The damn DLC evolved to something worse.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/9539-The-Poison-of-Pre-Order-Culture

Basicly, pre-orders have become a ridiculous way for game companies to sell DLC before the game is even out! Or in some case "collectors editions" for brand new IPs.

On this video Jim points out the latest case of Alien Isolation, a game based on the Alien movie... where the Alien human characters are DLC exclusive for those who pre-order.

 

I'm getting real sick of pre-order exclusive crap.

DLC is one thing, and, when done well, can be a great addition to a game, but pre-order "bonuses" that are just parts of the game walled off to people who didn't buy the game from one specific retailer before it came out are too far.

 

While i do agree DLC might add something good to a game, day one DLC is ridiculous. I don't care if it's a skin, a weapon, a side mission... They are already releasing a game full price, why ask more money?

In the last couple of years day one DLC has evolved to pre-order day one DLC. "Exclusive item from Best Buy", "Exclusive item from GameStop", "Exclusive item from Amazon",... The same companies that complained about used games now are having a promiscuous relationship with these retailers. It got to a point they tease fans with the Alien cast DLC for Alien Isolation. They tease and force fans of a franchise to pre-order a game they don't even know if it's good or not, specially with those review embargos.

And the excuses... "The extra items were developed with extra budget", "Development for DLC started when we finished the main story", and so on.

 

Agreed, there's no reason to pre-order a game that will certainly sell well.

If you don't pre-order Halo 5, I guarantee you that Gamestop will have them in stock, day one.

 

I called this shit years ago and now I buy games used or when they're $15 on the clearance rack and just pirate the goddamn exclusive DLCs that were preorder exclusives. Morality is relative and I don't think anyone lost any money because I didn't want to pre-order a game.

Now I don't pirate games in lieu of buying them at all nor would I advocate that but I have no qualms with dropping a copy of this nonsense on my RGH 360.

 

Halo is one of the worst about this. You get a pre-order bonus if you pre-order, but each pre-order bonus is exclusive to what store you bought it at. Gamestop might give you the IWHBYD skull, and Wal-mart gives you the bandana skull. It's absolutely ridiculous.

 

People need to stop pre ordering. Prior to GTAIV launch I was worried they would not have any copies left. Went the next day and there was plenty and decided there was no point to it. Doesn't help that some of these games are yearly multiplayer games; say good bye to your skin when you buy the new game like an obedient dog.

 

Pretty soon the games will be unplayable if you don't preorder the game.

 

This doesn't really bother me, since the most of the games that have lots of DLC are games that I have no interest in playing anyway.

 

Didn't know you can go around the PlayStation Network or Microsoft Live system and get DLC without purchase.

Makes sense people found ways though seeing stores each have exclusive items and the only way to get everything is to buy each individual copy which is shit.

 

Thing is occasionally DLC remains preorder exclusive, and cannot be purchased. Beside second-hand from people willing to give it up. That only lasts until keys run out.

 

Watch Dogs was by far the worst about this, just look for the chart of the pre-orders and special editions online. There's nothing new about this, it's just a continuation of the war against used games. I mean, pretty much every game comes with some kind of DLC code in the box nowadays, did you think those were some kind of benevolent gift?

 

I've never bought a DLC or made a microtransaction (ok only once for Deus Ex on Steam sale an did not even try). My game interest is pretty much gone after I finish it and most of them are afterthought anyway.

Also check this glorious video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTYpKlIc_fg

 

I've always thought the whole DLC thing confusing and below the belt much like free to play games. I most of the time ignore DLCs and just buy the main or wait for the game of the year edition.

 

Very rare i buy games new these days, and for this reason. What makes me laugh even more is most of the time the code for the game hasnt even been used when i buy it lol

DLC on the whole is a good thing, but its so easy for companies to take advantage of

 

what Ape said. :smile-new:
though i draw the line at playing on 360...a lot!
...
i have ZERO sympathy, in fact, total GLOAT if anything.
i was made an outcast for a similar pov at other places, what got me screwed (B&) was because i DEMANDED BLOOD/public apology...
staffs NEVER apologise, they got what they deserved, robbed of $$$ by the corps they were sucking off. (was reminded of the status-quo. when somebody is in position of authority regardless of type, whether it be in life or web, they're ALWAYS right, moreso when they're wrong, ban hammers fly..PRICKS!)
...
sorry 'present dayers' you brought it ALL on yourselves.
i'm up for progress but NOT at the cost of liberties (broad term) you bought into it with your 'modern trendy' ways (trendy IS by definition, FAKE and FALSE) you made your bed, SLEEP IN IT! (and thanks for ruining it for those surviving on retail/VERBATIM copies)
[edit]
typo.

 

It's mainly just for limited editions, depending on how popular the game is trying to find them locally can be a hassle. Dead or Alive 5 limited edition was only at EB Games which was stupid, but a month down the track you could order it from the UK.

Or you can just buy them online.

Pre-ordering games is just a money grab for companies as they make a lot of money on that, not only because you paid early but they make money as the months roll over.

This reminds me when I overheard some idiot pre-ordering FIFA 14, like launch day it was going to just sell out in seconds. What a twat.

 

In my experience a game that pushes a lot of dlc and preorder stuff was half assed to begin with. The new Dragon Ball title was that way, I picked it up for the vita and beat it in a week. They just need to release a dragonball game will all the characters even the obscure one like tarble and the battle of gods characters(It needs to include gt aswell). A more updated version of tenkaichi 3 is what I want.

 

Yeah, I hate DLC, especially when it's irrelevant and/or there are hundreds for a single game... makes no f*cking sense.
I usually wait for a re-release that includes most/all DLCs, or just ignore DLC as if it never existed. I'm not paying for stuff that should have been in the game at launch or stuff I never cared about.

 

Some are nice, like the Left Behind DLC for The Last of Us. Reminds me of what we used to call "expansion" a decade and a half ago. But most of the time it's bullshit so they can ask for a lot of small amount of money for the whole game instead of one big price. e.g. stuff that are already on the goddamn disc at realease but needs to get unlocked by the DLC.