THQ Unveils New "Pay in Advance" DLC Purchase Program

[Andy Chalk]

THQ Unveils New "Pay in Advance" DLC Purchase Program

THQ [http://www.thq.com] has unveiled the next step in its strategy to combat used game sales: Encouraging customers to keep their games by charging them up-front for DLC that hasn't been released yet.

You've no doubt heard of "try before you buy," but THQ has something a little different in mind for the upcoming WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 [http://www.amazon.com/WWE-Smackdown-Raw-2011-Playstation-3/dp/B003P9C70E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286896927&sr=8-1]. Think of it as "pay before you play": In order to convince gamers not to trade in their copies of the game two weeks after buying them, the publisher is offering a "Fan Axxess" pass (yes, "Axxess," which I assume is how you spell "access" after you've been hit over the head with a chair once too often) for a one-time payment of 800 Microsoft points or $9.99 on the PlayStation Network. The pass will provide access (or "axxess") to "select downloadable content released throughout the life of the game for a one-time anticipated purchase."

That's right, THQ wants you to pay up front for DLC that hasn't even been made yet. Why would you do such a thing? For one thing, it'll be cheaper than buying all the add-ons individually. The first DLC pack, slated for release over the holidays, will cost non-Axxess members 560 Microsoft points (about $7.00), while the second, due in early 2011, will go for 240 points. Fan Axxess will also provide immediate access to more than 60 unlockable items included with the game and there's a certain prestige factor as well, as those who buy into the program will be given "an in-game badge to recognize the videogame's biggest supporters".

"We have some of the most passionate fans in the industry, and we are pleased to offer them an opportunity to access premium gameplay content, customization features and recognition for their loyalty for one price point," said THQ Executive Vice President Danny Bilson.

The DLC updates sound like they'll add a lot to the game, including wrestlers like the British Bulldog and Lex Luger, alternate ring gear and arenas and the "WWE Superstar Attribute Customizer," which will let players set the rankings and attributes of every Legend, Superstar and Diva in the game. But paying for it up-front, sight unseen, sounds a bit dicey. What exactly does "select DLC" mean? And what happens if the game bombs and THQ suddenly decides the budget can't accommodate new content?

I like the Project Ten Dollar [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/104137-Online-Pass-Isnt-Hurting-Used-Game-Sales] concept in general and fully expect it to become a common feature of the videogame industry. But with this, I suspect that THQ might be taking things a little too far. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 comes out on October 26 for the PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, Wii and PSP.


Permalink

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

Hmmm... generally this doesn't appeal to me as much as Project 10 Dollar...

For games that I am not too interested in DLC for (Red Faction, WWE, etc) I wouldn't bother.

However if they offer these for Metro 2034 or any Warhammer 40k title then I'm sold.

 

[uppitycracker]

You know, I always had this crazy idea for preventing games from being traded in after 2 weeks of release.... now bear with me, it's a little out there.... but making quality games. Ya know, games people want to keep playing. I know, it's absurd, and it makes no sense, but I swear it just might work better than crap like this.

 

[Keava]

You know, I always had this crazy idea for preventing games from being traded in after 2 weeks of release.... now bear with me, it's a little out there.... but making quality games. Ya know, games people want to keep playing. I know, it's absurd, and it makes no sense, but I swear it just might work better than crap like this.

And tell me please, in your infinite wisdom, how do you make a game that is considered 'quality' by all and every gamer? How do you make a game that will somewhat convince those that just want to "catch 'em all" and don't really care what game it is as long as it's new? Finally if a game is so 'crap' why do you even buy it in the first place?

 

[GonzoGamer]

I wont buy DLC for a game I haven?t actually tried yet but I?m sure there are plenty who will.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

You know, I always had this crazy idea for preventing games from being traded in after 2 weeks of release.... now bear with me, it's a little out there.... but making quality games. Ya know, games people want to keep playing. I know, it's absurd, and it makes no sense, but I swear it just might work better than crap like this.

And you'll always find a group of people with no life or a stick shove up their ass who will complain about how the game doesn't have what they want it to. You can't please people nowadays. People are just too damned picky. You'll always have people who beat the game just a bit faster than you expected and will demand an add-on

 

[Vohn_exel]

I can get behind project Ten dollar and even kind of like it...but this... I can't see me paying for DLC that I might not even want.

 

[DTWolfwood]

wait what?! how is paying 800 upfront cheaper than paying 560+240 (which by the way is 800)?

I guess you can Pre-order games so y not Pre-order DLC...

Would be comical if they offer this for every game and even games that they had no intentions of making DLC for XD.

p.s. if say they ask u to pay upfront and all future release DLC becomes free (more than 800 points worth) I can see this being ok. Kinda wish for something like this from Rockstar for Red Dead Redemption.

 

[JaredXE]

Andy needs to redo the math again, you are paying the EXACT same amount whether you pre-pay or pay when it comes out.

And yes, Axxess is retarded. Things aren't always cooler with an 'x' in it.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

I'm not sure I'm understanding. Can you just play normally and wait for 800 points worth of content to be released before paying the fee, or does it force it right away?

Either way, sounds poorly thought out. I'm no fan of project ten dollar in it's current state (slash the purchase price by $10 and I'm sold), but at least I can see the logic in it.

 

[Jesus Phish]

Andy needs to redo the math again, you are paying the EXACT same amount whether you pre-pay or pay when it comes out.

And yes, Axxess is retarded. Things aren't always cooler with an 'x' in it.

That's the first thing I thought of too, it must just be an error.

Compared to PTD, it doesnt sound as good. What if the dev who makes the DLC goes bust during the expected lifetime of their DLC roadmap. What if the DLC is unannounced and turns out to be utter phish.

 

[Jamash]

I can get behind project Ten dollar and even kind of like it...but this... I can't see me paying for DLC that I might not even want.

But isn't the priciple just the same as the Publisher's Club on the Escapist? We're paying in advance for content that we may not even want.

I see it as just a Publisher's Club for Smackdown vs Raw, you support the company and in return get access to better items & features in the future, item & features that people who don't join the club won't get unless they pay as well.

At least the Publisher's Club doesn't have a dumb name like Axxess, I probably wouldn't have joined if it was called Da Exxkapist Pubblisha's Klub.

 

[Antari]

How about we just send them money and they'll just tell us when they might release a game too? .... Thanks but no thanks

 

[Andy Chalk]

The math is fine. The offer is for DLC "released throughout the life of the game," not just the first two updates that have been announced.

Of course, that's where it gets dodgy, because what if the first two are the only two? It's still a break-even prospect but it's a bit misleading if it draws in people who might otherwise not be all that terribly interested in the DLC. It might be a great deal. But it might not.

 

[Icehearted]

Mass Effect 2, for $70 I got this and the pathetic DLC that came with it.
Now the game retails for approx $30, $20 used. Had I waited (which isn't exactly hard to do) I would have gotten the game, Lair, Stolen, and Overlord for a total of $54. So for $16 less than I paid, I could have gotten to play more of the game than I can now?

I don't expect I'll be buying new anymore.

 

[spartan231490]

wont play this game, but if bioware did something like this for dragon age 2 or mass effect 3, i'd do it for sure.

 

[poiuppx]

Mass Effect 2, for $70 I got this and the pathetic DLC that came with it.
Now the game retails for approx $30, $20 used. Had I waited (which isn't exactly hard to do) I would have gotten the game, Lair, Stolen, and Overlord for a total of $54. So for $16 less than I paid, I could have gotten to play more of the game than I can now?

I don't expect I'll be buying new anymore.

This is the real uphill battle publishers find themselves in now. Folks have overall come around to the idea that you DON'T have to have the hot new release game at launch, because most of the time you're just going to get the same game experience for less later on. It's not an easy thing to fix, and ideas like this aren't going to do much about that secondary market. Quality DLC, however, will; if a game has strong enough DLC support and the DLC is worth a damn, then people picking up a used game will inevitably buy the DLC if possible, thus tossing some additional money into the pot.

Of course, this IS in reference to an annual sports game series, so the lifespan is limited at best. Not sure this of all things was the right subject to roll this out through.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

So what happens if the game's DLC suffers the same fate as a certain Duke game? Ten dollars that you'll never get to use, or see.

 

[Asehujiko]

However if they offer these for Metro 2034 or any Warhammer 40k title then I'm sold.

"Hey, wanna have a patch that makes Soulstorm suck less? Well, for $10 we'll set you up to the top of the download queue when we make it"

3 months later: "Whoops, looks like Iron Lore went bankrupt, anyway, the icecream I bought with your $10 was delicious, also please go buy this sequel with several huge expansion pack shaped holes in it at full price"

"PS: want to pre-order the patch that gets rid of GFWL eventually for $15"?