Last week it was rumored that BioShock 2's "Sinclair Solutions" DLC pack was not DLC at all, merely being a key that unlocked content already on the disc. 2K has since confirmed that this is the case, and has justified itself by saying it didn't want to split the user base. Wait, what?
"The way our engine and game structure works is that people need to have the exact same content for people to play together," wheedles 2K. "One of the challenges with post launch content for MP is that it can split the player base, and we want to avoid that whenever possible. For this content, creating the DLC package the way we did allowed for us to not split the player base -- so whether you purchase the new content or not, you can still play with your friends.
"I know some of you have strong beliefs about DLC, and I'm not here to sway your opinion or convince you to buy our stuff - if you like what we're offering, I hope you get it and enjoy it. If it's not your speed, enjoy BioShock 2 as we released it."
Forgive me, but that reeks of bullsh*t to me. I don't see how on-disc or DLC content would have any affect on the user base. I also can't wait to see 2K try to talk its way out of this statement when it runs out of on-disc content and starts making actual downloadable content, which you can damn well bet it'll start doing. Oh wait, it'll just pretend it never made this statement.
What a terrible excuse to justify blatant false advertising.
2K explains reason for on-disc DLC [Videogamer]
Contest:
8:00 AM on 03.15.2010
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But people DID buy it, you're just charging them again for the right to access it.
Then you should have offered unlocking it for free. Making people pay for content will automatically "split the community" because there are people who don't want to pay again for the bull shit they bought already.
This is the worst PR I have seen in years since that too human guy Denis Dyack. Actually it is worse. They are locking content already on the disk in the hopes that people would pay for it later.
Aren't they breaking the law here?
Unless everybody playing buys the dlc it will split the payer base so regardless of wether it's on the disc or not thi man is taking out of his arse.
Absolute bull.
Melvargh put it best, "But people DID buy it, you're just charging them again for the right to access it."
Mandatory Update when DLC comes out that includes the files for the DLC, but not access to them. I mean, this is how every MMO in existence deals with the fact that everyone does not buy the expansions. You get the files needed for the expansions so you can still interact with the player base, you just can't play any of the new stuff until you pay for it.
I don't see how this is so difficult.
Every other company in the world can let you play MP with your friends even if you don't download all the DLC your friends have, so you basically admitting your programmers are too incompetent to set up an MP structure that everyone else can?
Well played, 2K. You just took an embarrassment and turned it into a joke.
anyway... this should be illegal, i mean, you souldn't be charged for something which is already con the disc... something you already payed for
btw... haven't 2k played burnout paradise?
If you don't want to split the community with a DLC pack that's not a huge significance to the game, don't charge for it.
Grow the fuck up!
The real world doesn't work like that; let's take one of the most prolific and widely spread database technologies for example. You pay for a license and you get a disc. That disc (or discs) come with every possible feature the software can support, but your signed for and agreed to license denotes which parts of it you can legally use. Just because you happen to have the disc in your possession and the code is on the disc, DOES NOT mean you are licensed to use it.
This is exactly the same. You haven't bought the game, you've bought a license to use a copy of the game. The DLC is merely a license upgrade. Who gives a flying fuck whether it's already on the disc? Christ you could even conceivably think of it as a bonus because you don't have to download it when you want to use it! But no, you can't see beyond the end of your upturned spoilt little nose that's been put out by these nasty evil horrible men in their big suits, big cars and big buildings.
I'm glad I didn't buy the game, I would feel ripped off. The story was retcon garbage anyways, I'd barely say it was worth playing at all.
Stop letting these fuckers take advantage of you, don't buy this shit. If you buy it, you're telling the industry that they can in fact dick you over and you'll happily PAY for it.
now we're supposed to believe that in 2010 2k can't manage it?
yeah it should be unlocked and available to everyone. Should everyone get really upset about it? meh. Does this PR guy need some real help understanding that no comment is the best comment on things like this? Definitely.
I don't disagree with your licensing laws argument, but I do disagree that 2K need PR like this. Terrible lies and subterfuge in PR is what has cost many companies dearly in the past.
I'd rather hear a straight admission that 2K thought this additional content was worth more money, hence the extra charge.
You know; the truth.
@LordVonPS3
I'm sure their argument is that you've got to download the unlock key, hence it's DLC, hence they're covered.
However, it's a shaky use of the word "content" for sure and the messy way they've set precedent means I don't think we'll be seeing such ambiguous shenanigans in the future.
So, there, other developers already dealt with online DLC while addressing the issue of "split[ting] the player base -- so whether you purchase the new content or not, you can still play with your friends"
That's just a lame excuse by 2K for taking Namco's shady approach to DLC.
Smells like bullshit.
'some of those idiotic enough to protest about it in the first place.'
I understand your licensing point but its stick a scam. Even the words DLC are false marketing. Maybe they should call it 'pay to unlock'. Il just take my custom elsewhere.
All 2K could possibly be called out for on this is how they've handled it, but given the natural response you lot throw back in these situations (all stinking of a sobbing child crying "it's mine!") it doesn't surprise me one jot that they've tried a different tact.
So are you saying, you wouldn't have gone apeshit about this point if they revealed it before or on release? The game rated very high and most people enjoyed it a great deal. Now, neglecting if the decision to do this or not was right or not, if this WAS the way it had to plan out, knowing how volatile (and look around) the fanbase gets about this kind of thing... hell yeah, I'm just going to do it first and talk about it later.
Burnout Paradise.
They found a way of making it so that the entire user base had the DLC on their HDDs so that you could always connect to an MP regardless of what you had bought.
I think its just lazy programming to do it the 2K way, and it sets the industry on a slipperly slope...because who knows where they will draw the line on what you have to pay to unlock on the disc you paid $90 - $100 (Australian Dollars, makes it sound worse) for...
They're not even ashamed. My goodness, the beast wants more!
To me this is a better option than separating the player base like most map packs do. For instance, the new MW2 stimulus pack is releasing soon. In order to play the maps you have to buy them. What happens is those who don't buy the packs get kicked when a new map comes into rotation. Not only is this punishment and tedious for those who don't want to spend 15 bucks on 3 maps, but the players that do buy the map pack now have a room with less players (and probably lop-sided teams as well).
You may be right that this is not deliberate subterfuge. I don't know that this PR statement provides any solace though.
It seems that irrespective to the legalities, this content lock has left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. Gone are the days where what you hold in your hand is the complete title you have paid for, and that's a lot for many people to get used to.
Irrespective of whether this is down to misinformed consumers or not, the last thing you try to do as a company is piss off consumers if you can afford not to.
Like you say, it seems to me 2K could have handled this a lot better. However I'd be surprised if they, or anyone else, try this tact again without thinking long and hard about it first.
I'd have more respect for 2K if it was transparent with it's actions.
If you're setting a precedent with unlockable disc content, you really ought to be clear with your customers on the outset.
If 2K were worried about customers going "apeshit", they shouldn't have done it at all; not hidden it and talked about it later.
As opposed as other developers that listen to their fanbase's wishes, work on DLC to adress issues and offer more gameplay, release significant content to support the game, and (gasp!) sometimes they even give it away for free.
Your argument doesn't fly so well in the console gaming world, What's common practice in the computer software world is not common place on a console. Rather they have the right to do this doesn't really matter because in the end people are used to feeling like they actually own the disc based game they bought.
Another example of the differences of console disc games and computer software is that you further get the illusion that you own what you purchased because you can go out and resell that disc and we all know that the majority of computer software doesn't allow you to resell your license. In the end people are going to feel ripped off and not including the damn code on the frigging disc is a easy way to avoid the ass-tastic fallout!
more like ENC, for Encrypted Content.