The future of Brink: DLC's

(Ajax's Spear) #121

Eh. Almost all the DLC I’ve ever purchased and played was worth the ten bucks I’ve paid for it, at least. Some are pretty crappy, but I’ve learned to let others with trusted opinions give me their take on it before jumping in.

I’d rather help create a trend of developers being able to profit from quality DLC that adds days of re-playability to a game than to expect content for free and be stuck with whatever scrapped idea they decided to polish and publish as a “thank you” to the fans.

The marketability of DLC in general has been changing and growing rapidly over the past two years. Developers are still trying to figure out the best way to benefit from bringing fans more of what they want. I’ll happily vote with my wallet if it leads to an increase in choice and quality.

(demonj00) #122

[QUOTE=Damblo;254920]I think brink looks like its going to be a killer game, and i know tons of people have said it looks similar to borderlands. While this is right and wrong in so many ways, what borderlands excelled at was its DLC’s, so Brink DLC’s.

What do you people want? The things i have in mind are free weapon packs, so everyone can have them and no one gets anything overpowered for paying 5 bucks. Also more maps/missions, obviously with the game not being released yet, i cant really define what we will be wanting, but if we play missions rather than maps online, this game could be terribly short lived. Aside from releasing more missions, why not create more modes!? Splashdamage already decomfirmed TDM’s etc, but i think they could be an interesting addition to the game, so when people think there is nothing else to do, they can jump into a simple game of TDM on a bordered map and blow each other up etc. Oh and i just remembered, aswell as free weapon packs, also i want me some free clothing packs ;D

You see, in games like Call of Duty, the DLC’s they release are map packs, which do not bring much freshness to the game. Personally, ive been nagging and whining on the CoD Forums for Weapon packs and such rather than maps, but i thought id rather share my ideas with a game that hasnt been milked out and shat on, and arse raped etc.

So if anyone from splash damage reads this, please take in my ideas, and stay away from map packs, at first at least. IMO, this game could be a big hit, with the right nurturing. Please post your ideas for any DLC’s also :stuck_out_tongue:

Tapir anyone? or two ^.-
:stroggtapir: :stroggtapir:[/QUOTE]

Is it okay if we play the game first? I mean, there will be tons of fresh content on the disc when the game actually releases, so lets get through all that before we start talking about DLC.

(Ajax's Spear) #123

Word. I’m still daydreaming about the game itself. Watching Container City gameplay over and over just isn’t cutting it for me anymore.

(SockDog) #124

Valve adopts a model of keeping retail sales flowing by maintaining interest in the game and increasing the value of a game with additional content while lowering the retail price to generally DLC levels. We of course all want developers to be successful and thrive but you can’t honestly say the existing model of pay for DLC has prevented many MANY console developers from being shut down.

IMO (and it is just my opinion) the paid for DLC were currently seeing devalues games by over pricing them, may even discourage people buying games (who held out for GOTY editions of DLC heavy Fallout?). There may be no right model, and certainly exceptions to any rules. BUT. It also can’t be said that providing some maps and content for free, post release, is going to run you into bankruptcy.

edit:
I’m also sure the DLC thing on consoles is partly driven by the large tendency to trade in games and so deny publishers/developers actual revenue for the game. Perhaps they charge for content because you’re not paying them for the actual game. This is actually more worrying because it means they’ll be less inclined to include lots of content in games… and surprise surprise aren’t games getting shorter with day one DLC and things like online coupons.

And to share my philosophy. I’ll often buy/gift games to people just to put some more money in developer’s pockets, especially those developers who don’t look to milk me off like a cow.

(BioSnark) #125

I didn’t, unfortunately. I loved Fallout 3 but the dlc / GOTY pricing is just insulting. Buying early means less stable product with less content and no user generated content for the same or more money. Fallout NV release date oct 2011 for all I’m concerned and I’ll just see if I’m somehow bored with all the other games coming out this year.

The discussion seems to be largely PC oriented or platform neutral. Could you be more specific about what you’re talking about?

(SockDog) #126

And in Oct you’ll be getting the game at equal or less than it costs now with all the DLC + the time you need to wait. I just see that for smart, not game starved, gamers waiting for GOTY is going to be a better option and one that defeats charging for DLC.

Anyway, I ranted enough in the other reply. Thanks for posting and confirming I wasn’t being totally nuts on that point. :slight_smile:

(Ajax's Spear) #127

[QUOTE=BioSnark;256868]
The discussion seems to be largely PC oriented or platform neutral. Could you be more specific about what you’re talking about?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Nail;255077]SDK for us PC types, let us make our own maps/mods
DLC for consoles, all sorts of new hats and outfits for a nominal fee, or possibly won at ZM sponsored events[/QUOTE]

I guess I’m just sort of confused why anyone on a given platform would be bothered with what content is available to another one. I mean I can understand trying to advocate something for yourself, but I don’t see a point in idealizing what ought to be available to anyone else, I guess. No big deal, just sort of odd to me.

(SockDog) #128

It may be odd because you’re ignoring other more pertinent points that are being made.

(Ajax's Spear) #129

True, I am just reading those posts and taking them at face value. Can you explain what I am missing here?

(SockDog) #130

That the PC is capable of producing and distributing user made content and consoles are not (generally speaking). As such SDK on PC and DLC on consoles seems a logical suggestion (L4D being an example)

That maps and gameplay changing content is generally a community divider. Best to make that free and charge for DLC on more frivolous content such as clothes and hats for those people who have to buy DLC.

And probably other stuff, it’s a long thread, but generally speaking the main motivator was DLC and its effect on the game with the platforms just tagging along for the ride out of necessity.

(LyndonL) #131

And of those 4 or 5 maps generally 2+ are recycled from previous installments of the game series… COD/BF etc.

[QUOTE=Ajax’s Spear;256854]Eh. Almost all the DLC I’ve ever purchased and played was worth the ten bucks I’ve paid for it, at least. Some are pretty crappy, but I’ve learned to let others with trusted opinions give me their take on it before jumping in.
[/QUOTE]

I bought Fallout 3 GOTY on purpose cause I wouldn’t spend the ridiculous ask price for each of their DLC installations. One of the DLC/Expansions (can’t remember which) and I finished it in total in about 3-4 hours. So the main game had approximately 80-100 hrs in it, and the DLC for 1/3 or 1/4 price only had 3-4 hrs… Value for money!!

(LyndonL) #132

As in my last post, yes me. And that’s why I haven’t bought FO:NV yet which I was very keen for.

Also for DLC being charged on console: Isn’t that to do with XBL? Don’t they basically stipulate in the contract for the service that additional content must be priced? That’s why Super Meat Boy devs found some loophole for their game.

(DarkangelUK) #133

It’s not really about feeling like they owe us anything, it’s the change in standards that’s thrown us off. It’s like buying a loaf of bread everyday and it comes with a free can of coke (note, they decided to give the can of coke, I didn’t specifically ask for it), for 10 years you’ve been buying the bread and they’ve given you this free can of coke. You come in one day and they start charging you over the odds for the coke and now it’s a smaller can, and the only reason they’re charging you is cos others were happy to pay for it and they thought they could get more money from you too. Nothing’s changed, except you now have to pay for what was once free.

As I said, I could even understand if the price was fair, but for the price they charge for some maps, you could spend that on a full game on a steam deal or a nice indie game for that money.

The marketability of DLC in general has been changing and growing rapidly over the past two years. Developers are still trying to figure out the best way to benefit from bringing fans more of what they want. I’ll happily vote with my wallet if it leads to an increase in choice and quality.

And they have done this in the past, in the form of expansion packs. Those give you MORE of the game, a map pack just doesn’t compare, especially for the same price.

(.Chris.) #134

You say it’s not drilled into you and then go to explain just how that it has been drilled into you in the same sentence.

(Apples) #135

As DAUK mentionned we care about console DLC cuz in the end, the console marketing is driving the PC one because it sells, moar, so if we, valuable PC players dont stand up against the tyrany, sheep concole player will be happy to pay for one new pistol each day and in the end pc player will have to do the same because all dev will charge for that.

Oh Yeah I love oversimplification :wink:

Peace

(Herandar) #136

A new pistol EVERY DAY!!! AWESOME!! I’d pay 50 dollars for that! [/baaaa]

(Apples) #137

Double irony ftw!

(Ajax's Spear) #138

Well, if that’s what qualifies for being “drilled in,” then I would say that it’s been drilled into you to expect something for nothing because you’ve been getting it for free for so long.

(Ajax's Spear) #139

[QUOTE=Apples;256926]As DAUK mentionned we care about console DLC cuz in the end, the console marketing is driving the PC one because it sells, moar, so if we, valuable PC players dont stand up against the tyrany, sheep concole player will be happy to pay for one new pistol each day and in the end pc player will have to do the same because all dev will charge for that.

Oh Yeah I love oversimplification :wink:

Peace[/QUOTE]

This air of false superiority in the PC gaming community is just that. If the market is driven by console gamers (which it is), then you are all the less important, especially on multi-platform titles.

(Crytiqal) #140

Doesn’t mean that the PC isn’t superior.

There are far less superior’s then the rest of the masses
Which just proofs why the marketing is drivin by the consoles :smiley: