Downloable Extras and Episodic Content !!

Johnnytoxic · 12 Mar 2007 at 09:47

This is starting to become a trend with games recently and I can only think developers are going to expoilt the service.

Reading about motorstorm and the new modes that should be coming. Question is will they charge for them? Will developers soon think ok lets make a game that will have all these modes of play but hold a couple back so we can then charge the consumer again.

Xbox live and PSN are great for free downloable demos and trailers, but should we really have to keep paying for a game we have already bought? I think for a few easy updates this will be where developers will cash in the most money from there games.

Nismo · 12 Mar 2007 at 09:56

I don't really have a problem with paying for newly developed extras that get released after a game has come out, especially when it is a new level/map scenario. Your not forced to buy them in order to 'finish' a game as it were, if you want it you will be happy to pay in order to extend the life of the game.

I do have a problem though when companies like EA charge to unlock content that is already on the game disc, I think EA and NFS Carbon is an example of this.

Johnnytoxic · 12 Mar 2007 at 10:03

Well yeah like the C&C series with whole new stories and campaigns, of course thats fine to charge. The little things like modes and extra vehicles I can see developers planning before hand what NOT to include in the store release. Takes the biscuit.

Alrik · 12 Mar 2007 at 10:22

They shouldnt charge for extra maps, modes etc then that means not everyone can play the multi-player. GRAW for example if someone doesnt have certain maps it means they cannot play at all meaning they either have to buy them or just not play. Things like extra cars, weapons and skins arent so bad though, but again would it really be worth spending extra for so little?

Joebob · 12 Mar 2007 at 11:13

Has anyone ever calculated how much it would cost to buy The Sims and then all of the extra add-on which were chargable? You end up spending hundreds on one bloody game - it's really ridiculous imo!

dbailey10 · 12 Mar 2007 at 11:35

Teletraan-82 said:
I don't really have a problem with paying for newly developed extras that get released after a game has come out, especially when it is a new level/map scenario. Your not forced to buy them in order to 'finish' a game as it were, if you want it you will be happy to pay in order to extend the life of the game.

I do have a problem though when companies like EA charge to unlock content that is already on the game disc, I think EA and NFS Carbon is an example of this.

I think the argument here is whether these 'newly developed extras that get released after a game has come out, especially when it is a new level/map scenario' would have been originally released with the game, but were held back or not given the effort required to get them done by release because the studio knew it could release it later for more profit

Nismo · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:15

dbailey10 said:
I think the argument here is whether these 'newly developed extras that get released after a game has come out, especially when it is a new level/map scenario' would have been originally released with the game, but were held back or not given the effort required to get them done by release because the studio knew it could release it later for more profit

If new content magically appears shortly after the game is launched, then yes its BS.

But I don't see any problem in releasing content, that you pay for, a couple of months and at certain points thereafter to prolong the life of a game.

And as I said, nobody forces you to pay for the extras. If you like the game enough, you will be happy to part with your money.

dbailey10 · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:18

Teletraan-82 said:
If new content magically appears shortly after the game is launched, then yes its BS.

But I don't see any problem in releasing content, that you pay for, a couple of months and at certain points thereafter to prolong the life of a game.

And as I said, nobody forces you to pay for the extras. If you like the game enough, you will be happy to part with your money.

agree with you

Johnnytoxic · 12 Mar 2007 at 12:20

Teletraan-82 said:
If new content magically appears shortly after the game is launched, then yes its BS.

But I don't see any problem in releasing content, that you pay for, a couple of months and at certain points thereafter to prolong the life of a game.

And as I said, nobody forces you to pay for the extras. If you like the game enough, you will be happy to part with your money.

Its the fact that more and more we will be getting shoddy stripped down bare minimum versions of games for them to milk this extra downloadable £££ content.

It's the way things are going.