The Condemned 2 publishers have announced that two so-called "theme packs" and five picture packs are now available to be purchased via Xbox Live Marketplace. In what seems to be a revolutionary breakthrough and an incredible, unique gift, both the theme packs and the picture ones can be used as wallpapers or just kept in a safe and looked at from time to time. Isn't this the greatest thing EVER? (of course I'm just being ironic).

So listen to this! Now you've got to pay for pictures, too, and it is completely outrageous! Player-exploitation, as my colleague Andrei would say. And, in what will probably be an even greater shocker, there are people that will most likely pay to get these pictures. Because everybody will think that these images put up for sale by Sega don't cost too much in the first place. Here is the deal:

Anyway, these downloadable image packs from the game do not cost too much - about $1.50 each (150 Microsoft Points for the theme packs and 120 Microsoft Points the picture packs). Sega did not say how many images are included in these packs but, having in mind that with a bit of work anybody could take as many screenshots from the game as they would like to. For free.

I don't say that Condemned 2 is not a game that has its fans, nor that the developers shouldn't get some money for their work but, still, I consider this decision to sell pictures obscenely overreacted. Until now, everybody got pictures for free (and still does) - no matter if they're artwork from the game, screenshots or things drawn after the release. I don't see why we should pay for them now. If you do, be my guest and go buy them. I sure know a few people who wouldn't.