Exclusivity is going crazy

[AppleQueso]

yeah, when the concept of DLC first appeared, we all thought of it as a cool way for developers to extend the lifespan of their games.

instead it's just a way to swindle more cash out of us so we actually get a complete game.

[MrPopo]

Stuff that would normally be included on the game disc from the beginning is purposely being held back and sold later for an additional cost.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this point. Yes, some DLC is just bullshit nickle and diming (SF4's alt costumes, for example). Other pieces of DLC are things that used to be free in the past, but ever since Microsoft monetized it you have to pay (map packs, the small Oblivion DLC when compared to the free downloadable stuff for Morrowind). And then finally there's things like the Fallout 3 DLC, which add a fair amount of content and would likely be sold as expansion packs. In the first case, yes, you're not buying 100% value. But in the other two cases I'd argue that it takes your 100% game and bumps it up to 105%.

This too is bullshit, JUST PUT IT IN THE GAME!!!!!!!! Especially with blu ray discs and multiple discs (like Mass Effect 2) there is no reason you couldn't put it on there in the first place

Specifically calling out the Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age stuff, that was specifically designed to hurt resale value. They remove some content from the disc, make it free for everyone who buys it new and makes it cost money for people who buy it used. I don't personally have a problem with it, as I buy everything new, but I can understand people who disagree with it on philosophical grounds. I think it's a perfectly valid business tactic and I welcome anything that cuts into Gamestop's policy of using game trade ins for high margins.

[BlackDS]

DLC is cleverly used to get gamers used to the idea of temporary limited game rentals. Slowly but surely, we are progressing towards a time when the only games available to play are ones that came out within the last 5 years. They will be expensive and tied to your console/account.

We are Devo!

[the7k]

one of the reasons I liked the 32/64-bit era was because all 3 main consoles were drastically different from each other, and had clear weaknesses and strengths in hardware alone.

I won't argue that the hardware was vastly different, but plenty of big name titles in the 32/64-bit era were multiplatform. Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, Tomb Raider, Mega Man Legends, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Street Fighter Alpha 2 and many other games people associated with the PlayStation ended up finding their way to the Sega Saturn or Nintendo 64.

I blame Soul Calibur 2. That's the first time I remember this happening. The Game Cube had exclusive Link, Xbox had exclusive Spawn, and PS2 had exclusive Heihachi.

First case I remember of exclusive content was Earthworm Jim. The Genesis version had a stage that was left out of the SNES version.

As for all the hoopla about DLC, there was a very good article I read about it in EGM (The Super Street Fighter IV issue, I believe), written by Dan Shoe. Basically, some people are doing it right (Criterion's Burnout Paradise being an excellent example) and some people are doing it wrong (Capcom's Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil 5 DLC being nothing more than unlock codes). Eventually, the market will respond and the industry will shape up from that.

[CRTGAMER]

Take a step back. DLC itself is the problem. Stuff that would normally be included on the game disc from the beginning is purposely being held back and sold later for an additional cost. Then 5-10 years later, the DLC is no longer available to download. The whole thing is bullshit.

DLC is a way to increase the cost of a game from $60 to $70-$100. You see that $60 price tag at the store but the actual cost of the game is unknown. Months later, you will realize the real cost was actually higher. However if you want to sell your copy, it won't have as much value since you can't resell the DLC. And if you wait too long to sell your copy, it's value will really plummet after the DLC has been pulled from the server. No one can get 100% of the game any longer...

DLC is cleverly used to get gamers used to the idea of temporary limited game rentals. Slowly but surely, we are progressing towards a time when the only games available to play are ones that came out within the last 5 years. They will be expensive and tied to your console/account.

I miss the days when you could buy 100% of a game for $50, and have complete control over it. You could bring it your friend's house and play on his console, resell it to someone, buy it 20 years later from ebay and still be able to enjoy the full experience.

I totally agree with this, the thing that gets me is when you have games that are making big announcements about how they will have DLC the day the game comes out(can't think of any specifics) or if not the day, at least a week later. This too is bullshit, JUST PUT IT IN THE GAME!!!!!!!! Especially with blu ray discs and multiple discs (like Mass Effect 2) there is no reason you couldn't put it on there in the first place, no DLC has ever been so amazing that I have been tempted to buy it

Agree with this. But also great having add on Map paks if original game on disc has enough play time percieved as complete. As a DRM hater, having just finished an older FPS for PS2 Cold Winter, I am still craving more. Lucky my PS2 doesn't have the DRM temptation, its another reason the current Gens offer the Download route. As in EBay a convenient mouse click, "Oh crap I just bought that!" I think I prefer to buy a Cold Winter 2 on disc at a little more cost vs a temporary DRM Map Pack though.

[Josh]

I think DLC is a huge issue. Not everyone has wireless online or access to a router. (IE: I can't get online on my 360 because I'm not spending 100 bucks for an adapter, and my ethernet cable doesn't stretch to the other side of the house) It would be a ton easier just to put a certain amount of DLC on a disc and sell it like a normal game, of course making sure it says "You must own such and such game to play the Content on this disc" or something along those lines. All DLC is, is a way to purge money out of customers. To me.

As for the topic at hand, there was a time where I thought there wasn't enough exclusives, and that the only difference between the 360 and PS3 versions of games were in graphics and sound. I rarely ever care about exclusive content, because I'm not going to buy two/three copies of the same game for two/three different consoles just to experience it 100%. Is that BS? Yes.

[CRTGAMER]

I think DLC is a huge issue. Not everyone has wireless online or access to a router. (IE: I can't get online on my 360 because I'm not spending 100 bucks for an adapter, and my ethernet cable doesn't stretch to the other side of the house) It would be a ton easier just to put a certain amount of DLC on a disc and sell it like a normal game, of course making sure it says "You must own such and such game to play the Content on this disc" or something along those lines. All DLC is, is a way to purge money out of customers. To me.

As for the topic at hand, there was a time where I thought there wasn't enough exclusives, and that the only difference between the 360 and PS3 versions of games were in graphics and sound. I rarely ever care about exclusive content, because I'm not going to buy two/three copies of the same game for two/three different consoles just to experience it 100%. Is that BS? Yes.

Always prefer a hard copy. But a solution for you, after-market ethernet to wireless. I've seen some on sale for 39 bucks.

[RCBH928]

I think there are enough games to differentiate the consoles, not as much as before, but enough

ps3: Modnation, Uncharted, MGS, God of War, GT, inFamous, Killzone, Twisted Metal, Resistance 2, folklore, LittleBigPlanet ,heavenly Sword, heavy rain, Yakuza, and more

360: gears of war, Halo, Alan wake, Crackdown, Forza,Fable, Kameo,Saints Row, Mass Effect, and more

but i think the issue is that we have a lot of games that are too similar to each other on each console, like forza and gt, heavy rain and alan wake.

But the dumb exclusivity I am talking about is like DLC will be on our console first, how stupid is that?
I think downloadable content should be free as an after sale service.

[Riqz85]

I think there are enough games to differentiate the consoles, not as much as before, but enough

ps3: Modnation, Uncharted, MGS, God of War, GT, inFamous, Killzone, Twisted Metal, Resistance 2, folklore, LittleBigPlanet ,heavenly Sword, heavy rain, Yakuza, and more

360: gears of war, Halo, Alan wake, Crackdown, Forza,Fable, Kameo,Saints Row, Mass Effect, and more

but i think the issue is that we have a lot of games that are too similar to each other on each console, like forza and gt, heavy rain and alan wake.

But the dumb exclusivity I am talking about is like DLC will be on our console first, how stupid is that?
I think downloadable content should be free as an after sale service.

WHere's ratchet and clank?????

[GSZX1337]

I think there are enough games to differentiate the consoles, not as much as before, but enough

ps3: Modnation, Uncharted, MGS, God of War, GT, inFamous, Killzone, Twisted Metal, Resistance 2, folklore, LittleBigPlanet ,heavenly Sword, heavy rain, Yakuza, and more

360: gears of war, Halo, Alan wake, Crackdown, Forza,Fable, Kameo,Saints Row, Mass Effect, and more

but i think the issue is that we have a lot of games that are too similar to each other on each console, like forza and gt, heavy rain and alan wake.

But the dumb exclusivity I am talking about is like DLC will be on our console first, how stupid is that?
I think downloadable content should be free as an after sale service.

WHere's ratchet and clank?????

Damn straight. Ratchet and Clank is the best series on the PlayStation.