Jonathan Blow's Braid doesn't have enough merchandise. When it was nearing release, the controversy over its higher-than-normal price swept the internet, but the game's quality was so high that I felt almost like I had ripped the developer off after playing it, and instantly looked for any Tim action figures (With Time Travel Action!) to spend my money on. There wasn't anything, and I instead resorted to creating several different Xbox Live accounts in order to download a copy of the game on each. I'm a sick person.

Now, thanks to Microsoft's utter hatred of free content, a Premium Braid Theme is available on Xbox Live. It costs the normal price of 250, which is a steal for how beautiful it looks, if you're into that sort of thing. However, it wouldn't be Braid if there wasn't a bit of controversy, and Jonathan Blow had a few comments on Microsoft's treatment of this sort of thing:

Unfortunately, we had to charge the standard Premium Theme price of 250 Microsoft Points (which is about $3.10 in American money). 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?)

Nothing entirely bitter or hateful, but seriously, Microsoft, what is with the Subway: Eat Fresh Theme? There are more images on the Braid Blog for anyone on the fence about the purchase. Anyone plan on buying this? I usually avoid spending too much on virtual wallpapers, but it really is a nice looking theme...

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