First wave of new Avatar clothing will be free
by Dustin Burg 
{ Nov 21st 2008 at 9:30AM }
You can calm your "will new Avatar clothes cost me Microsoft points?" worries, because Microsoft is committed to offering the upcoming Avatar fashion choices for free ... for now.
Talking to German website dreisechzig.net, Boris Schneider-Johne (Microsoft's Xbox product manager in Germany) confirmed that the first few weeks of new Avatar clothes will be available for free, but doesn't go as far to say that all Avatar clothing in the future will be available for no charge. "More costumes will be made available for free in the next weeks" says Schneider-Johne, adding "what's going to happen as of spring is yet to be announced." So, feel free t put those Microsoft points back in your pocket ... for now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Arnold @ Nov 21st 2008 9:44AM
okay, who the hell's going to pay for clothing for their avitar?? idk about you, but i bought an xbox to play games, not to play with a "doll". On a side note, why don't backgrounds and themes come with games??
carg0 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:07AM
because there are idiots out there willing to waste their own or their parents' money to purchase them seperately regardless...
Mokano40 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:08AM
Amen to that buddy, I'm ok with the avatars but there is no way i'll pay money for extra clothes.
I will be nice if they offer the clothes for free and exclusive clothes unlocked when you unlock certain achivements !!!
And please add color change for clothes MS !!!!!
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 10:17AM
Just as I've never paid 1 cent for a gamerpic or theme, I will never pay for clothing.
birdshake @ Nov 21st 2008 10:55AM
I'm willing to throw down some cash if they're not ridiculously priced.
I did get a 360 for games but I do enjoy the aesthetic appeal of being able to customize things to my taste at a small price and if that makes me a "idiot" so be it.
Neuromancer @ Nov 21st 2008 11:10AM
I agree with Birdshake, I'm not going to go all out and blow hundreds of dollars but one dollar for a cool shirt for my guy, that's fine. Just going out to dinner for 2 at a halfway decent place is $30 so get some perspective.
Odog4ever @ Nov 21st 2008 12:23PM
I would pay $1 for an NFL outfit pack of my favorite team or things of that nature. I don't think that is so crazy. It would bring a smile to my face and in the end that's what matters to me. If you don't want to buy clothes, don't buy clothes. But don't expect anybody to give you a metal for it.
Bugz @ Dec 1st 2008 8:13PM
the avatars are for Casual gamers not harcore gamers and i bet u have played with ure avatar so stop bitching about something u didnt pay for and something that u dont have to use!!...and there not "DOLLS" lol he said there dolls wat a moron!!
nanomatrix @ Nov 21st 2008 9:48AM
I will pay if my avatar can play in a game and the clothing provides benefits. I.e. if I can play fable and buy an invisible cloak i'd pay. If its just a simple sprite over a 3d mesh with no benefits to my live experience fat chance i'd spend more the 5 points on something lol....
EdgeOne @ Nov 21st 2008 9:49AM
I would hope so...
LegendaryRedass @ Nov 21st 2008 9:53AM
Isn't this tantamount to playing with dolls? I think I'll just keep enjoying playing video games. You know, the reason most of us have a 360?
Ellianth @ Nov 21st 2008 2:17PM
Is someone not comfortable with their masculinity?
LegendaryRedass @ Nov 21st 2008 8:59PM
Ellianeth, if you took exception to that, then that's a personal problem. Don't drag me into your inferiority complex. It was merely an observation, you need to get a life stop attacking everyone you disagree with. Freedom of opinion isn't exclusive to your viewpoint.
Jake @ Nov 21st 2008 10:00AM
hey.. some people will pay for their "dolls". Let Micro$oft do whatever they can to make money. I love to see the 360 make more money. More money for Micro$oft=better for us.
ganrob @ Nov 21st 2008 10:13AM
and the assimilation of this generation into consumerism is complete.
next up: space exploitation?
Mokano40 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:10AM
BTW when will the first wave of clothes be available?
Guines @ Nov 21st 2008 7:01PM
I think in the next few weeks.
mjdailey87 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:16AM
I bet you would buy a football jersey for your "Doll," wouldn't you? Stop your bitching! You probably bought gamerpics didn't you? same thing. Get over it. Its here to stay.
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 10:18AM
No.
Perno @ Nov 21st 2008 10:30AM
Ha! Yes! Bear down Chicago Bears!
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 11:03AM
To clarify, the curt "No" should means "No, I would not buy a jersey / No I did not buy gamerpics".
It was not "No, I will not stop bitching" because I'm not bitching. I'm just standing firm in my refusal to support the microtransactional model by wasting money on clothing for my av.
ShaolinDolemite @ Nov 21st 2008 10:18AM
"Isn't this tantamount to playing with dolls?"
Kind of yes....and kind of no. I'm sure that there are some out there that think the whole Avatar thing is a bit like playing with dolls but I wonder if those people ever played with action figures as children. Dressing up your Avatar can be seen as playing with a doll- or perhaps can be seen as buying a new action figure.
Pretend if you will that you're a nine year old boy who loves Gears of War (I'm sure there are parents of 9 year old's who let their kid play Gears) and a new Gears of War action figure came out. You know damn well that your 9 year old self will be chomping at the bit to get that new figure. Well what if the (insert your age here) could get Marcus Fenix COG outfit for his avatar? (say what you will but for 5 points I'm sure a lot of people [and you'd at least think about it] would buy it)
It's just something else "cool" that you can own if you so wish. How many of you out there shelled out of a special edition of a DVD because it came with some trinket of sorts. Or the Special Edition of Gears for that matter? It's really not that big of a deal- as men we are all grown up boys who no matter what will still like toys and shit to play with.
P.S. If you play WoW you are so totally playing "dolls." The whole point of the game is to level up so you can get fancy new loot so you can dress up your guy. Just like dolls.
Tungsten Plug @ Nov 21st 2008 10:23AM
I agree 100% with you. That guy who said no is in denial. He will buy it. He probably is a WoW player. If a shirt comes out that says "Tough Guy" I'll buy it for xenocidic. This is no different than playing with Batman or Ninja Turtle action figures, and def no dif than G.I. Joe except for the fact it is computer generated.
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 11:01AM
lol, I did play WoW (not anymore). but they didn't try to sell you the clothes, you earned 'em.
it's not the fact that I don't "like" the avatars or think they're dolls and its "g4y". i just refuse to support the microtransactional model. if i get some cool free clothes as an unlockable in a game, then by all means, I would throw it on my avatar. but I am not paying one red microsoft point for clothes.
readmore @ Nov 21st 2008 10:20AM
The avatar is not a doll.. it is your persona.. it represents you. That being said, I still would never pay for any sort of style or body feature for this. Any clothing or or other feature should be unlocked via Achievements.
/now when does my avatar get a pet?
Tungsten Plug @ Nov 21st 2008 10:29AM
You would to fag, so read the comment below about you.
Perno @ Nov 21st 2008 10:33AM
You just threw any credibility you had out the window. nice job.
Tungsten Plug @ Dec 12th 2008 12:41PM
@Perno.
Whatever dude. I am not here to gain credibility. I am here to stop all these little girls from bitiching and whining. also, that comment didnt post in the correct place for some reason. It was suppose to be toward that dick whose name starts with an X. He replied to mjdailey87's comment earlier. I really dont care what you think or have to say. or anyone for that matter, cause I am right. For most people wondering what they will cost...they will prolly be 80 points just like the gamerpics.
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 11:11AM
There is a difference between "bitching and whining like a girl" and stating your position as a consumer.
I will also vote with my dollar by not purchasing any of the clothing if they start charging for it - but I'm sure there will be enough people willing to shell out that I have no doubt they will begin charging for it.
/shrug. To each their own. No need to get all fanatical about it.
Michael Paul @ Nov 21st 2008 10:33AM
That Bills jersey I want with my name on it won't be free, but it had better be cheap.
The Power-T is OK for now but isn't very clear in Keflings...
pman555123 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:38AM
Will they be adding new facial features, etc.?
I need my soulpatch!!! My avatar is not me unless it has a soulpatch. I have the "chin spike" now, but that isnt close....
RICKDOEZ @ Nov 21st 2008 10:40AM
I am..BUT only if it not to costly..If this is my image i need ta look hood..lol
thin back to gaming one outfit a year Dog & that's it. i do the same for ps3 home and it's back to the game's.We all like the avatar's but the truth is they make me yawn..cause i like 360 game's more..
soundcircus @ Nov 21st 2008 10:41AM
Clothing for free... For now. Woohoo!! Way to go micro$oft.
Jay16K @ Nov 21st 2008 10:53AM
Just to correct something, dreisechzig.net is Boris Schneider-Johne's (Gamertag: KugelBlitz) semi-private blog ;) Not a site he spoke to ;)
Esk58 @ Nov 21st 2008 11:20AM
Who the hell is going to pay for clothes on your avatar? Shit, mine can stay naked for all i care. I'm here to play games, not dress a friggin doll.
Andrew @ Nov 21st 2008 1:07PM
Maybe you should look at a few of the comments before you post, plenty of people are willing. Myself included.
Dingo @ Nov 21st 2008 8:48PM
I bet they start taking money from designers Abercrombie or Gap and begin charging for that stuff.
And playing with dolls is an added benefit - that and the fact that I can now post pictures of my dog up to annoy the hell out of all of my friends. I'll probably get booted off of xbox when I start showing my stink eye in pictures.
NOOK @ Nov 21st 2008 11:52AM
Just a little hint: dreisechzig(threesixty).net is not some website boris talked to, it's his personal blog :)
Familyguyrokz @ Nov 21st 2008 12:43PM
More big-headed cartoonish crap. It's like I'm really reading Wii Fanboy.
Andrew @ Nov 21st 2008 1:08PM
Get over yourself. If you're too "hardcore" for avatars, don't use them.
xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 1:20PM
You don't really have a choice...
Andrew @ Nov 21st 2008 1:28PM
You don't have to customize them, you don't have to play any games with them, and if you use the guide button to access your friends list, you don't even have to look at them.
Cyber-Tyrant @ Nov 21st 2008 1:36PM
Here's what I think should happen:
General wear: Occasional Free updates. For casual clothes.
Premium wear: Hopefully costs 100MSP or less per set. For more stylish/exclusive clothes.
Reward wear: Via Unlocking achievements. For game-related clothes/costumes.
FailureToLoad @ Nov 21st 2008 1:37PM
Why don't they put that useless gamerscore e-peen to good use and turn achievement points into a currency for this?
Saneless @ Nov 21st 2008 2:06PM
I'd pay for real, licensed crap like a Blackhawks jersey or something. But for a generic polo and shorts or some garbage, they can lick my nuts. I wish EVERYONE would show some real community and stop paying for things that should be free. like themes? It's advertising.
D3athTillDawn @ Nov 21st 2008 4:32PM
We need some band merchandise! I would love for my avatar to be rocking a Killswitch Engage hoodie!
carnage rules @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:15AM
You won't spend a dollar on your avatar. Compared to the rest of you I must be loaded because I don't give a sh!t about a dollar.
Belle @ Nov 22nd 2008 3:35AM
im a transexual, im being serious, i would like to somehow display this. If microsoft could fix this, i would appreciate it.
xox
Belle
Mr Believer @ Nov 22nd 2008 5:55AM
Personally, I'll make an avatar when my 360 is fixed. It's there, it's free, it's just a bit of fun. It'd be nice if the creation system was as detailed as something like Fallout 3 or Mass Effect, but I don't know how difficult that would be to implement. What worries me is how Microsoft are trying so hard to change the perception of the console. The cutesy nature of the avatars clearly isn't designed with the hardcore or core gaming audience in mind, who neither want or need this, by and large, and is clearly designed in such a way to appeal to the casual, expanded market that Nintendo has so successfully attracted to gaming. And I'm not paying for clothes, they should have unlockables with achievements, like how you could get different armour parts in Halo 3 for ranking up or completing the game on various difficulties. It's more interesting that way. I know I was impressed the first time I saw someone with a samurai sword in a Slayer match. You have to worry where they'll go from here...
Premo @ Nov 22nd 2008 6:32AM
It would be a lot better if they made certain achievements unlock avatar apparel.
Since you're playing a wider array of games to get what you want for your virtual self, more money comes back to the game developers and microsoft itself.
Or as someone said, use achievement points to buy stuff, operating the same way as above.