We received a full and complete game for $60 dollars and it does not need this content.  This content does not lock you out from playing with your friends with this content even if they have not purchased it.  We are not charged a recurring subscription fee for full access to PSN or the LBP sharing servers, which may not be the most reliable but are certainly very expensive to maintain.  It is a reasonable price for that much content.  There is also plentiful free content released at regular intervals so that everyone can have something new to keep up interest in the game.

 Think of it as a pricing model to keep up post-release support and the servers up and running for the game to years to come.  Micro-transactions like this are far superior to a subscription model because the all players get access for free and you can buy content based on your budget instead of everyone being forced to pay a recurring charge just for access.  It also forces Media Molecule and Sony to keep coming up with new, exciting, and innovative stuff to play otherwise their profit margins go poof.

So to anyone who says that this should be free does not understand economics and that this is much better than the alternative pricing model.

Who's complaining about that? It's a fantastic content pack, and they have every right to charge for it.

"Who's complaining about that? It's a fantastic content pack, and they have every right to charge for it."

• Game free with system that showcases the PSN is instant win. Gives customers a bit of extra incentive to buy the system, the game would cement sackboy as Sony's mascot, encourages people to sign up to the PSN straight away.
• Greater number of people owning LittleBigPlanet means a greater audience for DLC -- I've no doubt this MGS pack will be the first in a long, long, long line of similar content for LittleBigPlanet. This keeps Media Molecule in business.
• Greater number of players more incentive for third parties to use LittleBigPlanet as a creative advertising tool -- imagine: Resident Evil 5 levels to generate hype, God Of War III levels, etc. Free costumes with games. So on and so on.

Thank you both for submitting thoughtful additions to the thread.  I agree that it makes me very happy and it is very impressive that Sony and Media Molecule (despite some stumbles) have continued to put there heart into making right by the fans of LBP.

To TheGTAvacccine:  first of all I love your name.  Second I just saw some stuffs on the internets that indicated so and wanted to post this because people browsing this forum (even though they may not start a thread or even comment about it) may have some thoughts or doubts about them being ripped off in some way that I wanted to quell.

To get2sammyb:  I like your idea about giving it away to promote the system but I do respectfully believe it has some flaws:

• The DLC packs are not priced high enough to cover development costs plus network costs while still making a profit.
• Sony is losing $260 on each PS3 sold (http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/05/15/sony-losing-260-on-each-ps3-sold/1) so devaluing a retail game key to their strategy (they have to make back that money plus more from game royalties and overpriced accessories) would not work out well
• The game would have had to be designed to sell more stuff as DLC than just included like they did with the $60 retail game that it is now.
• PlayStation Home is the application that is the centerpiece of the business model that you suggest and they are already carrying out.