Avatar ninja-wear not included with Ninja Blade theme [update]

by Dustin Burg { Nov 21st 2008 at 3:45PM }

Update: We may have run into a mis-mistranslated problem. According to new reports, the Ninja Blade premium theme DOES NOT come with ninja Avatar clothing options. Insert sad face here:

(original blog below)
Even though we'll be receiving some free Avatar apparel in the weeks to come, we've always been keen to Microsoft's plan to monetize Avatars. Now, thanks to a lil' ninja game by the name of Ninja Blade, we finally have our first set of paid Avatar duds.

Purchasable for 250 Microsoft points, the Ninja Blade (premium) theme can be purchased and not only comes with theme wallpapers and sets, but also five pieces of ninja clothing for your Avatar. That's right, you can dress your mini-me Avatar to look like a ninja or as we call 'em, a Ninjatar. Pro-tip: Don't expect priced Avatar goods to go away.

Tags: avatar, avatars, ninja-blade, theme, xblm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DBoyFlex @ Nov 21st 2008 3:51PM

So, any pics of the new duds? Also, do any other of the premium themes add clothing?

Parallax @ Nov 21st 2008 3:51PM

Can I just say how lame the "Micro Transaction" model is? Talk about nickel and dimeing.

Deezul @ Nov 21st 2008 4:05PM

So you prefer the $5 and $10 method? If you don't like it, don't buy it. Even better for those that DO, then they won't look like everyone else.

Jack Tretton @ Nov 21st 2008 4:35PM

@Parallax

Hi, welcome to 2006! That's a mighty original sentiment you're expressing.

adam @ Nov 21st 2008 5:15PM

deezul:

you actually do have to spend about 5 dollars (7.25 in Canada). a cheap price means nothing when you have to buy a minimum of 500 points anyways. It's how MS makes even more money, and the reason I typically don't buy much off the marketplace.

For instance, they don't price games to fit evenly into the point system (on purpose of course), therefore I spend 1500 points on a game worth 1200. The extra 300 is useless for the next 4 - 5 months until another decent XBLA game/content comes along, but MS knows most people will impulse buy those 300Ps on themes and such.

So, you buy points, and those points are by no means 'micro-transactions'.

Parallax @ Nov 21st 2008 5:45PM

@Jack Tretton: Wow, sarcasm, awesome...

Of course it is not original, but it grated me at that moment so I thought I would vent.

Sorry if I offended your use of the tubes.

kp @ Nov 21st 2008 4:03PM

i think this might be japan only. and i picked up the fable premium theme and i havent noticed any new clothes.

Neuromancer @ Nov 21st 2008 4:08PM

Yeah too bad too, that Fable theme is excellent. Some new clothes thrown in would have been great.

Brian @ Nov 21st 2008 6:14PM

No one said anything about the fable premium theme having clothes.

kp @ Nov 21st 2008 6:17PM

the first commenter asked.

Pudge @ Nov 21st 2008 4:08PM

I think this is MUCH better than buying clothes on your own. You get a theme and the clothes are just thrown in. They aren't charging any more for the clothes, it's just a bonus. I can't see a problem with this.

DBoyFlex @ Nov 21st 2008 5:28PM

I believe the themes are more than they used to be though. Do they charge the extra 90 points just to add more backdrop to the friends list? Or is it new duds? Either, really. I hope that future freebie themes come with all the trimmings, ie friends backdrop, clothing, anything else...

Ozzpot @ Nov 21st 2008 4:09PM

There's a lot of confusion on the internet about this. It seems that for now at least, it's only available in Japan, but not one news source has actually come out and cleared that up yet.

Secondly, those that have this theme already report no such avatar clothing.

To support that, there are plenty of pictures of the theme around the internet, but not of the clothes.

A lot of people have dismissed this as a mis-translation, possibly coming from a misinderstood reference to the several unique "Avatar graphics" supplied with the theme, (actually referring to the images that stand behind each avatar in the friends list).

I hope this is wrong, but as this theme is already released in Japan, and no-one has seen hide nor hair of any such ninja'd up avatar, I have good reason to be dubious about this.

Aero @ Nov 21st 2008 4:39PM

Yeah, a lot of forums I go to reckon this is a mistranslation from one site that confused clothes with backgrounds on the friend channel and it spread from site to site.

Tony @ Nov 21st 2008 4:48PM

Yeah I've read the same thing on neoGAF and it looks like it's the case.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 21st 2008 4:10PM

Pix, or it didn't happen.

xenocidic @ Nov 21st 2008 4:11PM

" It Has Begun ! "

Skandil @ Nov 21st 2008 4:33PM

Found the link to the theme on the Japanese web marketplace... Would it work if you tried to download it?

http://marketplace.xbox.com/ja-JP/games/offers/033f0001-0000-4000-8000-0000465307d9

ninwest @ Nov 21st 2008 5:30PM

It does not work. After singing in it tells me "this offer is not valid in your region" Bummer.This is the only premium theme I like and would consider paying for at this point.

tenchimaniac @ Nov 22nd 2008 1:18PM

I downloaded it to my Japanese account. The theme works but I don't see any avatar addons. Does anybody know if they are added to the current clothes or where?

joeybeast @ Nov 21st 2008 4:21PM

It look me half an hour to figure out how to change the theme.
I was too stubborn to look it up online.

Mokano40 @ Nov 21st 2008 4:46PM

Same thing happened to me, I kept searching were it use to be and it was not there, it wasn't until i decided to change something to my avatar when i came across the option.

Octantis @ Nov 21st 2008 4:55PM

Agree. Just as stubborn trying to find out how to delete 0 gamerscore games.

Jason @ Nov 21st 2008 4:30PM

Are the themes that are listed as (Premium) the themes designed for NXE?

Neuromancer @ Nov 21st 2008 4:33PM

Yes, yes they are

Majickplayer @ Nov 21st 2008 4:36PM

Thanks.

Mokano40 @ Nov 21st 2008 4:47PM

I was lucky to download the Gears of war last day theme, which was free until a few day, that one is premium.

Nathan Keller @ Nov 21st 2008 4:50PM

Screw that noise, everyone knows Pirates are better then Ninjas! Where is my pirate gear?!

Octantis @ Nov 21st 2008 4:57PM

I'm cool with charging 250 points for a theme and unique clothes. I don't want to pay for a hooded sweatshirt. But 250 points for a GOW2 theme and COG armor FTW!

RedSonRising @ Nov 21st 2008 7:07PM

@Octantis and all

i think 250 for a theme/clothing pack is pretty fair. nothing is free anymore so getting a 2 for 1 deal on dlc is a pretty good alternative.. im already hooked on the NXE and this sort of bundle is perfect for me..

themes 2.0 made all my old themes worthless and im not buying new themes without some bonus. the NXE is great but my old dlc is useless now and wasting money is frustrating.

Kyle @ Nov 21st 2008 10:05PM

with my gt being kakashi sensay this is awesome def gonna have to get some mc points to get the clothes

Chad @ Nov 22nd 2008 12:45AM

Microsoft sure is good at making shit I'll never buy.

Alex @ Nov 22nd 2008 6:33PM

Yep.
I only have an Xbox, and that's as unreliable as diarrhea. But the fun it gives me outweighs the pain of death.

007craft @ Nov 22nd 2008 3:34PM

250 ms points? yikes. I can buy an actual game for less then that (200 ms point community games). Why any1 would waste money on digital pictures is beyond me.

RedSonRising @ Nov 23rd 2008 7:30AM

if the Ninja Blade theme were available in the US id buy it for sure even without the avatar bundle..

its probably the best looking theme on XBLM; the background image is really clean and the friends area has great images for each friends tile..

@007craft

dont hate. when i see a barebones, unthemed 360 dashboard i cringe; so sad to see a 360 unloved, mistreated.. so sad.