DLC falling short?

[Kinwolf]

So I just bought Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Reverie, and I'm incredibly disappointed. For 10 dollars (roughly 1/7th the cost of the game itself) We receive HALF of an add-on....3 levels which were fairly disappointing (and rather frustrating in certain parts) and a to-be-continued ending. Seriously, is this what DLC is coming to? I kinda feel cheated on this one, and since DLC is the way of the future, I'm kind of worried that if companies can get away with charging a higher price (10+ dollars) for a tiny little half finished piece of an add-on, and we the gamers, keep paying for it, that they are going to do just that. I'm curious to know how my fellow escapist members feel about this issue. Have any of you experienced DLC for a game that fell WAY short of the cost you paid for it? If so, which game?

 

[InfiniteJacuzzi]

Stop buying it. Problem solved.

Personally, I hate DLC, and if I ever bought any I`d definitely feel ripped off.

 

[Hunter15]

i kinda like DLC their a chance for the games ive left on my shelf to get some more love and care after collecting dust for months

 

[Trogdor1138]

As soon as DLC became a normal thing, I could tell straight away that the added benefits to be got from it quickly swept under the greediness of companies trying to whore everybody out for as many dollars as they can, with 90% of the content being something that should already be in the game (Capcom is extremely guilty of this, reminding me of the Street Fighter 2 days).

Some is good, some is bad, some if "what the fuck did i just buy". Just make sure to research online and such before you put down your cash.

It seems to sadly be working though, I say if you don't like it then don't buy it and give into it. Seems games nowadays barely have as many unlockables and incentives to keep playing as they used to.

 

[Worgen]

most dlc seems to be rather sucky

 

[Kinwolf]

That's the problem I foresee. It's not a matter of, Just don't buy it, because companies are now going to be putting out 50% of the whole game, with the intention of selling you rest in individually wrapped pieces and so if you want to actually play the full game, you have to get the DLC. I find the point you made about how games now have less unlockables and incentives to be a sad truth.

 

[llamastorm.games]

There is good DLC and there is bad DLC, any DLC that simply adds maps is bad DLC, anytime you're simply buying new game-types or generic modes that add nothing to the game are examples of bad DLC. Pretty much any multiplayer DLC is normally bad DLC.
To avoid this just make some noise, a lot of devs do take note of their communities. I remember when Fable II's Knothole Island released and everyone flooded their forums with how over priced their DLC was that for the next DLC See The Future which i felt was more substantial by quite a way they priced it lower as sort of we're sorry to fans.

I think DLC only really works when it could not have been included in the main game. DLC that stands alone from the main game but adds to the lore and setting, or a side story.
The 3 campaign packs for Dragon Age Origins: Witch Hunt, Golems Of Amgarrak and Leliana's Song did this for me. Whilst one might be able to argue they were a little expensive.

The DLC packs for Fallout 3/NV whilst some may feel overpriced were good examples of what DLC should be like.
If you are that bothered about the price, between 4-6 months nearly everything is on deal of the week on XBL and im sure PSN will have some kind of comparable sale frequently as well and everything is half price.
For all their faults Microsoft (i only have XBL so i cant say anything about PSN) seem to have recently realised the power of a sale and i have noticed in the last 6 months or so they have had numerous sales and thus have had pretty much nearly everything on sale at least once usually between 33% and 50% off and at that rate most DLC's become acceptable in price.
For instance i managed to get Borderlands Clap Trap Revolution. Mass Effect 2: Overlord, Shadow Brokers Lair, Kasumi's Stolen Memory. Dragon Age Origins: Darkspawn Chronicles, Leliana's Song and Witch Hunt all half price on sale over Christmas.


TL;DR Wait for deals on DLC they always come eventually.

 

[mitchell271]

I love the idea of DLC but companies have taken advantage of it and make us pay for things that should be free (I'm looking at you Capcom; $5 for EACH MvC3 character?!?!). DLC CAN lengthen a game that I loved (Fallout 3, ME2) and it CAN fix bugs, but all the big names companies is money.I know that's why they charge money for their games but when you try to milk the consumer (and unfortunately succeed I might add) they piss off a lot of people.

 

[psivamp]

I dislike microtransactions and DLC as a rule. If the shipped version of the game contains the data for and in-game advertisement for DLC, I get freaking livid. Dragon Age pissed me off to no end. Some bloke appears in my camp with a quest icon above his head and then asks me to buy something? Piss off.
Charge me $15 for four terrible multiplayer maps? No, thanks, I remember when devs did that for free and at higher quality. (CoD)
Charge me money for higher powered gear to make a game easier? Pass. (Dead Space)
Charge me real world cash to buy parts and vehicles for my completely fictional race career -- parts and vehicles that I'm going to unlock in a couple hours as long as I keep holding the right trigger? Are you fucking joking EA, DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUY THIS? (all recent NFS titles)

DLC I do have: Borderlands: Island of Dr. Ned and Knoxx's Secret Armory -- pretty enjoyable. Fallout: New Vegas: Dead Money -- pretty good. Fallout 3: Broken Steel -- meh.

 

[ZeZZZZevy]

I only get DLC for games I absolutely love, because buying DLC for all the games I have would get really expensive really fast.
An example of good DLC of recent memory: Dead Money (Fallout: New Vegas)
It was met with fairly mixed reviews, but I felt it was a pretty good addition. Instead of following the traditional gameplay of smashing through your enemies, it forced you to think and conserve your very limited supplies.

As long as DLC remains optional I don't see it ever becoming a problem. But if I'm ever forced to pay $15 for 3-4 maps I would just stop playing that game online. Seriously, there's no reason for that.

 

[Kinwolf]

I think DLC only really works when it could not have been included in the main game. DLC that stands alone from the main game but adds to the lore and setting, or a side story.
The 3 campaign packs for Dragon Age Origins: Witch Hunt, Golems Of Amgarrak and Leliana's Song did this for me. Whilst one might be able to argue they were a little expensive.

I agree with you on MOST of this DLC, Witch Hunt, and Leliana's Song were definitely worth the price... Golems of Amgarrak however I found was very much lacking considering the quality of the other DLC.

Charge me money for higher powered gear to make a game easier? Pass. (Dead Space)
Charge me real world cash to buy parts and vehicles for my completely fictional race career -- parts and vehicles that I'm going to unlock in a couple hours as long as I keep holding the right trigger? Are you fucking joking EA, DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUY THIS? (all recent NFS titles)

DLC I do have: Borderlands: Island of Dr. Ned and Knoxx's Secret Armory -- pretty enjoyable. Fallout: New Vegas: Dead Money -- pretty good. Fallout 3: Broken Steel -- meh.

I also find myself in total agreement with you on your points as to what some of this DLC even does, makes me shake my head.

 

[valleyshrew]

The only worthwhile singleplayer DLC this entire generation is The Episodes From Liberty City. Everything else is cheap and half-assed. EFLC feels bigger budget than most other games. The only complaint is that it didn't add any new locations, but Liberty City is the most detailed and cultured city this generation and there was plenty of character left in it for exploring. And the DLC was planned from the start with a few missions having the 3 protagonists cross paths. The problem with other game series is the DLC is just a few side missions cut from the main game, with EFLC it was 2 entirely new games in their own right, just with the same setting.

Fallout DLC is probably the next best but it's far too expensive. Fallout 3 DLC cost £40. The goty edition with all of the dlc cost £20 on release day, probably a lot less now. They add some new areas but they don't put much effort into narrative.

Map packs in multiplayer are ok too, they're very important to keep the game fresh. It should be £1 a map though. Make it so the community wont be split. Have a competition where the top 5 maps designed by the public get released for £5 with the proceeds going to charity.

If game companies want to milk rich idiots, please just charge for meaningless costumes. If some saddo wants to pay £5 for a costume for his character, that's his own problem. Charging £5 for a golf course or other important in game features is deplorable. The League of Legends/Team Fortress 2 route where everything is earnable through gameplay, but purchasable easilier and with unique cosmetic items only purchasable is acceptable. As long as it isn't a huge disadvantage to beginners.

 

[Vault101]

I get the feeling that some DLC is just there to rip us off...especially day 1 DLC I mean what the hell?