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When DLC Goes Wrong

Posted by Soulskill on from the horse-armor dept.

kube00 writes "Poorly done downloadable content is one of a gamer's worst nightmares right now. Where a publisher stands to make some money, gamers get screwed. Whether it's the overpriced extra maps/costumes DLC, on-the-disc-at-launch DLC, or DLC that is nothing more than a remake of other content, no game is safe from bad DLC. That includes Modern Warfare 2, Bioshock 2, Uncharted 2 and a host of many other popular games. Is there a chance to fix this system?"

1 of 261 comments (clear)

  1. Generalize much? by Squeeself · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    Please do one of the following:
    1. 1) Name a AAA title that has released on-disk content as a DLC after release that has negatively impacted the game without purchasing the DLC. If content wasn't missed, how can you say the game "incomplete?"
    2. 2) Name an overpriced DLC you were required to purchase in order to enjoy a game. If it's too expensive, don't buy. If it's worth it to you, buy it.
    3. 3) Again, name a DLC that is a remake of other content that was required to purchase to enjoy the game. Same thing as above.

    Now, if games start having their primary content locked unless you pay for additional DLCs, sure, there's a huge problem. But these other problems? Stop whining. Games are a product with really, really big teams that work long hours to get a game in your hands. Game devs want nothing more than to deliver bigger, better games to you, and DLCs allow them to jumpstart additional content easily, and to respond to market demand efficiently. In addition, game devs can deliver content that was not entirely ready at ship, which would otherwise be cut. Everybody wins with DLCs...unless you demand all that work for free or want less game content overall. You're getting more options in choosing how much you pay for your game content...In any other industry but gaming, consumers would be rejoicing. (And no, it's not some scheme to milk out more money than in the past...There is just literally more work going into making modern games than there was even just a couple years ago, and the trend keeps going up. DLC allows some of the breadth of that content--like, say, additional, optional maps--to be in the game without breaking the bank, period.)