D20: Cue Internet Rage

[Jez]

And people seem to take for granted the fact that games have not risen in price over the last 20 years (I clearly remember buying Tie Fighter for $99) yet the cost of producing of them has risen significantly. In fact, it seems games have actually dropped a little in price.

Australian prices aren't very relevant considering we make up a tiny fraction of their market. Certainly RRP has risen in the US for a lot of games from 50 to 60 dollars. Moreover, as others have pointed out, the size and potential profit to be made from the market have risen pretty dramatically as well.

I don't get what the big whinge is about a 5th DLC character. The main game already has four playable classes and missing out on the 5th character would in no way detract from the game itself. Hell, I only finished Borderlands with just two characters before deciding that replaying the same game with the rest of the characters was pointless.

Unless of course the 5th character is an unbalanced monstrosity that sucks the fun out of playing co-op. It certainly wouldn't be unknown for a game dev to swap cash for power.

[Ephraimus]

I've already preordered Borderlands 2. I've had it on preorder since it became available to do so. For me, this is as has already been stated an added bonus, and considering how Gearbox have done on the 1st Borderlands, I personally have great expectations for the sequel (the downside of course being that I can be let down, hope not though).

Gearbox is one of the few companies (from my experience) that really listens to the community (for instance the super collector's edition box being suggested/designed by the community).

[jerichosainte]

Whether or not the devs have pulled this from the final release to sell for extra, which we don't really know.

All it really comes down to is value for money, if you can see it then buy it. If not...well don't.

[caitsith01]

Game publishers plan: constantly nickel and dime users for DLC which can and should form part of the core game.

My plan: in relation to each game, wait for the inevitable gold edition to come out for half the price including all DLC and other miscellania.

Net effect of plans in my case: I pay less for more and wait a little while before playing games. Game publisher makes less money from me.

[Marius]

That ignores that games have to make money to attract investment, studios have budgets, and much DLC can't be justified until the game sells initially.

It's the buyers who pay for the initial release that make gold editions possible.

[DjVu]

IRT @ Various posts after mine

I hate completed content (in time for launch) being made 'DLC' as well; especially on the disc, but even downloadable.

In this case, there is no content yet. You're saying its an 'incomplete' version of the game, yet they would have to delay the game for at least 3 months to include the content. Should they take that option instead? When is enough enough?

With regards to claims of "thats what they tell us, but its probably already complete", you have to treat that as case by case. With the Mass Effect DLC there were leaks months before referencing the DLC as part of the main game (convo scripts, assets etc); a lot of the files were already on the disc and it was complete for day-0 release.

In this case, there is no proof that Gearbox are already properly working on the content and it will be ready for release. As for releasing it free to everyone who buys the game, well that's an impossible argument. Sure I love free stuff, but to be fair they have a right to charge for whatever post-content they want; doesn't mean I will buy it.

[R3DNUT]

mechromancer? play as knoxxtrap? or something similar? maybe some other crazy scientist will be in this one that fuses the remains of dr.ned-trap and knoxx-trap?

on the dlc part.. does it actually say it will cost? maybe it'll be free?

[DjVu]

mechromancer? play as knoxxtrap? or something similar? maybe some other crazy scientist will be in this one that fuses the remains of dr.ned-trap and knoxx-trap?

on the dlc part.. does it actually say it will cost? maybe it'll be free?

if you read the article its free for those who pre-order.

[DontShoot]

This sort of thing is SOP these days, an it is going to become more an more frequent as time goe son. Games will get smaller, an more expensive an "DLC" will become more of a cash cow. Because lets face it, if you can sell a game for 100$ that's half of the size it was 2 years ago, then suddenly week after retail a slew of "DLC" starts coming out for idiotic prices you know full well its going to happen.

Welcome to the age of "**** the customer". The days of freebe's or value for money are gone.
No it is not a conspiracy, it's simple mathematics an economy 101...charge more for less, an then charge even more for even less = more $$.

Hell those dip **** with starcraft 2 did it ages ago, an everyone paid for it while proudly screaming shame!!! to the devs, when they split the game up into three pieces.Everyone knows it was a blatant "**** you" to the public. Yet they paid out huge prices hand over fist anyway.

Remember the average gamer has the attention span of a goldfish, they are quick to complain an even quicker to forget.

I disagree.

First off the consumer can chose not to buy a product they belive is not up to standard. There are many indie developers releasing high quality complete products. THis trend you talk about seems to be happening with AAA titles. I for one will no longer spend my money on AAA titles unless the publish offers me the consumer a very good deal. I got burnt on both mass Effect 3 and Battlefield 3.

As to Star Craft 2. I disagree that we where ripped off. I to was shocked to hear the game was only to feature the Terrain faction. I actually wasnt going to buy the game as a protest. I lucked out and got my hands on a real cheap copy. Im happy to admite that we the consumers where not ripped off. The game was just as large as the original. Its just the story is spread over 3 games. I have no problem at all with that. I actually prefer that a game be released this way rather then buying a game then buying DLC to complete a story (mass effect 3).