Recently I was playing the Bespin DLC for EA Star Wars Battlefront, and someone posted a comment on our gameplay video about how wrong DLC is as all it does is make gamers pay for content that should have been in the release version of the game.
I got to thinking about this statement and it made me wonder if DLC or Micro Transactions are a bigger issue.
I remember the days when a successful game often spawn an add on pack which was usually a new and shorter solo play campaign and in some cases a few more maps to play online in a multiplayer mode. I also remember when update maps used to be free for PC players as was the case with Call of Duty even when console versions emerged and had to pay for maps.
So with that in mind, here is where I stand on it. DLC can run about $49.99 for most games. Call of Duty, EA Star Wars Battlefront, and such for those who want to purchase a bundle as opposed to paying $15.00 for each segment. The idea being that with four packs it is a better deal for gamers to buy them all at once.
Other games such as The Division offer their DLC for $39.99 vs $15 a pack but will only release three planned expansions.
The expansions usually consist of new maps, weapons, and gameplay modes for EA Star Wars Battlefront, and new maps for Call of Duty with at times a new weapon added to the mix.
Micro transactions on the other hand provide gamers the option to purchase resources in game for a small fee to enhance their gameplay. The model works well on free to play mobile games like Clash of Clans where purchasing more resources or turns allows players a more competitive advantage. It also leads to some players spending thousands of dollars on a game as well.
This is how mobile games often work and the argument is that if you are not paying anything up front for the game, you can afford to play for a few micro transactions if you wish but that nobody is making you do so in order to still play the game.
Dead Space 3 is an example of a full prices game that included such transactions. Of course this did not sit well with gamers who had already paid $59.99 for the game and along with some other issues was a reason that the game failed to live up to expectations and has put the franchise in limbo.
For me DLC is an enhancement to the games as in the case of Call of Duty as it offers more of the game for those who want it but is not required to enjoy the retail version of the games. The new maps offer more fun for those who play it online but the retail version offers plenty of maps and content to keep people playing.
The issue with DLC is when it brings in features that many believed should have been in the release version of the game. When new game modes are included, many consumers believe they were kept from the retail version of the game to increase the revenue stream for the game by forcing consumers to buy the DLC.
There is no doubt that DLC exists as a way to bring in more revenue from a title and since most games go into production with a clear plan for DLC the question can arise as to what was planned as DLC and what was left out to be included as DLC later.
The key for me has always been does the game seem complete in the retail form and does the DLC enhance the game or “fill in” what appeared to be a gap in the original game.
The Genie is out of the bottle and I do not see DLC or Micro Transactions going away anytime soon as people continue to buy them and as long as there is money to be made, I expect publishers to continue to look for more ways to use them as well as look at other revenue streams in the future.
For now the argument is always that nobody is forcing consumers to purchase DLC or micro transactions and as such we have a choice. But when prime content is lacking at release to be released later for an additional price, publishers have to understand that consumers will be upset. DLC is meant to enhance the game not make up for missing content and as such, it is on publishers to make sure consumers are getting a stable, complete, and quality game for their money before DLC enters into the conversation.
