Calling Out DLC Price Gouging

[Betamax001]

I think the only DLC I bought was the Knives character for Scott Pilgrim and the one upgrade thing for Super Stardust HD because it added some new game modes or something. I do agree if its really soon after release then thats BS, but if it's a few months later then I'm cool with it. I'm also cool if the DLC is free, like the DLC for Unreal Tournament 3 was on PSN. The DLC has to also be something I would want, like new maps or game modes, not stupid stuff like alternate costumes. I'm not gonna name names Super Street Fighter IV.

[JordanPlayer]

Just to add a little follow-up to my previous post; I have bought a few DLC items and quite a few arcade games. However, I have always waited until these items have gone on sale. I made a list of digital/arcade games and keep adding onto it, when one of them is on sale I usually end up picking it up. I think DLC is also over-priced most of the time; a great example of value DLC is Scott Pilgrim which added 2 new game modes and a new character for $2. COD $15 map packs are the real problem I remember the days when Unreal Tournament and other PC games would get expansion packs or continued free content well after release. The only recent companies that come to mind who have fought to provide additional content for free are Valve and the creators of Super Meat Boy (SMB actually had quite a disagreement with MS about free content and found a way to work around their rules and provide updates in-game).

[Rurouni_Fencer]

I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying! And you're absolutely right - DLC has it's major disadvantages when done poorly, yet when done the right way it can extend one's experience with a title. The problem lies in how a company chooses to go about it, and far too many, (EA, especially!,) choose the micro-transaction route because they figure people don't care about a buck or two, or add silly, already-on-the-disc perks like colors that can only be 'unlocked' by buying the rights to it! And it really pisses me off when they do it so fast that I don't even have time to finish the game a first time before you download an update that's only purpose is to inform you - "hey! There's new content available in the marketplace!"

I will admit - I've purchased additional players, or extra player colors, (lookin' at you, SF4!) And I did it because I felt jipped because I shelled out for the Collector's Edition, getting all that bonus content thinking I bought into the supreme SF4 experience (and genuinely wanting to thank Capcom for bringing SF back from the dead by supporting the company by getting the Premium edition.) Only to be trolled with immediately released "new colors", (1 pack, of which, I was already entitled to because I sprung for the more expensive package - gee, thanks!)

Anyway, Flake has a good point - they may not learn until people stop buying their BS content! But realistically, people are always going to shell out an extra buck or two for it. Because for every person that takes a stand and says 'no!', there are 3 or 4 other people who don't care about throwing a buck away on an extra soundtrack or color, or whatever..