With digital distribution taking over this generation, we've all gotten used to the idea of paying for extra content. However, iPhone developer and controversial figure Luc Bernard has railed against the idea of paid DLC on the App Store, claiming it's a rape of the consumer.
"I keep on seeing all this talk about paid-for DLC on the App Store," explains the Oyaji Games head. "I honestly don't like it. When I buy a game I want to have everything in there for the price I paid.
"We could have made the online portion of the game an in-app micro transaction but I think that would be raping the customer. I honestly don't believe in paid-for DLC on the App Store. Most of the top games are 99 cents games so the average iPhone customer is obviously not willing to spend a lot of cash on games. To be honest, I would rather have a fresh new experience than loads of additional content."
What do you think? Is DLC rape? Do you mind paying a few extra bucks for some new levels, and are you willing to do that on an iPhone? Is console DLC more worthy than portable DLC? Right now, all I know is that these Rock Band Unplugged tracks aren't going to purchase themselves.
[Thanks to Luc Bernard for the tip]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
12:00 PM on 10.12.2009
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But occasionally the price you pay is worth the extra content. (think broken steel for Fallout3).
Or its free! free sex is not rape!
If it's just a few extra missions, then it should be free, if it's almost doubles the hours of gameplay, a price is justified.
Wot?
"Most of the top games are 99 cents games so the average iPhone customer is obviously not willing to spend a lot of cash on games. "
If that's true (and it is for less perceptive buyers), then people aren't going to buy the in-app DLC anyway. What's more, only paid apps can charge you for in-app DLC and of course, just like on a console, it's entirely optional.
However, I see DLC on consoles/handhelds/PCs to be an advancement of retail expansions. Quality DLC like the Shivering Isles and Broken Steel is cheaper to download, you don't need to go to the store to add to a game you already have and developers can get it out into the market faster.
When I buy a game I want to have everything in there for the price I paid.
is a very arbitrary statement. You pay for a game and you get a game, that's it. If they release additional DLC, that doesn't necessarily mean they're holding out on the initial release. I mean, would you rather they not release that DLC at all?
If DLC is rape, I'd like to know what expansion packs are. Or were, at any rate.
I'll give you a for-instance. I'm currently madly addicted to Demon's Souls. I haven't beaten it, but after I do, if they announce down the road they're going to release some new dungeons or something, I'm going to be stoked! As long as the pricing is right and the addon is quality I will be totally on board. I think DLC add-ons are a great hold-over until the sequel comes out (hint hint, I already want a sequel!).
The people who bought the unfinished game didn't choose to do so; but people choose DLC.
"Remember when Luc shipped an unfinished game, then personally insulted the people who reviewed it?"
That was possibly the biggest shitstorm I had ever seen on destructoid. It was a thing of beauty. Can we get the hatred fired back up? How about a retro-review of the game. (its name eludes me)
The thing is it works, people know it does and because of this they release DLC and charge for it; it's set in stone now and theirs probably F*all we can do about it apart from boycott, which in turn leads to no DLC... a healthy balance is needed though.
Now, if you have to pay the restaurant extra to get the hamburger cooked, you're getting screwed.
If DLC adds to the game experience without detracting from the original on-disc game itself, it's fine. If the DLC is used to "patch" a game up to what it should have been when you originally opened the box, then it's wrong.
If you buy DLC then YOU are the problem.
IN regards to your statement
"I honestly don't like it. When I buy a game I want to have everything in there for the price I paid."
Everything you paid for is in the product. You are purchasing extra content which may or may not have been available at the time of purchase. Just because you and your company decided not to charge for an extra feature does not mean everybody else has the resources to do so.
You also made the following statement:
"I honestly don't believe in paid-for DLC on the App Store. Most of the top games are 99 cents games so the average iPhone customer is obviously not willing to spend a lot of cash on games."
Perhaps they are not worth anymore as the iPhone is not designed as a gaming device, but has been used as such by iPhone adapters. If you want to have a portable gaming device with games worth more, I suggest a Nintendo DSi or a Sony PSP.
Lastly you commented on something I am confused about:
"To be honest, I would rather have a fresh new experience than loads of additional content."
Are you saying that developers should release a new game instead of adding in new content for a small fee? If the new content is a new level or other such trivial content, are you stating that they should hold onto this new content from the player and release a new version to sell for the price of a new game? Isn't that like raping the customer in the ass compared to the vagina? Which hurts more in your opinion?
I understand that you do not read Destructoid, but I thought i would pose these questions to you anyhow.
Sincerely,
Go fuck yourself
-Luc
[Anyone else reading this story like that?]
I do not consider DLC in general a problem, but the pricing model currently being accespted as the "NORM" does not reflect the value of the content itself. Then again, I guess that could be argued about entire new releases as well....*shrug*
OH HE HAS LONG HAIR THEREFOR HE MUST BE A GIRL HOHOHOHO
grown up you douchebag.
Shame because he's a real good looking boy. Those are always the batshit crazy ones. *sigh*
"Rock Band is basically made to keep changing and growing, and DLC really enhances the experience."
just thought we could take another look at that statement. isn't the only difference in the current plastic guitar games from the original titles, the fact that they now cost more to play?
we all know dlc is a total rip off, but the masses love to throw their money away, so it's here to stay.