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Next MX vs. ATV revs up microtransactions

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

E3 2010: THQ's next installment in motorsports franchise to sell at a low price point but be bolstered by weekly releases of new content, from helmets to track packs.

LOS ANGELES--Earlier this year, THQ announced a round of layoffs and a new downloadable focus for MX vs. ATV developer Rainbow Studios. While gamers may have inferred that the long-running motorsports franchise would be departing store shelves entirely as a result, the publisher today shed some light on the series' future.

This guy will want to invest in the Landing Area Full of Soft Pillows pack.

This guy will want to invest in the Landing Area Full of Soft Pillows pack.

In an E3 analysts call, THQ executive vice president of core gaming Danny Bilson said that the next MX vs. ATV will sell at retail for a low price point, with the publisher planning a weekly schedule of new downloadable content to bring in the bigger bucks over the course of a year. Bilson said the model should have special appeal to the "Wal-Mart audience" who loves the series but wants a value price point.

Examples of add-on content given included a free helmet and a $5 track pack. Bilson didn't discuss the platforms, release date, or price of the core game. However, in explaining the business model to analysts in the call, he did say that even if consumers don't go for the microtransactions, the company still does well "if we can get that $20 from the Wal-Mart buyer."

The last game in the series, MX vs. ATV, launched in December for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, DS, and PSP.

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

11 comments
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shaunn191
shaunn191

but id prefer to just buy it outright all in one. they do realize that we also have to pay for our internet downloads dont they? im sure other people are struggling on 10gig a month

shaunn191
shaunn191

the controls are perfect! but sand tracks in mx can get a bit too uncontrollable sometimes once the track has been ripped up, and omg the online needs to be patched already, its so fun when you can get constant gameplay while not getting booted out of a lobby after a race, but 90% of the time you cant get it

smp13
smp13

So long as the track packs can be played online, it sounds good to me. Stupid Reflex with so few tracks. Reflex is an amazing game, despite its flaws. Focus on MX, give us a new online server system, and rework collisions/haybales = perfect MX game. Control system is perfect, despite what many think. Just spend time with it, and try applying techniques from real riding.

FSFA
FSFA

OR they could just make a good game! Since I dropped 60 on this game and felt duped I'd love to drop another 60 if I knew it would be a good game. Get rid of all the other vehicles...drop the mx vs atv title and revamp as a true super/motox game feature all real life formats including the GPW series and make it feature a real career mode that is lengthy and without the horrible ragdoll physics when you crash..

mrklorox
mrklorox

YES!!! They listened to my complaints!! I would have NEVER bought the game at $60, but I would gladly pick up a limited version for $20 that I could "buy-in" to get the full version if I liked it enough.

HollowNinja
HollowNinja

$20? I think this is fair. I don't quite like it, but it's fair.

Zerot
Zerot

maybe if they patched their origional game so online was playable and the controlls wernt so f'ed people would buy it? im no marketing genious but that should work. donkey town 2k10

vix
vix

this is like what happened with beautiful katamari sort of. all of the levels were on the disc but you have to pay and extra 20 to unlock the remaining levels that were "dlc"

Pete5506
Pete5506

A different way of selling games

NoDzombie
NoDzombie

well it all depends on how much content is actually included in the box, if its a full game that they are then gonna add to then im all for it, its its basically just a glorified demo, that they are then gonna charge you to turn into a full game, then i hate the idea...

sleepychicken
sleepychicken

No thanks. I don't like to buy whole games in pieces.

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