Comments on: Braid and the future of XBLA http://www.thegamerspub.com/2008/08/18/braid-and-the-future-of-xbla/ Games, Friends, Beer, It Just Does Not Get Any Better. Tune in every week to find out all the info that you need to know about gaming, beer, girls, jokes or whatever else we decide to talk about. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:42:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: mik http://www.thegamerspub.com/2008/08/18/braid-and-the-future-of-xbla/comment-page-1/#comment-459 mik Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:13:17 +0000 http://www.thegamerspub.com/?p=199#comment-459 I really enjoyed Braid and, as such, have mixed feelings about the price. I've resigned myself to the following almost paradoxical statement about it: Braid is a $10 game that was worth $15 to me. It definitely wasn't the revelation that many professed it to be--and it certainly didn't have the narrative gravitas it gets credited with in certain circles--but it did represent, as you note, a break from the standard fare on XBLA. They need more games like Braid, and I'm willing to pay a $5 premium to reinforce that message. I think they're still lagging behind PSN in the avant garde, experimental games department, which I acknowledge is a pretty small niche, but it's an important one for the progression and perception of "games as an art form" (however you choose to interpret that). It's also going to be interesting to see how MS responds to Sony's willingness to offer up more meaty games on their online service. Being able to buy episodic games like Siren, or junior-sized versions of big-boy console games like Ratchet: Quest for Booty gives the PSN and its developers quite a bit of flexibility--and expandability--for their franchises. Any way you slice it, the competition is heating up, and gamers are the clear winners. Thanks for the article, Benjamin. Good read. I really enjoyed Braid and, as such, have mixed feelings about the price. I’ve resigned myself to the following almost paradoxical statement about it: Braid is a $10 game that was worth $15 to me.

It definitely wasn’t the revelation that many professed it to be–and it certainly didn’t have the narrative gravitas it gets credited with in certain circles–but it did represent, as you note, a break from the standard fare on XBLA. They need more games like Braid, and I’m willing to pay a $5 premium to reinforce that message.

I think they’re still lagging behind PSN in the avant garde, experimental games department, which I acknowledge is a pretty small niche, but it’s an important one for the progression and perception of “games as an art form” (however you choose to interpret that).

It’s also going to be interesting to see how MS responds to Sony’s willingness to offer up more meaty games on their online service. Being able to buy episodic games like Siren, or junior-sized versions of big-boy console games like Ratchet: Quest for Booty gives the PSN and its developers quite a bit of flexibility–and expandability–for their franchises.

Any way you slice it, the competition is heating up, and gamers are the clear winners.

Thanks for the article, Benjamin. Good read.

]]> By: BDazzler http://www.thegamerspub.com/2008/08/18/braid-and-the-future-of-xbla/comment-page-1/#comment-458 BDazzler Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:20:28 +0000 http://www.thegamerspub.com/?p=199#comment-458 I suppose I agree with you in principal, that XBLA needs some better, more substantial games, and that can't happen without a willingness to spend more than $10 on a game. However, I have to disagree that Braid is such a title. I'm obviously in the minority on that, but I almost hate that game. I fully hated it more after hearing the creators interview with Major Nelson. What a pompous ass. It's just my opinion, but I know I'm not the only one who thinks it. The rest of you, feel free to flame away. I suppose I agree with you in principal, that XBLA needs some better, more substantial games, and that can’t happen without a willingness to spend more than $10 on a game. However, I have to disagree that Braid is such a title. I’m obviously in the minority on that, but I almost hate that game. I fully hated it more after hearing the creators interview with Major Nelson. What a pompous ass. It’s just my opinion, but I know I’m not the only one who thinks it. The rest of you, feel free to flame away.

]]> By: GUI J http://www.thegamerspub.com/2008/08/18/braid-and-the-future-of-xbla/comment-page-1/#comment-457 GUI J Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:39:24 +0000 http://www.thegamerspub.com/?p=199#comment-457 Yes sir I do agree..although I have yet to play Braid it is on my to pay list. I am waiting to give my duckets to Castle Crashers. Yes sir I do agree..although I have yet to play Braid it is on my to pay list. I am waiting to give my duckets to Castle Crashers.

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