Gears of War 3 Creator Explains Why They’re Charging To Unlock Content that’s Already on the Disc

The $10 worth of new content that went on sale digitally for Gears of War 3 this week is mostly already included on the Gears of War 3 disc that gamers bought for $60.

It's fair to charge extra for content that is already on the game disc you bought, one of the game's lead creators told Kotaku. Sound strange?

[farhsa2008]

Epic have the nerve to try and justify themselves on this?

If I were them I would at least shut up and try and get away with it rather than looking like bigger douches.

[SKUD]

I agree. IMO, DLC of this type is major cancer to gaming. It's disappoint to realize that there's more content on the disk but because they feel they have sold gamer's a "full game" we need to shell out more cash. As if $65 (US) isn't enough. Especially in this economy.

I can only assume that people with more money then sense keep the wheels of this business cancer practice running.

[vsr]

Game content should not be DLC excepts patches.

[gamingdroid]

Except the first map pack is free!

I really don't get it, the outrage for DLC seems so much more significant than for Online Passes. There is no way for you to know if it was created prior to the game release if the developer decided to hide it from you.

In fact, why would it even matter if it was planned in advance.

However, one thing is certain Online Passes is something that was unheard of until recently.

Personally, I would rather pay for extra content, than get screwed over and forced to pay just to play online.

... but hey, choose your poison!

[GamersRulz]

I was planning to answer your questions, but it seems like you're blinded by fanboyism so I'd rather save my efforts.

[ZombieAssassin]

"I would rather pay for extra content, than get screwed over and forced to pay just to play online. "

You have to pay for XBL....

Quit being blinded by fanboyism, at least with an online pass if you buy new you get to access it without paying more...this you pay full price new and have to pay to access content on the disc...I'm sure if this was a ps3 exclusive doing this you'd be singing a different tune as most in here would.

[madjedi]

Yeah still a dick move regardless, just like when capcom pulled the same shit, your still paying twice for the same content.

"However, one thing is certain Online Passes is something that was unheard of until recently.

Personally, I would rather pay for extra content, than get screwed over and forced to pay just to play online." -_- Jesus talk about irony coming out of the mouth of a primary 360 gamer, i have to wonder if this had been a multiplat instead of one of the main 360 exclusives. Would you have defended it as heavily.

I hate gamers pretending to be neutral. Just admit your bias and be done with it.

[badz149]

can't believe somebody actually stepped up and defend on-disc DLC! talk about being a sheep!

[cvflyboy]

droid just leave this site and don't let the door knob hit you in the pussy on your way out. The name droid fits u perfect

[Jaybronee]

you can fit DLC on an Xbox disc?? lol...

[DazeLokrotan]

If this approach is justified then who's stopping game companies from lying to us that their game is coming out on a particular date, delay it and then tell us that the content they locked out on the disc was developed before the 'original' release date?

[YodaCracker]

Gears of War 3 is packed to the brim with so much quality content; it would be hard to find a more complete game. So I find nothing wrong with the DLC, especially with the perfectly sound reasoning Rod gave. The only thing I didn't like was how much Epic charged for the weapon skins at launch, but that doesn't really affect the game, so whatever. Now if a game felt like it was lacking content and they charged for on-disc DLC, then I would be pissed!

[Hicken]

This is what we call being a fanboy.

IT'S NEVER OKAY TO HAVE DLC ON THE DISC. There is no justifying that.

If it's so "packed to the brim," there shouldn't be a need for the DLC. Call it a service to the customers who've made your game so popular.

You and others go right ahead and let this trend continue by excusing the underhanded developers who do it. Then, when you're paying full price for a game, but have to pay $15 to unlock multiplayer, but need another $20 to access the menus, and are required to give up $10 to save your game, you should have no reasons to complain.

[vickers500]

"If it's so "packed to the brim," there shouldn't be a need for the DLC."

Well that's a rather ignorant way to put it. More content is always welcome, but that doesn't mean that anything that comes out after it makes it any less packed full of content. Fallout 3 and Oblivion were LOADED with content even before the DLC came out, DLC wasn't needed, but it was much welcomed. Gears 3 is also packed to the brim with content, it's not like it's some incomplete/lazy rip-off, it has a lot of content.

But other than that little point, I agree with everything else you said.

[Hicken]

I was referring specifically to the on-disc DLC. Yes, more content is welcome, but we're speaking on content we already own because we own the disc on which the content was placed.

I don't like day 1 DLC: if it's available the same day the game releases, it should be a part of the game, and thus it should be free. But this practice is even worse, because it's not even anything that you have to download separately.

[MrBeatdown]

"we're speaking on content we already own because we own the disc on which the content was placed"

BRB, I'm going to go call HP. I bought a laptop from them that had Microsoft Office pre-installed on it. The trial ran out so I thought I was out of luck but it turns out they owe me an unlock key, seeing as how I own the computer it's stored on.

[gamingdroid]

So when Epic made a free DLC i.e. maps for everyone, I don't see anyone really praising it.

I don't see any issues with DLC being on the disc.

Why would it matter when it was created?

Does it not take resources to make?

Is the game not packed with content as is?

***Then, when you're paying full price for a game, but have to pay $15 to unlock multiplayer, but need another $20 to access the menus, and are required to give up $10 to save your game, you should have no reasons to complain.***

That is almost retarded argument, as that would never fly... then again, nobody really complained about online passes? Missing single player content like Batman game.

Yet, Epic is offering us significant content such as map packs that other companies will easily charge $15 for. Yet when they ask $10 for optional content, all hell breaks loose.

***I don't like day 1 DLC: if it's available the same day the game releases, it should be a part of the game, and thus it should be free. But this practice is even worse, because it's not even anything that you have to download separately.***

You had to download a 1.47 MB file.

Anyways, I found this trial of Adobe Creative Suite. Since it is now downloaded on my computer, I OWN IT! Damn Adobe are criminals trying to charge me for it. WTF?

Heck, I own part of this website too. I'm looking at the web page and IT IS ON MY COMPUTER. How dare HAVa media ascertain copyright over my property!? /s

[MrBeatdown]

I find it pretty funny that my comment got 13 disagrees, yet not one person could put into words why they are entitled to every piece of content on a game disc, including the downloadable unlock key needed to access it, yet aren't entitled to every piece of content on a hard drive.

It just goes to show the sense of unjustified entitlement that gamers have because of physical formats. Pretty soon it will be a moot point. Companies will get tired of nonsensical bitching and entitlement and do away with discs all together.

It's unfortunate that gamers can't accept that they are buying a GAME and the disc it is stored on, rather than a disc and everything stored on it, and will eventually drive the industry away from physical forms of distributing the product (the game) they are selling.

[LackTrue4K]

"this fool" thats like buy a 4 seater car, but can only used the front 2 seats,thats DLC you need to pay more to use them.... (O and the web site trys to make it look like a good move cough cough fanbody webpage cough.....)

[DigitalRaptor]

Kotaku have always been a biased source. They have become better with the times, but they still write flamebait articles and some with undertones of negative promotion for PS3 and the obvious example here is positive promotion of something negative for Xbox.

[kagon01]

To scam gamers...

"Fergusson can justify his game's on-disc DLC. His answer is complex, but logical" (fail)

Unfortunately, I can't tolerate con artist in the gaming industry...

[johnnyisawesome]

money

[xVeZx]

they are giving us the 3 HC pack maps plus 2 more maps for free to use in MP and horde but without the new horde stuff this thanksgiving

[Richdad]

But still I would say, its not good to keep DLC content on disc. Better make it downloadable. It just creates a bad taste for the person who is purchasing. Its not easy to justify it.

[BABY-JEDI]

This is such an Epic fail

[Kaizin514]

I see what you did there, and I approve.

[BABY-JEDI]

I personally thought Epic were better than this. They've done some good stuff with the PC community, but it seems to me that they are stiffing the console community IMO
: (

[hazelamy]

bullshit.
other games patch in the data needed to allow players to see skins other players have bought, patching is automatic, you either patch or you don't get online, so saying they didn't want some people not seeing the skins others are using is crap.

the excuses forthis were bullshit from capcom and they're bullshit from epic.

[GamersRulz]

I might understand that if Gears sold poorly, but it sold almost 4 million in one week which is $240m, thats called GREED and gamers shouldn't allow such actions. lets see how gaming journalism handle this story, I expect a pass myself because gaming journalism will be busy shredding Sony apart for reducing consoles accounts from 5 to 2, lets wait and see.

also compare what Epic is Doing with Polyphony Digital, PD kept releasing huge improvements all year including Spec 2 update for FREE while Epic charges their loyal fans on something already on the CD !! Pathetic Epic, really Pathetic.

[STICKzophrenic]

This is the exact reason I held off on buying the Season Pass. They make it sound like you're getting savings, but really the content that's on-disc is the "savings."

If this content was ready at the actual launch, then it should have been available.

They actually used the "DLC" maps in pre-release videos.

They talk about how much content was available at launch, yet for the hardcore fans that were in the beta and have been playing since the first Gears of War, the amount of MP content was kinda of crappy. First of all, ten maps isn't a lot really. Subtract the four maps that were played to death in the beta, and we're down to six new maps. Throw in Gridlock remake, and we're down to five brand new maps.

One would think that Epic might want to show appreciation for the dedicated Gears players or something, but nope. Content that was ready at launch, and on-disc, is locked away by their greed.

After this, I'm not sure if I can give any more money to Epic Games. They've lost my trust as a consumer.

[gamingdroid]

Let's do a comparison of recently released games:

Uncharted 3 -> 12 maps
KillZone 3 -> 8 maps
BattleField 3 -> 9 maps
CoD: MW3 -> 16 maps

As you can see, Gears 3 with it's 10 maps is above many other games already. Then we are getting a free Map Pack DLC with 5 maps for a total of 15.

Not to mention Horde mode, beast mode and all the various playlist that Epic throws out there and it is clear Gears of War 3 packs more content than most other games... but let's focus on the $10 DLC that is optional, and ignore the free $15 map pack you just got!

[ZombieAssassin]

That's not the point...the point is they are charging for content on the disc, if it was capcom everyone would be slamming them but because it's EPIC and Gears of War you'll spend all day defending it.

All you keep doing is trying to spin this by saying no one complained about online passes/batman dlc...yea they did that's all the comments were, just accept this is a BS move and it's one that MS prolly pushed for.

EPIC have been one of my favorite devs since UT99 but this is just a slap to the face of their loyal fanbase.

[madjedi]

@gaming Then they should have made the already on disc dlc free and charged you for the map packs.

We get it you love geow 3, and think epic is such generous company ect, if your not on epic payroll your being silly. It's still a slight of hand move regardless of how you try to make epic look like a saint.

Btw more maps doesn't always mean better maps you stupid mouthpiece.

Care to eventually remember that your opinion or preference does not always mean that it is the correct one.

damn zombie that's twice you beat me. :)

[2pacalypsenow]

DLC is a cancer

[Bathyj]

Even having DLC day one is rude, (unless its free).

Having it on the disc is just rubbing your face in it.

[svoulis]

Hm, reminds me of Resident Evil 5, when you had to pay for VS mode, which was basically just an unlock code for the money.

Pathetic, Doubt Epic or even Capcom needs the "extra" money for something that was already created for users on the disc.

Whats next? Charging 50 cents to save a game?
Maybe Charging you per chapter after the first couple chapters?

Lucky for them this is there last Gears game

The fanboys will rise Epic. They will eat your Souls

[Gam3rSinceBiRTH]

I love the Gears of War franchise but this is just BS. DLC should be released a good 2-3 months after its release. The whole purpose should be to add fresh content after everything else has been exhausted. Just a clear case of trying to make more money.

Oh well. What are you going do? Many companies do it.

[Megaton]

Epic has fallen a long way. From fighting against Microsoft so they could release Gears 1 DLC for free, to selling season passes and on-disc locked content.

[Bolts]

FUCK YOU Epic. No seriously, FUCK YOU. If you put content in my gaming disk then it should be mine. I shouldn't have to pay extra for some bullshit "DLC content" that I already own. Every gamer worth a damn should be fighting this with every fiber of his/or her being before those greedy scumbags at Epic and EA start demanding micro transactions to reload your damn gun.

[MasterCornholio]

When I buy a game new I expect the price includes everything on the disk. It posses me off when you have to buy a key to unlock content on the disk. If you bought it used I could understand this but new it should be included.

XperiaRay

[FlashXIII]

I'm surprised there isn't trade laws against such practices.

[FlashXIII]

This Epic is a far cry away from the awesome company who made UT and fully supported it's community. Remember the make something unreal contest they held for UT2k4? They offered $1m I believe to the mod development team who could make the best mod for UT2k4.. there was so many great entries and so many hours spent on so many great mods.

Now look at them.. selling weapon skins that not even Activision the cancer of gaming wouldn't even try to sell. Now they're trying to justify selling more content that's already on the disc? GTFO!

[Legion]

Basically the article stated that the team they had to develop the DLC was able to finish the DLC prior to Gear 3 release due to it being pushed back.

They determined that it was only prudent to add it to the disc so that a large download wasn't needed later, and to justify graphic issue with those that would have to get a download to see some game items that others have bought.

The DLC was developed and paid for to be a separate game purchase. Due to Gears 3 delay, they were able to add it to the disc to help lessen the memory needs of the download. What is wrong with that?

[bluegreenman]

I know the economy is bad and all.. but 10$? that is not breaking my bank, and my bank is not all that impressive. Just saying, Its not like some hobbies where it costs thousands of dollars to participate. I'm fine with paying 10$ every few months for content. Just cut back on your runs to the gas station for soda and snacks. :)

[TheWolverine]

Wow, just wow.. This is why I hold off on DLC most of the time. Map packs are a touchy subject with gamers. Some believe they deserve it day one and free. Others say theyll pay for it a couple months after release to refresh the game. Theres just no way to make everyone happy on this subject. I'm surprised we haven't had developers telling the press theyre scared to release DLC from fear for their lives. Gamers are VERY serious people.

[Mr-Dude]

I loved Gears Of War 3, but this little joke is lame. So i have to pay for the game, online, en now the DLC what is on the stupid disc? yeah, talk about bending over and take it in the ass....

Nah, i think this is just milking the customers

[modesign]

every 10 dollars goes towards cliffy b's anal beads collection

[Cablephish]

lol it's funny because it ceases to be DLC when it's already on the disc!

[ZombieAssassin]

DLC= Disc Locked Content...

[Cablephish]

My bad, thought it was downloadable content. Looks like things are changing.

[MasterD919]

Well in all fairness the game does have a lot of different modes and content but really...I don't think its justified.

I bought the season pass and regret it slightly but I do enjoy playing on the new maps. As long as the rest of the DLC is actually full of content and quality, I'll deal with it just fine. The new blood drive remake is really great IMO.

[outlawlife]

biggest problem is the fact that he is lying, the skins were set to be unlockables through multiplayer progression...you clearly could see that in the beta

they took out the progression bonuses and charge your $4 for a weapon skin that is on your disc

I, and many other people caught on to the fact more maps were locked within hours of having the game. Gears 3 didn't have many MP maps at all compared to other games of the same type, and then they locked 3 more.