It kinda bums me out that people here seem to hate the game so much, but such is the nature of opinions. IMHO, it's an awesome game (if you set the difficulty to Hard)

If you'll look at it from a different perspective, consider that it's a license game. Essentially a movie license. As well all know, license games suck ass, 99% of the time.

With that in mind, in my opinion, Stranglehold is probably in the top 3 (or at least 5) movie/character licensed games of all time, with the #1 probably being Chronicals of Riddick (by general popular consensus).

It may not be Gears of War, but it's no Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon, either.

(but I'm still not buying the maps for 1200 points)

*runs off to hump Special Edition copy*

Billkwando

but they do have a minimum price for thins apparently. That's what I was trying to say. That they're not completely hands off about the price.

Billkwando

Heroic map pack is a good deal...... if you wait and download it for free.

irnchriz

Microsoft does not dictate content pricing for third parties. Expect to see this on the PS3 for a similar price. (most content released on both PS3 and 360 has been around the same price)

irnchriz

They don't seem too dismayed if you asked me.

beem

My point was the MS does have say in the pricing of content.

I do agree with everything you said though. :D

Also, M$ sux! *runs*

Billkwando

Seiryuu

Witzbold

Witzbold

Funny story, in most retailers you can follow the rise of the CAD through video game prices, old ones from the launch of the 360 and PS3 tend to be around 69 CAD and then the price steadily drops as you reach contemporaneous release to what it should be.

@Witzbold: Hey, being that you are in awesome lan and I kinda assume you know Japanese, would you give me a hand? what is the meaning of Okunai and Okugai?

Both are written with the same first kanji and are 2 kanji constructs.

Seiryuu

liquid_kore

Witzbold

I do not agree with the process entirely and feel that if companies such as Epic wish to create direct links for content that MS should allow some type of access either on their network or via a portal of some type. This problem will continue as additional Portal, UT3, TF2, etc maps are released and unable to be played due to Xbox Live not allowing for unregulated content.

The issue remains that as long as this content is on the MS servers, they have a right to maintain them and keep third-party content restricted until it can be properly tested and distributed. Hopefully soon there will be an Epic server on Xbox Live where they can distribute their own content free of charge. Of course they will have to maintain their server and pay for all expenses on their own.

Hiero Glyph

Good Lord... I always knew that we in the UK were being shafted, but a 40% mark-up??? Not only that, but the RRP of our games is basically $100. It always makes me laugh when Americans complain about paying $60 for a new game. I consider myself fortunate if I find a brand new title at that price on eBay.

As an aside, our 'gas' is now $9.45 a gallon!! When I lived in the US (Pittsburgh), I remember the furore when petrol went over the $2 mark. It was $1.60 when I got there, $2.25 when I left. And don't get me started on the price of the consoles themselves.

No offense (and I mean that), but I don't think Americans have any idea just how good they have it.

duckmouth

Way to harp on the foregone conclusion and ignore the link.

Billkwando

dowingba

Which is, you know, bullshit!.

You can see a chart with MS point prices per region at [en.wikipedia.org]

Seiryuu

Now Epic cries about how Microsoft won't let them release additional content because they were A) paid by MS to make the game; and B) make money every time the game is sold. So Microsoft, who is trying to make money to pay for their expenses, is the bad person in this case as the content is A) hosted on their network; and B) their property.

I really do not see where Epic has any say in this case as they were paid for their work and still make royalties on top of that. So sure they want to release the game content for free, it costs them nothing! Microsoft has to host the content and support it.

If Epic really wanted the content to be free they would have paid Microsoft a portion of their profit in order to host the maps and make them free for everyone. I guess it was not that important to Epic after all.

Hiero Glyph

Obviously inspired by [www.penny-arcade.com]

Denzal

Billkwando

Plankboy

On the subject of the pricing overall... Put it this way, if Infinity Ward put out 10 new maps for CoD4 for this price then I wouldn't think twice about buying them (with or without extra achievements).

duckmouth

Witzbold

Ok, so even when it's Microsoft's fault, it's still not their fault? I mean, if it's only the greedy publishers causing all the problems... shouldn't M$, in all their benevolence, give it away for free? Of course not, because they're a greedy publisher too.

So since that example was explained away w/ semantics, how about this one?

[www.joystiq.com]

Billkwando

Leathersoup

Sean Noonan

That's how SH MP usually is. Can hardly get a match going, then when you finally do, it's against a scrubby player. Trust me, you're not missing much if you never pick up the MP again.

Regarding the price, I'd like to know what Midway was smoking when they priced the map pack. You've got more people playing 4+yr old Counter Strike (Xbox) over this. And surely there are better bargains for your hard-earned 1200 points over Xbla.

beem

Hiero Glyph

heretrix

StupidDufus

IronsUK

I enjoy how everyone absolves M$ of any responsibility for the prices of DLC when they wouldn't allow Epic to give away Gears maps for free.

Billkwando

Hiero Glyph

The demo is not a good representation of the game. It's a really boring level compared to the inside levels, and there's very little destructible scenery. I personally think it's an incredible game, especially when played on Hard. Then again, I'm teh gay for CYF and John Woo movies. I still think it's an outstanding title. I bought one for a friend for Christmas.

For the Halo/Stranglehold comparisons (ironically Halo is what killed Stranglehold's multiplayer, they came out like a week apart) I don't think it's exactly fair. 800 points for 3 maps IS too much, IMO.

However, 1200 is still too much for 10 maps (with online only achievements) that are essentially single player levels with spawn points, for a game with an almost zero playerbase online.

It just seems that the pack, priced at 800 max, might've had a chance to revitalize the playerbase. At 1200, nobody's going to buy it, and the few that do will only make it hard for people to find games that don't. At least that's how I see it. It "fragments the playerbase" (that's for you, L). Those achievements are gonna be hard to get if you can't find anybody to play with.

I hope they rethink this but I doubt they will.

Billkwando

Crazy_Buffet_Happens

EwilTwin

saxifridge

RinoaRyder

I'll pay good money for that achievement. (Wonder what Gabe and Tycho have to say about it.)

LoopyChew

Tale

Pigmartyr

RinoaRyder

SAKY

SAKY

Its actually a nice game, I really hope it does well enough to get a quality sequel that fixes its more glaring gameplay weaknesses and moves from AA to AAA on the quality scale.

But yeah, I just spend $10 on Omega Five, so no rush unless I just start seeing everybody on my friends list playing it or something ;)

DaiMacculate

Still a fun game to shut off the brain for a bit and play though.

Nothing beats bullet cam crotch shots!

Witzbold

trust me, this plan actually works.

homelessvagrant

tips@kotaku.com

Subject: Ban Request

Then put in a link to the commentor in questions profile.

Where the most recient offences took place, which post.

A link to your own profile.

Witzbold

What The Geek

Tonx

But major lol, I'm not getting the game till it's @ $20 or lower.

Sailorcancer

ErickTheRed

Sounds like a decent amount of content but the price is just a bit steep. Been tempted to pick up the game in the sales.

NecronomiconUK

gameware

NotAZombie

Dimipapa

NotAZombie

method47

ArcaneJMS

Witzbold

Bobby

Red_Rob