- Joined
- Jul 27, 2018
Hi,
I wanted to discuss something which has botheredme within the gaming industry for a while now and it is theimplementation of DLC in games - In particular narrative focused DLC.
I find myself very hesitant to buy game on Day Onerelease, the main reason is because I fear investing into a gameexperience which is incomplete. Not just because of patches whichenhance the experience (that's a whole different topic...) butbecause often nowadays a game will release then 2-6 months down theline story DLC will emerge.
The problem I have with this is if I have beatenthe game, i will have already moved onto the next experience. Askingme to go back to the game I've beaten again for more - well, I'm justnot in the same mindset as I would be with the initial experience.Final Fantasy XV was notorious for this and I still haven't playedthe DLC Episodes to this day! Truth be told, I haven't even playedthe Shenmue 3Story DLC either - waiting for my next playthrough! Idon't like to go back to Story DLC as it feels soulless to me -Unless I am replaying the game whole, which is usually 2-5 years later.
This does create anxiety whenever I see gamesannounced now. Other than the thrill of the new trailer and releasedetails the next piece of information I seek is DLCinformation. Does the game have a Season Pass? Multiple Editions,what does that includes? Is it minor aesthetic crap or proper storycontent?! So the first thing I will do is look up the game on thePlaystation Store and look over the Upcoming Editions:
What an eyesore! More often than not there will be 2-3 versions of the same game with different offerings of content (and prices...). The Playstation Store then does offer a breakdown of the versions content:
Usually it's a lot of digital Junk that I wouldnever use let alone pay £30+ extra for but if I see the word SeasonPass or any indication of Story DLC I have to hold back - Unless itis within my top 5 favourites game franchises and a must play. Theproblem is it does put me off playing A LOT of modern games!
I was interested in the Sea of Stars GBA styledJRPG released on PS+ this month. But I have already heard aconfirmation of upcoming Story DLC. I have also heard that the game has planned for a physical release early next year. Logic wouldindicate that the DLC would be included with this release but thereis no confirmation - Also it could be included in the box with acode, an industry practice I despise as a game collector! So, I havedecided to wait on the game despite wanting to play it. I've also hadthe same problem with Lost Judgment with it's Saito Scenario DLC andcountless other examples. I bought Final Fantasy XVI with confidencefrom the game director stating that game was complete and had noplans for DLC, yet upon completing the game there are obvious gapsfor DLC, Which has since been announced in production...
I just find the industry very troubling, I lovegaming and all its possibilities but its business practices arebecoming tiresome and miss the day when you could buy a game atlaunch with confidence. I'm just wondering if anyone else is alsobothered to such a degree?
I wanted to discuss something which has botheredme within the gaming industry for a while now and it is theimplementation of DLC in games - In particular narrative focused DLC.
I find myself very hesitant to buy game on Day Onerelease, the main reason is because I fear investing into a gameexperience which is incomplete. Not just because of patches whichenhance the experience (that's a whole different topic...) butbecause often nowadays a game will release then 2-6 months down theline story DLC will emerge.
The problem I have with this is if I have beatenthe game, i will have already moved onto the next experience. Askingme to go back to the game I've beaten again for more - well, I'm justnot in the same mindset as I would be with the initial experience.Final Fantasy XV was notorious for this and I still haven't playedthe DLC Episodes to this day! Truth be told, I haven't even playedthe Shenmue 3Story DLC either - waiting for my next playthrough! Idon't like to go back to Story DLC as it feels soulless to me -Unless I am replaying the game whole, which is usually 2-5 years later.
This does create anxiety whenever I see gamesannounced now. Other than the thrill of the new trailer and releasedetails the next piece of information I seek is DLCinformation. Does the game have a Season Pass? Multiple Editions,what does that includes? Is it minor aesthetic crap or proper storycontent?! So the first thing I will do is look up the game on thePlaystation Store and look over the Upcoming Editions:
What an eyesore! More often than not there will be 2-3 versions of the same game with different offerings of content (and prices...). The Playstation Store then does offer a breakdown of the versions content:
Usually it's a lot of digital Junk that I wouldnever use let alone pay £30+ extra for but if I see the word SeasonPass or any indication of Story DLC I have to hold back - Unless itis within my top 5 favourites game franchises and a must play. Theproblem is it does put me off playing A LOT of modern games!
I was interested in the Sea of Stars GBA styledJRPG released on PS+ this month. But I have already heard aconfirmation of upcoming Story DLC. I have also heard that the game has planned for a physical release early next year. Logic wouldindicate that the DLC would be included with this release but thereis no confirmation - Also it could be included in the box with acode, an industry practice I despise as a game collector! So, I havedecided to wait on the game despite wanting to play it. I've also hadthe same problem with Lost Judgment with it's Saito Scenario DLC andcountless other examples. I bought Final Fantasy XVI with confidencefrom the game director stating that game was complete and had noplans for DLC, yet upon completing the game there are obvious gapsfor DLC, Which has since been announced in production...
I just find the industry very troubling, I lovegaming and all its possibilities but its business practices arebecoming tiresome and miss the day when you could buy a game atlaunch with confidence. I'm just wondering if anyone else is alsobothered to such a degree?