The deal with DLC

[JR98]

What are your opinions of DLC for modern games?

 

[Oso Actual]

At the end of the day, if the game I am playing offers DLC and I enjoy/support the game then I will usually purchase the DLC. However I do find locked content DLC a bit of a insult to gamers.

I also understand these developers/publishers are in a situation to make profit so it makes sense on a business scale.

On the other hand, it wouldn't be a bad idea for the repeat offenders to toss in some free DLC from time to time to offset the "mob", from a psychological viewpoint.

 

[MeanElf]

It really depends on how they do it. Like Oso above, if I enjoy a game, I will certainly buy DLC if it isn't purely for the online side of things (think BF4 here.) Generally, if a studio is new for me, then if the above criterion are met, I'll give them a chance then decide if it was worth it retroactively.

 

[JR98]

I don't mind DLC if it is reasonably priced and is extra content. Exceptions to this are cars, tracks, maps and game modes and anything else that belongs in the game.

 

[sesselpupser]

Like anything else, if it represents good value, it's something I want and it's for a game I like, I'll probably buy it. I don't boycott "shady" practices like, say, on-disc content that's locked away with a tiny DLC key file, I just won't buy it until it's really cheap. Oh yeah, the fact that I'm a PC gamer probably helps - DLC that I wouldn't touch with a bargepole because of being too expensive is often cut in price so much that I end up buying it with store credit I get from selling trading cards.

What I really, really can't stand is the reaction some people have to DLC announcements sometimes. Payday 2 has had a lot of DLC, a lot of free updates and content too, yet every time they announce or release a new DLC you see comments that are basically saying the content should be free and that Overkill are just greedy... Yeah, because I'm sure the people who worked on that content would agree that they should work for free because they released a game like two years ago. I mean, ok, it's on me for reading the comments but still, some people are beyond parody.

 

[Northstar]

I have no problem with DLC as long as the game and the DLC meet some prerequisites.

1) The Base game has to be plentiful. I'm not likely to buy DLC for a game that's nothing more than a skeleton.

2) The DLC must be properly implemented in the case of single player content. All to often I've seen DLC relating to single player content that doesn't really tie into the game like it should. This is all to apparent in racing games as often times car or track DLC packs don't have much use outside of multiplayer mode.

3) The price has to be realistic. With most of the games I play this doesn't seem like too much of a problem, but I have seen plenty of instances of the developer wanting several dollars for a single weapon.

At the end of the day, I feel DLC is a necessary evil as the price of games has been pretty steady, yet the price to make them has increased quite a bit as systems are far more powerful than they were even 10 years ago.

 

[Brend]

It really depends on how great the value is. For example, in Mario Kart 8 the 'season pass' for the 2 DLC packs included:

-6 characters
-16 Tracks (including Mirror variations for each)
-8 vehicles
-2 extra cups in GP mode(Over 4 differing speed classes)
-24 reskins for Shy Guy and Yoshi

...all for £9. In terms of tracks it's an extra full half of the game! That is insane value all things considered. However, when it comes to regular racing games, I am usually left miffed by the absurd pricing. £1.79 for a car is just way too much in my opinion. Likewise for LittleBigPlanet's pricing for skins. Certain games do it right however, I don't mind Driveclub's pricing since the developers are so generous in other ways.

 

[sems4arsenal]

Never actually bought any type of DLC.

 

[MeanElf]

...Exceptions to this are cars, tracks, maps and game modes and anything else that belongs in the game.

Some games do not have the cars completed for the game launch, for various reasons, which would mean a launch delay. Others have a pre-arranged plan for car/track releases that keep the game up to date and interesting. I have no problems with those, if priced realistically.

 

[JR98]

Some games do not have the cars completed for the game launch, for various reasons, which would mean a launch delay. Others have a pre-arranged plan for car/track releases that keep the game up to date and interesting. I have no problems with those, if priced realistically.

Well, if they are reasonably priced and if they were not expected to be in game at launch. Cars should be, at max, £0.60 each, with tracks being £0.80 each max. Maps should be £1.50 max each