Posted Oct 20, 2006 at 05:09PM by Chris L. Listed in: Xbox Live, Games, Lumines Live!, Opinions & Analysis Tags: Microsoft, Q Entertainment
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luminesIt was only a couple of days ago that it had hit the fan of sorts, when gamers found that they were paying US$ 22.49 (1,800 MS points) for an incomplete Lumines Live! when they were expecting to receive a full game. Sentiments varied wildly across the spectrum. Some praised this microtransaction scheme as a way to pay for what you really want (and to fit the program within XBLA download limits). Others whined that they paid eighteen hundred points for what, in effect, was a demo.

Did Microsoft drop the microblockball somewhere? 1UP thinks it was the advertising that screwed it all up, and Microsoft's feeling the heat. Let's quote them, shall we?

We (meaning 1UP) knew the game was a testing ground for the microtransactions movement, but when the company's own employees are admitting they weren't clear about what "full version" meant when purchasing Lumines Live, the response should be: "!"


Points for full disclosure, someone once said. Gamer points, perhaps? Whether you think microtransactions work or not in this or any other case (like, say, the PS3's Gran Turismo), or whatever your opinion may be on the price you pay for the Lumines Live! you want (and how full you want it to be), knowing what you're buying into is still an important principle.

So in the interests of full disclosure (and the Gamer Points that will result), we're going to print here what 1UP and GamerScore Blog say are the other micro-packs of Lumines Live! we'll expect from Q Entertainment and Microsoft, to be released in early 2007:
  • Artist Pack featuring music video skins like the Madonna “Sorry” music video (seen in some ad materials).  The Artist Packs can be used for play under the Challenge mode.
  • Mission/Puzzle Pack featuring 50 new problems in Mission mode and 3 bonus skins, and 50 new problems in Puzzle mode with 3 bonus skins
  • VS CPU Mode Pack featuring 11 new opponents/skins
And in the interests of full disclosure, personally and for myself, I felt the game was addictively fun. While it lasted, anyway.


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4 Comments


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   by Lupin Saiko (Unregistered) - 2006-10-20
 » Im Ok with this

Honestly I dont think its that bad of a thing. First of I know a lot of people with the PSP one only played the challenge mode (what you get in the core package) so for them Im sure they are happy with this. Now, for those who enjoy the Puzzle and Missions yeah it kind of sucks for them they have to pay extra. But I honestly do not know of anyone who has ever said, "I liked Lumines only for the Puzzle mode and vs CPU mode." Do you?

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   by Honest Abe (Unregistered) - 2006-10-20
 » They wont get ANY money from me!

I would have bought the game by now if they didn't use such rip off tactics.

Now I boycot the game and ask all you readers out there to do the same.

It's just not worth $20 for 5 levels..... It shows how poor the game design really is, not built for a complete experiance, but is merely a tool to peddle their corperate garbage.

BOYCOT! Rot in hell you corperate slime!

   by zecky (Unregistered) - 2006-10-20
 » i bought it

I bought lumines and the advance pack for 1800 which is around 15 english pounds. I dont feel ripped off at all since I had the psp version at one time and that cost 30 quid. So ive payed half the price and I will only play the main mode and some multiplayer anyway.

   by ArcaneView (Unregistered) - 2006-10-21
 » Heh

I'm glad people are finally lightening up, when it's all said and done you're going to have an amazing game for around $30. The only difference, you won't need to put the disc in, it'll be on your hard drive.



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