Buy The Witcher 3 and Get 16 Pieces of Free DLC

[Flammablezeus]

I really couldn't get into the first Witcher game. The writing and characters are pretty awful but maybe the gameplay in the second and third games can make up for it. It seems like I'll have to buy them on principle alone anyway.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

However, what I want to know is; how do CD Projekt RED make money? They have made 3 games and I don't remember Witcher 2 being on the level of Call of Duty sales. That engine they designed for Witcher 2 and now Witcher 3 would have cost millions! Are they self-published? Who has the deep pockets to afford what looks like a really expensive game? I am glad that they are truly 'gamer's first' but from a business side is it going to hurt them in the long run?

The CD Projekt Group consists of 3 main businesses: CD Projekt RED, GOG.com and, possibly most important of all, CD Projekt which is one of the largest games distributors in Central and Eastern Europe.

CD Projekt RED is published by CD Projekt.

Also, don't forget that all these businesses are based in Poland, which helps keep the costs down.

All pretty snazzy for a business that started out as an importer of games into Poland.

 

[RealRT]

And this is why CDP is regarded as the messiah of gaming and everyone else is everyone else.

 

[LarsInCharge]

And this is why CDP is regarded as the messiah of gaming and everyone else is everyone else.

Because they cut content from their final game FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE so they can give it as a bonus to people who buy their game.

You know, like Capcom, Ubisoft, and EA...

 

[Gatlank]

While msot people might think it's purely out of the goodness of their hearts, this is mainly to reduce used game sales and to give an incentive to buy the game fresh.

Blasphemy!!! Only a heretic would think of buying a used copy of Witcher 3.

 

[RealRT]

And this is why CDP is regarded as the messiah of gaming and everyone else is everyone else.

Because they cut content from their final game FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE so they can give it as a bonus to people who buy their game.

You know, like Capcom, Ubisoft, and EA...

First of all, how do you know it was cut? How do you know it's already done? You a studio worker? An insider? Or just a know-it-all? Second, no, not like Capcom, Ubisoft and EA, because they don't charge money for this content. That's a big difference. Third, these months are all testing and optimization. The content of the game should be done by this point, now it's all polishing it up - bear in mind that CDP is not a big studio and the game was supposed to be released mid-2014. So while Q&A department does all the testing, what should the rest of the studio do, watch Monty Python?

 

[weirdee]

man, did everybody just miss that quote or what? they're giving the DLC to anybody that buys the game, ever, until perhaps some time when the game is no longer supported by downloadable service anymore

 

[BathorysGraveland2]

Yet another example of why I respect this company so much. This is a fantastic way of protesting current DLC practices from someone who will actually be heard. This is the only company in the industry where I actually feel genuinely happy financially supporting.

 

[CrazyBlaze]

And this is why CDP is regarded as the messiah of gaming and everyone else is everyone else.

Because they cut content from their final game FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE so they can give it as a bonus to people who buy their game.

You know, like Capcom, Ubisoft, and EA...

First of all, how do you know it was cut? How do you know it's already done? You a studio worker? An insider? Or just a know-it-all? Second, no, not like Capcom, Ubisoft and EA, because they don't charge money for this content. That's a big difference. Third, these months are all testing and optimization. The content of the game should be done by this point, now it's all polishing it up - bear in mind that CDP is not a big studio and the game was supposed to be released mid-2014. So while Q&A department does all the testing, what should the rest of the studio do, watch Monty Python?

I think watching Monty Python to kill time is a great idea. Also I agree with you. Its basiclly going to be weekly updates, there isn't anything wrong with that. For all we know they just planned this stuff and haven't even got to work on it yet. Its not like Ubisoft, EA or Capcom where its pretty clear some of the stuff was cut just to make pre order or day 1 DLC (admittedly EA is doing better but they still have a looooooooooooooooong ways to go).

man, did everybody just miss that quote or what? they're giving the DLC to anybody that buys the game, ever, until perhaps some time when the game is no longer supported by downloadable service anymore

People see DLC and they start seeing red. I mean its understandable why consdering how often we get screwed over with DLC but CPR generally does good things with their games and they like to treat their costumers right.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Eh, fine.

Still gonna wait to hear of its ana ctual good game before I buy it, even if I love the Witcher 2 and like what the CDPR guys are doing.

As anyone should do. I don't care if Bethesda and Taleworlds announce tomorrow that they're joining together to make a hybrid of Warband and Skyrim (my 1st and 2nd games of all time respectively), I'm not buying something before it has been released. You're just gambling with your money.

OT: This just continues to show why CDP is such a respected company. They make high quality games, and then they give you extra content for free. If only more devs would follow them.

 

[pearcinator]

The CD Projekt Group consists of 3 main businesses: CD Projekt RED, GOG.com and, possibly most important of all, CD Projekt which is one of the largest games distributors in Central and Eastern Europe.

CD Projekt RED is published by CD Projekt.

Also, don't forget that all these businesses are based in Poland, which helps keep the costs down.

All pretty snazzy for a business that started out as an importer of games into Poland.

Impressive. Let's just hope that they don't get too greedy. I am not from Europe and haven't heard of CD Projekt before, nor do I know what the economy of Poland is like (what they are taxed on for example). All I know is that Australia sucks when it comes to technology stuff. Our government is run by dinosaurs and we have one of the slowest internet networks. Funding has been stopped/taken from local game developers despite a vast majority of us being gamers. We also pay way more for games than most of the world too.

 

[pearcinator]

I know right! Especially since EA are pretty much doing this (free DLC) everyone still hates on them anyway. I think Ubisoft and Activision are the ones who need to get their act together. EA is trying to win back people's trust recently (but the pit they dug themselves into is harder to get out of).

Well, when EA does it's usually after a fuck up that angered a lot of folks, and this is their blatantly obvious way placate unsatisfied people (Sims 4, Mass Effect 3, Battlefield 4 (I think some dlc became cheaper, not sure) etc.). It feels reactionary, and hardly genuine. Contrast to CD Projekt, they're just doing it because they want to.

True, but at least EA are trying to solve the problem. Rather than Ubisoft who respond with arguments about why it's better for them or Bethesda or Activision who remain pretty silent on the matter. If EA continues like this then eventually they will follow suit with CD Projekt. They still get a LOT of hate though when compared to other companies who do worse things.

 

[RealRT]

True, but at least EA are trying to solve the problem. Rather than Ubisoft who respond with arguments about why it's better for them or Bethesda or Activision who remain pretty silent on the matter. If EA continues like this then eventually they will follow suit with CD Projekt. They still get a LOT of hate though when compared to other companies who do worse things.

EA's bad reputation has roots back in the nineties, so they have a lot of atonement to make. But I gotta admit, they are making baby steps towards not being horrible.

 

[bdeamon]

Why don't they just put it in the game in the first place instead of making it dlc?

 

[Rellik San]

Why don't they just put it in the game in the first place instead of making it dlc?

Storage capacity on physical media?

I dunno. But either way. 16 packs of short quests and cosmetic items... FOR LITERALLY FREE when you've bought the game, yeah I'm down for that, the 16 week release of the packs, also ensures a longer tail than most on gaming sales.

Basically it's a cool way to reward customers who stick with the game and don't blitz it over a weekend then trade it in.

 

[Strazdas]

This is the way you do DLC. Since we have now taken the effort to rename Patches to DLC we shoudl remember that they used to be free.

They own GOG.com
They have a healthy pool of riches to draw upon.

Oh! I didn't know that. Things are starting to make sense now I found it kind of strange that they seemed to come out of nowhere making AAA games.

Actually developing Witcher 2 almost made them go bancrupt so they arent as financialy secure as you may think, they just really want to make great games and are willing to risk it all for it.

Still gonna wait to hear of its ana ctual good game before I buy it, even if I love the Witcher 2 and like what the CDPR guys are doing.

Ill be buying it regardless. In my opinion such developer stance is worth supporting whether their games are great or average. besides, so far their last two were good so good track record. Obviuosly, ill wait to see the reviews, but its something i want to support. i never preorder anyway so buying day 1 or day 14 isnt much difference really.

Because they cut content from their final game FOUR MONTHS IN ADVANCE so they can give it as a bonus to people who buy their game.

You know, like Capcom, Ubisoft, and EA...

or you know they gave the version to the printers to stamp DVDs and instead of twiddling their thumbs they continued to work and wanted to have that work for the game done for costumers? you know, perhaps some bugtesting so the launch isnt a buggy mess like most AAA laucnhes nowadays?
And even if they cut the content, they are still putting it back in for free.

Why don't they just put it in the game in the first place instead of making it dlc?

Yes, lets stop the DVD presses, stop quality assurance and bugfixers and wait so they can add a few beards.

 

[Darxide]

All hail our lord and savior, CD Projekt RED and their holy prophet, GOG.com

 

[RyQ_TMC]

Wow, people see "DLC" and go crazy negative all of a sudden.

Assuming all packs are like the 4 outlined today, they haven't really "held content hostage". Overpowered armour, alternate character model, horse armour for your face... That doesn't seem essential for the core experience. True, there is one additional quest planned, but if "Troll trouble" from TW2 is anything to go by, it's gonna be a minor side quest with zero relevance to the plot, worth maybe a chuckle and some extra XP. Definitely not something like ME3's Javik, where you could see the rips where they pulled him out of the main plot.

They might be saving something big for the final one, but I still doubt it would be "hostage content". They just prefer a carrot to a stick when it comes to getting customers. Funny how we got so used to being treated like mindless sheep to be herded around and shorn for all it's worth, that when a company tries to be nice to us, we scream conspiracy.

Impressive. Let's just hope that they don't get too greedy. I am not from Europe and haven't heard of CD Projekt before, nor do I know what the economy of Poland is like (what they are taxed on for example). All I know is that Australia sucks when it comes to technology stuff. Our government is run by dinosaurs and we have one of the slowest internet networks. Funding has been stopped/taken from local game developers despite a vast majority of us being gamers. We also pay way more for games than most of the world too.

A new AAA game in Poland costs 10.5% minimum monthly wage. In Australia, that's 3.5% (I don't know if I got the right figures for Aus, as in seems minimum wage varies). I find it a nice indicator of the state of the economy, but take from it what you will.

 

[deathbydeath]

Trouble is; is the content first removed and the later given to you or is the content truly made after launch?

I have never understood this argument; it always seemed arbitrary to me. The only thing that really matters with regards to supplementary add-ons to a game (imo) is A) the quantity and quality of the content and B) the price you are paying for it. I don't care if it was made a year before the game launched; I don't care if it was made a year after; I don't care if half the assets are already downloaded; I don't care if it was made in a Chinese sweatshop with terrible conditions. Those are the only 2.5 aspects that matter (to me).