Xbox 360 gamertag

[loukr]

why do you have to pay to change the gamertag on xbox live?

[spat]

in short -- you dont
anyone can have a gamer tag-xbox live silver account-which is completely free
if you then want to use thsat gamer tag to play online against other people then you need an xbox live gold account which does cost money
having and registering a gamer tag does not cost

[spat]

oops sorry
i blatantly did not read your question properly-sorry

[Mattk]

in the 1st incarnation of live you couldnt change it at all.i guess from consumer feedback they decided people would like to be able to change their tag but unfortunately they also decided that people would happily pay for this service.one other lesser reason is that by affixing a fee,people are less likely to perpetually kepp changing whereas if its free that could happen.