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Post by mysterd on Nov 7, 2009 15:47:03 GMT
That is pretty disgusting... Would annoy the flip out of me, too. Agreed. If the game is trying to sell you DLC, they should be doing it OUTSIDE of the game-world. Maybe say in the game's main menu or something. Also, why did they even put a NPC in there? They should've left him OUT until you actually buy the DLC - then the quest-giver will show up in-game.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 7, 2009 16:01:21 GMT
I completely agree, D. Let's hope this is NOT the wave of the future...
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Post by mysterd on Nov 8, 2009 2:53:10 GMT
Kane, I sure hope it isn't - but w/ the way DLC sales are on the consoles for a game (which are through the roof, basically) and w/ how much money developers themselves make off it for making often such little content for the money in such a short development time, I don't see DLC madness stopping anytime soon...
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 8, 2009 11:36:59 GMT
Same. Nothing like a whiff of money to get people interested - and this is more than a whiff, in an industry that is too often skimming the line just above bankruptcy.
I don't care how much DLC they make, honestly. I just don't want it intruding on my gaming experience.
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Post by mysterd on Nov 8, 2009 14:50:40 GMT
Same. Nothing like a whiff of money to get people interested - and this is more than a whiff, in an industry that is too often skimming the line just above bankruptcy. The thing is, DLC helps combat piracy well - as long as people buy it. And well, they basically have, for the most part - especially on the consoles. On DLC, more money goes to the developer, since DLC is often bought directly through the developer FIRST (especially on the PC) - so they see more of the money in this case. And, since it's like an expansion pack - they can re-use the same assets and engine; add a few new assets; and a few new features; and pump this out really quick and fast. Usually, at a later said date, the DLC winds up on pressed on a disc and the publisher might take a good chunk of change from that ordeal. I think the problem w/ DLC more so than anything is pricing. Often, you don't get much bang for your buck w/ DLC - see Far Cry 2: Fortune Pack DLC, Dead Space's DLC, and FEAR 2: Reborn DLC, Mirror's Edge: Time Trial DLC, and especially Dragon Age: Origins - Warden's Keep DLC. Not worth the money for such a short gameplay. But, that's not always the case - i.e. see Fallout 3 DLC's offer you each around 5 hours of new gameplay per DLC for around $10 a pop. Also, GTA4: Lost and Damned DLC pushes you around 10-20 hours for around $20 on the X360 - which sounds like expansion pack pricing to me. To me, those prices for FO3 DLC and GTA4 DLC sound very fair to me.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 8, 2009 15:19:54 GMT
I think I agree with all of that, D.
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Post by mysterd on Nov 8, 2009 16:19:22 GMT
I think I agree with all of that, D. I think the key to DLC is finding the right pricing and going about it the right way. A lot of people are miffed about the DAO - Warden's Keep DLC priced $7.00 for less than 1 hour of gameplay and one new place to stash your stuff. Then, add into the fact that the game dropped 3 DLC day of release - Warden's Keep being the one you had to pay for. Also, add into the fact DAO in-game tries to sell you the DLC if you don't have it already, that's even more annoying. Bioware-EA did not handle this very well at all. I think the backlash of DAO DLC before the game dropped is also why we ain't heard much on Borderlands - The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned DLC yet - we'll here more details about it this week. Borderlands - Zombie Island DLC was announced before Borderlands came out - and around the time the DAO: DLC backlash began. We were supposed to get more info hinted at in ClapTrap Episode 3 video (a series of videos Gearbox been making to promote Borderlands) about the DLC, but we're still waiting...
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 8, 2009 17:58:05 GMT
Totally agree. There's a huge difference between selling someone a complete game then offering them more stuff for it and selling someone a partial game with more installments all waiting to go - AND an ingame advert to rub it in! that's just taking the piss.
DLC should be worthwhile content, but not enough to make up a full expansion pack, IMO. And it really should be 'additional' not 'part of the game we took out'.
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Post by mysterd on Nov 8, 2009 19:23:39 GMT
I agree w/ you, Kane.
I think Borderlands - Zombie Island DLC will be cool DLC - as it adds a whole bunch of new enemies (zombies, zombies, and more zombies) and a new area worth of content (an island). Who knows how big or small this island is, since we don't know the details yet - and who knows how long this quest will take. In due time, we'll find out...
As it stands, Dragon Age DLC looks like junk.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 8, 2009 19:37:40 GMT
DLC will have to be careful to avoid becoming the new snake oil, I think... There are plenty of companies doing their best to get it right, but FAR too many getting it wrong.
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Post by mysterd on Nov 8, 2009 19:39:32 GMT
DLC will have to be careful to avoid becoming the new snake oil, I think... There are plenty of companies doing their best to get it right, but FAR too many getting it wrong. Bingo. I think the DAO Warden's Keep DLC will be VERY useful - as once you finish it, you get a place to store your stuff - but that would've been better off as a much cheaper-priced DLC, part of another bigger DLC, or some expansion pack. It ain't worth $7.00, from what I've heard and read.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 8, 2009 22:36:24 GMT
No. It's a bit like playing Diablo 2 and being told in game that you have to buy the storage chest as DLC. I can't see too many people loving that...
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Post by mysterd on Nov 10, 2009 0:50:37 GMT
Diablo 2 doesn't have a quest to get a storage place - you just get it outright! Kane, there's an actual quest involved w/ getting this storage space in DAO's Warden's Keep DLC. You get a Keep to store your stuff in, if you finish it. But, if you're saying that this quest and storage space should've came w/ the game DAO in say a patch for FREE (since the game was already certified), I'd agree w/ you 100%.
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 10, 2009 12:51:20 GMT
That's exactly what I'm saying, D, yes
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Post by mysterd on Nov 15, 2009 22:55:08 GMT
It gets worse, Kane. Many people who have bought the DAO - Warden's Keep DLC can NOT get it running. And those that got it going, found bugs w/ it. Just see the Official DA forums littered w/ DAO DLC issues.What the hell is wrong w/ these designers and the lack of file integrity and data corruption here? This has happened w/ A LOT of DLC - such as EVERY Fallout 3 DLC. What's up w/ this crap? When making DLC, are they using a earlier Beta 0.xx that is beneath Version 1.0 that they press on disc and not testing it on the pressed disc version?
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 15, 2009 23:01:48 GMT
That is utterly weird, D. All this stuff amounts to is a new patch, basically. These companies turn out patches at a rate of knots that do things like changing the main engine, making fundamental alterations to major files, game settings, etc. And suddenly they can't even do what amounts to little more than adding a map?
The only explanation I have is that they're being forced to push this stuff out so fast that no-one is testing it because the suits are in a feeding frenzy for the money they think they can make...
It's completely unprofessional, IMO.
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Post by mysterd on Nov 15, 2009 23:13:48 GMT
Agreed, Kane.
Kane, this gives me more reason to WAIT to buy games, in a much more patched-up state. W/ all this release DLC later attitude; and release game now and fix problems later attitude - why spend $40-60 for Beta in a box w/out some DLC, when I can buy it MUCH cheaper and all patched-up with the DLC and likely not have many issues at all?
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Post by Elliot Kane on Nov 15, 2009 23:16:44 GMT
Definitely agree, D. Makes me wonder just how important these games companies think day one sales really are when they do so much to put people off buying games on day one...
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Post by mysterd on Nov 15, 2009 23:28:08 GMT
Definitely agree, D. Makes me wonder just how important these games companies think day one sales really are when they do so much to put people off buying games on day one... Bingo. You know, not many DLC's have made me look at them and say, "Yeah, that'll be worth the money." Only exceptions might be the Fallout 3 DLC's - hey, 5 hours of content for $10 sounds good to me - and the upcoming Borderlands: Zombie Island DLC - hey, 6-10 hours of new content for $10 sounds good to me! Unfortunately, FO3 DLC's were bugged w/ file integrity issues upon release - they've been fixed, of course. And Borderlands: Zombie Island DLC - well, let's just hope they show the world how DLC should be done on the file integrity factor. I love Borderlands - this is my most addiction game in a LONG time. It's basically a FPS meets Diablo - and I just can't stop playing it...and I'm already almost done w/ my 2nd run-through here (with a different character).
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Post by mysterd on Nov 19, 2009 22:22:39 GMT
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