[Trist]

Microsoft Introduces New Indie Games Pricing: News from 1UP.com

Microsoft is changing more than just the name of the Indie Games Channel (previously Community Games). Gamesindustry.biz reports that as of October 22, an entirely new pricing model will be put in place. The new prices will be set at 400, 240, and 80 Microsoft Points ($5, $3, and $1, respectively). The old prices were significantly higher, at 800, 400, or 200 ($10, $5, and $2.50). The games priced at 80 Points are required to be under 50 MB in size.

Good news, the new pricing structure makes much more sense to me. Especially with the things that are happening on iPhone, people are realising that downloadable content can be very price sensitive

[Tetlee]

Good news, although I rarely give them a look these days as get sick of downloading what in my mind are an insult to be on there.

Gamesindustry.biz reports that as of October 22, an entirely new pricing model will be put in place. The new prices will be set at 400, 240, and 80 Microsoft Points ($5, $3, and $1, respectively).

The new pricing structure must already be optional as Easy Golf has been priced at 240 points for a few days now at least, insane bargain at that price!

Hopefully the rating system for indy games that will be introduced with the next dash update, together with new pricing, might help boost sales of the better titles out there, although following the highest sales on majornelson for Indie games(usually amazed at what's in the top 10!) I don't have too much hopes on the rating system either.

[Trist]

I know what you mean Tetlee, there's a whole lot of chaff to work your way through to pick out the gems.

I'm hoping that the success of the iPhone store will be inspiring to some of the XNA developers that there's money to be made in bite sized gaming. There's no reason that it shouldn't work just as well for the Indie Games systems. At the moment the iPhone store is getting a hell of a lot more exposure and use, but there's no reason Indie Games couldn't turn around from its current fairly sorry state.

One thing that puts me off is the stupid amount of time it take for the downloads trial button to appear from the dash. If they can make it easier to try the bloody things I'm more likely to bloody buy them!

[Rorifett]

Originally Posted by Trist

One thing that puts me off is the stupid amount of time it take for the downloads trial button to appear from the dash. If they can make it easier to try the bloody things I'm more likely to bloody buy them!

Totally, I hate this aspect of NXE, it's pretty disgusting really that we plough money into MS for this level of dis-service. Even going on to the website is a pain in the rear.

Back on topic about the pricing structure, I wonder if Matt realises that Easy Golf has dropped from 400 points to 240 points or if it's just an across-the-board drop so everything which was sitting in the middle banding is now 160 points cheaper?

[Earlyflash]

To be fair the update to the dashboard that's coming does appear to make the 'download' buttons appear much much quicker ( at least so far).

[Rorifett]

Originally Posted by Earlyflash

To be fair the update to the dashboard that's coming does appear to make the 'download' buttons appear much much quicker ( at least so far).

You're right of course, now it only takes circa 30 seconds for it to populate as opposed to the 45 secs - 1 min

[barkers crest]

Originally Posted by Rorifett

Totally, I hate this aspect of NXE, it's pretty disgusting really that we plough money into MS for this level of dis-service. Even going on to the website is a pain in the rear.

Back on topic about the pricing structure, I wonder if Matt realises that Easy Golf has dropped from 400 points to 240 points or if it's just an across-the-board drop so everything which was sitting in the middle banding is now 160 points cheaper?

I dropped it just so price is not a barrier for people to pick it up. Consider it a clearance sale with new merchandise on its way soon to replace it.

[Rorifett]

Originally Posted by barkers crest

I dropped it just so price is not a barrier for people to pick it up. Consider it a clearance sale with new merchandise on its way soon to replace it.

EEEEEEEE! *rubs hands with glee*

[Earlyflash]

Originally Posted by Rorifett

You're right of course, now it only takes circa 30 seconds for it to populate as opposed to the 45 secs - 1 min

Are you on the preview? I've not had a single delay of more than 5-6 seconds waiting for the 'trial' button to appear. It's much much better.

Whether it'll stay like that, who knows.

[Rorifett]

Ahh, nope not on the preview, just on the last NXE update, my bad