Sir John the Net Knight said:
No, I'm arguing because I disagree with your argument, and because I disagree with this "revolt" mentality that you're suggesting.
I've spoken with people who are "industry insiders". And what I learned was that early DLC is usually the result of content that was cut from the game due to time constraints. And then released as DLC later, rather than simply trash it. Yes, I agree. $65 is a rather high price for game buy in. But I've tackled that issue before and it lies solely in the realm of the publisher and their reliance on outdated business models. DLC is the beginning of Digital Distribution, which is the clear direction gaming is going in.
Which brings me to the other point I wanted to make. If people don't buy something, sure they stop making it. But like I said, DLC is jump off point for a new business model, one that is quickly catching on. No one can argue that Steam has taken off huge, or that XBLA and PSN downloadable games aren't selling big. Oh and did you know Blizzard sells it's games through Digital Distribution now? And like I said, people are buying DLC. If they weren't buying it, it wouldn't be made. Clearly you are in the minority here. A rather vocal minority, but I'm starting to think that "vocal minority" is becoming a redundant term in society.
One last thing. Don't drop the term "addict" so lightly, especially when making a point like this. You really have no idea what addictions are like until you've actually been around someone who's addicted to a controlled substance.
P.S. Everything I told you about my age and my gaming background is true. If you want to question that, or any part of my wisdom that's your deal.
Oh, I'm not dropping the term "addict" lightly. What's more if you've been paying attention that's one of the big issues the gaming community is facing. Get used to it, because that's a battle that's going to be fought. While I do not agree that gamers ARE addicts, we are exhibiting similar behaviors, and the way we buy products is among them.
Also there is no "Rebellion" being encouraged here, all that is being suggested is that we act like any other group of consumers who are being overcharged, or given lower quality goods by an industry. Games as buggy as say "New Vegas" should never have seen release in that shape, and that's hardly an isolated example. By the same token to use one of Game Informer's old arguements, what we're seeing from DLC nowadays is a situation like a sports game publisher releasing the entire game, except there is no air in the ball. Oh sure they argue, you can do anything with the game, and all the content is there, but if you want them to inflate the ball for you, that costs extra.
Game developers and publishers are of course going to have plenty of reasons to defend their desicians. The bottom line is that the gaming industry got along just fine without charging a few bucks apiece for exra characters, making people pay extra for multi-player modes, and similar things. They do it now because they have learned that despite the constant "BAAAAW" that you mentioned, and the sentiments that lead to enough criticisms that articles like this one exist on the Esapist, that people will dish out the money.
My statement is simply that instead of whining about it in forums after you bought a product, simply do not buy products from that company. What's more don't buy any product from a company you know engages in these practices. The people complaining about "Marvel Vs. Capcom 3" should simply not buy the product. What's more people who don't like the way the industry is behaving in general should stop buying products from those responsible until they change.
Granted YOU don't like it, but let's get real: people have been complaining about guys like Bobby Kotick for quite a while now. You see articles about him, and dozens of complaints being made about him and what a jerk he is, and how bad his policies are. However those same people who sit there complaining about him, run right out and spend millions of dollars buying his games, and then wonder why he continues to act that way.
Seriously, read some of the messages here on "The Escapist" in various articles about Bobby Kotick for example. Then consider how many of those people ran right out and bought Black Ops.
Read some of the messages about what Capcom pulled with "Resident Evil 5" and it's multiplayer mode and such. Now consider how many of those same people making the complaints are going to run right out and buy more Capcom products like "Marvel Vs. Capcom 3". People are complaining about their expressed DLC plans, just like they did about "Resident Evil 5" and what happened with that. My answer is "don't buy the game if you don't like this kind of business plan".
No rebellion, just a straightforward act by consumers.
I just happen to remember the things that irritate me, instead of suffering amnesia when the latest shiny thing gets waved in front of me.
