Microsoft: XBLA Games Safe From Delisting...For Now

[DoctorFinger]

A few months back a big kerfuffle erupted when Microsoft announced that XBLA titles which met certain criteria (6 months on the Marketplace, a Metacritic score under 65 and a low demo-to-purchase conversion rate) could be delisted from the Marketplace. Fans of Shrek'n Roll erupted in rage, but Microsoft assured gamers that delisted games would not be taken off line completely, but instead just removed from the cumbersome listing on Xbox Live. Most fans were pretty mollified by this news.

Now, straight from TGS, we learn that with the changes being made to the Marketplace by the upcoming New Xbox Experience, that there are no longer any immediate plans to delist any XBLA games. The operative word here being immediate, as MS says they were laying out the "parameters by which [they] can delist" titles. So they can still do it, but the advent of the NXE makes it less likely in the short term.

Source - Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/09/schappert-no-immediate-plans-to-delist-xbla-titles/).

[Cupelix]

At least they're admitting that it is, frankly, no work for them to continue to list them; it was just the shitty layout of the Marketplace that was driving this. Fixing the layout is definitely the correct move. I'm continually amazed at the lack of forward thinking displayed in the layout of the XBL menus. Why the hell do I have to wait for the description windows to automatically scroll themselves? Why can't I actually focus on that window and scroll it at my leisure?

I hope the NXE actually fixes that sort of difficulty, and doesn't just focus on "OHHH SHINY!"

[JayVe]

I hope that Microsoft never has to delist another game. It would suck to have paid for a title, to have it delisted and never get access to it again.

[LarsenNET]

I hope that Microsoft never has to delist another game. It would suck to have paid for a title, to have it delisted and never get access to it again.

That is not what it means. If you bought it you would get it forever (you could also re-download forever even on new hardware). It would just be removed from the store for new purchases. You could even get around that by having someone that bought it do the "refer a friend" and you could still buy it. It's really not that big of a deal.

[AniAko]

At least they're admitting that it is, frankly, no work for them to continue to list them; it was just the shitty layout of the Marketplace that was driving this. Fixing the layout is definitely the correct move. I'm continually amazed at the lack of forward thinking displayed in the layout of the XBL menus. Why the hell do I have to wait for the description windows to automatically scroll themselves? Why can't I actually focus on that window and scroll it at my leisure?

I hope the NXE actually fixes that sort of difficulty, and doesn't just focus on "OHHH SHINY!"

They are fixing a lot of those problems. My particular bitch is when I finish playing MM9 and I go back to play tomorrow, I shouldn't have to wait for the ENTIRE games list to populate before I can select it. That's said to be fixed too in NXE

[JayVe]

That is not what it means. If you bought it you would get it forever (you could also re-download forever even on new hardware). It would just be removed from the store for new purchases. You could even get around that by having someone that bought it do the "refer a friend" and you could still buy it. It's really not that big of a deal.

Oh excellent! Thanks for the clarification. :D

[Johan]

De-listing of digital content is idiotic and is only necessary when the UI is craptastic. If they've fixed that with the fall update, then de-listing will not be necessary.

[KingGorilla]

Is MS going to get a more fluid store like Sony? That latest interface is really nice.