Disclaimer and direct comment to Microsoft/EA/Hasbro from the author: GDN is running this as an opinion piece. That means what I, Jim Cook, the author, have to say only represents how I, the author, feel. I’m not speaking for GDN as a whole. So if anyone at EA, Hasbro, or Microsoft has a problem with me calling you a pack of insane morons, take it up with me directly; you have my contact info. And yes, I am indeed calling you a group of crazy idiots. You’re charging ten dollars for digital Yahtzee, so you clearly fit the description. It’s also meant to be humorous, so take it with a grain of salt. Of course it’s a free world (mostly) so the editor sees no problem with the content.

(On with the show!)

One of the earliest titles in this year’s “Summer of Arcade” promotion on Xbox Live was Family Game Night, the result of EA partnering with Hasbro to bring several classic board games to your console. This was of debatable value on the Wii at $40, a fairly reasonable choice on the PS2 for $20, and now the Xbox 360 version is here. The problem is that each of the corporations involved in this version have clearly lost their minds. They are asking for ten dollars per game. To be fair, most of the component games do have new modes of play, but then you look at Connect Four; what can you do with that?

Let that sink in for a moment. EA, Hasbro, and Microsoft think it’s a good idea to sell you Connect Four in digital form for ten bucks. That’s the sort of insane plot that normally only happens when a cabal of comic book super villains meet in an underground lair to make schemes, sacrifice inept minions, and laugh manically. It seems only fair to point out that not only are they ripping you off, but you can get many of the games in this product either for free or very inexpensively.