If you look at my previous entries, you could get the impression that I am totally against DLC's. Actually I am more against them than favoring them but not totally against them. Anyway, comparing the situation to a year ago I think many more are against the DLCs than before. Why ? Here are my reasons.
1- Consciousness. Right now there is a solid consciousness over DLCs, in the past, when they were emerging and not that popular most people did not know what to think or how to react to DLCs. Tons of articles and discussion influenced people and now they totally know how to feel on DLCs.
2- Too many DLCs. DLCs kept coming and coming, even when there were only a few DLCs back in the day, people did not really care about them since they were featuring only extra content. Nowadays some DLCs are vital for the full experience.
3- Games with regular DLCs vs Games with no DLCs. Call of Duty genre vs BF Bad Company. While you pay 15 $ for 4 maps, you get all free for BF BC2. This is just one example. There are more like that. When that happens usually the light bulb in people's head is turned on.
4- No change of plans. They still introduce same amount of DLCs for their new titles and seems like they never listen to what gamers say about DLCs. Game companies are totally ignorant in that matter.
5- Weak content. Imagine you pay some amount of money for that extra content and it doesn't justify the price tag... Frustrating really.
6-Lack of trust. When you see already introduced add-ons before a game is released - dragon age II exiled prince , couldn't they include it in the full game ? - trust issues begin. People think that specific content is extracted from the game to make extra money when It could have been included in the full game where you pay almost 60 $.
Well, those are my reasons basically. Game studios should be very careful with those DLCs, it's quite dangerous as it could hurt that company's image easily and turn their fans into enemies.
If I were them, I would only introduce DLCs after some time that the game is released. And ideally the content would justify the price tag and not upset the gamers who tend not to buy those add-ons.
Yes, it is once again tail time, thanks to Limited Run Games.
Tormeted Souls II has its apparent flaws, but it also happens to be a great horror game and throwback title to the classic survival horror days.
The Outerhaven writes: One of our Nintendo Switch 2 dock died less than a week after launch—and neither Nintendo nor GameStop offered real help. Here's why early adopters should be worried.
How much is a dock for that damn thing if they want $180 to “repair” that one? No way in hell that dock is that expensive.
Nintendo will Nintendo I guess.
I just looked on their website and they ask $120 for a dock.
Last week I got Switch Lite from Japan for $150.
The price they're asking for a Switch 2 dock is highway robbery.
"Ooh we've put the fan in its high technology that's some cutting-edge shit!"
You'll pay top dollar for plasticky dock with a fan in it.
I am not against Dlc one bit. If it enhances my experience why should i not buy it?
You talk about weak content and yeah i agree some of the things i buy don't justify the price.
One example is all Cod Map Packs sure they're good but are they worth $15?
Now look at something like Battlefield Bad Company 2 Vietnam, Comes with 5 maps all new guns all new vehicles and new Era now that's worth $15.
"Tons of articles and discussion influenced people and now they totally know how to feel on dlcs."
It is a sad world to live in when people need to be told how to feel about something. It's not just DLC people need to be told how to feel about, that's also how American politics runs, which kind of says something if you ask me.
Anyway for what it is worth, this is how I feel about DLC:
1.Selling multiplayer DLC for a game that doesn't have the community to support it is bad practice and should be outlawed by MS and Sony.
2. A publisher can charge whatever they want for map packs/add ons, I'll buy it if I think it is worth it.
3. Content should not be withheld from the game to be sold for DLC just for the sake of having DLC.
4. If content is planned from the start to be made for DLC but is finished before the game is released then I'm fine with it being included as locked content on the disc. Why, because I wouldn't have bought the game in the first place if I didn't think it was worth it.
5. GT5 needs some DLC ASAP! More modern European cars please, not another 100 Skylines and Silvia's!
6. I would love to see games like Uncharted 2/3 released along side prologue/epilogue DLC which fills in the blanks between games. (On a side not, if I was Sony I would release a main game on PS3 and then a fill in game on PS Vita and alternate between the two. This way you would sell more hardware, increase the fanbase, plus the shorter length of said fill in games would be perfect for a portable platform.)
7. More games should have single player expansions like Crysis Warhead. For half the price of Crysis, Warhead was well worth it.
I was writing an article just like this now; my reasons are entirely different, but I'm glad that I'm not the only one who sees the shameful display of DLC content.
I used to not mind downloadable content. Of course this was when DLC was presented as thoughtful, well crafted expansions.
Now, there is DLC for anything from character skins and weapons to horses armor. Of course, it is quite obvious this content could have been packaged into the game from the beginning. Or, at least take a cue from games like Tales of Vesperia that offer DLC but makes it clear that if you put a little effort, you can get the same content in the game without additional real world money investment.
This, in my opinion, has made it very clear to me that game publishers and developers are just milking consumers. I can't speak on FPS and their millions of multiplayer maps but I can readily say I am tired of RPGs and adventure games that receive content that is obviously from the cutting room floor.
I've actually cut the amount of DLC I purchase. Mainly because of the over all cost. For example if purchase a game at $60 and buy multiple DLC content from $5 - $15 a piece, you have just spent a $100 or more.
I miss the days when developers would take their time and craft a game to contain thier vision and tales a complete story that lasts 30 - 100 hours. Now the trend seems to be "lets make the core game barely cohesive and sell the key elements as DLC".
Currently, the starting trend to bilk gaming consumers with DLC is the introduction of Passes. I have already commited myself to never buying another Electronic Arts published product due to this trend and I will do this to each publisher that adopts such a strategy. I don't care if they offer the DLC at a discount, I still have to pay for it. Plus, they are monitoring my gaming activities. Don't believe me. Read the Terms of Use Agreements.
I have to admit, I like Bethesda commitment to reduce their DLC strategy to being more Expansion Pack orientated. I would greatly appreciate it if other companies adopted a similiar strategy. In the past, DLC used to be about adding the side dishes to the gaming entree. Now, it seems publishers and developers are slapping salt and pepper on the dish without true need other than the classic "we want more money".