Poll: Did CAPCOM cross a line with RE5 DLC?

[MecaEcco]

For those uninitiated the question before us is whether or not CAPCOM crossed a line for charging for a game feature that is essentially already on the disk. In other words the only thing you get when you purchase the DLC from Xbox live or PS store is an unlock key that opens up content already on the game.

Here is the IGN article: http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/970/970396p1.html

 

[Nova Tendril]

They did what everyone hated about the idea of DLC. So yes they did cross the line.

 

[Remleiz]

they crossed the line, kept going for hundreds of miles then nuked the line

 

[chipmunk2510]

No they didn't. Capcom is a COMPANY. They're out to make PROFIT. If you hate it so much then don't buy it.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Yeah. I'm not going to say all DLC is bad (lord knows I love Bring Down The Sky), but when it's done like this, or when you had to pay for certain weapons in Battlefield Bad Company, there's just no purpose other than making them rich.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I normally don't buy DLC anyway (or RE games for that matter) but I wouldn't buy that on principle.

 

[Nexus424]

When I read that article I couldn't help but laugh at it. That's so sneaky I have to applaud it. No lines were really crossed they just kinda kicked a lot of people in their respective pain areas.

 

[Yoshi-Pop]

I say no. If you don't have the brains to do a little research before you go forking over cash then you deserve to get robbed.

 

[Simalacrum]

its a very dated tactic, too; some of the very first game consoles already had the information required to play the game, but the cartridge was required to open the game. (this also meant that new games couldn't be created for it)

edit: i say yes, by the way, you can't expect a standard customer to research into whether DLC is worth getting or not. Besides, Capcom will make plenty of money from RE5 without extra DLC anyways...

 

[Lord Beautiful]

That is a rather dick move on their part.

 

[runtheplacered]

No they didn't. Capcom is a COMPANY. They're out to make PROFIT. If you hate it so much then don't buy it.

I think what is upsetting people is the precedent that Capcom is setting with this method of delivery. "If you hate it so much then don't buy it" is irrelevant.

 

[letsnoobtehpwns]

Capcom took the line and shoved it up their asses.

 

[Rock Beefchest]

The slipperly slope argument taken to its logical extreme could easily result in a system of micro transactions wherein (like the drugs dealers before them) a game company gives you the first level free then charges for each addition chapter. This in itself is not bad as long as the price matches the quality and length, but that would ultimately be more expensive than a one time expenditure.

Where this micro transaction economic theory fails and what currently challenges those seeking an all digital media world is it ignores the intrisic desires of us to hold something in our hands. Additionally a new business model where they nickel and dime their lifeblood (us) does not serve a good profit model unless we give in to it as an inevitability. What they did for RE5 is an experiment. If we as consumers don't give into the tactic then it will not be a profitable one and they will try something new.

So the answer clearly is to refuse to give into their experiment.

 

[Fantastico]

Yes, they did cross a line: The line between awesomeness and not awesomeness. And trust me, they're on the awesome side.B)

...just kidding! What the *BEEP*?! And for a second I thought they were going the extra mile with their DLC! Truely a dark day indeed...

 

[atol]

It just seems like a babystep further than Oblivion's DLC. They had two or three DLC packages within a month of release. I'd be willing to bet they had several finished before the game went gold, but purposely didn't put it in to squeeze a few more bucks out of the game.

 

[m_jim]

Including content on the disc and holding hostage is highly unethical, but also rather stupid. Before developers pull stunts like this, they need to remember what happened to Spore. When you mess with gamers, a set of the population that is particularly tech savy, you are liable to feel the backlash.

 

[Altorin]

yes, they did.

It's not DLC.

It's just

C.

If your DLC isn't DLC, and you charge for it like it's DLC, then you've crossed the line

They wouldn't have crossed the line if it were DLC though - there's been much worse DLC for much more money.

But if you're going to have DLC, at least make it DLC.

 

[fix-the-spade]

No they didn't. Capcom is a COMPANY. They're out to make PROFIT. If you hate it so much then don't buy it.

There's making a profit and there's blatantly screwing your customers.
Everyone who's bought a copy of RE5 has already bought the DLC.

Developing a game, hiding content on it then charging customers to gain access to the content that's already developed and installed on the disk is completely and utterly dishonest.
It's the polar opposite of the Valve model, whereby you realease a working but 'unfinished' game then add to it for free over time.
Here it's releasing a game then charging you extra to access what's already there, I'm amazed that's even legal (and I hope hackers come up with a crack for it, Capcom deserve it).

 

[Ladie Au Pair]

For those uninitiated the question before us is whether or not CAPCOM crossed a line for charging for a game feature that is essentially already on the disk. In other words the only thing you get when you purchase the DLC from Xbox live or PS store is an unlock key that opens up content already on the game.

Here is the IGN article: http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/970/970396p1.html

This actually happens all the time, more than you would think. I don't really like that Capcom was singled out here. Resident Evil 5 was a complete game without the DLC and this is why it doesn't bother me. DLC is supposed to be something extra, and that's what you paid for here. I think that if the game felt incomplete without the DLC I would be angry. DLC is frequently worked on before games are actually released/shipped, so if Capcom was able to get their DLC done and shipped on the Disc more power to them. It actually makes everything easier when getting things done on the developer side.On a side note... releasing DLC at the same time as/ very near to the launch date of a game is a very good idea. If it is launched while the game is still hot, its beneficial to both the company and the player. The company makes more money, and the player gets extra game awesomeness while they are still interested in the game.