Downloadable Content Allowing Developers To Slack Off?
Back in the late '90s, while I loved all kinds of gaming - including the awesome PC software of the time - I always despised the idea of patches for games. It finally got to the point where if a shoddy game released, I'd have friends who would say, "eh, they'll just patch it," and not give it a second thought. I always remember thinking, "uh...shouldn't you be pissed that they sold you a broken game?"
Now, while we're not to the point where the big-name console titles are "broken," one can make the argument that with the rise of DLC, developers have an excuse to become lazier. Just as an example, let's say a designer is coming up on a deadline and they'd rather not miss it. They can either inform the publisher there will be a delay and work out the kinks, or...they can simply release the game on time, and then issue an update patch a little later. Then there's the ongoing argument about additional content, where some players are often saying, "well, that DLC should've been in the game." This is an extraordinarily subjective argument, of course, but the idea of broken and lackluster titles requiring later updates isn't really subjective at all, and I hope we're not heading in that direction.
In all honesty, I think one of the main reasons PC players ended up gravitating towards consoles was due to this issue. I know many people who finally realized they were always buying new PC games that didn't play half as good as they would a few months later, after some patches had been released. In fact, one dude I know wouldn't even open a new PC game for weeks after purchasing; he'd just say, "I know it's going to suck now; I have to wait for them to patch it." At that point, I'd pretty much give up on the platform in question, and I'm a little concerned that console gaming may be headed in a similar direction. As is, I almost always see a "1.01 update" or some such thing when I pop in a new title, and while it's not a big issue to download it, I always frown at the screen. Is this a good thing or a slippery slope...?
Obviously, the positive side to DLC is all the extra goodies and the ability for developers to fix their game if necessary. It's not always laziness that causes problems; sometimes, they really did just make a mistake, and DLC allows them to issue appreciated repairs. But the mere fact that it's available can easily sit in the back of a designer's made and make him/her a little more complacent. At least, that's how I see it. For the record, I currently have no problem with DLC; I love it, but I'm just looking down the twists and turns in the road...
3/13/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (57 posts)
pavlovic
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 11:35:21 AM
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But I don't agree with things like selling Yoda or Darth Vader for 5 bucks a couple of months after release and claiming that those characters were exclusive to on or other console. I don't agree that the versus (or what ever is called) online gameplay for RE5 will cost you and it's not included in the disc.
It's not okay to release Socom, and only after 5 months we really have the game we bought.
If they can't finish the game, just push it back and try to release the best game, not half finished games
NoSmokingBandit
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 11:38:02 AM
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It reminds me of people who have 360s and say "it doesnt matter if it rrod's, they fix it for free." I dont care if they ship me a new box every month until the day i die, they should have made a quality product from the beginning. Imo, the dlc patches are going to separate the great developers from the bad. It will let us know what developers deserve our respect and which ones only care about making money as quickly as possible.
maxpontiac
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:34:33 PM
With the topic at hand.
DLC has ruined gaming.
- Singleplayer games are short. Killzone 2 is an a fine example of great but short game.
- RE5 is charging for versus mode? No thanks.
It's a disturbing trend, and we gamers are the one's who are forced to pay for it.
Xplicit
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 11:49:06 AM
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although if it wasn't for all the DLC then we wouldn't have all the goodies and expansions also sometimes the game does work for a few people before being patched and i don't mind when im part of that working few but it still sucks for others.
nice article Ben ;-)
photo K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 11:51:56 AM
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Map packs are worth it if the maps are really good, I haven't had an issue with any games with a lack of default maps. I love the fact that the COD5 devs added the Makin map without a price. I respect that and I will also remember that when it comes time to buy the next COD that they develop.
Tim Speed24
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:00:57 PM
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If you want to get that kind of play time out of the new games you have to take it online....sometimes not the greatest experience.
Plus, I don't like the "nickle and dime" you to death little add-ons....those should have been included.
L7 383T
crapreviews
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:11:10 PM
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I mean look at Midnight Club LA. They had this huge city and the game was great IMO. Now they got this DLC coming that makes the city 1/3 bigger of the current city size, which Everyone can get for free. Now, if you want the other new cars, missions, and music you pay $10. If you choose to pay for the extra DLC or not, everyone was still get the free expanded city.
let's just say though that we consumers notice that a Dev has gotten lazy, then we as consumers could just choose not to buy things from them anymore. We could send a message that we will not buy a half baked game.
I just think this could turn out to be a great thing. everyone is talking about the bad things that might happen, but no one is talking about the good things that might happen.
maxpontiac
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:39:18 PM
...(NBG) Ace Combat 6 was DLC gone wrong. Charging for paint jobs, was rediculous when one considers the PS2 version did not insult the gamers this way.
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 3:46:08 PM
Qubex
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:20:33 PM
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:35:34 PM
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:21:25 PM
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Slant 6 with Socom however....not so much. They pushed to get the game out ahead of Resistance 2 and turned a lot of people off of the game. Sure it's a great game now but how many customers did they lose for good because of bad reviews and glitches?
Naga
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:57:00 PM
Random_Steve
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:17:28 PM
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:36:22 PM
bxshotboi
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:24:46 PM
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CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:34:33 PM
Does anyone else not see that as a little stupid? The content that is already in the game, that you can access by playing the game...Is now available without even starting. Really? Who buys a game with no intention of playing it? If you don't have time to play it, why buy it?
Sure there are some people who like to go online and race and I could see some of them maybe buying it so they could have the best cars and wow their online friends but if you bought it instead of earning it...kind of a hollow victory really.
GuernicaReborn
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:38:10 PM
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With games currently being patched to no end, developers don't have a choice now. If a developer/studio doesn't issue some sort of patch or DL content, it is either considered lazy or they don't care about the game's fanbase.
NoSmokingBandit
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:11:31 PM
Ultimadream
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 12:51:00 PM
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elass0wyp0
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:04:24 PM
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If there was no simple way of fixing their mistakes, more time would be taken to ensure quality the first time.
Don't even get me started on PDLC. A $10 price increase at retail would never fly and would impact sales too greatly but $5 bucks here and there tacked onto the original retail price after the sale will?
If you've ever purchased PDLC-your directly responsible for what we are seeing today. Nothing will change now. We will get shorter and shorter games missing features and we will be forever paying to get them put back into games. It's a shame but until we demand more for our money and speak with dollars and sense (intentional spelling) we won't see any change. In fact it will probably get worse.
Orvisman
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:10:25 PM
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That said, however, if DLC comes out within two months of a game's release it tells me it probably could have been shipped on the disc.
If it takes the developer six-plus months to get DLC out, I'm okay with that DLC, such as GTA: The Lost & The Damned.
jonny_bolton
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:26:33 PM
jonny_bolton
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:25:54 PM
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Sorry about that, got a little frustrated.
Ultimadream
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:33:08 PM
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Though of course there is one HUGE benefit, that being if there are glitchs after the release, they can now be fixed which is somehign to be greatful for.
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:47:32 PM
Ultimadream
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:35:58 PM
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elass0wyp0
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:23:07 PM
CH1N00K
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:53:39 PM
Except for around the holidays, I haven't seen a lot of games (except Rockband & GH) that have been sold out on release day. If it's going to be a big seller stores usually stock up enough.
Pre-orders help gauge how popular a game might be, but the exclusive content you get, aren't that important to me.
LimitedVertigo
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:57:28 PM
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isaya85
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 1:58:58 PM
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PSN ID Biggest_GMoney
www
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 2:29:32 PM
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With patches,i think it's a good thing.Like Ben said,it's not always laziness is sometimes mistakes.So correcting mistakes later on with patches is kinda good.
I sometimes feel for these devs,learning common tools like 3d's max,Maya among others isn't a walk in the park.
I had a headache creating a 3d object in 3d studio max.
No wonder games cost higher than movies.
Ultimadream
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 3:47:49 PM
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www
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 5:08:04 PM
LightShow
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 6:04:14 PM
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half the reason to buy a disc is so that you DONT have to wait to play it. I can understand extra maps added or unforseen exploits being fixed in a patch, but when the QA team has discovered glitches before the game even gets into anybody's hands? Maybe they could have amended it before they shipped...
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 6:29:10 PM
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KevinCairo
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 7:40:10 PM
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jaybiv
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 7:53:13 PM
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DLC on the other hand, can be a good thing. It can encourage a dev to continue to support a game way beyond the time retailers cut the price.
I don't mind paying for additional maps, courses and the such. The pricing is what I have a beef with. Take TW09 for example, they wanted $7 for one course. Too much for that type of game. With that said, I would be willing to fork over the dough for Burnout's new island because Criterion has given us so much free stuff that it is worth it.
However, the fact of the matter is that both are here to stay, like it or lump it.
Alienange
Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 8:22:10 PM
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As for adding extra content, developers just can't possibly see what their customers are going to demand of them after a game is released. Before DLC we had expansion packs. The Sims anyone? At least DLC is convenient. Besides, with DLC, we can still speak with our dollars and cents. You think someone's trying to rip you off with DLC, don't buy it. Please don't buy it.
Last edited by Alienange on 3/13/2009 8:23:07 PM
somethingrandom
Saturday, March 14, 2009 @ 12:14:37 AM
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K ASH
Saturday, March 14, 2009 @ 12:40:46 AM
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SplendidBlended
Saturday, March 14, 2009 @ 2:56:12 AM
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Alienange
Saturday, March 14, 2009 @ 4:34:21 PM
shadowpal2
Sunday, March 15, 2009 @ 5:53:48 PM
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IhateFanboys24
Monday, March 16, 2009 @ 1:51:32 AM
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JofaMang
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Friday, March 13, 2009 @ 11:30:26 AM
I don't think it could get worse, unless you consider cash gouging by charging extra to unlock data shipped on the game disc.
That could make things extra ugly~