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.