How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

[Spongedaddy]

In a sudden moment of understanding on the throne this morning, it occured to me that Oblivion has been out for about four months and there is allready downloadable content worth about $8. So the game tha costs $60 actually = about $68 when you add the content. IMO four months eems way too soon for the game to raise up (assuming there will be another download soon) by $10. Why wasn't horse armor or a mage's tower in the game in the first place? I would like to see some better standards for downloadable content.

For example: let a game like oblivion be out for at least 6 months before you start charging people for downloadable content. Even though it doesn't seem bad a $1.50 here, $2.00 there it adds on to a media that is expensive to begin with. If you add in to the equation the fact that the price of games has gone up with the cost of living it really gets expensive. The funny thing is that gas prices aren't getting lower, rent and other standard are going up, you figure the cost of gmaes would try to go down a bit. Instead, especially with the advent of the PS3 everything seems to be going up.

Maybe Nintendo is on to something...five dollars for frogger doesn't seem as great as say five dollars to play Splatterhouse from the old Turbographic (sp?) on the Wii.

(Not to mention a price tag at or below $249)

Thoughts?

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Paid downloadable content doesn't bother me. It's a matter of choice, you don't have to download it and none of it is required to play the game, only enhance the game. PC's have been doing this for years releasing expansion packs. I've downloaded some of it, like the PGR packs and GRAW, and stuff like the Oblvivion, COD2, and PDZ stuff has went unpurchased. Same with the arcade games. $5 for Frogger isn't bad to me. I like the fact that I can pick and choose the old arcade games I want to play. Maybe it's just me.

[Laettner32]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Its a tricky path we're going down. I mean a company could ship a game that they know isnt complete to meet a deadline, charge us the full price, and then release episodic content to fully complete the game...also for a fee. This is a good way for companies to make more money and in a way giving us less. Just because the publishers call downloadable content "extra" or "bonus" they can charge us up to $15 to complete a game.

[USF11]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Its a tricky path we're going down. I mean a company could ship a game that they know isnt complete to meet a deadline, charge us the full price, and then release episodic content to fully complete the game...also for a fee. This is a good way for companies to make more money and in a way giving us less. Just because the publishers call downloadable content "extra" or "bonus" they can charge us up to $15 to complete a game.

If a game is good to great I have no problem paying more for it. I have paid $60 for some real crappers. I would have no problem paying upwards of $100 for a truly great game.

[dkgojackets]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Companies are within their rights to charge for extra downloadable content. It doesnt bother me because if I dont feel like its worth it then I wont buy it, but it gives others the chance to add-on if they want to.

[fishepa]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Doesn't bother me either.

[rawdog805]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

I have not bought anything on the marketplacesince launch, and do not think I will ever buy anything...

[mjb2124]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Doesn't bother me either.

[burnwood]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Companies are within their rights to charge for extra downloadable content. It doesnt bother me because if I dont feel like its worth it then I wont buy it, but it gives others the chance to add-on if they want to.

I think the point is missing here. What is challenged is the standard of what should be called "downloadable content". Like what was said by Laettner, companies can easily abuse this feature by choosing to release a game early and charging you more for the finished content, or by over charging customers for minor things that should be in the game anyway (like horse armor)--and by the way you can't even use that horse armor online.

So, yes, I believe standards should be set for what should be categorized as downloadable content.

[The C]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

If the download actually enhances my gameplay experience, then Yes I'll buy it.

However, if you want me to buy alt unis or alt paint jobs etc..., then I say no to that.

Also I do get pissed off a bit if it turns out to be a Return to Castle Wolfenstein styled DLC, which is actually in the game but just needed a code to unlock.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Paid downloadable content doesn't bother me. It's a matter of choice, you don't have to download it and none of it is required to play the game, only enhance the game. PC's have been doing this for years releasing expansion packs. I've downloaded some of it, like the PGR packs and GRAW, and stuff like the Oblvivion, COD2, and PDZ stuff has went unpurchased. Same with the arcade games. $5 for Frogger isn't bad to me. I like the fact that I can pick and choose the old arcade games I want to play. Maybe it's just me.

It doesn't bother me either as long as the content is good stuff. I can't wait for Contra to release.

Last thing I bought on XLA was UNO. I like that they have given us this option.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

The standards is the question here. Why should I have to pay extra for a Wizard's Tower within three months of release? Six-seven months down the line I would gladly pay for an extra quest or feature. I am concerned about the point Laettner made: are developers adding value or giving the shaft to the consumer?

[GamingJones]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

The standards is the question here. Why should I have to pay extra for a Wizard's Tower within three months of release? Six-seven months down the line I would gladly pay for an extra quest or feature. I am concerned about the point Laettner made: are developers adding value or giving the shaft to the consumer?

It's all about choice.

You do not need the dlc to make Oblivion a great game, it already is.

The dlc is just an extra purchase if you like the game THAT much and want to play a little more.

What is fair and what isn't fair isn't important. What people are willing to pay for and what they are not willing to pay for is important. The market will decide if dlc is a good decision or not.

[mgoblue]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

It's all about choice.

You do not need the dlc to make Oblivion a great game, it already is.

The dlc is just an extra purchase if you like the game THAT much and want to play a little more.

What is fair and what isn't fair isn't important. What people are willing to pay for and what they are not willing to pay for is important. The market will decide if dlc is a good decision or not.

I think this is exactly it...the whole "DLC" concept is new, so will take time to stabilize. After a bit of time the prices will work out with the content you get. If people don't buy some content, saying it's not worth it, then companies will put out more.

[goh]

Re: How do you feel about paid downloadable content?

Depends on what it is.

It's not about choice,it's about if the stuff should've been there to begin with. With Oblivion that horse armor and the cure shrines should've been there to begin with and all those extra Ridge Racer songs too (might be mistaken in that and you're buying the songs from the game to have on your HDD instead of in game in wich case is a great idea). I believe they did plan on having the armor in but just didn't have time to finish it and you're paying extra for it now and on top of that PC people have user mods so they can get it for free so yes that does bother me. Something like G.R.A.W or PGR 3 wich it seems they added on later is fine.

Paying for gamerpics is another thing. I haven't done it but the idea bothers me because we're pretty much paying them to advertise their game for them. They all should be free.