"Buy this DLC next month!"... but it's [i]Downloadable[/i] announce AND release

[manythings]

Anyone else think its kind of odd that they are announcing DLC way in advance rather than just announcing and releasing it? I could be wrong but surely since it's something you just get online anyway the lag time between the consumer being informed and the product being made available should be kept to a minimum.

I can wait years for a game but when it comes out I don't want to have a DLC just sitting on the horizon. It just seems like a weird move since the consumer already has Game X then why tantalise them with DLC? I'm willing to bet 90-95% already knows if they want Game X's DLC because they've made their decision about the game and whether it was worth the initial investment.

It's not like they can't set the auto-patch to put up a banner "DLC Released check this shit out" on the appropriate day. Anyone not connected often enough to the internet won't be able to make use of it either way.

Anyone else think the system is counter-intuitive?

 

[Pappytech]

For PC gamers, yeah, your idea makes sense. However, if some DLC is being released for a console game, it makes sense to let people know ahead of time. I for one didn't check the Xbox store every day, and had no idea Mass Effect DLCs were being released until I saw some ads online.

 

[manythings]

For PC gamers, yeah, your idea makes sense. However, if some DLC is being released for a console game, it makes sense to let people know ahead of time. I for one didn't check the Xbox store every day, and had no idea Mass Effect DLCs were being released until I saw some ads online.

Same deal. Your account knows you own Game X what stops you getting that DLC released message the next time you load up Game X?

 

[Wave Tan]

You're thinking from the point of view of somebody that already intends to buy the game. Marketing maneuvers that advertise DLC in advance show that the game will receive continued support; it's intended to get those sitting on the fence to pick it up as well.

It's like saying "after we release the game, we're going to keep doing cool stuff with it for some time to come!" People lean more towards buying games with continued support over fire-and-forget launches.

 

[Pappytech]

Snip

I guess not a whole lot. I have to admit, your idea makes sense.

Still, you can't leave out the marketing benefits given by announcing DLC ahead of time. Anticipation is a powerful tool.

 

[vxicepickxv]

I know the new Map Pack is 10% off on Steam for CoDBlops if you preorder it.

 

[linwolf]

I like it, there are no quicker way to make me decide not to get a game that advertise all the DLC it will have. It saves me tons of money.

 

[Solo-Wing]

You're thinking from the point of view of somebody that already intends to buy the game. Marketing maneuvers that advertise DLC in advance show that the game will receive continued support; it's intended to get those sitting on the fence to pick it up as well.

It's like saying "after we release the game, we're going to keep doing cool stuff with it for some time to come!" People lean more towards buying games with continued support over fire-and-forget launches.

I whole heartedly agree. I was not going to get Borderlands when it first came out but after seeing the Zombie Island DLC I decided to get it. And boy was it worth it. Ended up getting all the DLCs and I recommened them all (Except mad Moxies Underdome, I just use the storage for that)