Quick Jump Daily Digest
Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.
PoV: Why DLC needs to be free |
Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Activision, call of duty, dlc
Ever since Internet connection on home consoles became a standard, the downloadable content market has been an extremely popular method for publishers to make gamers pay for extras that should have been in the game in the first place. DLC is not worth paying for, and here's why.
Most DLC is terribly over-priced. Take, for example, map packs that Activision distributes for their Call of Duty games; gamers get a handful of maps for the high price of $15.00. These maps not only add absolutely nothing to the gameplay, but I guarantee that each one was already completed when the game released -- they just didn't include them with the game so they could exploit millions of gamers.
Another tragic example of this was incorporated in the recent Madden title, Madden NFL '11. In the mode called "Madden Ultimate Team," players purchase booster packs containing card versions of NFL players. With these cards, they can put together a team to play against other players online with. Aside from how horribly implemented this mode was, Electronic Arts actually had booster packs on sale for real money. I got really into Madden Ultimate Team on PS3 and I almost bought the most expensive booster pack, which contains top-tier players such as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. Luckily I stopped myself before I did, but that can't be said for millions of gamers that wasted their money on this type of DLC.
The only time I've seen paid-for DLC done right is with the Fallout games. Fallout 3 had several DLC add-ons, and each added significant hours onto the game. Each one costed around $9.99, but it was evident that these add-ons were developed well after the main game was finished. Fallout: New Vegas will also have similar add-ons.
In the end, it's up to you to decide whether or not you want to waste $15 on a new map pack or a game mode that should have been in the full game to begin with. The best DLC is free, and when it isn't free, it's usually thrown into a "Game of the Year" edition of the game, ala Borderlands and Fallout 3.
Sound off in the comments and let us know your stance on DLC, and continue the discussion on the forum.
| 100% of voters think this story ROCKS! |
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comments
Reply
Reply
Reply
the thing i have to say is that this is a capatalist society and the economy is screwed up badly. people need money to consume items and companys need money to produce items.If it makes them more money then they will charge you a leg for dlc after you pay an arm and a leg for the game its self.
what i see as a problem with this is when companys take all the money from the people; people will have no more money to spend on the companys products resulting in no customers and a serplus of products. this will either put the companys out of buisness or they will have a spike in their prices and fees so they could possibly stay in buisness
ps please excuse my spelling
Reply
Reply
Reply
Possibly Dead Space, but I haven't had a chance to check out its DLC yet.
Reply
Reply
That doesn't change the fact that the DLC at the time was worth the price, just because it was released as a bundle on the PS3 doesn't bring its value down.
Reply
Reply
RDR Undead came with the paid DLC packs, so it was more than just one game/pack.
Awesome.
People on Co-Op mode sometimes get ahead of themselves and kill their own team members.
Reply
Anyway, I like his vision, if the content is already on the disc it should be free and if released afterwards too.
But if it's DLC-games (arcades, indies, etc), then obviously devs will need to charge money to make profit.
Reply
Reply
So because they release some DLC and ask for some money, all of a sudden you have a game that is not complete? Now you demand that you receive all of that games resources for life at no additional cost?
No doubt, I agree that $15 for a map pack is ridiculous so in that case, don't buy it.
Reply
"ok"
"yeah, lets have a good campaign, and a multiplayer for it too"
"sure. you get right on that"
"okay, the game is complete!"
"wait, dont send it out for production, i've got an idea to make us some more cash"
"really? what is it?"
"well, how about we just sell the campaign on the disk for the same price we were going to sell it and the multiplayer, and then sell the multi player addon as DLC"
"heh, yeah, advertising a game with only a campaign for $60 will make the game seem really good, with quality campaign ideas and story; it will get everyone to buy it >:)"
"But won't people hate our company?"
"who cares? we'll be FILTHY FUCKING RICH after they buy this half assed game, even if they dont buy the DLC"
^^^Activition's Plan For the Future^^^
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Some are free, some aren't. Nothing has changed.
If someone thinks it's a rip off then don't buy it.
Reply
Reply
The worst is the DLC on disc. Now you should NEVER pay for that. It should already be in the game.
They are making you pay for something you already own.
IF they want to make DLC then make it AFTER the game is released and NONE of it on the disc. It should be a complete addon and nothing to do with the current story.
And make it free. If you want to keep happy customers then keep them happy and give them what they want.
Reply
Reply
"i should get all the DLC for free. and the game should be cheaper - no wait - the game should be free. And i should be given a PS3, no - 2 of them - for free as well. this way i can have one in the game room and one in the bedroom"
hasn't anyone ever heard of supply and demand? if you're dumb enough to piss away $10 or $15 or $50 or whatever for crappy DLC, then it is your own fault. maybe if more people said "no thanks", then they would lower the prices. instead people see DLC, and go right for the credit card like lemmings.
some DLC is worth it - the star wars force unleashed 2 bonus level was .99. a fair price. you could say the game was too short to begin with, but then (once again) wait and don't buy the freaking game on day 1. you can then find out if the game is a 5-10 hour game, you wait til the price drops. if the game is a 100-200 hour game, then you decide if you want to spend $60, or once again, wait for a price drop.
the mora of this rant - just because a company releases something, you don't have to buy it.
Reply
DLC should be included and unlockable so more fun and no booring...
sry for my eng
Reply
Reply
You want free games? Get an eye patch and a parrot.
Reply