Downloadable Content=Piracy

[CrysisMcGee]

What I'm saying is releasing downloadable content is like asking for piracy. You buy a game, spend full price for it, and now they are releasing more content for it and expect you to pay for it. Not that it's expensive, it's just that there are certain things they should not charge for.

Take Fallout 3 for example. Personally, I'm going to wait and buy the GOTY edition, which inclues all 5 DC releases, but I can see people definetly not wanting to pay for the downloadable content after having spent 50 dollars on the first release.

It's a big problem that people don't even pay for the game. But people that actually do, then they want even more money, may resort to piracy themselves.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I could go both ways on this.

On one hand, the stuff that actually adds to the game, with expansions, new characters, missions, maps etc, I'm all for that.

On the other, we have DLC that merely unlocks what's already on the disc. That, I loathe wholeheartedly.

 

[Radeonx]

....What? That doesn't make sense. If they are giving it to you for free, it isn't piracy.

 

[Paragon Fury]

Why wouldn't they charge you for new content? Its not like it magically appeared from thin air - just as much, if not more, work had to go into making the DLC, and they deserved to be paid for it. If a dev chooses to toss a few free bones here and there, thats cool, but thats the exception to the rule, not the rule.

No one should be "outraged" when they're charged for DLC - you'd want to be paid for doing that work too.

 

[Loop Stricken]

On the other, we have DLC that merely unlocks what's already on the disc. That, I loathe wholeheartedly.

Why wouldn't they charge you for new content? Its not like it magically appeared from thin air...

Oh?

 

[Jandau]

Why wouldn't they charge you for new content? Its not like it magically appeared from thin air - just as much, if not more, work had to go into making the DLC, and they deserved to be paid for it. If a dev chooses to toss a few free bones here and there, thats cool, but thats the exception to the rule, not the rule.

No one should be "outraged" when they're charged for DLC - you'd want to be paid for doing that work too.

The question is "Is it new content?". Why wasn't it included in the original release? What if they simply witheld it so they can cash in later on? Paying for DLC often feels like you're paying extra for something that should have been in the game to begin with. Everyone should be paid for the work they do, and in the case of games we pay them when we buy the game. DLC tends to feel like they're nickel-and-dimeing us...

 

[ZeroMachine]

....What? That doesn't make sense. If they are giving it to you for free, it isn't piracy.

I think he means if you charge for it.

In some cases, I agree with the OP. Charging for DLC on a game that's very short in the first place is asking for trouble. But, for games like Oblivion that already have a shitload of content, not so much.

 

[Primee133]

It's not honestly. It's optional. Like most Sonic games. They improve buggger all but add a challange.

You sir, have made my day.

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

Err.. What?!

DLC isn't piracy! Where the hell is that coming from?

OT: I agree with the fact that ridiculously over-priced DLC *cough* Activision *cough* is stupid. They should release it for a much cheaper price.

 

[Paragon Fury]

On the other, we have DLC that merely unlocks what's already on the disc. That, I loathe wholeheartedly.

Why wouldn't they charge you for new content? Its not like it magically appeared from thin air...

Oh?

Thats few and far inbetween, and in most cases, actually not true.

And they're not in the original game for the simple fact that they are not ready in time (IE: The DLC's development started much later on, and therefore would've delayed the game by several months if not a year or more) or they're made AFTER the game is released.

 

[Jamash]

Why wouldn't they charge you for new content? Its not like it magically appeared from thin air - just as much, if not more, work had to go into making the DLC, and they deserved to be paid for it. If a dev chooses to toss a few free bones here and there, thats cool, but thats the exception to the rule, not the rule.

No one should be "outraged" when they're charged for DLC - you'd want to be paid for doing that work too.

I agree, especially when some of the DLC are thing included because the developer has listened to people's feedback on the game, and then have done extra work to improve the game and to please the fans.

A good example of this is the Knotthole Island DLC for Fable II, which had a shrine where you could resurrect your lost dog, many new augments, an augment remover (because people complained about making mistakes when augmenting weapons) and 4 slot weapons (because somebody photoshopped an screen shot of a 4 slot Master Katana and then everybody wanted one).

It also had shops that sold cosmetic potions which could undo the height growth from levelling up skill (people complained it made their female characters fugly), slimming potions (because not enough people understood that eating fatty foods made you put on weight, and eating celery made you lose weight).

The was even a shop which sold expression and dog trick manuals which were previously only available with the Fable II Pub Games arcade game or the Fable2.com flash game, and luxury furniture which became hard to buy once you'd maxed out a town's economy.