Downloadable Content is a concept that has engrossed the entire industry now.  It started with just a few games offering something extra for a few cents on the side and grew into being an enormous McContent generator.  Take a look at IGN, Shacknews, or your favorite gaming sites and you’ll see that every day new DLC is being announced for games.  Some of it is good stuff, and some of it is not.  I don’t really have a problem with the idea that developers/publishers will sell content, but where I do take issue is when they do it before or right after launch.

Publishers are chopping up games and taking stuff out just to sell it on the marketplace.  How is that right?  Why can’t the completed game be sold to the player — they’re paying $60 or more for the game already.  It’s becoming a way for the publishers to raise prices on the games yet still be capable of keeping that normal price on the shelf.  It’s a screwed up practice.  What’s worse is when the DLC is announced weeks before the game is even available in stores!  Lost Planet 2’s DLC is announced without a price point and the game is not even available yet.

What’s even worse is when this content is already on the disc! They’re essentially selling you the content, but not the right to play it unless you pay for it -again-.  Publishers are getting crafty and giving out access codes to the content for you to download as an incentive for buying the game.  It helps curtail the used game business (which I despise) but also creates an excuse and further incentive to continue releasing games that are either chopped up and sold for parts and locked away until you pay.

I would be fine if DLC were entirely new stuff that comes out justifiable amount of time after launch.  I’m also okay with content that isn’t finished being given to players via download … but do it for free.  If you couldn’t finish a feature, a map, a mode, whatever, before launch then give it to players after and let them know you care.  Guess what?  Then you can release content and they’ll be willing to pay for it because they already feel like they’ve gotten their money’s worth and then some.

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DLC