Retail Radar: Oblivion expansion, Bully and Splinter Cell collector's editions

Online retailer lists Knights of the White Stallion expansion for popular PC role-playing game, premium packages for two anticipated releases.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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Bethesda Softworks' The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has been one of the most popular games thus far to embrace micropayments, selling additional game content to players for small sums of money after the initial purchase. The company has already released seven content packs for its PC and Xbox 360 role-playing game, charging $.99 to $2.99 for add-ons that range from horse armor to new dungeons, locations, and side quests.

In addition to being somewhat controversial among gamers, the add-ons have raised questions about how Bethesda would handle possible expansion packs to its game. With The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, the company released a pair of expansion packs for the PC version of the game, Tribunal and Bloodmoon, and later on compiled them with the original game for the Morrowind Game of the Year edition on Xbox.

A product listing spotted on GameStop.com today (pictured above) only raises more questions, as the online retailer is accepting preorders for the Knights of the White Stallion Expansion Pack for the PC version of the game. Or was, at any rate. Shortly after GameSpot sent a request for comment to Bethesda, the listing disappeared from the retailer's site. GameStop was asking $19.99 for the expansion, and listed it with a November 21 shipping date. The page included no other information on the pack, and a search for an Xbox 360 counterpart page yielded no results.

Still up on the site (as of press time, at least) are limited edition premium packages for Splinter Cell: Double Agent on the Xbox 360 and Bully on the PlayStation 2. The limited edition of Rockstar Games' controversial schoolyard action game is advertised as a GameStop/EB Games exclusive, and includes an official Bullworth Academy dodgeball and a Bully comic book with the game for $49.99. For Sam Fischer's latest exploits, GameStop lists the $69.99 collector's edition as including special packaging and a bonus DVD featuring a documentary titled True Life of a Cover Operative, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game, interviews with series voice actor Michael Ironside, tips and tricks, mini-Web films, and more.

Finally, for gamers with anger-management issues prone to hurling controllers across the room, help could be on the way. GameStop is listing a NERF-branded PS2 controller for release later this year from peripheral manufacturer Pelican. Frustrated gamers are still advised to keep their tempers in check, however, as nothing hurts quite like NERF in the eye.

Please note, while retailer listings frequently jump the gun on publishers' product announcements, they should not be taken as final confirmation of a game's existence, nor should the absence of a listing be considered as proof that a game isn't coming to a given platform.

122 Comments

  • KandyKornMan

    Posted Sep 24, 2006 8:53 am PT

    umm did they mean the life of a "covert" operative or is that right?

  • dj_copycat

    Posted Sep 19, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    i really hope they do bring out a expansion pack for oblivion

  • ninjajuggalo810

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 7:34 pm PT

    i think most se are stupid i saw one that was an extra ten dollars for a coin from the game why would i want that

  • The_Weekend

    Posted Sep 17, 2006 7:04 am PT

    A real expansion for Oblivion ??? Sweet mama ... oooooh yeah!

  • --Sinister--

    Posted Sep 16, 2006 8:53 pm PT

    i dont have much money so i dont no if the extra 10 on double agent is worth it....im so lost....

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 14, 2006 4:02 pm PT

    I'll pick up the Splinter Cell edition

  • P1nPoint

    Posted Sep 13, 2006 1:55 am PT

    Questions about said add on (expansion, what ever you want to call it) were put forward to Bethesda, if the site was hacked and there is no official release being made by Bethesda surly they would of just said its faulse and has nout to do with us??

    as they decided to give a "no comment" awnser and then had the game site remove the pre order page this could well be the game site accidentaly applying the pre order to their website ahead of Bethesdas schedule.

  • pooflinger356

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:28 pm PT

    SPLINTER CELL,its my favorit game but these people just keep me waiting too long!! i think that I might go get my reserve money back because it looks like this game is never going to come out!!

  • jdbthexboxgamr

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 4:22 pm PT

    well it looks like I'll be picking up the Splinter Cell limited edition.Cant wait!

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    There is a free mod called the same thing - see it at Planet Elder Scrolls website in their mods section.

    Very unprofessional to spread this news based on one retailer. What if the site's been hacked or something? Or this business is struggling and they wanted some free publicity? I saw a website that said UFO's were real? Why are they not being talked about on the BBC or ABC? I mean if it just takes one website.......

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:48 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    It is a free mod - wonder if the site was hacked? In any event one retailer should not be enough for this tittle tattle news spreading like this. What's the point? And it's so UNPROFESSIONAL!!!!

    You can see the free mod called the same here:

    http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=OblivionMods.Detail&id=1773

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:38 pm PT

    Wasn't there a free mod called something like 'Knights of the White Stallion'?

    Also, these micropayments are always talking about as just a little payment, which in one way they are. But look at it this way. If the full 100 hour game is $40 should some armour for your horse be 5% of the cost of the game? Does it give 5 hours of gameplay? 5% of 100 hours? Same goes for the other add-ons.

  • awarriorofgamin

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:16 pm PT

    pleeseee i agree w/ u i miss being a werewolf and pwning n00bs i dont think the expansion will be able to handle my pwnsauce character though lvl 36 and almost 37 i wonder wat the expansion gonna be like though hopefully something like the bloomoon expansion for morrowind

  • pleeseee

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:35 pm PT

    I'ld be cool if the Oblivion expansion let you be a wherewolf. Oblivion has endless possibilitys.

  • pleeseee

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    I'ld be cool if the Oblivion expansion let you be a wherewolf. Oblivion has endless possibilitys.

  • pleeseee

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    I'ld be cool if the Oblivion expansion let you be a wherewolf. Oblivion has endless possibilitys.

  • STEALTH5000

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 1:46 pm PT

    I'm so buying the Collector's Edition for Splinter Cell Double Agent. Can't wait to get it!

  • Fallout_red

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 9:57 am PT

    Real expansion for Oblivion, KOOL.

  • raedon023

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 9:52 am PT

    I had bought the expansion content through Xbox live, I really hope they make an expansion it's a great game.

  • DesRed

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 9:50 am PT

    Expansion to Oblivion. Interesting. Even though there's no confirmation, I won't be surprised if Bethseda announces an expansion to Oblivion, considering how good it is and its past experiences releasing expansions for Morrowind.

  • TorugotoShinsan

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 9:43 am PT

    Yay an expansion for Oblivion.

    Oh and for the PC users who complain about paying for add-ons, you do realise that having the internet is one way of not having to pay for them. Having a rich friend who will put them on a disc for you is another too.

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:41 am PT

    Games are expensive, MINOR downloads should be free on the 360, of course MAJOR expansions can reasonably demand a fee.

    These companies like Bethesda need to show some good will and reward the consumers purchase. STOP CHARGING 360 OWNERS FOR SMALL ADDITIONS !!!!!!!!!

  • makemeweak

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:39 am PT

    More Oblivion content? Sweet!

  • Mkeegs79

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:38 am PT

    70 bucks for ANY game is ridiculous when there so many good games coming out. I could care less what crap it came with. I might games for JUST the game.

  • LuckyPierre1441

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:32 am PT

    remember that crappy NERF fps? hope they come out with a new one

  • krapowa

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 8:10 am PT

    it will eventually come to xbox 360

  • thekey

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:57 am PT

    Gooooooooooooo Oblivion!!!!

  • rohver

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:54 am PT

    I like the NERF controller heh...

  • thepeter

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:54 am PT

    Sucks to own an xbox.
    heh..hehaaahaa....haHAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:51 am PT

    Just because you're complaining about prices in your region doesn't mean we can't as well.

  • cameron_love

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:50 am PT

    Xbox 360 games, £39.99 in Morrisons. No-one needs to complain about paying full RRP on a game such as Dead Rising when most towns own a Morrisons and they are selling them at sub £40 prices.

  • derangedphoenix

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:39 am PT

    Will you American people stop complaining about $70 games????

    In the UK, we pay £50 (almost $100) for a standard Xbox 360 game! Well, I don't. I let my brother pay for them. I don't think they're worth it (except for games like Oblivion).

  • OPOLO

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 7:17 am PT

    I think the expansion pack is going to be the content that's already out - sold all together as a bundle

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 6:58 am PT

    DANG 70 DOLLARS FOR A GAME! Well, at least its the special edition and not the standard edition. Hopefully, the Wii will have cheaper games than the rest of the next-gen systems. Seriously, games are burning a hole into my pocket. Just think about it, you could use to get two new games for under 100, now they're way over 100 dollars. Then again, back in the days of nintendo and n64, games use to be around 60-70, DAMN. Guess there is no such thing as good old nostalgia for video games.

  • danmp18

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 5:06 am PT

    Oh Yeah!! Expansion for Oblivion is going to rule. I hope it makes its way to the 360 at some point as a Game of the year edition like Morrowind.

  • kenerhai

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 4:45 am PT

    why cant they just ship discs with the expansions like they did with the map packs for halo? just charge a minimal fee, and i mean minimal. If this is just an expansion, not big enough to be a stand alone game, but not small enough to be microtransaction, then it shouldnt cost more than 10-20 bucks in my eye. and it should come with its own new set of acheivements. then its worth it.

  • viewtiful_joe99

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 4:16 am PT

    Sweet, a Nerf controller.

  • UnbredVermin-UK

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 3:13 am PT

    wtf r u tlking about? theres been expansions for GRAW and that was immense, ha onlinePS2player, you obviously havent played Xbox live

  • onlineps2player

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:53 am PT

    Go Sony!

  • Mr_Saturn26

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:52 am PT

    yah, heres the prob with the 360, u cant really do an expansion on the games for it apparently, but it would be nice, IF the expansion disk was for 360 and u could play the expansion part with the chearcter u used for Oblivion, and to go back to the reg places not in the expansion u switch disks again, hmm thats sounds like a crappy idea, but ...... u decide

  • shasam712

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:37 am PT

    An Oblivian expansion on the PC is bound to make an appearence on the 360, it would be foolish not to release on both.

    And I have to get me one of those NERFs!!!

  • cowmaster2k3

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:32 am PT

    ewjim, you mean like how you dont know when to quit copying and pasting? you wrote the same thing twice with different ending smiley faces...

  • ewjim

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 2:03 am PT

    "bonus DVD featuring a documentary titled True Life of a Cover Operative, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game, interviews with series voice actor Michael Ironside, tips and tricks, mini-Web films, and more. " - I saw something like that before... Metal Gear Solid maybe That Ubisoft just don't know when to quit copy and paste!

  • d_agra

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 1:56 am PT

    notTheOracle- Seriously maybe you should wake up!!Oblivion is not that great!!it has potential but it never used it fully!!i finished oblivion it was a big disappointment specially story wise. most people are so amazed with amazing graphics and vast hills that dont really step back and really look. After first playing the game i thought exactly like you but i after a while i can see cracks in the this perfect sphere!!It has a repetative voices, everyone tell you the same thing all the time,side quest are boring and after all the work of playing the ending is pathetic, its a good game but not great!!If you cant see these flaws you must be blinded by something

  • ewjim

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 1:52 am PT

    "bonus DVD featuring a documentary titled True Life of a Cover Operative, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the game, interviews with series voice actor Michael Ironside, tips and tricks, mini-Web films, and more. " - I saw something like that before... Metal Gear Solid maybe That Ubisoft just don't know when to quit copy and paste!

  • bigroy_666

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 1:15 am PT

    I dont know why teh PC gamers think they are so superior. Most of the user made mods suck. and the ones that are good are not GREAT. If they havnt realized by know that every bethesda made mod has come for the PC and the 360. So why do they think the 360 wont get the expansion? Correct me if Im wrong but dont Console games usually bring more profit to companys then there PC counter parts? Alot more people have consoles then they do PCs that are able to game.

  • capthunt

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 12:39 am PT

    ooo expansion for Oblivion eh

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 12:25 am PT

    sony

  • piecake

    Posted Sep 12, 2006 12:18 am PT

    Is ovbliv any good?

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