Bleszinski: On-Disk DLC an "Unfortunate Reality"

[The Wooster]

Bleszinski: On-Disk DLC an "Unfortunate Reality"

Gears of War shogun, Cliff Bleszinski, reckons we're going to be stuck with on-disk DLC until game sales go totally digital.

DLC is a sticky issue amongst gamers at the best of times, but when developers decide their extra content is going to eschew the "downloadable" part, well... then things get ugly. In an interview with GameSpot, Gears of War designer and grinning frat-king, Cliff Bleszinski, said that while he isn't a huge (oh, that was pretty clever) fan of on-disk DLC, he understands the reasoning behind it.

"When you're making a game, and you're getting into a ship cycle, there's often three or four months where the game is basically done. And you have an idle team that needs to be working on things," he said.

"And often for compatibility issues, [on] day one, some of that content does need to be on-disc. It's an ugly truth of the gaming industry. I'm not the biggest fan of having to do it, but it is one of the unfortunate realities."

Gears of War 3 contained on-disk DLC in the form of the Horde Command Pack, which contained three maps as well as skins and other goodies. The $10 download weighed in at only 1.42MB.

"If we can get to fully downloadable games, then you can just buy a $30 horror game and just have it, and that stuff will thankfully go away," he continued.

Now excuse me while I shamelessly editorialize for a moment. The problem I have with on-disk DLC isn't that the concept is inherently evil, I don't think it is. In some ways it's a clever use of time and resources that would otherwise go to waste. [http://oi39.tinypic.com/2yvs9qf.jpg] The issue is consumer doubt. There's no feasible way for a developer to prove, at least to the people taking an issue with on-disk DLC, that the content being offered as DLC was developed in parallel rather than "cut" from the main game. The fact that the practice offers a financial incentive for developers to do exactly that is just the icing on the cake.

You may now break out the car analogies. It's always car analogies for on-disk DLC right?

Source: GameSpot [http://www.gamespot.com/news/on-disc-dlc-an-ugly-truth-says-gears-of-war-designer-6370601]

Permalink

 

[Fappy]

Car analogies fit most of the consumer related game debates it seems. I just hate the idea of all this stuff being withheld from us when we purchase the game full price. It wasn't too long ago that you could buy a game full of awesome goodies and unlocks that didn't carry an extra price tag. I miss those days

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

You may now break out the car analogies. It's always car analogies for on-disk DLC right?

Yes, and restaurant meals/being served shit as a dessert for other complaints.

 

[Meight08]

Why would it go to waste? If it's finished in time for the release then they should just include it in the original game instead of charging extra? As 4 "The Chart" They somehow found a way to finance post release DLC BEFORE On-disk DLC. Have they just gotten worse at managing their finances? Not exactly winning any points with that argument.

When a game is to be released on consoles it is sent a MS or sony and they inspect the game this can take a long while depending if its multi-platform exclusive.
if its not ready it can be delayed for a few months for the devs to fix it.
When it is sent to microsoft or sony, It's done,finite,over,feature complete they may not add anything else not even remove stuff.
In that time its either,Sequel time Or dlc time.
And a skin pack can be done in a few days by the art team who havent got anything to work on.

 

[WanderingFool]

Why would it go to waste? If it's finished in time for the release then they should just include it in the original game instead of charging extra? As 4 "The Chart" They somehow found a way to finance post release DLC BEFORE On-disk DLC. Have they just gotten worse at managing their finances? Not exactly winning any points with that argument.

Actu... know what? Fuck it. I let someone else with less sleep deprivation answer this. Il just say that you seem to be missing a key fact. The game isnt released when the developers finish it. Its released some time after. I believe its in that chart you mentioned. That "Day 1" DLC is partially on the disk, but they couldnt finish it in time to send the game in for review or what the fuck ever happens between the time the game is finish and the actual release of the game to the public.

Really, I think that chart you mentioned should have actually answered your question better than I could.

Spoiler: In fact, here it is.

*Edit*

Looks like someone already did...

 

[Something Amyss]

Why would it go to waste? If it's finished in time for the release then they should just include it in the original game instead of charging extra? As 4 "The Chart" They somehow found a way to finance post release DLC BEFORE On-disk DLC. Have they just gotten worse at managing their finances? Not exactly winning any points with that argument.

Additionally, how is some of the content being on-disc a necessity? They were doing DLC before on-disc DLC. What's made it impossible?

The issue is also about transparency and cost. Cliffy and company tried to hide that on-disc DLC. Companies are still trying to hide it. I wouldn't be surprised if Blezinski's next game tried to hide it. If it's such a necessity (which I do not believe it to be), why all the lying and hiding and game playing?

Also, if we go to fully downloadable games, the horror game will still be 50-60 bucks with additional content. It's bullshit to think we're going to see a cost decrease, especially in this context.

 

[KeyMaster45]

The issue is also about transparency and cost. Cliffy and company tried to hide that on-disc DLC. Companies are still trying to hide it. I wouldn't be surprised if Blezinski's next game tried to hide it. If it's such a necessity (which I do not believe it to be), why all the lying and hiding and game playing?

Because gamers lose their collective shit when the data miners get hold of their copies and find the on disc-dlc. Better to just not say anything and let the fans start the inevitable shit-storm after the game is released. They're not really obligated to tell us anything about the game, and when it comes to marketing why should they deliberately release information that would effect sales?

"Because it's the right thing to do" is not the correct answer.

 

[Bobic]

I don't really think that logic connects for on disk dlc. I mean, if the stuff is ready before you go burning it onto disks, then what stops it from being part of the main game before you arbitrarily decide what is and isn't dlc? The team you set to work on it could easily work on more main game content simply because the dlc is often interchangeable with main game content. Don't tell us it's just to keep the team busy, tell us that it's not about making the best game possible it's about making more money, you're a business, you're allowed to want more money, and we're allowed to ***** if we think you're pushing it too far. I just wish there was a little more honesty from businesses rather than a constant stream of bullshit (same goes for you, politicians. . . and, well, pretty much everyone, me included)

Of course, there's still the issue of, it's on my disk that I payed for, why can't I access it? Cue debate about paying for a licence rather than a product.

(oh, and my opinion is not important anyway, what with not having bought a disk in years (yay steam and its sales!) . . . unless of course, some dlc gets downloaded to my computer and I just pay for an unlock, which would be quite annoying, I don't have unlimited hard disk space you know)

 

[DustyDrB]

Always with the analogies...
It's like a carrot field, and the customers are rabbits. Wait...that doesn't work.

It's like a cafe in the year 2064 in an alternate dimension on the planet Puh (that's a soft "p"). The cafe only serves the elderly, but you're a 26 year old. Also, the barista is a dog. Because I like dogs.

 

[Daniel Sugrue]

Additionally, how is some of the content being on-disc a necessity? They were doing DLC before on-disc DLC. What's made it impossible?

The way I see it, not all DLC needs to have an on disk content. Dlc that intergrates into the core game, eg characters in ME2/3, need to have on disk content so that they 'work' within the game, that would be the compatibility that Bleszinski mentioned above.

On the otherhand, dlc that does not need to intergrate fully, eg new area's, skins etc can be entirely downloaded at a later date since they are effectively self contained.

 

[GonzoGamer]

If I take a car for a test drive and decide to buy it right there, is the dealer going to charge me for the gas in my tank?!!
Well?

 

[MrBrightside919]

I'm too tired to think of a full thought out response...

I don't like it...I didn't like it before reading this...and I still don't like it after reading this...

 

[Zoe Castillo]

--

 

[BreakfastMan]

Well, I do love a good car analogy... Mainly because that analogy is crap and can be torn to shreds quite easily. XD

Also, movie and meal analogies. Because everyone loves those! Now, if you excuse me, I will go and eat a delicious dinner, finish it off with a spoonful of crap, lock of features of a dvd, and charge people extra for brakes. Wait, what was I talking about?

 

[viranimus]

Analogies aside for the moment. This guy truly is a monumental douchenozzle, isnt he.

I love the presumption of

A: its not a matter of choice and beyond his control as if it actually has to be installed on the disc, or even released at time of release Hell they could keep it as DD and release it two weeks after launch and no one would complain.

B: the ONLY thing that will remedy it is Digital distribution.

C: that Digital distribution is actually an inevitability. Likelihood, yes, but written in stone, absolutely not.

So using a car analogy. Would you buy a car from a guy who only wants to put you into

Spoiler: This beast

After you tell him all you need or want is

Spoiler: A simple low mileage work car

Because he KNOWS that in the future no vehicle will hit the road without a HEMI engine.

Yes Mr Belindurarglebarglski, Remember if your going to keep your head shoved up your ass its not a good idea to keep flapping your mouth open.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

In my mind, if there's still space on the disc to include the maps, skins, etc. that have been done in the downtime, they should just be on there for no extra fees. If it takes extra space or coding to finish before release, I'm fine with reasonably priced DLC.