Braid would be cheaper if MS agreed

August 6th, 2008, 21:00 Posted By: Shrygue

via Eurogamer


Braid creator Jonathan Blow is "less happy" Microsoft insisted on charging 1200 Points (GBP 10.20 / EUR 14.40) for the game, rather than 800 Points (GBP 6.80 / EUR 9.60).

But the increased price does help Blow guard against what he describes as the "Space Giraffe problem", where Jeff Minter offered his equally non-mainstream and unadvertised game at a low price, but still sold barely any copies.

"There is a significant possibility that Braid would have been the next Psychonauts or Beyond Good and Evil (critically acclaimed but nobody played it), even at USD 10. If that happens at USD 10 then I am in debt and have to get a job and can't make games any more. If that happens at USD 15, maybe I can still make games. That is the difference," said Blow on the Braid blog.

"And again, I don't know if I would have been able to convince Microsoft to release the game at 800 Points anyway, so it seemed my best move was to make the agreement and keep a good relationship with them."

If he could, Blow argues he would offer the game for as little as possible, but he has borrowed money in order to see the project through, which "makes the nature of the decision a little different".

Braid, wonderful Braid, was released today on Xbox Live Arcade and is due sometime soon on PC. We gave the game 10/10 for stretching intellect and emotion as well as being "beautiful, entertaining and inspiring". The price tag should be no obstacle here.

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