ForceArray won't do it, but all is not lost. Try KeyAttr instead:

my $xml = XML::Simple->new( KeyAttr => [ 'item' ] );
[download]

$VAR1 = {
          'products' => {
                        'item' => [
                                  {
                                    'count' => '1',
                                    'name' => 'a',
                                    'price' => '1'
                                  },
                                  {
                                    'count' => '1',
                                    'name' => 'b',
                                    'price' => '1'
                                  }
                                ]
                      }
        };
[download]

Also, don't forget that even if the parser doesn't give you exactly what you want, there is always post-processing. :-)

HTH