I have this problem... DLC or "downloadable content" (for the interweb newbs) seems to be popping up everywhere. I have purchased a few things here and there that are classified as DLC. I applaud developers for wanting to increase the replay factor of their games, but I am seeing a really disturbing trend. We all kind of thought it might come to this, but we still wanted to believe that it wouldn't. Mirror's Edge has some new DLC coming out... this is not it, but you wish it was.


BEST EXPANSION EVER

There is a window of time, I believe, that should pass before DLC is available for a game. You see, I enjoy getting new things for my old games, but I don't really understand getting new things for my new games.
I start to get all conspiracy theorist on myself and begin to walk around the house cursing and swearing to never buy DLC again when I see that a new game like Mirror's Edge already has DLC. Really? It hasn't even been out a full month yet. Terrible.


FACE TATTOOS AREN'T THE ONLY THING MIRROR'S EDGE AND MIKE TYSON HAVE IN COMMON*wink*

When I buy a new game for sixty-plus dollars, I want every last bit of product that the developers thought up crammed into that game. I am started to get annoyed that fewer and fewer games contain unlockable features and the ones that do, require that you pay for the item to unlock it. That is just plain wrong.

While I know that by complaining about this and ranting won't change anything, I can't help but say something. I peruse the internet on a daily basis and almost every single day I see a new game has some DLC. I blame those "music" games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero for starting it. These might be nice fun party games, but they have spread their filthy micro-transaction disease to the rest of the gaming industry. Of course some ass-hat/savvy businessman in a position of power is going to notice that people eat up DLC, get his panties in a bunch, then go tell the development team working on their new game that they need to limit the number of weapons, outfits, bonus missions, length of game, etc.


THE SKY ABOVE ACTIVISION'S MAIN OFFICE

"Hey guys, don't work so hard, we can just release half of this stuff in installments and price it at 800 MS points per pop!" People making these games might not actually say things like that, but man... it wouldn't surprise me anymore.

Anyway, I can't wait to start buying my games in pieces! Whatta ya say? $60 for the "introductory disc" and $10 per "update" or "expansion"? Does that sound good to you? The best part is that in-game ads are becoming more prevalent. I don't really mind them personally if they fit well within the context of the game. What I do mind however, is if developers are using that extra "sponsor" money to make exclusive 800 MS Point "Bonus Weapons + Curly Mustache Unlockable" DLC for my game I just bought 3 weeks ago, instead of using it on more development time/development resources and putting that content in the damn game to begin with.

TLDR VERSION:

DLC is getting out of hand in my opinion. It's nice to have extra stuff for your games, but not when you just took the damn plastic off of the case. I hate you DLC, but I want you sometimes... why do you treat me like this?



Also, I know half of you are going to say "Well just don't fucking buy it."

While that is quite clever, it is the fact that these things should have been in the game to begin with. When DLC is released within a month of the game's release, it bothers me and makes me question why it wasn't included with the full game. I will most likely still buy something like that if its cool and seems to be worth it, but man... it pains me to do so.

It is kind of like buying a 12 pack of beer at regular price, then discovering that two beers are missing when you get it home. Sure you could make it work with just the ten beers and go out to get more in a few hours, but you still really want the other two beers because that is what you thought you paid for from the get go.

So I met this person the other night on Stickam of all places (which I never thought I'd try and yet eventually I wound up seeing Coonskin's, Necros', Lemon's, Tactix's, and ZenAlbatross' man boobs). Anyway, she turned out to be quite interesting and cool. That is not the main focus of this blawg here though.

I'll cut to the chase. She makes some killer retro game art, along with some other pretty awesome art in general.

We were discussing her little pixel creations and I told her that people would probably buy this stuff, given the right subject, size of the piece, and that particular person's love for the subject.

So I just wanted to ask you guys what you think of these awesome pieces of retro art and what you think you would pay for something like them.

The first one is Siren from Final Fantasy III, I believe, and is the size of a pillow!
That's crazy huge. Anyway, the rest of them are smaller in size, but instantly recognizable.


She said Ifrit was next to be made. Awesome.














This one was later assembled into a 3D SMB Coin Box.... excellent.

So I'm just curious.... how much do you think you would pay for a pillow-sized creation of one of your favorite retro game characters or even ones that were as big as game cases?

Imagine a Mega Man that big... it would be awesome... I would hang him over my bed and fap to him. We were also talking about how cool it would be to have a whole scene from a game up on your wall.

Anyway, we were both just curious as to what other people might think of these things and I thought you were the right peoples to ask. I heard you guys like the gaymes, amirite?

Obviously I think they're rather rad.

I didn't see that one coming, but according to IGN, it has happened.


I suppose the Japanese don't like to waggle as much as I thought, which is sad in a way. It tarnishes the funny mental image I have of Japanese people feverishly swinging a Wiimote.

I hope this shows Nintendo something though, that most of their shit is so weird, gimmicky, and boring that even the Japanese have started to notice it. : |
That's not good.

Do you think this will last or do you feel that the PS3 will make a splash later and overthrow the current throne that Microsoft now holds?

The PS3 stands in a distant 3rd place now [EDIT: for a week anyway =P] and I don't think the Japanese are as crazy about Wipeout HD and LBP, as some of you are around here. I'm not sure what's coming out any time soon that would sway the Japanese consumers to pick up a PS3.

I'm sure the FFXIII loss for Sony had something to to with this and as the IGN article says, there are a lot of JRPGs being made for the 360 now. I guess Japanese people like JRPGs, go figure.

Anyway, this was unexpected to me and speaks quite well for Microsoft and their ongoing effort to dominate the console market. I for one, am glad. It teaches Sony a valuable lesson that even the Japanese will not buy their console based on brand loyalty alone. I just find it somewhat satisfying to watch Sony struggle after coming out of the gate with such a shitty attitude and hope they realize that more effort is needed on their behalf to compete with Microsoft.

Also...

I think she summed it up like this. I was surprised to learn such a thing about John McCain.
She also stated that, "He came on so loaded man, well hung with a snow white tan".



I just saw the picture and thought it looked funny. Deal with it.

Cheaper than an 800 point XBLA game and you can eat people's hearts with your tentacle arms that are voiced by Mr. Bungle and Faith No More's lead singer, Mike Patton.

He mics his hair apparently.

Seriously though, it's a high quality game for $8.99, buy it. As far as I know though, that's just the price for the 360 version, dunno about the PS3.

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