Downloadable content has always been something of a sticking point within the gaming community, especially when developers demand cash for the privilege of owning it. Whereas the idea is firmly established in games on the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, Square Enix has today, significantly, become the first company to reveal just how much it plans to charge players to get their mitts on new content in its WiiWare title, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King. Early reaction, it has to be said, hasn’t been very positive…

Square Enix’s downloadable wares in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King range in price from 100 Wii Points for fresh costumes and other clothes, up to 300 Wii Points to purchase new-build dwellings that unlock three races (Liltie, Selkie and Yuke) in addition to the all-round-ability of the Clavats. Alternatively, players can spend 800 Wii Points for a Tribal House Pack featuring all three races, saving themselves 100 Wii Points in the process.

In total (factoring in the initial cost of downloading the title for 1500 Wii Points in the first place), the total cost of gaining access to all of the content in Square Enix’s ‘country building’ WiiWare adventure is 2800 Wii Points, which is equivalent to $28 USD and therefore around the same amount as a savvy shopper might find a full-priced, shop bought Nintendo DS game.

Given that micro-transactions are an established part of the gaming world nowadays, we don’t think too many consumers would begrudge Square Enix’s decision to factor that into its first WiiWare title. The problem arises when, rather than a full expansion to the game (brand new lands, missions etc.), it seems we are being asked to shell out for content that is already a part of the software code, stuff that is only made available after a fee has been paid.

With Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King’s quartet of races appearing to possess their own individual attributes (rather than simply being alternative skins for characters that are otherwise identical), whether the proposed 800/900 Wii points charge will eventually be justified is unknown at yet. Even then, the issue is a subjective one, depending on a number of factors from the players’ likes and dislikes, to size of their wallet.

That said, Square Enix’s latest downloadable content does appear expensive, particularly in relation to the content available on rival formats. Last month a pack consisting of five new maps for Turok on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were released, costing 400 Microsoft Points ($4 USD) and $4.99 USD respectively. For fans of the game it provides hours of guaranteed pleasure in exploring new areas and playing online. That’s just one example, but it’s clear that My Life As A King’s added extras appear overpriced in comparison.

Here’s hoping that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King isn’t a sign of things to come as far as the Wii’s Pay and Play service goes, because we have a feeling that, rather than encouraging players to extend the life of their games, such price points could in fact just put them off.

Are you willing to pay in excess of $25 USD to gain everything that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King has to offer or do you consider it, well, a right royal rip-off? >Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.