Question of the Day, December 5, 2010

[Geo Da Sponge]

I don't mind paying for new maps when they add something to the game that wasn't there before. For example, the successive mapo packs in Halo 3 that added more and more Forge features with each addition. They went from the ability to craft structures in a large hall in Foundry to larger structures outside to being able to build entire maps from scratch in Sandbox.

 

[Assassin Xaero]

I voted other because I like them, but I've never paid for them (Call of Duty 4, World at War, Killing Floor, etc). They will also be the deciding factor for me getting Black Ops: reasonable price = buy, not reasonable = no buy.

I hate map packs. Especially the MW2 ones, which cost 15 bucks, have only 4 maps, and 1 of the maps was recycled from a much better game.

I thought they had 5 and 2 were ports from CoD4?

Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but regardless to me it's still not worth paying for 3 new maps.

Hell even if all 5 were new $15 seems like a rip off to me...

 

[mattttherman3]

Too expensive, especially call of duty, 15 bucks for 2 new maps and 3 old ones.

 

[Super Jamz]

I am fine with it if it was not around 800 Microsoft Points for 2 or 3 maps. I could get an entire game for the same price at times.

This. No one is going to think paying 800-1200 points for 3 maps, as wonderful and varied as they might be, is a good deal.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

I like the idea, keeping the game fresh and all, and making sure you know the developers are still paying attention to the game post-launch.

But it would be nice to see the prices of these things fall in line with the rest of the game. £40 for Halo Reach got me the campaign, co-op, firefight, forge(/forger world), a host of multiplayer modes and customisations thereof, and something like 10 multiplayer maps.
Why would I pay more than a sixth of that again for much less than a sixth of the content? 3 new maps is not worth that proportion of the game's cost, and this isn't horrendously expensive as map packs go...

 

[zaphod121]

I like when they want to charge me to unlock the DLC that's already on the disc that I own.

 

[Master Kuja]

So long as it's done like DICE do it, I'm fine with it.
Make them free (providing you have a VIP code) and it's perfectly reasonable, hell, there have been shit loads of new map packs added to Bad Company 2 and everyone who bought the game new is getting them for free.

 

[Hamster at Dawn]

If they're done well. I usually think that map packs are overpriced for what they are but the Halo map packs are always worth getting. I'll be picking up the Noble Map Pack next week when I can play my xbox again . Sandbox on halo 3 did wonders for matchmaking and even added the brilliant "golf club" weapon. They clearly put a lot of work into their maps, so I'm happy to give my 800 points to Bungie any day.

I only tend to buy map packs for games that I play a lot, otherwise there's not much point. I have been disappointed with the lack of effort that has gone into some maps that I have bought before. It really is a case by case decision for me.

 

[Nikolaz72]

Hmm lets see... -Looks at Activisions 250 MB Mappack for 15 Dollar-
-Looks at Dices Free 2,5 GB Mappack-
-Looks at Valves 100's of GB Free /Communitymade/ Maps and DLC-

Yeaa... Dice is doing better than Activision but they still have some way to go.

 

[RobCoxxy]

Valve to it well. You know, as in they're totally free and a buch of them are made by the community.

Activision do it horribly wrong, pay or you'll get dropped from the server every now and then or can't join anyone who has the DLC.

 

[Patton662]

Can't see the point of paying for maps, mainly because I'm a PC gamer and therefore used to community content. I'd pay for an Addon or DLC that gives me a few hours of gameplay but paying £12 for 4 new maps for multiplayer is just silly. I guess I'm just used to the Valve way of community support.

 

[Dragoon]

I think they're good but what I cant stand are the DLC's that are released right after the game itself. I just payed for the game and now you expect to pay even more for something that really should have been included in the first place?

 

[Mikkaddo]

Like so many other things on that side of the proverbial tracks, map packs are a strictly multiplayer DLC phenomenon. Meaning that I, a man who doesn't really care about multiplayer most of the time, and 99% of who's gaming is single player doesn't buy them. No use buying multiplayer maps if I won't ever use them right? it'd be like buying custom wheels for the truck I don't own.

 

[UnravThreads]

I really like them if they're priced reasonably and include sufficient content. I liked the packs from CoD WaW, and Halo 3, but not the ones from CoD 4 or MW2.

Agreed. If I disagree with the price of a piece of content, I won't buy it.

I'm fine with DLC, and I do agree with it, but it all ties into the debate about Value for Money. I don't care if people get 100hrs+ on three maps, £12 is not a reasonable price for them.

 

[Something Amyss]

I like them, but I don't like paying 1200 Microsoft points for three new maps and a refurbished one from an older game. If they give me enough of a reason to spend the money, I don't have any issue with them and even relish them.

Basically, this. Like all DLC, I like it if it's worth it.

I've bought a ton of good DLC. I won't pay fifteen bucks for three new maps, though.

 

[Silver Patriot]

I fail to see why devs can't release maps for free anymore.
I mean, look at tf2. so much free content and still going.

Valve is a special case. They have alternate sources of revenue (read: Steam) so they can afford to give so much away for free. Most developers have only one source of revenue, their games. With games costing so much more to make today verses 10+ years ago it's not surprising to see developers trying to make some extra cash though DLC.

 

[MrGalactus]

CoD and Halo charge ten-fifteen bloody dollars for 3 or 4 maps. That I hate. That's a rip off.
A good example is Crackdown 2, that gave you about 6 new maps, 2 new multiplayer modes, and a new co-op mode for free. There's also new weapons and vehicles along with achievements that run you up to about $6 for a pretty hefty pack

 

[Denamic]

I like them, but they should be free.