Sony VP Wants Content on Discs, Not DLC

[Chocolate Source]

./facepalm

One would think Sony had learned their lesson with the Universal Media Disk, they need to stop living in the past and trying to drag back old technologies. DLC on a disk is called an expansion pack which is way too 1990s, Sony could get away with this type of behavior when everyone owned a Walkman but those glory days are long gone. Apple and Google are right on the money, digital distribution all the way. The future of content isn't in physical stores, online downloads cuts out an entire distribution chain, which means less people to employ and less physical resources used and wasted all delivering a cheaper end product and being better for the environment.

 

[dekkarax]

Why not put dlc on both formats? that way everybody wins.

 

[Therumancer]

I think people are missing the key feature here.

He likes DLC, but wants everything on the disc, so what does this mean?

That's right, like other companies have done you'll wind up buying a game, but have to pay extra money for "DLC" that unlocks data already on the disc. Where I imagine this is going is a generation of games with a "code entry" area on the main menu for the game where you will input codes to unlock things on your disc. So instead of having to download a micro-file that changes some code to unlock something, you'll simply buy a code from the company. Similar to how some indie developers operate, needing a code to turn a game from a demo to a full version.

Of course the problem with this is people coming up with Keygens and the like to bypass the game's security. So I'd imagine what Sony is doing is working on a method of trying to proof the games against that somehow.

This might be cynical, but that's how I see it.

 

[Royas]

I have to agree with Mr. Dyer. Releasing DLC on both the net and on disc is the only way to make sure that everyone can have access to the content. Some people don't have net access to the degree needed to download large packages. Dial up is still very common, and it's still very slow. Plus, there are some who just don't like using their credit cards online, even today. A physical disc, purchaseable at game stores and the like, is something anyone can get.

Obviously, he's not saying they have to release the DLC at the same time. Horse armor on a DVD would be a bad choice, not something many people would pay for. But Horse Armor with all the other DLC for the game? One one disc? Now, that's much more doable. I hope this guy's ideas catch on bit time. Choice is always good for the consumer.

 

[daskat]

LOL, ROFL, since i'm living in Argentine this guys sound pretty funny. Let's take Rockstar game for example. They don't have official distribution here, since gta4 came out i only had see some copies on the stores, all for them for console and so far zero copies for pc. Sony in the other hand didnt give support for ps1, ps2 or ps3 on this country until last year. Unleas he refers to 100% of his costumers as the ones that live in USA and selected countries of Europe and Asia his statement doesnt make any sence to me besides the the comical value.
There are few companies that have licensed their product here and we can get them in time close to realese (ubbi and EA) and other tittles that after a couple years get realesed here by smaller redistribution companies (2 to 5 years after realese if we are lucky). The alternative is find a direct importer most of them sell the product at a relative descent price and almost at the same time of release, but they are all base in the capital city so if you dont live in Buenos Aires or near it that option is more complicated.
At the other hand with DLC and digital distribution i can preorder a wider variety of games from diferent companies, even indie, and get them at they one, but...

*sarcastic mode_enable*
I totally agree with this guy, also i whish that we return to the old distribution system, forget about planes and 24 hours delivers, or sending a master and the subsidiaries making copies. Lets go back to sailing ships and wagons, that way people will really apreciate and treasure there game copies.
*sarcastic mode_disable*

Ps.: By the way Sony.... this are the same guys that said since Argentine has a high rate of piracy they wouldnt gonna sell original games here. That's a really inovative way to fight piracy, by making the original games unavailable for general public.
*sarcastic mode_enable*
I bet they also think that pirates buy the original games at the stores and then replace the original packaging with there own.
*sarcastic mode_disable*

 

[Woe Is You]

For more MAJOR things like extra campaigns or what not, sure, you're absolutely right. But if it's things like, I don't know, the extra SF4 costumes? That's not worth putting on a disc.

Bad example considering the SF4 costumes are on a disc. The one you purchase when you buy the game.

But that's a completely different gripe I have with DLC entirely.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Fanastic, I like this argument.

I gripe about DLC a lot, but more often than not my main problem is with it being available online, and requiring your console to be connected to the network, which costs and is annoying and I find it far too pointless to maintain. I don't have a problem with extra content per se (although I would like it if we returned to the days when finishing a game meant you had finished it, developers included), more with its method of distribution.

So yeah, I'd even be prepared to pay extra to have DLC on disk (akin to a GOTY type scenario) to see this happen.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

Crazy idea, we could go back to the days where on shareware/freeware sites, you could download what you wanted, or, drop your downloads into a store, and then pay $2 or whatever, and they'd burn em onto a disc and mail them.

Of course, that might require them loosening up on DLC DRM (acronyms FTW).

You want the GTA DLC on disc - that'll be an extra $2

You want all the Just cause extra vehicles, bonus bits for 15 other games that are all small enough to fit on one DVD, that's gonna be $2 extra in total too.

In fact, if you place an order over say, $25 they could swallow the fee, it's not like they don't have access to cheap disc reproduction facilities, right?

There's still a vast amount of people who, if not on broadband, live in backwards countries like the UK (yes, that's me) with ISPs who think a 20gb monthly download limit is a fair use policy,presumably partly out of bandwidth cost, and partly that high downloaders tend to be pirates. Which I could swallow more easily if they didn't sell their products on the basis that you can download this many movies, albums etc with our lightning fast new cable lines! (just don't download more than 20gb a month or we'll limit you back to 1980s dial up speeds)

Ahem, rant for another day, but yeah, would it kill to have a site like Steam that sells all that DLC, but has an option to burn a discful and mail it the old way?

 

[VanityGirl]

It sounds to me like he's saying:

"My company totally missed the boat on this DLC thing, and I don't like that. because now we're losing. Can we turn back the clock please? because I liked it better when we were winning. Thanks."

Then again, my Executive Speak-to-Real Person Lingo translator tends to be a bit cynical.

This.

Also, doesn't he realize that by having DLC on disks, Sony will risk losing more money? DLC on disks can be traded in (unless I'm mistaken), this would increase the used game sales and lead to them losing more money.

I saw a used copy of Dragon Age Orgins: Awakening for PS3, that's why I assume you can reuse the disk.

 

[daskat]

Yep, the blue ray thing. When that thing is suposed to start?. So far the extra features are as poor as the dvd ones, most of the games arent big enought to justified the price for those thing. Well i think that sony is thinking more about how they aint gonna sell so many discs and player/recorders units and less to nothing about the poor people who dont have broad band and can't get DLC. Also i was thinking, how many games is Sony producing per year? and how many of those have DLC?.

 

[Little Duck]

This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact every single blu ray disc give a little money to sony in hardware sales would it? Whilst DLC gives them sweet feck all?

 

[Ultra_Caboose]

I am totally in agreeance with himn. I dont like how everything is moving away from discs.

I like the physical property in my hands...

While I do agree with you on wanting physical copies of the content, it just wouldn't be feasible. I don't know if he means ALL content or what, but the thought of having to print hundreds of thousands of discs just for a map pack or bonus levels is just a waste of money and drives the cost of the content up.
It reminds me of the multiplayer map pack from Halo 2. The new maps for the game were released as a seperate disc, which nobody bought.
Huge amounts of content like Fallout 3's expansion disc are understandable, but for most DLC, there just isn't enough content to warrant a disc.

 

[VZLANemesis]

I want stuff back on discs too. I don't see how it's fair that developers can charge so much for so little in their DLC. It also annoys me that if my boyfriend and I want to play the same game, then we'd both have to buy the DLC.

PSN accounts can be shared for "community buying" in up to five ps3's... just letting you know

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

DLC... On the disc...

That's the single stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard.

No no no. Not on THE disc, as-in the game disc. On _A_ disc. He's saying that DLC should be released on a disc as well as being available via download. Kinda like how you can find the Fallout 3 DLC on store shelves. It isn't stupid in the slightest, it's a way to make sales to people whom you wouldn't otherwise be able to sell to with digital-only.

 

[MrGFunk]

When a game is massive anyway I don't mind spending more money to further the fun. I prefer the DLC when reasonably priced though. i find the rock band DLC a little steep at 99p a song.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

Wait, now I'm a bit confused, Mr. Dyer. You say you love DLC, but that you also want it on the disc? How does that even work?

I think he is suggesting the word DLC to be anything for a game. He probably should've used the term "game add-on" instead. Or he loves the idea of downloading an add-on, or buying it on a disc.

 

[DTWolfwood]

curious if he is aware of the Game of the Year additions of games.

But i like what he is getting at. First day DLC is the devil and unfair to the 27% that aren't on the network!

 

[nipsen]

"There's a lot of DLC that is developed (or finished, if it was cut during development due to other constraints) after the game has already gone gold and copies have begun printing. How are developers supposed to put all of that on the disc?"

..I'm sure they can make an exception for those.. three titles that turn up every decade or so.