No Right Answer: DLC: Good or Bad?

[BehattedWanderer]

Disc-locked is nothing short of annoying money-grubbing, but I'm not sure I'm down on the idea of placeholders for DLC that comes out later existing in the game. Not ideal, but acceptable, at least.

But then, I'm a fan of DLC anyway, and inclined to buy certain things for the titles I like. I didn't mind the Warden's Keep guy in Dragon Age, but I hated the cut missions in Assassin's Creed. And sometimes, we get some nice tasty treats reminiscent of the old ex-packs, but other times we get $5-10 affairs that are shorter, but are simply more of the game. The recent Fallout games did this, and while some of those add-ons weren't exactly the right mix of gameplay (lookin at you, Operation Anchorage), but other times they put you in a new map with all new toys to play with and plenty of skill checks to get your hands dirty however you like (see Mothership Zeta, Old World Blues, Honest Hearts, The Pitt, etc), and that's exactly the kind of thing I want to pay for more of.

 

[-Dragmire-]

Fully complete DLC on the disk is terrible. If what's on the disk is incomplete, initially meant to be in the game but something that couldn't be completed on time so turned into dlc, I'm fine with that. There's a lot of stuff like that in KOTOR 2, before the days of dlc, later completed by fans. Even Ocarina of Time has data like that in the cartage.

On the other hand, with the push to get games out faster, it's almost impossible to get all the planned content finished for launch. Monetizing what was supposed to be in the game but wasn't due to unreasonable time constraints seems sketchy to me.

 

[PlasmaCow]

I'm playing Mass Effect 3 for the first time just now, about 80-90% through from what I understand (having avoided most spoilers since it's release). One of my mates insisted that I should finish it without the extended cut the first time so I can understand fully the outcry that occurred.
However I have bought "From Ashes", aka Javik expansion, aka everything-he-says-totally-changes-your-perspective-on-everything-in-the-games-universe.
Seriously, I can't believe he was an extra cost, he is SO critical to the game universe.

 

[marurder]

I think there was a fundamental bias in this episode of having a guest speaker. The opening question asked was 'what is good about DLC?' not a bad question as such. But there was bias here.

I would like to see more guests come over and two-on-one 'challenge' that persons beliefs (in a friendly way of course). I don't mean conversion. But real discussion. This sounded more like a sales pitch for more DLC. Of course I would guess it might be hard to get industry volunteers to come in if they know it would be challenging.

 

[devilgib]

The ME3 From The Ashes dlc wasn't on the disc and came with the collectors edition (if you're going to hang shit on a game at least get the facts right) and how the hell are they supposed to put by demand post release new endings on the disc? Think guys. The other dlc packs WERE almost complete new games, at least 8hrs (Citadel was well over 15)in each with almost nothing recycled from the main game.

They also did tones of FREE multiplayer stuff.

 

[leviadragon99]

You did seem to be mixing up microtransactions with DLC in a few instances there... regardless, it's as you said in the closing statements, it can be used well... it just too often isn't.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Games in Australia start at $90. Think of us when you say games are expensive.

 

[Bat Vader]

More publishers and developers need to follow how CD Projekt Red treats DLC and expansion packs. The Lost and Damned and Ballad of Gay Tony were pretty good examples of good DLC/expansion packs.

 

[masticina]

It so depends on the DLC, some are really good adding extra hours of fun. Others are indeed clothes.. yup clothes.

Worst of course is if you take a game with a story and take out 2 whole chapters as DLC. [looks at a certain game with an assassin]

Don't get me wrong DLC yes in the past tended to be freaking big things. Now.. sometimes you have another 6-7 hours of story added and that is kinda kewl for the right price. But that is said already right.

It is nice we nowadays can add to games, in good games it is awesome to return. Skyrim has gotten a whole new end game for instance. Not bad for that price..

But yeah a $5 money cheat DLC? Seriously? A Final Fantasy xiii-2 bikini DLC? Eeeeh yeah I guess that will sell.
And some things are priced so low they are like the small change of gaming DLC.

Of course we could remember the Horse Armor DLC....oh my. That was a good laugh!

 

[Strazdas]

Dan has touched upon it but ill expand as this is my usual response to DLC:

Back in the old days we used to call DLCs patches and they were free, we used to call expansions DLC and paid 10 bucks for it, we used to call Sequels expansions and paid 30 bucks for it. Just because they renamed them does not mean it got more content.

Games in Australia start at $90. Think of us when you say games are expensive.

Well to be fair your dollar has fallen a lot lately.

 

[Phantom Kat]

Why is it called DLC? Downloadable is one word. But it is far to late for this to be brought up.

The first DLC for Bioshock Infinite Clash in the Clouds is not bad, but not all that great. Ran though it quickly and I don't have the desire to do it again. Maybe I might go ribbon hunting in greater depth. Though Burial at Sea seems like DLC done absolutely right. I can't wait to play a Bioshock game that plays out like film noir. I can't wait to run around Rapture before the fall. I can't wait to play Elizabeth's side of the story.

Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon is another good example of DLC done right. I have beaten it so many times yet it just refuses to get stale with me. Maybe it's Michael Biehn's voice over as Sargent Rex Power Colt. Maybe it is because the weapons in the game are straight out of great sci-fi movies. Maybe it's because if you press the R3 buttom you give the bad guys the finger.

Is Blood Dragon actually DLC considering it's stand-alone and not auxiliary to a pre-existing game?

Personally I don't mind DLC as long as it's reasonably priced for what it offers and it's not content cut directly from the initial game.

Dan has touched upon it but ill expand as this is my usual response to DLC:

Back in the old days we used to call DLCs patches and they were free, we used to call expansions DLC and paid 10 bucks for it, we used to call Sequels expansions and paid 30 bucks for it. Just because they renamed them does not mean it got more content.

Games in Australia start at $90. Think of us when you say games are expensive.

Well to be fair your dollar has fallen a lot lately.

Not by anywhere near enough to consider 90AUD for a 60USD game "fair".

 

[Eve Charm]

If it is on the Disc already it's content they Cut from the game. I doubt you can send a game off to get certified and then switch the certified game out with a disc full of additional locked dlc because it wasn't certified.

Not only is it disrespectful to the customers, But it can lead to loss of money ((Hackers)) and rightfully pissed off customers ((Hackers using locked content against paying customers)) Just ask capcom

Street fighter x tekken, Hackers were using locked characters online against people that legit buyers of the game, couldn't even purchase if they wanted to. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Hackers-Use-Street-Fighter-X-Tekken-DLC-Characters-XBL-Ranked-Matches-40551.html

Dragons Dogma, For lolz people were hacking their game, unlocking and rebuying DLC stuff that wasn't availble yet, and just giving them to people's pawns that the player could take off and have for themselves. Why buy the DLC when you already have the bonus equipment?

 

[Rakschas]

anyone who argues dlc is generally bad, please take a look at bethesda. their "addons" are dlc. and as i see it, you get much bang for your buck.

 

[Jburton9]

DLC used to extend the enjoyment of the game = Good
DLC used to fix an unenjoyable game = Bad
DLC used to make a game unplayable without it = Ugly

DLC to change pixel colors = Who cares?

Yup spot on : ) Unfortunately I find DLC to be too tempting of a cash grab for companies not to abuse.


I think the DLC Mona Lisa explains it the best though : )

edit: typo

 

[Poetic Nova]

Locked out content getting unlocked via DLC is just terribad.

Good dlc is when it ads a extra story campaign or new maps, as long as you don't pay to much for it.

 

[Ukomba]

Fully complete DLC on the disk is terrible. If what's on the disk is incomplete, initially meant to be in the game but something that couldn't be completed on time so turned into dlc, I'm fine with that. There's a lot of stuff like that in KOTOR 2, before the days of dlc, later completed by fans. Even Ocarina of Time has data like that in the cartage.

On the other hand, with the push to get games out faster, it's almost impossible to get all the planned content finished for launch. Monetizing what was supposed to be in the game but wasn't due to unreasonable time constraints seems sketchy to me.

Ya, if there were any way to determine what dlc fits that criteria. Frankly, there's a lot in KOTOR 2 that I would say is important to wrapping up story threads that wasn't finished and so would meet that criteria for bad dlc.

It's just the way the industry is. People getting bent out of shape over it is excessive.

 

[Alar]

Now, ten costumes for ten dollars would be much better.

Also, Chris and Dan's advertisement for the Escapist Expo were probably the best I've ever seen. XD

 

[XavierPrice]

I'm sure it's been said already, but: Borderlands and (more recently) Borederlands 2. The DLC is basically an expansion. 4 in total so far, all new, full campaigns, and 2 fully different characters with their own skills and abilities. 2 DLCs that give you 11 more character levels a PIECE (Plus a new mode that's harder for said levels, and new guns, and even a new place to do stuff for high levels). And... some stupid costumes, okay, they've made a few stumbles, but at least the costumes are cheap.

DLC Done right. ...except for the costumes. Seriously. Stop that.

 

[ccggenius12]

Typically you wouldn't find out about disk locked content until after you've bought the game. People feel cheated knowing there is content on the disk they bought but can't use because of arbitrary reason.

While it's they're right as a human being to feel however they want, that doesn't make it rational. The companies are obligated to provide no more and no less than what they've promised, and I can assure you that their lawyers have clearly defined what that is, and it is most definitely not what some people seem to think it is.
People want all kinds of things in their games that make them more expensive to produce, but they don't want to pay for it. With inflation and increased production costs, games should have seen a price increase. The fact that it's a separate purchase seems to be the sticking point for these people. I wonder if they'd be fine with it if they were charging $80 up front and included everything. Or maybe then they'd just be complaining about how game companies are gouging them...