Is DLC A Good Thing?

Is it a good thing that DLC has become increasingly popular among studios? Jamie Richards gives his thoughts on the matter.

[F4sterTh4nFTL]

No.

[randomass171]

You can't say all DLC is bad. That's a generalization. Not every company is EA and Capcom.

[guitarded77]

DLC is good when it adds something worth wild without fragmenting a community. DLC is best when it's something that can be stand alone like Undead Nightmare or Super Luigi U... or when it's something that adds to a long term game like an MMO or RPG. Games with long term play value which don't release every year can offer DLC as something to keep fans busy while they work through a long development cycle.

DLC is bad (IMO) when it's either clearly a cash if (bonus mission often fall under this type); or map packs that fragment a community, and are also in development with the game itself (so they're held back just to get money), or just stupid ass costumes to nickle and dime (even though the costumes aren't helping anyone). It's just sad to dig through 5,000 pieces of DLC to see if there are any serious add-ons.

[Naga]

Like it or not, the existence of DLC is what has kept game retail prices from going up.

[TankCrossing]

@Naga, that isn't entirely true. The only thing that stops game prices going up is that consumers will not bite.

DLC and other post-sale revenue is becoming necessary to sustain game development because of the silly budgets behind games, but if EA and Activision could get away with it we would definitely get increases game prices AND DLC and micro-transactions. It isn't a case of one or the other.

[Chrischi1988]

Yes you can, DLC is very bad. Expansion packs back in the days, were a totally different thing, it was like getting an old game, but heavily changed for the better, with many improvements, maps, new stuff all over the place, DLC is nothing like that, it will only give you a normal map, or a skin, it is ridiculious to even want money for that stuff.

[kreate]

I remember the days when u get dlc as a reward for beating the game. like u unlock new costumes as u progress through the game.

now u get to buy them from the digital market.

the dlc should be part of the game as a whole package. instead they take bits and pieces and sell it to u for a few bucks.

also the dlc doesn't keep the game prices low. the reason why the game prices are low (if u think $60 is really low), is becuz more ppl are buying the games.

u compensate the lower cost by selling it to more people.

if the game cost $70 bucks... less ppl will buy. if u keep it at $60, more ppl will buy. its just market pricing.

[ramiuk1]

hate DLC with a passion.

reason is that developers are leaving parts of a game out to sell after.
infact its so much of a kick in teeth now that they announce the stuff before releasing game yhet the game disc is only half full.

I believe the reason we have DLC was part against piracy last gen.
I didnt buy it last gen but with some preorders i got free DLC.

This gen on ps4 i will buy DLC which ads extra to games like the planets in destiny or the expansions in division etc,but i will never buy stupid stuff like weapons,camo,clothing and in game coins

[Chrischi1988]

So true!

[JBSleek]

Not as cut and dry as yes and no.

[M3TR01DFANBOY]

I will always think that most dlc content should have been in the standard game release.

[BobBelcher]

yes. Full packaged DLC... Not 'new costumes/weapons.'
DLC provides longevity to the game.

[DFogz]

Only if it's done right.

Expansions and add-ons weeks/months after a game comes out is perfectly fine. Gameplay missions and content cut out only to be sold as pre-order content or paid week1 DLC is a big no-no.

Also, I believe costumes should be unlockable. We shouldn't have to pay $5 to change the color of our character.

[MysticStrummer]

It can be.

/thread

[zerog]

N't belDlc is ok, its the prices that suck. Paying almost the cost of the game for a few more maps or missions is getting out of hand. Then you have these costumes and skins and such that add up. Imo no game should have anything more then a season pass of maybe $20 that includes EVERYTHING that will be available as dlc for that game. Cod is probably the worst example of dlc in paying $50 for the season pass that just comes with the mp map packs which are $15 each buying them seperate and what do you get for it but 16 mp maps, 2 guns and 4 episodes of extinction. Not to mention when you get the map packs you paid for you can't use them in the game mode you want because they don't go into the standard rotation till the next one comes out. This is a rip off. The game at launch was $60 with a full campain, the same amount of mp maps the first extinction and a complete set of weapons in all classes. So you're paying almost full price for less then half a games original content tjat you can't even use the way you want when you get it. Dlc like freedom cry or first light makes sense because at $15 its at least a new campain even if its not quite as long as the original. As gamers we should be more vocal with our wallets or else they will keep bending us over and doing us as they please. I say buy the game if you like it but not the dlc when there is no value in it. If nobody buys the dlc then they will have no choice but to make it cheaper or add more value to it. Unfortunatly i don't believe this will ever happen because there are too many stupid people who buy all the dlc that comes out just because they can. Can't believe how many wolfs and astronauts i see in cod, do they really think that $2 made a difference for them? It doesn't change your character or dogs performance, it just makes you stick out more and easier to spot and kill you morons.

[Sonital]

Yes, if done right. Like General Knoxx's DLC for Borderlands 1 or most of the DLC from Borderlands 2. That's about the only DLC I've ever bothered with!

[Khan613]

No, the modding community has been destroyed as a result.
Mods are handled in-house and SOLD instead!

You want to sell missions and customizations for single player campaigns? Go right ahead!

In terms of multiplayer, it fragments the community into the haves and have nots, creates a need for different multiplayer servers, catering to vanilla plus DLC owners.

Don't forget Modern Warfare 2, where DLC's broke matchmaking entirely!

[KinjoTakemura]

Well if the DLC like Outlast Whistleblower, yes. If the DLC consists of add-ons designed to nickel and dime gamers to death, NO.

[swishersweets20031]

expansions are alright. crap that should of been in the core game from the beginning is a rip off.