doesn't have access to Live? This just seems like a better solution that re-releasing the game all over again. I wouldn't be getting it if I had to rebuy Oblivion all over again. At least not at $60 I wouldn't.

bootsielon @ Mar 10th 2007 8:24PM

lol, bethesda ripping us off. I mean, 30 bucks for content on demand? I thought content on demand was supposed to reduce costs on both developers AND consumers, since the costs of discs, distribution, logistics and so on are significantly reduced, or even completely eliminated. As it turns out though, it's only a way to reduce costs for developers. Rip-off.

Neebs @ Mar 10th 2007 8:48PM

@ No. 10

Are console gamers this not used to buying expansion packs?

$30 for 30 hours is a hella good deal.

KC @ Mar 10th 2007 8:52PM

You match price with time spent? What the hell is that?

30 hours is not going to be what everyone spends on the game.

And for 30 bucks, a hardcopy would be nice.

bounchfx @ Mar 10th 2007 8:57PM

"That free SouthPark HI-def episode took long enough. Will I have to leave my xbox on for an entire week straight to get this thing on there?"

um, sure it's not your connection?

While I agree there should be a hard copy just in case, somehow, it did not take more than 10-15 minutes to download the south park episode. and that was over a gig.

KC @ Mar 10th 2007 9:06PM

must be my connection. it took me 3 hours :(

ssuk @ Mar 10th 2007 9:06PM

So what, they're going to FORCE you to download this until hard coppies become avaliable? STUPID idea. I can't be the only one who has unstable connection to Xbox Live every now and again, and for the download to abruptly stop half way through thanks to powercut, router playing up or what not... That's a LOT of money I've just wasted.
I mean, what the HELL were they thinking? The price, that's fine, it's just the whole download thing, the size will be HUGE. =/

KC @ Mar 10th 2007 9:10PM

Even if you're power is cut. You SHOULD be able to go right back and download it from what ever % you left off at.

I say SHOULD because I have hear horror stories fo people downloading various things and getting screwed over.

Mike @ Mar 10th 2007 9:13PM

It's Microsoft ripping us off, not Bethesda. Microsoft set the tiers and pretty much call all the shots through the entire process of putting something on XBLA. Nothing is free, not even the Gears of War maps or Madden alt jerseys...which all needed thirdparty companies to pony up the cash.

I agree with the one point though. No manual, no disc, no shipping = no being porked in the rear when it comes to buying this junk. Give us a freakin' discount if all it costs to get it to consumers is bandwidth (likely paid for on Microsoft's end anyway).

Optimus Prime @ Mar 10th 2007 9:38PM

It wont come on a retail disc because you can just install it and sell it again. Less monies for them = not good.

Arturo @ Mar 10th 2007 10:08PM

@15 and all others complaining about not having a solo hardcopy:

if the download messes up or u worry about hdd space u dont have to panic. if u purchase it once and something happens to the content the fact that youve purchased it before remains so u dont have to pay again. just re-download, simple as that.

John Greenberg @ Mar 19th 2007 3:43PM

actuallyu is because every 360 game requres the 1000 achievements and the expansion will not have that.

Anonymous @ Mar 10th 2007 10:29PM

Why pay 30 bucks for this when people have created an insane amount of mods that are just as good, and, some might argue, better than this expansion, all for the low low price of free. It's stupid for a game to come out, give people the tools to make tons of mods, and then create your own "Official" mod and charge for it. What if someone simply takes the content in the mod, mods it, and releases it as freeware? Is that illegal?

Arturo @ Mar 10th 2007 11:47PM

@21:
Becuase the whole gaming world doesn't know what mods are or how to use them and also becuase the game exists on the 360 too, not just the pc incase u didnt know.

LaughingMan @ Mar 11th 2007 1:30AM

"No doubt the expansion's price will be met with skepticism when the content arrives on Xbox Live."

Skepticism? If by skepticism you mean posts and posts of "ms is rtieng to rep you off agin 2400 points is a rip offan you beopl ar bying it, y? " then yes, these 12 year olds are going to be skeptical!!! (sarcasm)

I mean you would think that they would put two and two together and realize that 2400 points is about equal to the price of the PC expansion....but I guess that's a lot to ask of JEDIpymp$$420

raging gamer 360 @ Mar 11th 2007 4:10AM

Shut up.. all of you complaining. Do you all go to work for free?? Exactly, neither do developers. Pay the price and enjoy the expansion already. You all sound like a bunch of spoiled little bitches!! I wouldn't be surprised if half of you didn't hit puberty yet!!

Contra666 @ Mar 11th 2007 10:56AM

Several things:

1) Once you purchase it from the Xbox Live Marketplace, you will be able to download it again FOREVER and for no extra charge - as with every download (except rental movies).

2) If it disconnects your Xbox will resume downloading from the exact same point - as with every download.

3) Using number 1 above, you could delete it to save the space and then redownload it if you wanted to play it some other time.

4) Mike, Microsoft does not set pricing. It would be entirely Bethesda's choice. It's exactly the same as the PC version's price.

If I had the choice of disc that I'm going to use once and that could then break vs a download that will last forever I know I'd choose the latter.

Korova @ Mar 11th 2007 11:12AM

It sounds to me like 360 has its killer app. Oblivion (Nickel and Dime Edition). Gamers are wilting and dying everywhere. Just kidding.

Seriously, I dont have a problem paying for three chapters of a great game. In fact, it makes me want to buy the system that promises to give me three times the great game. Live can do that, PS3 & Ninty cant. Compared to paying for MMOs every month this is a freaking dirt cheap bargain.

Who would have thunk that 360's killer app would be an RPG, a traditional PlayStation strength.

Anonymous @ Mar 11th 2007 2:11PM

I'd pay 30 dollars for a retail package, but 30 dollars for some bits and bytes? Does Bethesda not understand that the price is supposed to DECREASE when they don't have to pay for the box, the media, the shipping (To sum it up, The Logistics). So why am I still expected to pay full price, when I am getting less than what I would get in a retail box? What a ripoff! I'll be reading reviews to see if it's worth it first, and if so, I'm getting it for PC.

Craig @ Mar 11th 2007 2:59PM

Any word on graphical improvements and/or load time speed improvement? I just hope it isn't too easy. At this point nothing I come across is a challenge.

Arturo @ Mar 11th 2007 3:19PM

@ anonymous:

omg heaven forbid u dont have the box and instructions that i doubt u really need. the game is what's important, and if u can't see that, u have bigger problems.

RexDart @ Mar 11th 2007 3:46PM

I hope it DOES come out as a seperate disc later one, full oblivion and expansion content all in one.....since DL-DVDR discs are only about three bucks apiece :)

razer @ Mar 11th 2007 4:23PM

No Disc, No Manual but the same price as physical media?? Even if it was just a few bucks I would be happy. Pass.

nepos13 @ Mar 19th 2007 9:47AM

Personally, I can't wait until it hits live. The knights of the nine quest was huge, and I also really enjoyed the Melrunes Razor quest. I also got the wizards tower as a base of operations. I am really glad that the expansion is coming out as it is. The shivering isles is large enough that Prima is actually coming out with a strategy guide for it, I know some folks may say so what, but to me it says that the expansion will be pretty big which warrant's value in my book.

TaT @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:41PM

Well if you want it enough the price wont matter you'll just get. Consider that this expansion is going to be bigger than most of the next gen games out there right now. And assuming it does take 30 hours to complete, longer.

l337sponge @ Mar 27th 2007 11:44PM

Well I would like it better if it were on disk. I like to have hardcopies of my stuff around. Regardless, becuase it is being downloaded and there literally isn't anything physical... The price shouldn't be $30. I would pay $25 for it. I'm already pissed i downloaded some of the other mods and then knights of the nine download would give you all of those. Really got ripped off there. Anyways, I am going to wait.

Timmeh17 @ Apr 2nd 2007 6:40AM

you see the screwed up thing about this is that $30 in the uk is only around £15, but seening as i have to buy it over live its going to cost be about £30 to get all the point increments to buy it, thats mean i would have to spend about $60 to get it. screw that!