Are ME3 Booster Packs the new future of Multiplayer DLC?

[Elamdri]

I'm curious to see if this pans out, but I have a feeling that ME3 might change the way that a lot of game companies do DLC. You see, for the most part, DLC content in games has been pretty much "Pay a lot for a huge content dump." For example, in COD you pay roughly 15 bucks which nets you 4 new maps. Mass Effect 3 has taken a somewhat different route however. In Mass Effect, you can download the content for free. But you have to randomly unlock the items through play. And if you want, you can use money, instead of credits. But instead of it being a relatively large sum of money, say 15 bucks, it's only 1-2 dollars. What they've effectively done is created "impulse" buying for DLC content. Because while someone might take the time to think "Oh, man do I really want to spend 15 dollars on this" people are much more likely to impulse purchase something costing roughly a dollar, because afterall, it's JUST a dollar.

So imagine this translating into other games. Take Call of Duty. You do a system like Black Ops where a player can purchase upgrades, but make it possible for a player to purchase COD points with real money, while making the map packs free. EA also did something similar with the Battlefield series where it was possible to purchase the unlocks for a class for a nominal fee.

I think that's the way to go with DLC. Put the content itself out for free, but create an opportunity for players to access the content quicker with a nominal fee. Combine impulse buying with convenience to generate funds, rather than relying on consumers to purchase the content outright.

 

[Yassen]

This sort of tactic isn't new to the games industry. Ever heard of Jetpack Joyride? It's an iPhone game where you can collect guys while you play the game, which you can spend on items, new jetpacks or designs. You can collect the coins manually or you can pay money to purchase large sums of coins. This tactic is, as you say, meant to encourage impulse purchasing in a larger number of customers.

The difference with this and Jetpack Joyride is that to balance out the multiplayer element and make sure you can't "buy power" they randomize what you find. I actually like this system though I'm sure others would disagree with me. I just like how actually paying money is unnecessary but still possible in small amounts.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Isn't this how a lot of Free to Play game schemes work? Like Tribes Ascend for example: Buy gold or save up more than double the amount in XP to unlock it through playing.
Seems like more of a trait of the freemium model, but there's no reason it couldn't work. Mmaybe there's a bit less incentive in games you've already paid for.

I've been playing Tribes Ascend for just a few days, probably no more than 7 or 8 hours, and I'm already looking at things like the Jackal + Throwing Knives combo pack with avarice. In the case of a freemium model I'd be looking at buying gold as a mutually beneficial transaction.

 

[RJ 17]

Considering Mass Effect has toys that you have to buy to unlock multiplayer content,

You don't have to buy anything. I can almost promise you that everyone who has purchased a Mass Effect action figure did it because they wanted to collect the figures themselves. They didn't buy the figure just to get at the DLC...at least I hope they didn't because that would be blatantly retarded. The fact that it comes with DLC is an added bonus not a selling lure as even without the DLC fans of the series loyal enough to want to collect memorabilia of the series were going to buy them.

OT: I prefer expansion packs over this nickle and dime bullshit. You can't tell Microsoft "Yeah I'll give you a dollar, I just need 240 MS points." Nope, gotta pay a minimum of $5.

 

[RJ 17]

Considering Mass Effect has toys that you have to buy to unlock multiplayer content,

You don't have to buy anything. I can almost promise you that everyone who has purchased a Mass Effect action figure did it because they wanted to collect the figures themselves. They didn't buy the figure just to get at the DLC...at least I hope they didn't because that would be blatantly retarded. The fact that it comes with DLC is an added bonus not a selling lure as even without the DLC fans of the series loyal enough to want to collect memorabilia of the series were going to buy them.

OT: I prefer expansion packs over this nickle and dime bullshit. You can't tell Microsoft "Yeah I'll give you a dollar, I just need 240 MS points." Nope, gotta pay a minimum of $5.

I know but if you're going to offer it as a bonus, it must be released within two weeks of launch. If not, you wont get any return because everyone would have stopped playing multiplayer by that time and sold it to gamestop.

And that's a fair enough point, I'm just saying that people weren't/aren't buying the action figures just to get their hands on the DLC, they're buying them because they want to collect them.

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

Considering Mass Effect has toys that you have to buy to unlock multiplayer content,

You don't have to buy anything. I can almost promise you that everyone who has purchased a Mass Effect action figure did it because they wanted to collect the figures themselves. They didn't buy the figure just to get at the DLC...at least I hope they didn't because that would be blatantly retarded. The fact that it comes with DLC is an added bonus not a selling lure as even without the DLC fans of the series loyal enough to want to collect memorabilia of the series were going to buy them.

OT: I prefer expansion packs over this nickle and dime bullshit. You can't tell Microsoft "Yeah I'll give you a dollar, I just need 240 MS points." Nope, gotta pay a minimum of $5.

I know but if you're going to offer it as a bonus, it must be released within two weeks of launch. If not, you wont get any return because everyone would have stopped playing multiplayer by that time and sold it to gamestop.

And that's a fair enough point, I'm just saying that people weren't/aren't buying the action figures just to get their hands on the DLC, they're buying them because they want to collect them.

You only get something thats equivalent to a Spectre pack for the figurines anyway, Im not sure why people think its such a big deal. The only actual bit of DLC from buying extra stuff is the Collector Assault Rifle for use in the multiplayer which you get from Mass Effect 3 Branded Razer accessories.

 

[SeventeenSuns]

Depending on how much it would cost in game to purchase things, this may be alright. We get more DLC overall, and don't even have to spend cash! However, it would suck if the player has to grind for cash to only get some gun instead of an actual map. that could be a pain in the ass. However, the fact that ME3 is already purchased means that they really shouldn't have the options to drop 40 bucks into a game that we already paid for. (unless it is really, really good DLC)

 

[88chaz88]

1. It's a great way to use those tiny amounts of Microsoft points you have left over.

2. You don't have to buy anything, most everything is unlockable through just playing.

Personally I loved the booster packs. It made me feel like I was playing a TCG. I was always looking forward to opening my next pack.

 

[wooty]

I dont mind the pay and unlock system to be honest, you still have to work for the content and dont just get it shoveled at you while you sit around with your thumb up your arse.

Just like BF3 and its "assignments". Yes you pay for the pack, as it were, but you still need to meet a set of criteria in order to unlock the guns to use. Adds an extra dimension and a sense of accomplishment when you get your shiny new weapon, such as the look of relief I must of had when I FINALLY unlocked the SA80 on BF3, thank god for Jim persistence.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Everything that has Mass Effect 3 and payed DLC together in one sentence is going to fail. Mass Effect 3 already failed as a game. People are not gonna buy any DLC for ME3. Unless Bioware takes their head out of EA's ass and fix the damn game. Which is nearly impossible to do even with a lot of effort and money.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

This is more or less already done by Team Fortress 2 and also 4 new maps isn't really a big deal and not something that should ever be considered massive. It is smallish to moderate depending on the maps.

 

[Drop_D-Bombshell]

I like the idea of getting extra contect through playing the game, or a small fee, quite a good system if you ask me, as rather than spending money you can just play the game and earn it.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

See the main problem I have with the ME3 multiplayer stuff is that it's straight up gambling. You know why pokemon cards came in randomized packs of ~10? Because instead of just buying exactly what you want once, they want dumbass kids to buy packs over and over and over to keep trying to get the one card they want. Its the exact same setup with the multiplayer, and it pisses me the fuck off. While it's true you can get these packs with in game credits, but that only lowers the offense from scamming to just being a plain old pain the ass. I would be perfectly fine with them charging a buck to directly unlock the Geth, but as far as I know it doesn't work that way. I know your post was more focused on cost and convenience, but I really hope nobody else tries to be like ME3 in this regard.

 

[Elamdri]

Everything that has Mass Effect 3 and payed DLC together in one sentence is going to fail. Mass Effect 3 already failed as a game. People are not gonna buy any DLC for ME3. Unless Bioware takes their head out of EA's ass and fix the damn game. Which is nearly impossible to do even with a lot of effort and money.

Failed game? Really? What's broken about it? I mean, the ending isn't the greatest, but other than that, it's pretty spectacular. Hell, I prefer the multiplayer to Halo/CoD/Gears.

 

[Phlakes]

Everything that has Mass Effect 3 and payed DLC together in one sentence is going to fail. Mass Effect 3 already failed as a game. People are not gonna buy any DLC for ME3. Unless Bioware takes their head out of EA's ass and fix the damn game. Which is nearly impossible to do even with a lot of effort and money.

I think you're forgetting to look past the ending controversy. Even the people who hate it mostly say that it's otherwise a great game. And it sold almost 4 million copies in March and got consistent positive reviews. I see nothing that makes it a failure.

 

[Vault101]

Everything that has Mass Effect 3 and payed DLC together in one sentence is going to fail. Mass Effect 3 already failed as a game. People are not gonna buy any DLC for ME3. Unless Bioware takes their head out of EA's ass and fix the damn game. Which is nearly impossible to do even with a lot of effort and money.

Failed game? Really? What's broken about it? I mean, the ending isn't the greatest, but other than that, it's pretty spectacular. Hell, I prefer the multiplayer to Halo/CoD/Gears.

because its Bioware

it already failed before it came out...