If you’re anything like me, you’ll love console themes, but can’t stand the fact that Microsoft charges stupid amounts of moon money for the privilege of downloading. Jonathan Blow would like you to know that, although he has a Braid theme available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, he’s charging for it under duress.
“Unfortunately, we had to charge the standard Premium Theme price of 250 Microsoft Points (which is about $3.10 in American money),” confirms the indie developer. “We want to make it free, but Microsoft doesn’t like giving things out for free. But if you do buy it, you can be secure in the knowledge that you own one of the few Premium Themes that is not an advertisement– there is no text in the Braid theme anywhere. (Seriously, Microsoft, what is with the Subway: Eat Fresh Theme?)”
I’ve got to love Blow’s subversive swipes, especially considering what an arsehole Microsoft likes to be about indie developers and XBLA games. Honestly, it’s difficult justifying paying for a theme at the best of times, but ever since I got my PS3 and had access to some real themes that are more than just glorified wallpapers, for free, I find Microsoft’s “premium” offers to be a complete joke.
That said … I do really like Braid …
