323 réponses à ce sujet

[Wholetyouinhere]

I'm nominating downloadable content as the biggest crock of this gaming generation. Used to be I'd buy a game and immediately download whatever add-ons were available. Figured I'd bought this sweet game, so how I could I go wrong buying more of it? Then I actually played the stuff. Ug.

Awakenings is hardly the worst culprit, but it is definitely in line with what we've seen from just about every other developer so far: extremely short and unpolished content costing some unacceptable fraction of the original purchase price. Feels like games cost 20-30% more before you even unwrap them.

It's all so far removed from what was promised/advertised for this "feature". Maybe I'm just imagining things, but didn't they bill DLC as an awesome way for devs to continue and expand their games after release? It sounded great for players - like our favorite games would never end, right?

That's an exaggeration, of course, but you catch my drift. At the very worst, it seemed like a GOOD thing. Sure, some devs would float garbage on occasion, and they'd be rightly mocked and ridiculed by everyone else... I hoped. Presently? You can count the responsible devs who put actual time and effort into their appropriately-priced DLC on one amateur firework enthusiast's hand.

Long story, short: I'm tired of feeling 100% bilked out of my money by this industry's latest "great" idea, and it pains me that maybe my favorite remaining studio (yes, Bioware) seems to be front of the line. Probably not their fault; this insulting nonsense bears the fingerprints of big publishers. Still, it's disappointing - and I'm done DLing.

[Obtusifolius]

Agreed. I hate DLC.

Modifié par Obtusifolius, 31 mars 2010 - 02:17 .

[OfficerAbstinence]

I'm confused that you expected DLC with less than a years development to be as rich and satisfying as the original game, which took many more years to develop.



Yeah, the engine already exists from DA:O, but there's a lot more to it than just that. Someone has to write all the new lore, someone has to do all the new models, etc, etc. If DA:A was as big as DA:O it wouldn't have been released until next year.



Then you'd be here complaining about -that-.

[SaloMog]

I like DLC...It allows a them to expand on the game. As it is some DLC are parts of games that have to be cut out due to deadlines (e.g. the original Left 4 Dead DLC). And then there are the ones that are just addon packs. The majority of the DLC adds some new dimension onto the existing game. Let me put this into perspective. L4D2 was originally planned to be a series of DLC releases for L4D, they decided they had enough content to make another game, so rather than charging around $40 for 4 new pieces of DLC they charge $50-$60 for a new game where improvements to the game were minimal...(I know I am using L4D a lot, but it is a prime example of why DLC is good). When I was at GDC this year I was talking with the Lead Audio Programmer and the Voice Director for Bioshock 2 about this very thing. Their opinion was that episodic content packs delivers more content on a regular basis and are easy to do while working on a brand new game.

[cynicalsaint1]

So don't buy it. Its not like DA:O is short on content. Really as long as the main game doesn't suffer for DLC I'm all for it. I can buy what sounds interesting to me, and skip what doesn't.

I mean what do you expect? They get a much smaller budget for producing DLC, there's no way it can feasibly be anymore than a cool extra at best.

[Ninjaspoon]

cynicalsaint1 I think summed it up nicely, in all fairness did you really expect the dlc to be as big/in depth as the orignal?



Either way I foun it kinda fun and had no major gripes with it but I wasn't expecting anything super from it either though.

[Ekyri]

How is Awakening short?

[OfficerAbstinence]

It is compared to DA:O, which shouldn't be surprising. People are weird.

[Etnofoob]

if you dont like DLC then dont bother with it. I know I didn't.

[Lilisia]

I got all the downloads so far and enjoyed playing all of them. Each one is a really fun mini-adventure. And Shale is a wonderful character. I don't think they were overpriced, the stories really are well written. And I don't think they are perfect, but I am glad we have the option to get them.
Anyway totally optional stuff, I don't see the harm, if you don't want it just don't buy it.

My only problem with the downloads is that I really can't wait for the next one!

[Ekyri]

OfficerAbstinence wrote...

It is compared to DA:O, which shouldn't be surprising. People are weird.

Would they complain less if the original Dragon Age lasted for 30 hours at most?

[PSRdirector]

DLC is optional, they dont hold you down at gun point and say you must buy this. They are not rip off's they are things you agreed to a voluntary transaction to purchase. If you rush in buy them and find they are not as good as your hoping, shows you should of done some research into what your buying and not just jump head first. Want DLC quality to go up for the price, dont buy every piece, just get the ones you think are good. DLC is never going away, unless the industry itself collapses, this is a way to make profits with higher piracy and used game sales rates. This will allow developers to continue to make money during the gaps from game htting retail till there next project hits retail, a time where before they would jsut bleed money and make no revenue for up to years at a time.



its a hard industry to survive in, and DLC is a life raft, that will hopefulyl mean more good developers keep making games, and not sink to long development and ever increases expectations from games.

[OfficerAbstinence]

Ekyri wrote...

OfficerAbstinence wrote...

It is compared to DA:O, which shouldn't be surprising. People are weird.

Would they complain less if the original Dragon Age lasted for 30 hours at most?

That's not really the point.

People have high expectations with videogames. A new expansion is released and they expect it to be a full game with as much or more content than the original. It's absurd.

[Rhazesx]

As long as Bioware keeps their games moder friendly I will by all their DLCs. Many developers are keeping their games from being modifiable.



My problem with DLCs is developers that hold back from the original game for DLCs. EA does this in other games hopefully it won't infect Bioware.

[rumination888]

I'm not fond of DLCs mainly because 1-2 hours of gametime usually isn't enough for a good overarching plot and characterization.

[OfficerAbstinence]

rumination888 wrote...

I'm not fond of DLCs mainly because 1-2 hours of gametime usually isn't enough for a good overarching plot and characterization.

Most DLCs are just for extra content and items, like the two blood spells, armor, and an extra character. The DLC for DA:O is quite good actually- the items you get are really good and Shale is a pretty diverse character, almost as if she was part of the original game. IMO you generally get what you pay for.

[Lilisia]

I don't think everything needs to have a massive overarching plot though. Sometimes when I sit down to play I might only have an hour or two at the most. A DLC mini-adventure can fit into that space nicely and with a nice little chunk of story too.

I just wish there were more of them, if there were 10 DLCs I would probably get them all.

Modifié par Lilisia, 31 mars 2010 - 04:10 .

[savagesparrow]

My problem with the dlc isn't so much that they're short or overpriced or whatever, but more of just kinda like, I bought the game already, and now there's more? Why wasn't this stuff included in the original game? Or saved for the sequel/expansion?



Of course, I bought all the dlc released so far, but in retrospect, I kinda wish I had waited for like, some sort of uber-edition of the game so I could get them all included already =\\



I guess my main complaint is that I don't like feeling like my game is not complete, haha.

[AlanC9]

Is the problem DLC as a concept, or just the price charged?

[Rive Caedo]

I think most peoples problem is the price. Consider Warden's Keep. It was $7 and only lasted 2 hours (if we're being generous).

$7 is about a tenth of what people paid for Dragon Age... but for only about a fiftieth of the content they got.

Same with Kasumi. Tenth of the price for about a thirtieth of the content.

[Ferelden Templar]

You're angry because you bought into the sales pitch. As someone said... Nobody's holding a gun to your head...



You could have waited for reviews etc. and make your purchase assessment after the people start talking about it. Which is actually how the rest of the universe makes their purchase decisions for games I believe. I've been stung once or twice buying a game blind without trusting reviews myself. Live and learn.



However, I do believe when we are being overcharged for something *cough* Awakenings *cough* we should make it a point to have our voices heard.

[SaloMog]

savagesparrow wrote...

My problem with the dlc isn't so much that they're short or overpriced or whatever, but more of just kinda like, I bought the game already, and now there's more? Why wasn't this stuff included in the original game? Or saved for the sequel/expansion?  

I mentioned this before, the majority of time DLC is extra content that was cut from the original game due to deadlines. Yes you might feel like you don't have a complete game, but the release date would be pushed back by several months to years if they didn't use this method.  Hell with the game I am working on (shameless plug coming primalcarnage.com) we are planning to release it as episodic content packs, First one being a few multiplayer maps, after cash in flow, we beef it up with more multiplayer and single player content.  It's an easy lifeboat for any company.

[SaloMog]

If you don't like the business method then by all means don't buy the DLC, you will miss out on the extra fun content, that alone expands the Universe of the game. I will sit here, buy it, enjoy it, and support the companies that I like.

[I Valente I]

I've always assumed DLC would be the downfall of some great studios. I mean, it's been proven time and time again that Bioware is great at making games. It's hard to find an argument against it. What Bioware hasn't been great at, is trying to change itself to fit into the mold of the modern "game + DLC" scheme. So Bioware, who makes good games, can't seem to get the DLC right. What's happening is that now it's beginning to tarnish Bioware's name. People say things like that they are not trustworthy, they don't care anymore, their work is half-assed....all because their DLC is sub-par. I've been seeing this happen to other great studios also, and it's a real shame.



I've always considered DLC to be independent and extra. As in, a game is good(or bad) completely on its own, and does not depend of DLC to make it better(or worse). I don't see why everyone has to succumb to this fad. I have absolutely no expectations when it comes to DLC. I assume it's going to be horrible, because it's not an actual game. It's like Picasso drawing me a quick little sketch, and I expect it to be as great as his "Guernica". It's too bad that the business these days relies on ploys like quick DLC to sell its product. It seems like dark days are ahead as far as game development goes, or perhaps we are already there.



To answer your question: Yes, DLC is the biggest crock of this generation

[OfficerAbstinence]

savagesparrow wrote...

My problem with the dlc isn't so much that they're short or overpriced or whatever, but more of just kinda like, I bought the game already, and now there's more? Why wasn't this stuff included in the original game? Or saved for the sequel/expansion?

Of course, I bought all the dlc released so far, but in retrospect, I kinda wish I had waited for like, some sort of uber-edition of the game so I could get them all included already =\\\\\\\\

I guess my main complaint is that I don't like feeling like my game is not complete, haha.

That doesn't even make sense.

You buy the game, then you want more. They make more for you via DLC. It means you don't have to wait years for a new full game. That's all there is to it- it's just something to keep you happy while they work on something bigger and better in the background.

That's like saying, why wait for Mass Effect 2 or 3? Eventually it'll all come out as one package. Or DA2 for that matter. It's the same logic because these games have continuous storylines (Not 100% sure on DA2 though).

Modifié par OfficerAbstinence, 31 mars 2010 - 04:31 .