The Great DLC Debate: 2012

Doos

So, it's come up in a couple of threads. Seems some people want to sound off on DLC.

It happens all the time, people have opinions on it.

I tried to merge the previous conversations in the 'I'm New' thread to here.. but I fucked it up and accidentally deleted the posts. So, hooray for trying new things and failing miserably at them.

My apologies to both Jux and EGS for deleting your posts. It wasn't intentional.

The upside of DLC is that your enjoyment of a game can be extended through content delivered directly to your platform of choice.

The downside is that it *feels like* many developers are intentionally holding content back to release at a price instead of just having it available in the original product.

Obviously, it's always up to you to purchase something. Nobody is ever forcing anyone to buy anything.

So, the be all and end all of this discussion is that your money is your money and you do with it what you will, but it's the meaty argument in between that I'm interested in.

So, anyone who feels they have something to say in regards to DLC, have at 'er.

JohnnyXeo

In the end, it depends on how it is done. Certain companies like EA do it all wrong, but I liked how Bethedsa does their content. It's more of an expansion than extra stuff. Borderlands did DLC great too!

MSQGanner

I don't mind DLC or anything but like @Juxtapose stated on the "i'm new" thread, the fact that Developers are intentionally selling key codes to unlock something that is already on the game disc is not only wrong but to my sense also a theft. I think that if its already on the disc then we shouldn't have to pay extra to get the content.

As for DLC prices, although i'm not a fan of 1200msp ones i do understand that some (not that many but a few) are worth the price like Ballad of Gay Tony and The Lost and The Damned on GTA 4 or even some games like Comic Jumper or Limbo (would also say Bastion but didn't get it yet) as they provide lots of content. The rest of Marketplace products should never cost more than 800msp (and they better be worth every penny spent).

Map Packs should only cost 800msp if they provide 5+ maps and extras otherwise it should be dropped to 400msp. They do add great MP gameplay value to games since most FPS/TPS are released with 10 maps or less but i'd rather see developers add more maps from retail.

Lastly, DLC like weapon skins should not cost a dime since it's totally worthless in about every sense possible.

Law212

Weapon skins (like in gears of war 3) should be free, but from a business perspective , thats free money for Epic. Video game companies are not like they used to be. They are more corporate fast food joints than they are the game companies of the 80 and 90s.

CD projekt, the creators of the witcher though still know how to do it. PC owners of thegame will get the enhanced edition content which is 4 hours of extra gameplay along with some new gameplay mehcanics and new cinematics for free. AND the game (limited edition) was released at a price of 39.99/

They are the expection to the rule though, today game development is about puting out a title as quick as possible to ensure good quarterly earnings for the company. Thats why games have a strict due date.

Also a new trend that started this generation is locking content and selling it as dlc. This is deliberate and is just a cash grab.

game companies now sell every little extra that used to come free. extra characters, cars, maps, skins , everything.

Companies also let you pay to unlock content early . So you can either play thorugh the game to get the wicked armour , or just pay and unlock it right away......

Juxtapose

Law212 said:
Weapon skins (like in gears of war 3) should be free, but from a business perspective , thats free money for Epic. Video game companies are not like they used to be. They are more corporate fast food joints than they are the game companies of the 80 and 90s.

CD projekt, the creators of the witcher though still know how to do it. PC owners of thegame will get the enhanced edition content which is 4 hours of extra gameplay along with some new gameplay mehcanics and new cinematics for free. AND the game (limited edition) was released at a price of 39.99/

They are the expection to the rule though, today game development is about puting out a title as quick as possible to ensure good quarterly earnings for the company. Thats why games have a strict due date.

Also a new trend that started this generation is locking content and selling it as dlc. This is deliberate and is just a cash grab.

game companies now sell every little extra that used to come free. extra characters, cars, maps, skins , everything.

Companies also let you pay to unlock content early . So you can either play thorugh the game to get the wicked armour , or just pay and unlock it right away......

^This.

Kayareswon

DLC imo should always be at a later date then "new title game" to signify it is a success. Day 1 DLC (not store promos) is somewhat lame in my eyes.

The best thing in my eyes is when companies reward you for buying their game new (not pre-order promos) and then bring DLC(which i have to DL and not pay more to unlock parts of my disc) down the road.

If you buy used you I'm fine with features being locked that come with buying the game new.

Doos

Can anyone name a game that came out recently (for the consoles) that doesn't have any DLC?

Does every gaming experience require content further along or can a game just come out now and.. that's it?

Lactos

^Dark Souls

Law212

Bayonetta.

Great game, full package, no DLC needed.

MSQGanner

Doos said:
Can anyone name a game that came out recently (for the consoles) that doesn't have any DLC?

Does every gaming experience require content further along or can a game just come out now and.. that's it?

NHL12 (although its nearly 5 months old) and most other EA Sports game that came out in the last year + Darkness II.

Juxtapose

Doos said:
Can anyone name a game that came out recently (for the consoles) that doesn't have any DLC?

Does every gaming experience require content further along or can a game just come out now and.. that's it?

Off the top of my head, I can't. DLC is factored into most game's development today since it's such a cash cow.

Lactos

MSQGanner said:

Doos said:
Can anyone name a game that came out recently (for the consoles) that doesn't have any DLC?

Does every gaming experience require content further along or can a game just come out now and.. that's it?
NHL12 (although its nearly 5 months old) and most other EA Sports game that came out in the last year + Darkness II.

But NHL 12 is just an updated roster for NHL 11 which is an updated roster for NHL 10 ...

Doos

Ooh, Dark Souls. Great mention. Fantastic game.. needed a patch. Yes. DLC, no.

@MSQ Some EA Sports games came out that weren't riddled with DLC?

I find that surprising. Since the only EA Sports game I played 'Fight Night Champion' was absolutely plagued with paid unlockables.

They were broken as hell too.. a lot of people paid for XP for their boxers and lost it.. numerous times.

Not me.. pay for XP? I prefer earning that shit.. experience.. you know? You experience it.

AnThMaN

I dislike when people talk about DLC for a game that isn't even out yet. Or when DLC "title" for a game is "leaked" a couple weeks before a game hits store shelves and apparently there now calling it release day DLC pack coughmasseffect3cough

And I hate elite and all this season pass bs especially when the entire pass goes on sale the next month. We should be informed of these sales.

im not finished yet...

Wick

I used to buy pretty much every piece of DLC for games I played, so that I could complete them fully. However, I don't do that nearly as much anymore. There have been some big pieces of DLC I've simply skipped, because they haven't looked that interesting or have been overpriced. I'm cheap, but I've also become more in tune with what I want to play and what I'll be fine without playing.

That is also happening with retail, as I used to try to play anything I heard was good. But, that became too time consuming and taxing, plus tough to do.

I will buy a good campaign add-on or something interesting along those lines. But, I will never pay for new skins (those fighting game DLC packs are a JOKE) or new online characters.

Haven't purchased a map pack in a while, but there are odd ones that sort of interest me. They're just too expensive.

Law212

DLC is now part of the business model of game development.

Wick

It seems like quality is slipping these days, partially due to over saturation.

I don't get why people pay for cheats or unlocks that play the game for you. Neither one benefits the experience.

AnThMaN

in forza 4 u can buy "tokens" to purchase cars in game that are free at a certain level anyway. I dont get why ppl would buy them but they are. Like my friend paid 3 tokens 160MSP I think for a bugatti when he could have asked me to gift him one for free. Cuz I have 100 million credits it would be pocket change. Wtf turn 10 not u too!?!

MSQGanner

Doos said:
Ooh, Dark Souls. Great mention. Fantastic game.. needed a patch. Yes. DLC, no.

@MSQ Some EA Sports games came out that weren't riddled with DLC?

I find that surprising. Since the only EA Sports game I played 'Fight Night Champion' was absolutely plagued with paid unlockables.

They were broken as hell too.. a lot of people paid for XP for their boxers and lost it.. numerous times.

I won't mention earlier versions of EA Sports games but most of last year's (2012 although it should actually be 2011) lineup doesn't have DLCs on the marketplace

@Lactos I do agree though that EA Sports games are basically just roster updates at $60 a pop.

Law212

I have bought DLC but I am prettty picky. It has to be for a game I play a lot.
Also I am picky about spending full price on games. On the xbox forums, there are many people who whenever a new game comes out , its on their gamer card that day.

If 5 games came out that day , they have all 5. I liketo be more picky and just either buy what I wantto play right away like gears ofwar and mass effect , and if not then I will wait for a price drop down the road since I probably wont get to play it much anyway.

Like battlefield 3/ I want it but i wont spend time on it so I still havent bought it. at this point I might not.

So for games I play a lot, I buy DLC . I cant think of one peice of DLC i bought that I regret , but I can think of tons I have passed on.

Wick

EA started it with consumables in The Godfather, which were a complete joke. Pay 80MSP for extra ammo or a dollar or two for henchmen early on (you could unlock them later.) Or buy guns before you can get them.

Pure stupidity. Why pay for the game to be easier or for it to play itself? Isn't the point to beat it yourself?

Lots of games have continued along this line, such as Gotham City Impostors and the Skate games. In Skate, you were asked to pay to unlock everything or get the video editor.

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