On the ethics and practicalities of DLC

[Lord Canterbury]

This topic has been done to death now. but while you are busy passing judgement, I would highly recommend you read Polygon's interview with Fredrik Wester on Paradox's Past if you haven't already.

I doubt it will change anyone's views, but it will definitely place them into a fuller context. And it is interesting to boot.

 

[Darkrenown]

Wouldn't be the first time, would it? People still fall for the 411 scams on a daily basis. I mean just look at people grocery shopping.

The internet: Home of the "Anyone who disagrees with my Position of Absolute Correctness must be an idiot and/or is being scammed" logic.

 

[SirAstonMartin]

But Car's do do the same thing (hell most things do)

You have Options and Accessories for the Car.

What are designed and developed alongside the Car.

Pointless for the actual use of the Car

The Car does not need leather seats, a GPS, Fancy sunroof whatever but if you want it you will pay for it.

This.

 

[Zakuno2]

If you want anyone to blame for DLC, blame Bethesda. Their horse Armor started all of this.

 

[unmerged(584823)]

This.

No, not "this", I will never understand people who do that kind of compareason on a non humoristic point of view. Video games are videogames, they are not cars, paintings, poles or space ships.

 

[Sepulcher]

No, not "this", I will never understand people who do that kind of compareason on a non humoristic point of view. Video games are videogames, they are not cars, paintings, poles or space ships.

Silly Hargrave, all complex economics and consumer habits can be explained with mona lisas.

 

[unmerged(584823)]

Silly Hargrave, all complex economics and consumer habits can be explained with mona lisas.

Silly you ! You made me laugh ! You shouldn't

 

[Bard of Reveran]

I still don't support the monetizing of most of the additions to the game. 1 or 2 DLCs for purchase maybe, but you know, if the game with DLCs combined cost fifty percent more than only the game itself. It'll be hard to find fresh people buying the game without thinking of a discount first.

There's also the prices being the same amount but different currencies in different regions issue, but I'm not going to talk about that.

 

[Acularius]

Well, Paradox was rather upfront about the direction they were taking an article a while back. I read it and I decided to go with it because Paradox makes games I really enjoy.
They've gotten better at release quality of the game too, as I remember fondly on HOI3 just not working, and Victoria 2 having some issues but was playable and CKII was playable and pretty good. (The point is the on release progression by notable CTD bugs in the game as I recall them. It is also the reason why my autosave function is always set to the smallest interval - 6 months for example for CK2)

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...sion-policy-for-the-Internal-Development-Team

TL,DR - Early adopters get more benefits, we'll be patching games for longer and expansions will be modular so your installation of the game will always see continued patching.

So far they've kept pretty true, so I'm a pretty happy camper.

 

[airpirate]

"Guys, this horse corpse isn't glue yet, better keep beating it!"

 

[Teije]

Below is a handy tool by which you can rate your "DLC-o-Meter"

A - DLC's are evil, bastard developers can't even release a finished game, why do I have to pay extra for everything good. All future content should be free
B - DLC's are a necessary evil, so that Paradox can fund future development of their games so I will continue to pay for them even though they kind of make me cringe because they are capitalistic
C - DLC's are awesome, adding cool stuff and they allow me to pay for only the content I want so please continue to make them
D - Who cares, I just came here to ask a game question, why are half the threads on this stupid forum about the ethics of DLC?

With this tool, for any future DLC discussion on these forums, you can just choose A/B/C/D and the discussion is done. No need to endlessly rehash the same points in countless threads.

 

[iShurik]

C!

 

[trcanberra]

The internet: Home of the "Anyone who disagrees with my Position of Absolute Correctness must be an idiot and/or is being scammed" logic.

Oh - so much hitting of nails on the head in this comment.

 

[riknap]

But Car's do do the same thing (hell most things do)

You have Options and Accessories for the Car.

What are designed and developed alongside the Car.

Pointless for the actual use of the Car

The Car does not need leather seats, a GPS, Fancy sunroof whatever but if you want it you will pay for it.

other people would argue that a GPS is a necessity though
:laugh:

 

[trcanberra]

[SNIP]

There's also the prices being the same amount but different currencies in different regions issue, but I'm not going to talk about that.

You just did.

 

[unmerged(46341)]

Am I a bad person for actually liking DLC? My favorite games last way longer than they used to. It used to be that you bought a game, played it, wished it was better, and maybe if you were lucky you got some mods, expansions, or patches to fix that in anything but a timely fashion. Now games just don't die, and you can pick and choose new pieces all the time. I've spent way too much time playing way too many games over the years, but CK2 is at the very top of the list. And I'm still not close to done with it. By all means, sell me more DLC!

 

[terminalstatus]

I generally love DLC for my favorite games! Bring more on! When I love a game, any released content even on day one after certain workers are done with the base product is a-okay for me. Besides, I'm getting all the DLC with the preorder pack anyways. Not like I REALLY missed out on anything. I just consider it the price of the game, and my way to show support to Paradox as a company. I enjoy having all the bells and whistles, even if others dislike paying for it. That's how capitalism works as you put it. Incentive by producers to go the extra mile.

Paradox is actually REALLY good with their DLC policy. They keep patching the game regardless if you have DLC or not, and they even release extra content as a byproduct for base users of the game. Win win if you ask me. Problem is the mindset of certain users on this forum. They believe DLC = How the game should already be. Well DLC is just that, as everyone has said. An "optional" set of things, most of them looks or songs. It's not like they sit down and say, "Oh want your Cassus Belli? 40 DOLLAR DLC! Want to use your ships? 25 Dollar Boat Use pack! Want to change your government in EUIV? EU: GOVERNMENT PACK!"

Besides, dislike it? Nothing is stopping you/me/anyone from NOT buying Paradox Interactive's games. Speak with your wallet, otherwise your words are generally wasted in the long run to a business. IE why I refuse to buy EA games.

 

[Sn3ipen]

 

[tapewormlondon]

I love DLC. I want more! More!!!!!!

 

[Victor_Yuzo]

The single downside to Paradox switching to the vastly superior DLC model is the constant whining about it on the forms.