Something I've noticed and I'm sure most of you have seen it. There is a trend in the video game publishers to monetize every aspect of the game possible. Some of the biggest names in games have started to charge for additional in game content. While much of this downloadable content (DLC) is worthwhile additions to the game, just as much is worthless crap that contributes nothing of real value to the game. Moreover I feel that these paid-for valuable items like better weapons, armor or additional maps and quests devalue the original product. When I buy a game, I want to beat the entire game for the price I’m paying. I wouldn’t go to the movies and expect to pay extra to see an important scene that explained an otherwise unresolved secondary issue. What bothers me most is some publishers have begun to block mod content because it directly competes with their DLC offerings. When I first got into PC gaming some of the most popular games were popular because of mod content. Counterstrike was a mod. Battlefield 1942 was very popular for a time, but as it's popularity waned, the Desert Combat mod prolonged its shelf life for over a year. This monetization will not kill gaming, but its definitely changing the face of the industry. By the way, if anyone needs COD xp boost caps from Mountain Dew, let me know.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Game-Ec
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I'm really curious about what games you're specifically talking about because my experience with DLC is a little different. The majority of the DLC that I've purchased has been worthwhile. The only times when DLC was a huge waste for me was during Dragon Age (Bioware). It felt like they were selling me the initial game in chunks, which was unfair.
ReplyDeleteGood DLC is DLC that isn't necessary to fully experience the game. Often times in iOS games, you have to purchase items and weapons to level up. To me, THAT is criminal.
Think of DLC not as a component of the game, but something that the developers had extra time to make so that the game can keep going for a little longer or answer questions. Shut up and take my money, Bethesda!
Valve is really great about supporting mod content. However, what Valve does that gaming companies dislike is that they reduce the prices too much. It's the same thing that's going on in iTunes. You get the CD for $15 there, or just go onto Amazon and pay $5 for the same thing. It's very hard to compete with that. Gabe Newell says that the reason this is necessary is that gamers will otherwise pirate the product. In order to keep it profitable, they reduce the price and make sure Steam is a great service.
In contrast, look at EA's Origin system. I mean...I'm a little biased, but the're completely anti-mod, pro-SOPA, and DLC fiends. YEP.
http://www.techspot.com/fileshost/newspics3/2011/dlc-mona-lisa-1.jpg
I really don't mind DLC. Added content is added content. Really DLC probably never existed before due to the fact that the technology to deliver DLC didn't exist... But what gets me (cough cough Capcom) is when you get DLC, and it unlocks it on your disc.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/11/05/is-it-fair-to-charge-for-dlc-that-s-already-on-disc.aspx
StreetFighter(CapCom) and Dragon Age (Bioware) were the two games I was thinking about when I wrote the original post. To be honest, I expect companies to do everything they can to make as much money as the consumer would allow. One example is: The GameLine (1983)
ReplyDeleteGame consoles of the '80s pioneered the use of cartridges. Early on, many were simply ports of arcade titles and thus retained the coin-sucking gameplay mechanics that kept users playing again and again to get high scores. The only problem was that once the consumer bought the game, that was the end of the revenue stream for the publisher.
Then GameLine came along. This third-party game download service from Control Video (which later became America Online) worked with multiple game consoles and would let users download new games through a telephone line connected directly to a special cartridge. It would then limit gameplay to a certain number of plays that users would have to prebuy.
I can't find the original article I read on this, but found a part of it on c|net. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10797_3-10257724-235.html
My chief complaint with DLC is many game companies, but there are exceptions, now discourage mods. To me mods ware the next step in interaction with the game. They help blur the line between participant and creator.