Half Life 2 is DLC! (a defense for DLC)

[ToastiestZombie]

Now that i've gotten you in with that title I shall give some thing to say why I put it as a title. Half Life 2 is DLC because if you dont buy it on a disc, you will be downloading it. Half Life 2 is content, and you download it. So therefore, it is DLC. The majority of people think DLC means that its bad, and is taking away from the quality of the game. But, when you look at it in a technical standpoint, all things that you can download are DLC. That means that ALL games on steam and other services are DLC. Only if the game is on a disc, and requires no further download is it then not DLC.

Which leads me onto my main point, I think that we should stop saying that DLC are only map packs and level packs. DLC is content, that you download. We should stop calling extra content for games DLC, we should call them something different like DLEC (DownLoadable Extra Content).

My question is, do you think that my view point is wrong? If so then why? What would you call map packs and level packs instead of DLC.

 

[Stealthygamer]

It's TECHNICALLY DLC but nobody refers to it as DLC because when people think of DLC they think downloadable add-ons

 

[ToastiestZombie]

It's TECHNICALLY DLC but nobody refers to it as DLC because when people think of DLC they think downloadable add-ons

But, if it is Downloadable content then it is DLC. What im saying is that we should call stuff like map packs and level packs downloadable add-ons.

 

[Phlakes]

DLC is downloadable content for an existing game. Nothing wrong with the term, it has its own context.

 

[Redratson]

I have Half Life 2 and episode 1 and 2 on physical disk and im sure you can still get it that way whether seperate or on the orange box. HALF LIFE 2 IS NOT DLC! IT is a game and its episodes are expansions. DLC is often small changes/content, or enough content to where it can be on the same level as something like an expansion.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Well it depends. Half Life 2 has its expansions, which can either be downloaded or bought in a store. The same goes for the content disks for Fallout 3. These are more akin to expansion packs than true DLC.

 

[th155]

Yes, by definition HL2 is DLC. But tell me. Do you honnestly think that things like HL2 is what people are talking about when they are complaining about DLC? No! You couldn't be further from the truth.

DLC, in it's common meaning, means downloadable content, for a game that you have already paid for, and you are buying an extra mission; or whatever it is, for a game that you already own.

HL2 is not DLC (acording to it's popular definition. Because it is a stand alone game (doesn't require another game to be installed)

 

[RobCoxxy]

There's the base game.
And then Downloadable Content. Which is extra stuff.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Yes, by definition HL2 is DLC. But tell me. Do you honnestly think that things like HL2 is what people are talking about when they are complaining about DLC? No! You couldn't be further from the truth.

DLC, in it's common meaning, means downloadable content, for a game that you have already paid for, and you are buying an extra mission; or whatever it is, for a game that you already own.

HL2 is not DLC (acording to it's popular definition. Because it is a stand alone game (doesn't require another game to be installed)

Im just saying that on steam you can get HL2 for download, and it is certainly content. So it is DLC. But if you have bought a disk copy then it isn't DLC.

 

[Fiad]

If you take the name at its base literal level of what Downloadable Content is. Then yes you are right, but DLC is not to be taken at a literal base level. It is a term that has been attached to extra content put out by the devs. It is what the vast majority of people make of it. Which is extra things.

 

[Kurai Angelo]

Now that i've gotten you in with that title I shall give some thing to say why I put it as a title. Half Life 2 is DLC because if you dont buy it on a disc, you will be downloading it. Half Life 2 is content, and you download it. So therefore, it is DLC. The majority of people think DLC means that its bad, and is taking away from the quality of the game. But, when you look at it in a technical standpoint, all things that you can download are DLC. That means that ALL games on steam and other services are DLC. Only if the game is on a disc, and requires no further download is it then not DLC.

Which leads me onto my main point, I think that we should stop saying that DLC are only map packs and level packs. DLC is content, that you download. We should stop calling extra content for games DLC, we should call them something different like DLEC (DownLoadable Extra Content).

My question is, do you think that my view point is wrong? If so then why? What would you call map packs and level packs instead of DLC.

My God are you just determined to start threads with complete troll logic today? Just because HL2 is downloaded, does not make it DLC. DLC is not an adjective, it is a noun, a thing, an object. It is a name specifically given to extra content that is released for a game that needs to be downloaded.

Also, don't say anything about trying to differentiate between peoples opinions of how something is defined. DLC is what it is. Yes, you can be incredibly picky if you like and stretch the definition but at the end of the day, thats what it is, a term that defines specfic content. Not a loose description.

Oh and in answer to your actual questions, yes I think it's wrong. If so... read above. Finally I find map packs and level packs are more often than not referred to as such. They being sub-divisions of the broader term, DLC.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Now that i've gotten you in with that title I shall give some thing to say why I put it as a title. Half Life 2 is DLC because if you dont buy it on a disc, you will be downloading it. Half Life 2 is content, and you download it. So therefore, it is DLC. The majority of people think DLC means that its bad, and is taking away from the quality of the game. But, when you look at it in a technical standpoint, all things that you can download are DLC. That means that ALL games on steam and other services are DLC. Only if the game is on a disc, and requires no further download is it then not DLC.

Which leads me onto my main point, I think that we should stop saying that DLC are only map packs and level packs. DLC is content, that you download. We should stop calling extra content for games DLC, we should call them something different like DLEC (DownLoadable Extra Content).

My question is, do you think that my view point is wrong? If so then why? What would you call map packs and level packs instead of DLC.

My God are you just determined to start threads with complete troll logic today? Just because HL2 is downloaded, does not make it DLC. DLC is not an adjective, it is a noun, a thing, an object. It is a name specifically given to extra content that is released for a game that needs to be downloaded.

Also, don't say anything about trying to differentiate between peoples opinions of how something is defined. DLC is what it is. Yes, you can be incredibly picky if you like and stretch the definition but at the end of the day, thats what it is, a term that defines specfic content. Not a loose description.

Oh and in answer to your actual questions, yes I think it's wrong. If so... read above. Finally I find map packs and level packs are more often than not referred to as such. They being sub-divisions of the broader term, DLC.

I guess I've just put on the first ever unintentional troll face!

 

[Winnosh]

Half Life 2 is not DLC it was a complete game sold on its own Halflife 2 Episode 2 is.

 

[spudz47]

Damn the modern gaming community.
I remember a time when we called the extra map-packs simply map-packs, the extra content - patches, and the add-ons - expansions. How the hell can you compare a finished long and priceless game to a little unnecessary tidbit only made to make $5 at most per sale?
Man, I miss the old times. Nowadays people will pay for everything. . .

 

[deckai]

... And by the same definition every single plane and Helicopter in the sky is a UFO, because I don't know what specific kind of flying object it is...

For something to be called DLC it needs to be ->additional<-, a addition to a already present product...

 

[Fanboy]

Downloadable content... for what? A game isn't content, it has content.

If I download an eBook, I'm not downloading chapters or pages, I'm downloading a book. If any extra chapters or pages were available for download separately they would be called something like downloadable chapters. Since a book is made up entirely of chapters, by your logic it could be called downloadable chapters... which is just confusing, since it is missing the descriptor which indicates it is a complete book.

And I would call map packs and level packs map packs and level packs. It works well enough.

 

[Kurai Angelo]

I guess I've just put on the first ever unintentional troll face!

Clearly. Either that or you're extremely bored or stoned to the point of over analysing things that have no consequence what so ever.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

I guess I've just put on the first ever unintentional troll face!

Clearly. Either that or you're extremely bored or stoned to the point of over analysing things that have no consequence what so ever.

First one, I cant play Battlefield 3 until the 28th and there really isn't anything to do in my home town. So making pointless threads on the Escapist which will only bring arguments is what i've done.

 

[EvilPicnic]

Semantics.

In the same way that 'Expansion Packs' often didn't literally 'expand' the game, any ambiguity in the term 'DLC' doesn't change the meaning behind the phrase.

And DLC itself is not the issue - as you seem to grasp, the concept of downloadable extra stuff is pretty cool. It's the way the publishers try to squeeze every last cent out of the consumer for often poorly-made content that is the issue, and what many people take issue with.