The problem I have with DLC

[Gindil]

Has anyone else ever noticed all the hype surrounding the first few (read 60) days of a games life? It's as if that's the ONLY time you really get to see the game as shiny and new!

Look, I make my purchases after seeing a game. I would love to have some of the shiny new things and not pay $10 for the privilege because it's older. But when I look and see all of the pre orders for a game or all of the things unlocked at a higher price, it really frustrates me! I don't have access to $60 dollars for every last new game, and for all intents, I lose out on a lot of things that can make the game more interesting as I play through it.

This kind of comes up as a rant on Dragon Age 2. I barely see the game, but now that I do, all of the pre order stuff is pretty much out the window. So really, if I buy it new, I shell out even MORE money just to get the same features. Even then, I lose out on all of the pre order stuff.

Thanks Bioware for losing one consumer that doesn't have $60 at the beginning of the month! >_<

 

[Infinatex]

Unfortunately gaming is an expensive hobby to have, but the devs need to create some incentive for the consumers to jump on their new title at launch. I personally like the pre-order and day 1 bonuses that you receive with new titles as they are usually extra things that add to the game, rather then be ones which are required to play.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

I like having DLC, despite how overpriced it gets. Your point is valid, but this is the trend the industry is in right now. It's going to take some time before it works out the kinks. But, like with anything, you've just got to judge if the DLC is worth the price, then decide whether or not it's worth worrying about.

This is coming from someone that can afford maybe 1 game every 6 months, IF I get it overseas and on discount, by the way.

 

[Shraggler]

I never pay attention to DLCs (note: I just had to Wikipedia DLC). I don't even care. Total fucking nerds and obsessive crazy mothers are going to pine for DLCs, but most rational people shouldn't care. Unless it substantially changes gameplay like "You can't use your mouse until you buy the DLC!", I don't see a problem with them.

I totally support DLCs though. If there's more ways for a (good) developer to rake in some more dollars, I'm all for it. I believe people don't realize how much work is involved in developing and producing a game. It costs a humongous amount of money, rivaling television production, and it takes a large amount of time for that cost to break even, if it ever does. Even at fifty or sixty bucks a pop, it will take years for a game that's not in the top five to make back what was put into it.

 

[Gindil]

You don't need all or any of the DLC for Dragon Age 2 to enjoy the game.

I never pay attention to DLCs (note: I just had to Wikipedia DLC). I don't even care. Total fucking nerds and obsessive crazy mothers are going to pine for DLCs, but most rational people shouldn't care. Unless it substantially changes gameplay like "You can't use your mouse until you buy the DLC!", I don't see a problem with them.

I totally support DLCs though. If there's more ways for a (good) developer to rake in some more dollars, I'm all for it. I believe people don't realize how much work is involved in developing and producing a game. It costs a humongous amount of money, rivaling television production, and it takes a large amount of time for that cost to break even, if it ever does. Even at fifty or sixty bucks a pop, it will take years for a game that's not in the top five to make back what was put into it.

My problem is kind of two fold. I play a game about 40 different ways to understand the story, the mechanics, the gameplay, the your mom jokes, and everything in between. I haven't played the first one because my laptop couldn't run it...

Well, I am on my way to upgrading and looked into the second one. $60 is still too much for my budget (yes, I calculated everything after I get my tax return, and paying for school comes first. *&%^ budget...) But here's the thing about the DLC...

How Bioware/EA did the first part, where you HAVE to get the DLC for the quest, it would severely annoy the bejeezus out of me that I have a quest that isn't completed. In regards to the second game, it annoys me greatly that some of the items I won't have access to. I know it's a good game, but damn... All of the focus on the first few days really annoys me since from the looks, I miss out on quite a lot of the action.

Surely, they should offer a lot more for the late contenders (like me) who don't jump out at the start. A lower price point is awesome, but looking at the incentives after the newness is gone, those are few and far between. At least I can wait for a discount [http://wosblog.podgamer.com/2011/02/12/anyone-still-not-convinced/], although my perfectionism may have to subside...

 

[Super Toast]

So long as it's not day one DLC bullshit and it adds something new and substantial to the game, I don't see why not.

 

[Saelune]

I like DLC when its worth it. But games are boggled down now with excessive and pointless add ons, and incentives. How many special items is DA2 gonna have? Its pathetic. I like when it is substantial, such as Shivering Isles, or atleast Spell Tomes which is cheap, makes it better, without making the game neccesarily worse for not having it.
I do not like though, when DLC is constant to a suffocating degree, or when the game tries to force you to get it (Halo is the worse for that)

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

I still hate the idea of DLC in general since
1) its a way to milk more money with the excuse for more money to the devs when they don't need it.

2) DLC itself causes a rift between the people who buy the game for online purposes like i did for war for cybertron when the dlc came out at a stupid price for less instead of decent updates if not constant.

And because of no. 2 i get less players to pair up with on one of my favorite games and the same went for black ops at the time and the cods before them.

Back in the days of original mortal kombat and so on there was no DLC everything like costumes and colours came with the game itself and no problems were had and people like me were happy, but now colours and costumes and many things are instead stripped from the game in order to milk more money.

When a gaming company lacks detail and fun in their game and still charge high prices you know the world is going to burn.

On a side note: yes i know its the game studios job to make money but making shit games and then expecting people to pay a lot for said crappy game and its lackluster DLC then i know its all about greed.

 

[Antari]

I don't pre purchase. I also don't buy on day 1. If a game comes out with DLC within its first month I won't purchase it, the game or DLC. If they can't get that stuff into the game during release, they have failed. I won't pay more for that.