CD Projekt Does Witcher 2 DLC Right, Makes It All Free

[r0binh00d]

Small independent studio produces stunning looking fantasy game, DRM free copies are made available, with all the depth of a classic RPG, and offers free DLC to boot.

Bioware, a much older, larger and more established studio, with the financial backing of EA produced a shoddy, rushed and ugly game, loaded with hidden SecuROM, which they lied about, and overcharged for day 1 DLC.
Yeah, I think the old King has gone a bit mad...
Perhaps its time for the new boys to step up.

^^ This

I have no objection to paid DLC in the form of a proper expansion or bolt-on content like lair of the shadow broker for ME2. However, having it on day one is similar to mis-selling or mis-representing the product IMO - atleast that's what it feels like. You know, when you go to buy a new car from some dodgy dealer and being told "the car is 1200". But then when you have given over your credit card, the dealer says "oh i didnt mention, the tyres are extra, there is no petrol in the tank unless you pay us, and you will need to pay for tax, mot and insurance. I'll just take the full 2200 right now if that's alright."
I know it's not like we don't have a choice but I've always felt like I was being conned when I've bought DLC.

Point is, paid DLC creates a class division in gamers' experience of a game which is directly linked to what you can afford to shell out.
Someone who can buy ME2 and all the extra story DLC will get a longer, fuller experience than someone who can only afford the game itself.

That's not to say I don't *like* DLC, it's just that having it on day 1 (i.e DEVELOPED ALONGSIDE THE GAME ITSELF) and expecting extra cash for it is like being teabagged by EA - and paying them for the pleasure.

 

[LightningBanks]

Not that Im not happy about this, but if the release day DLCs free, then why isnt it just in the game?

 

[Worgen]

finally someone understands that dlc should push the game for more copies sold instead of just trying to squeeze out as much as you can from a small portion of the user base

 

[Petromir]

Not that Im not happy about this, but if the release day DLCs free, then why isnt it just in the game?

May well not be on the disk already, and be stuff thye are tweaking afterwards.

 

[kurokenshi]

As time goes on, I'm getting more and more pleased that I preordered Witcher 2.

Agreed!

Many thanks CD Projekt!

 

[Woodsey]

Goddamnit! Why can't we have this on xbox.

You might, nothing official yet though. Although MS will charge you for the DLC anyway.

Not that Im not happy about this, but if the release day DLCs free, then why isnt it just in the game?

Good PR, and perhaps the rest of the game went gold and they were unsure if the DLC would be finished in time, or it was finished early, etc.

I feel like I should really try to get back into the Witcher because of all this. I reeeaaaaally didn't like what I played of it, which was admittedly only a few hours, but all this stuff I keep hearing is making the devs sound like good people. Dunno, will possibly reinstall it, and if they release a demo for witcher 2 I will certainly try it, but I still dunno if I'll like this game.

A lot of people don't make it past the first few hours (myself too) from what I understand - its very dense, and not very interesting. Supposedly, there shouldn't be any issues with lacking knowledge whilst playing this, and at the very least I believe there's a codex.

OT: Pre-ordered on Steam today. I have an exam in the morning, and one two days after, but I'll still try and squeeze in a couple of hours.

I cannot fucking wait.

 

[DarkhoIlow]

Even without this news I still preordered Witcher 2 to show my support for CDProjekt,already knowing that it's going to be an even better game than the first one.

OT: The Dlc's are supposed to be free anyway.The only thing we should pay for are expansions only.

 

[AhumbleKnight]

Your move Bioware.........

And if people weren't pissed off about that DLC would this be free? Hind sight is 20/20.

OT: How big is it? Or is it just a key you download for an encrypted file? Are you just having trouble with one Troll? And do they just talk about how much the hero sucks wwhile being really racist and homophobic?

Who gives a crap how big it is. It is free. Enjoy it or not, it is up to you. Its not as if you buy the game on the condition that the free DLC is big enough.

How is the hero in the Witcher in any way racist or homophobic? He is a fixed character that comes with a mostly complete personality. How racist or homophobic(I can only guess as to where this comes from) you are depends on your choices in the game.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

I feel like I should really try to get back into the Witcher because of all this. I reeeaaaaally didn't like what I played of it, which was admittedly only a few hours, but all this stuff I keep hearing is making the devs sound like good people. Dunno, will possibly reinstall it, and if they release a demo for witcher 2 I will certainly try it, but I still dunno if I'll like this game.

That's pretty much what I was thinking word for word. I tried to like the Witcher, but ended up running around in circles a LOT and forgot the plot. Could have lived with the combat, but it was still clunky. All this good press about 2 is making me feel really bad about wanting DA2, but not caring about Witcher 2

 

[mjc0961]

Your move Bioware.........

Take another look. EA is their publisher. They couldn't give away free DLC if they wanted to. It's freakin' EA.

Bioware, a much older, larger and more established studio, with the financial backing of EA produced a shoddy, rushed and ugly game, loaded with hidden SecuROM, which they lied about, and overcharged for day 1 DLC.
Yeah, I think the old King has gone a bit mad...
Perhaps its time for the new boys to step up.

Okay, you even said it yourself. EA. But you still act like Bioware would have a say in what DLC is free. Blame them for that other stuff (well, not SecuROM, that was probably EA too), but come on. EA's not going to let there be free DLC for franchises that big.

OT: How big is it? Or is it just a key you download for an encrypted file? Are you just having trouble with one Troll? And do they just talk about how much the hero sucks wwhile being really racist and homophobic?

How is the hero in the Witcher in any way racist or homophobic? He is a fixed character that comes with a mostly complete personality. How racist or homophobic(I can only guess as to where this comes from) you are depends on your choices in the game.

Read it again. He's asking if a troll talks about how the hero sucks while acting like an idiot.

Spoiler: A troll...

 

[manythings]

How is the hero in the Witcher in any way racist or homophobic? He is a fixed character that comes with a mostly complete personality. How racist or homophobic(I can only guess as to where this comes from) you are depends on your choices in the game.

It was a troll joke.

 

[bob1052]

I feel like I should really try to get back into the Witcher because of all this. I reeeaaaaally didn't like what I played of it, which was admittedly only a few hours, but all this stuff I keep hearing is making the devs sound like good people. Dunno, will possibly reinstall it, and if they release a demo for witcher 2 I will certainly try it, but I still dunno if I'll like this game.

For what its worth, they have a new engine and a completely redone combat system.

The only issue I had with the first game (which I played recently for the first time in anticipation of The Witcher 2) is its combat, pretty much everything else, most of all the choice and consequences they implemented are absolutely amazing and if they do combat right while keeping everything else on the same level as the first, then The witcher 2 will very quickly become one of my favorite games of all time.

 

[Weslebear]

Ahh dear, THIS is how you run a games company, not only was The Witcher one of the RPG greats, they bring out more, potentially make it better, and add free content <3.

 

[AhumbleKnight]

I Pre-ordered Witcher 2. I loved the first one. The combat was a bit of a pain at times. I enjoyed the story and the world. I especialy enjoyed the length of the game considering I got it on a crazy special on steam, only $5! I feel as if I should pay full price for two just because I liked 1 so much and payed so little for it.

DA2 on the other hand can wait until Bioware releases the definative edition so I don't have to pay four thousand dollars for all the DLC :/

 

[AhumbleKnight]

How is the hero in the Witcher in any way racist or homophobic? He is a fixed character that comes with a mostly complete personality. How racist or homophobic(I can only guess as to where this comes from) you are depends on your choices in the game.

It was a troll joke.

Ok. Maybe I should have gone to bed 4 hours ago. It is 3:45am here.

 

[Abedeus]

Polish Power! Polish Power!

Shame this time it's not released near Christmas and my dad won't buy it for me, like the Witcher 1 ;d

 

[Keava]

Not that Im not happy about this, but if the release day DLCs free, then why isnt it just in the game?

Because of how game development cycle looks. Between game going gold and game being released there is usually 6-8 months to set up all the little bits of packaging, distribution, marketing, licensing, certificates and all the background things. During that time you cannot make any changes to the game itself so that's when day-1 DLCs and patches are being made/finished.

 

[NathLines]

FUCK.
IT!

I'm pre-ordering this now. I have no fucking excuse anymore. I just have to support CD Projekt for everything they're doing.

 

[ZombieGenesis]

The more I hear about Witcher 2 (a game I technically have no interest in) the more I support the choices that the developers and those involved have made. Much better than any of the other industry voices I've seen in a while.
For that reason, I believe I'll buy.