Are gamers being conditioned to accept microtransactions and DLC (down-loadable content) as a normative and essential components of new releases?
EA CEO Andrew Wilson discussed what role DLC will play in that company's future releases. Speaking at the Credit Suisse 2013 Technology Conference, Wilson tried to justify what is widely seen as institutionalized nickel and diming, squeezing consumers long after their initial $59.99 purchase.
DLC is all about extending profits and ballooning the bottom line, but that doesn't mean it always has to take the form of a slapdash, hastily developed product.
Wilson continues,
"You would think if you play the game for five weeks and then put it away, by the time the next version come around, you would have an appetite that would have build up over the last 10, 11 months to play that game again," Wilson said. "And actually, the reverse is true. The closer we can get you in terms of engagement to the next launch, the greater propensity you have to purchase."
Avalanche Studios founder, Creative Director Christofer Sundberg, recently said on his Twitter page, “Micro-transactions, subscriptions, and other biz models will be the next generation of games. It is that simple…basically that's where we're heading. There will be f-ups for sure. Hopefully we can lower the initial and build the game with the community instead."
Railing against the often times greedy and underhanded DLC and microtransaction policies to an audience that is already well acquainted with them may seem redundant, but not every piece of content released post-launch has to be terrible.
Here are eight pieces of gaming down-loadable content you should actually spend your money on.
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Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Grand Theft Auto IV - Episodes from Liberty City
Fallout: New Vegas
Borderlands 2, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep
Dishonored, The Knife of Dunwall
Bioshock 2 - Minerva's Den
Red Dead Redemption - Undead Nightmare
Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn
Who would've thought that Bethesda would ever recover after releasing the still hysterical 'Horse Armour' for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,
(Seems like a completely sound investment)
Bethesda more than made up for the bedazzled saddle by letting players FLY A FUCKING DRAGON in the Dragonborn DLC for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. In a game that could easily devour 80 plus hours, the introduction of a whole new map area, new quests, and, again, DRAGONS provided a massive addition to the already intimidating amount of content found in the original game.
Dragonborn, alongside Dawngaurd and Hearthfire, made Skyrim that much more time consuming in all the right ways. Bethesda's DLC added to both the established narrative and provided value beyond the initial investment game's purchase.
Less horse armor, more dragon riding and werewolf hunting.