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3 ways to improve the Avatar Marketplace on Xbox LIVE

Written on Sep 28, 09 3:29 am | XBOX 360 Musings/Thoughts Neoseeker Related Gaming Related 0 comments | 1 | 0 | tags: xbox live marketplace avatar sunday musing neoseeker

Been a while, but I finally got the chance to write a Sunday editorial today. The topic has been on my mind a while, so I thought it was about time I wrote about it. Would make more sense if you guys have Xbox LIVE, but I do go over the subject a bit before delving into the issue.

For those who do have Xbox LIVE and subscribe to Gold, you may be rather annoyed by Microsoft charging so much for the new Avatar merchandise. Of course, I have friends who don't care and throw away money on it. Oddly enough, I hear / read this excuse a lot: "I need something to waste my points on."

I think one issue is that many people don't realize these points cost money, and it really adds up after a while. Because they're called "points," we don't directly associate it with hard-earned cash. Thus, people are more willing to spend their points, forgetting they're actually spending real money. On top of this discrepancy, many young people have yet to fully comprehend the value of a dollar and how hard it is to earn that money. So when we see a blue lightsaber in the Marketplace, we see only 400 Microsoft Points, not $5.00 that can be used to buy food and drink.

It's more than just a rant though, but a valid look at some ways Microsoft can improve the system to be more consumer friendly. Here's an excerpt, followed by the link.
quote
T-shirts in the Avatar Marketplace usually go for 80 points, while some smaller items will drop to 16 Points, or 50 cents, specifically in the "Styles Store" for generic items. Name brands like Roxy, Adidas, tokitoki, and even Penny Arcade generally cost more. The "Game Styles," which cover video game costumes and accessories, are also leaning on the pricey side. This scheme makes sense because whenever a brand or any other recognizable name gets involved, royalties come into play. And really, PSN users can buy virtual goodies too, so what's the big deal with Xbox LIVE?

The big deal is that users already need to pay an annual $50 subscription fee (or go month to month with subscription cards) to get the complete package. I have never had a problem with this fee. In fact, Microsoft's monthly rate for Gold has spoiled me, and I refuse to pay more for any sort of online game. This Avatar Marketplace, however, felt like a hard kick to the proverbial testicles.

One reason this change felt like a scam is the previous free Avatar updates. They were sparse but free. We looked forward to Major Nelson's announcements each Tuesday, hoping to see new items for our Avatars. Sadly, these updates have since disappeared after the Avatar Marketplace was launched. In a perfect world, Microsoft would somehow pay the royalties on their own without having to charge players; unfortunately, that's not how the capitalist world works, and even the people behind Xbox LIVE need food, shelter, and medical insurance.

But there must be a better way, and I believe Microsoft can still make money off the Avatar Marketplace with a fairer, more consumer-friendly system.
LINK: Sunday Musing: Three ways to improve the Avatar Marketplace on Xbox LIVE
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