How do you feel about paying extra for hidden content?

[Xeogred]

If you guys can provide good examples of DLC purchases I'd love to hear about them...

Can't think of a single one I've bought that felt like it was really worth it. I think I haven't bought a single one since FEAR 2 Reborn, which felt like it took 30 minutes to complete (same with one of the old Mass Effect DLC releases).

[J T]

As retro gamers, we are accustomed to things like cartridges where the product has to be finished. You can't patch it later or add DLC-- it needs to work and give you the full experience.

I think there is something to be said for that business model, whether it's a by-product of cartridge based games or not. I like my games to work from day 1 and I like to know that the game I bought is the full experience, not some teaser.


I do think there is a time and a place for paid bonus content though. Large expansions that are effectively a sequel with the same graphics and characters are worthy of my extra money.

I also think that the free-to-play (F2P) model is pretty cool. There are lots of games now (especially mmorpgs) where you can play the base game for free, then extra pieces of content require money. In my mind, this is kind of an advanced demo system. I can experience what the game has to offer, and in some cases even play it start to finish, without spending a time. This way, if I don't like the game, I've lost nothing, and if I do like the game, I can decide how much extra cash I want to invest in it.

There can, however, be real downsides to the F2P model if companies get too greedy, or are just stupid about what they charge for and how they price things. Some games attempt to get you hooked, then once you've invested time in the story, you have to pay and pay to move forward. Some games handicap you severely if you don't pay up. Multiplayer games may give an overwhelming advantage to paying customers. Some games pester you endlessly with offers for things to buy in game. All of these are ways in which F2P can get real annoying real fast.

But if it's done right. F2P can make you feel like you got a game for free and only decided to pay for a few extras because you appreciated the experience. It's sort of like tipping a good street performer.

[the7k]

If you guys can provide good examples of DLC purchases I'd love to hear about them...

Can't think of a single one I've bought that felt like it was really worth it. I think I haven't bought a single one since FEAR 2 Reborn, which felt like it took 30 minutes to complete (same with one of the old Mass Effect DLC releases).

Burnout Paradise.

[saturnfan]

There's DLC that's worth it and DLC that isn't. DLC that enhances the experience and DLC that fragments or ruins it.

I like the good kind. I don't like the bad kind. Simple as that, really.

This pretty much sums it up.

As for the bad and/or lame DLC, I am generally more baffled by the price. For example, I might be interested in buying new costumes for my characters in a fighting game for 5-10MS, not 400MS. I feel the price isn't reflective of what you are getting.

[brunoafh]

There's DLC that's worth it and DLC that isn't. DLC that enhances the experience and DLC that fragments or ruins it.

I like the good kind. I don't like the bad kind. Simple as that, really.

This pretty much sums it up.

Worth it or not, it's still complete bullshit, and a direction that's damaging the industry overall. DLC is one of the major reasons why I (and many others) no longer support current gen gaming.

[TEKTORO]

Not worth a dime for anything that cant sit in my hands or my shelves.

[fastbilly1]

I am for DLC, just not of the hidden on the disc variety. I know that is how the industry is going so I will continue to buy the DLC for games I like, but like console download games, I view it as thrown away money.

And itll be a cold day in hell before I pay real money for a fake hat for my avatar in a game. Unless its a fedora, fedora are cool

[jfrost]

If you guys can provide good examples of DLC purchases I'd love to hear about them...

Can't think of a single one I've bought that felt like it was really worth it. I think I haven't bought a single one since FEAR 2 Reborn, which felt like it took 30 minutes to complete (same with one of the old Mass Effect DLC releases).

Borderlands.

[Xeogred]

So that's two examples of two games so far out of a couple hundred or so?

Sorry, just had to be the bad guy here.

[MrEco]

If you guys can provide good examples of DLC purchases I'd love to hear about them...

Can't think of a single one I've bought that felt like it was really worth it. I think I haven't bought a single one since FEAR 2 Reborn, which felt like it took 30 minutes to complete (same with one of the old Mass Effect DLC releases).

It's completely opinion based so giving a list of "good" or "bad" DLC is completely pointless. It won't prove or disprove anything.