Capcom Defends Locked Content in Street Fighter X Tekken

[Something Amyss]

Am I the only one sensing hypocrisy here? They put content on the disc that they were planning on charging for at a later date. I don't entirely see a problem with that they can choose whatever goofy delivery method they feel is appropriate. The biggest problem is they are surprised and angry that die hard fans FOUND the content and are using it. Call me crazy but I think that if you put it in the game and don't expect at least Some of the millions your selling it to to find it we have now left the realm of idiotic hypocrisy and entered the realm of preposterousness. Any one else agree?

You seem surprised that a company is angry that it it got caught.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I generally support a lot of what Capcom does, and I see what they are getting at with their argument. The on disc DLC is basically funded the same way actual downloadable DLC is. It's development categorized under a different revenue stream (Stream A funds Content A, Stream B funds Content B). I also agree with them in saying that the experience you get with the current content of SFxT is a complete one.

I do, however, find myself uncomfortable with the time line. They have already stated that the locked content will, in general, not be unlockable until the fall when the Vita version of SFxT is released. Yet it's completed and playable already. I do definitely see a slippery slope issue here as it's blatantly obvious that, while funded differently, the locked content was developed during the same development period as the base game. This isn't a case of spending the last month of development on the DLC because you're stuck waiting for approval of the base game. This literally is content that could have been in the game for Day 1 but was withheld for the intent of selling it later on.

I can definitely see how this all works out for Capcom. They get a base game plus very appealing DLC without actually adding to the deveopment time at all. In fact, I'd imagine that the SFxT team is already working on the next game. They aren't stuck only now working on extensins to SFxT. I can also definitely see how fans of SFxT are getting screwed on this one though.

I haven't been keeping up with this topic, but is this DLC like Mass Effect 3's where the content on the disc is just a placeholder for future DLC or is it all actually on the disc? If it's the latter then that just really rubs me the wrong way.

Sadly, no. It's not just a placeholder at all. People who have "unlocked" the content through various means have found that all of the locked characters are 100% complete and playable. From move lists to control to art assets to sound assets, it's all there. The locked characters even have complete intro and ending cinematics already on the disc and functional. The only thing missing is maybe a balance pass though the locked characters don't seem unbalanced at all from what I have heard.

In short, the locked data is 100% complete and playable. It's just locked away until Capcom decides to let you pay for it and unlock it.

 

[Shy_Guy]

This is so fucking stupid! I honestly can't believe that anyone at Capcom would think this is ok to say publicly. The only time on-disk content downloads can be somewhat justified is if it's one of those "buy new get this extra content token, buy used no love" deals. This is just idiotic.

 

[T'Generalissimo]

More to the point, it asserted that DLC is DLC and the only question is one of delivery method.

Well I would assert that the delivery method is what defines DLC, what with it being downloadble content and all that. If you're not downloading it then it's just content. Inaccessable content, I guess.

 

[Trishbot]

More to the point, it asserted that DLC is DLC and the only question is one of delivery method.

Well I would assert that the delivery method is what defines DLC, what with it being downloadble content and all that. If you're not downloading it then it's just content. Inaccessable content, I guess.

That's a pretty fair point.

 

[Sabrestar]

More to the point, it asserted that DLC is DLC and the only question is one of delivery method.

Well I would assert that the delivery method is what defines DLC, what with it being downloadble content and all that. If you're not downloading it then it's just content. Inaccessable content, I guess.

That's a pretty fair point.

Exactly. DownLoadable Content. If they're trying to make a point (and they do have a legitimate point; whether it's good enough or not is a matter for individual debate), they need to use appropriate terminology. Maybe it muddles the issue a bit, but no more than DownLoadable Content not being DownLoaded at all. Perhaps Post-Purchase Content? Add-On Content? Extra Stuff?

 

[V8 Ninja]

Yes, Capcom, there is a difference between downloadable content and content that's already on the disk. If you're going to attempt to charge for content that's already on the disc, at least admit that's what you're doing; don't try to make it look like you're working around your dickery.

 

[Sylveria]

There is a distinction.. locked on-disc DLC was done when the game was completed, burned to the disc, then sold, but charges you extra to unlock what you effectively already paid for. At least with "real" DLC they can make a bullshit excuse like Bioware did with From Ashes and say it was made after the original product was complete but while all the fine-tuning for distribution was going on.

What they're effectively doing is selling you a house, but that house has a locked room. You have to pay extra the key to get into that room of the house you already paid for.

"Real" DLC is you buy a house, then later you buy a shed or something which is then affixed to the house.

The fact Capcom is trying to blow smoke up our asses and say those two things are the same should offend gamers to no end. They think you're that stupid to actually swallow that garbage.

 

[Kmadden2004]

when i pay my sixty euros, i pay for all the work that is finished so far.

So by your logic, deleted scenes in a movie is tantamount to theft.

That's not really an apt comparison.

There is a difference between a filmmaker removing scenes that are detrimental to the overall quality of the finished product, and a publisher deliberately locking away content on a game disc with the express motivation of charging an extra £10-£15 to unlock it later.

To run with the new car analogy that another poster has used here, it's like your dealership charging you 5% extra for the key to the trunk.

Except once again, you're going back to the retard tree by mixing up a neccesity and an extra. Use of trunk is not use of Cody from Final Fight. They are not comparable.

My car analogy is still the only good one - its a complete extra that could not be considered a neccessity for your experience, you aren't forced to buy it, there was never a single second of deception about what you would be able to use without extra payment, and without the feature it is still worth your money. Four key similarities between my analogy, that yours utterly fails at.

Whoah, whoah, whoah, there, buddy. There's no need to throw the r-word around there.

For a start, is it really necessary for a car to have a trunk? I mean, yeah, a car needs an engine, wheels, pedals, etc, but is a trunk really a necessity? No, it's not, the fact that there are plenty of trunkless models of cars out there just shows that it is an extra. It's a common extra that's taken for granted, sure, but it's an extra nonetheless. Is it nice to have a trunk on your car? Yeah, sure it is. Does it alter the driving experience for some people? Sometimes. But is a trunk necessary? Not really.

Now, these extra characters aren't a necessity, sure, but they can alter the gaming experience for some people, and they are already there on the disc. Labelling these characters as premium downloadable content is a deception (or, at the very least, a big middle finger to Capcom's consumer base), as you're not actually downloading anything, you're just buying a key to unlock something that is physically attached to the product you've already forked out a fair bit of money on.

With that in mind, my comparison hold more water than you give it credit.

 

[Parshooter]

Odd. Why didn't Capcom just claim that the reason for the data being there was so that online interactions are able to cross over. You know like how Bioshock 2 did it. The only reason Bioware couldn't get away with that one was because Javik was limited to single player.

At least it stops them from looking like viewing their customers like morons.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

You done fucked up, Capcom. Can't you just admit that you done fucked up?

Edit: Just out of curiousity if we pirate Street Fighter X Tekken (not that I'm going to, I'm not, my pc is a PoS anyway) we'll get those locked characters for fweeeee?

 

[A Pious Cultist]

THIS is my problem with On-Disk DLC: I don't think it should be free, I think it shouldn't even exist! If we accept paying extra for content that had finished production AND testing soon enough to be included with shipping, we're essentially giving them a blank check to withhold as much of the game as they please. If they produce bonus material at a latter date I'll pay for it, but if it's included on the disk it should be included in the game. No gimmicks!

I can see your point and I don't necessarily disagree. But it would lead to developers stopping doing anything once the game hits its finished feature set and then starting up again once it goes gold rather.

 

[TK421]

THIS is my problem with On-Disk DLC: I don't think it should be free, I think it shouldn't even exist! If we accept paying extra for content that had finished production AND testing soon enough to be included with shipping, we're essentially giving them a blank check to withhold as much of the game as they please. If they produce bonus material at a latter date I'll pay for it, but if it's included on the disk it should be included in the game. No gimmicks!

Exactly. Next thing we know, we'll be paying $60 for the first "tutorial" level of our games. If we want the real thing, we'll be forced to shell out $10-$15 for each level.

I propose that we stop this bullshit before we miss our chance.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

THIS is my problem with On-Disk DLC: I don't think it should be free, I think it shouldn't even exist! If we accept paying extra for content that had finished production AND testing soon enough to be included with shipping, we're essentially giving them a blank check to withhold as much of the game as they please. If they produce bonus material at a latter date I'll pay for it, but if it's included on the disk it should be included in the game. No gimmicks!

Just this.

 

[Nyaoku]

THIS is my problem with On-Disk DLC: I don't think it should be free, I think it shouldn't even exist! If we accept paying extra for content that had finished production AND testing soon enough to be included with shipping, we're essentially giving them a blank check to withhold as much of the game as they please. If they produce bonus material at a latter date I'll pay for it, but if it's included on the disk it should be included in the game. No gimmicks!

I second this. The only problem is that they do this in order to keep from having to go through the reevaluation thing with the rating board and prolong release dates. It's nice that they get to continue working on it during that time but they shouldn't put that data on the disk itself.

 

[Rad Party God]

Capcom... I am dissapoint... you're seriously getting closer and closer to my boycott list, along with ActiBlizzard, EA and UbiSoft (except Rayman Origins, wich is the ONLY good game they've released in the last 7 years, this generation, or at least the only one I'm interested in and it doesn't have DRM).

 

[2fish]

Why is everyone so mad about Disk Loaded Content? I mean you pay for the disk or the download then you pay for the Disk Loaded Content, then maybe new stuff will come out as Downloadable Content (DC for short).

DLC is just DC but on the product you already paid for usually mostly ready to play/use.


I though we all knew Capcom liked to nickel and dime us. DLC just means buy when game is cheaper to adapt to games that you know will come with a ton of dlc. Keeps the games at a decent price too.

To think this could all be avoided by just not putting it on the disk, oh well I suppose we can't expect all game publishers and developers to be smarter than my dog. (She finishes her whole game and 1 year of dlc before shipping her games, but doesn't mention dlc until 1 month has passed after release and it all must be downloaded)

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

wow this is some stupid horseshit. balls to outright say it i suppose...but nonetheless

there is a reason i have a ridiculously huge backlog of games...publishers, my wallet isn't budging a single cent with practices like these. Hell, if I ever get massive amounts of money, I'll probably end up supporting CD Projekt red with it, just based on principle alone.

 

[chadachada123]

I'm defending forcefully penetrating each chairman of Capcom anally.

There's no effective distinction between forcefully penetrating them, and spiking their drinks and doing so with their passed-out bodies.

I don't feel that I need to explain exactly how stupid Capcom is.

 

[peruvianskys]

when i pay my sixty euros, i pay for all the work that is finished so far.

Actually that's not true. You pay for whatever is offered by the company. They could put the entire game on the disc and charge you only for the intro cinematic. It's their choice; it's their product. As a consumer, your choice is whether or not to buy.