Agreed! Down with unnecessary DLC!

There's a big difference between unnecessary dlc and value added dlc, branding the whole issue with the same cattle prod is a little close minded.

DLC has its purpose. One example is that DX3 will have no multiplayer as they want to focus entirely on the single player campaign which Deus Ex is most known for. As a future possibility though we could have DLC for multiplayer which could prove to be very interesting.

Make good games and don't tack on DLC for sales is all I'm saying.

Like Mr. North I am also a DLC hater, but I am still pretty shocked that that number is so low. With the amount of DLC being pumped out by developers you'd think the stuff was selling like hotcakes.

Uhh, there's been loads of good DLC out there, I don't think any sort of blanket hate is called for, and I wouldn't believe any of your colleagues share your sentiment if I had to guess. The Fallout 3 DLC and Borderlands DLC is a good example, they developed a ton of content that added value and length to the games, furthered character progression and narrative.

Why do you outright oppose the stuff completely? Have you even grabbed any before?

Wow I'm surprised at the hostility in this post. I like DLC. Anything that can extend my gaming experience as long as it's well made is worth it to me. The 5 Fallout 3 DLC packs where some of the best moneyz I've spent on games. Not all DLC is that great (horse armor really?) But some DLC like the fallout DLC, Shivering isles, General knoxx, Lair of the shadow broker, I'm glad they came out and I'm glad I bought them.

Yay. I hate DLC and I hope the number of people who download DLC stays this low. This reassures my faith in humanity because this means 94 percent of consumers aren't stupid.

What about free DLC, or like the DLC for Little Big Planet? (ie. water? Metal Gear Solid? all the awesome characters you can choose to have?) I dunno. I like it, I have personally downloaded a ton of it, not within the last couple months though, no new good stuff lately! ;D

That's still 6% of people that pay more than retail price for content that probably could have been on the original disc and for the most part, was probably in the original development budget.

60,000 people for every million game sales isn't that insignificant in terms of revenue and I'll bet the bigger name titles have a better attach rate than 6%.

The study is also looking at June to August. That period wasn't exactly awash with big name titles awaiting your DLC dollars.

I like DLC for map packs but they should be either free or no more than $5.

Fuck Bobby Kotick and his $15 dollar map packs, It was enough for me to pass on MW2.

lucky for the 94% of people that dont download dlc theyre not missing out on anything. ive downloaded extra content for a few games here and there and its never that great. u get an extra level or mission that lasts an hour but doesnt live up to the game its expanding on. the worst part is, it seems most dlc these days is planned from the start. screw dat!

The only DLC I really touch are Rock Band songs.

I'm curious as to where people are getting their information on how apparently all DLC is just content cut from the game, though.

Doesn't surprise me. I've bought DLC maybe three, four times at most since the 360 launched and never touched such stuff on PC.

Also, that is the best header image.

Foodnippl3 It's obvious sometimes when you go to DL the DLC and it's just a very small 108kb unlock code, instead of many megabytes or a gigabyte or two

What exactly is so wrong with DLC? What if the "new idea" is something inherently connected to the original game, that wouldn't fit in a sequel, assuming there will even BE a sequel? I don't like DLC that's developed alongside the actual game either, but DLC developed afterwards? I'm all for it.

The only DLC I have ever downloaded was the Mass Effect Series add-ons, and Fallout 3. This is because you know that this downloadable content was made after the games release, such as the Fallout stuff and Mass Effect add-ons. As for the extra outfits and weapons in Mass Effect 2, well thats because I plain just love the ME universe, and more ME is never a bad thing.

The problem isn't DLC, it's that DLC sucks. It's the old "Games aren't on the Wii vs. Games suck on the Wii" argument. I've never played a piece of DLC besides The Ballad of Gay Tony (which I bought standalone) and the Mega Man 9 infinite level bit that I found enjoyable. They're okay, sometimes, but they are almost always filler content, in the sense that they're side quests with nothing to do with the game.

We need more things like Mega Man 9's infinite stage thing: if your game is a story, the way to add value is by giving us a big ol' game rope to play with. Random levels. Endless levels. If your game is that much fun, we will pay for that mode, because it will be significant fun. It'll also probably be cheaper, too, because there will be fewer voice actors required.

I'm with you, Dale!

Like many others, I'm surprised that the number is only 6%, though. Does anyone else have the opinion that once I finish a game, I'm probably not going to go back and buy a map every few months? I'm more likely to spend $60 on an entirely new game with a fill set of content, rather than something that I'll spend a few hours with and be done until two more months pass.

I bought everyone piece of valkyria chronicles DLC and I'm proud of it.

@foodnipple

It's pretty obvious when the DLC is only a couple of kilobytes large. Or when it's available the same day as the game's release. Or when they are offering it free if you buy it new/preorder. Or if the game doesn't even have an ending because that has yet to come. Or how old games used to have alternate costumes and bonus content, but you never see stuff like that on disc nowadays.

... the only DLC content I never regretted getting were the Warhawk add ons... they really did add a LOT to the game. Everything else I really don't think I got my money's worth. :(

I know that I am getting a lot more picky about DLC now... and very rarely give in to the temptation (especially after the MAG Interdiction fiasco!)

I only buy DLC for games I really, really like... But as a consumer, "free" DLC bundled with a new copy of a game to bolster sales is enough for me to make the jump from a used purchase to a new. For example, the Zaeed/Firewalker/Cerberus Assualt Armour was a welcome treat for buying the game as a sparkling new copy. And the quality of the Zaeed mission and the dialogue he had during various scenes convinced me to pick up Kasumi, and likewise then Overlord and Lair of the Shadowbroker.

Yeah, it means I effectively spent $95 on Mass Effect 2 (yeah, I bought the collector's edition), but I loved the game enough that I felt the price worth it, for the DLC. Likewise, I bought both Resident Evil 5 side missions but passed on VS mode and the custom packs.

On the other hand, my interest in DLC extends to things which expand the story... Not random extra shit I don't need. Weapon or armour packs? Pass. Horse armour? No thank you. Unless it actually gives me an hour or more of added playtime and enhances my experience, I want nothing to do with it.

Dale for president!

In an ideal world - the one that 6% of us live in - no unnecessary DLC will sell.

I'm grateful for the DLC for games like Fallout 3, Borderlands, and Nier.

boy this was a ballsy post from Dale. interesting.

I agree, DLC for shit that could be put in the box is wrong. I don't have a problem with people wanting to release post game content, but they won't be getting anything from me unless the original content felt more than worth the money.

or I just pity the company. Virtua Fighter 5 got that from me. I still feel a bit dirty.

The only thing I wish out of this is that the developers put more of a bang in their DLC. That this will weed out all the little costume and other aesthetic nonsense.

Like already said, Borderlands and Fallout had some fantastic dlc. So hopefully this just pushes for that. DLC isn't bad by any means, so I don't get the hostility either.

Oh this is a good day. Death to DLC! Let's hope this abomination is soon a thing of the past.

DLC? What's that? Oh, you mean the Left 4 Dead chapters that are completely FREE on PC? Yes, I have downloaded those. Wait, full games doesn't count as DLC? Then I guess only L4D made me get some of it...

I'd also love to see if they did a console breakdown, as they may have just asked a focus group if they have a video game console. If that's the case, you are very likely to get a sample bias as the majority of "console owners" own Wii's right now and the DLC the Wii has received is limited at best.

Bascially, without seeing the methodology, the 6% figure is worthless at best (and I hate that I do statistical analysis for a living when crap like this comes up!)

What a fucking asshole you are. In the least, try to emulate Sterling so you come across as entertaining instead of a prick.

Yeah, all DLC sucks! How dare I have the option to buy more of a thing that I like!

I bought DLC...but of course I did. THEY MAKE YOU DO IT!! YOU HAVE NO CHOICE!!!! of course I am kidding and i surely hope the tone of this article is just as sarcastic. Sure some DLC is lame, the map packs for MW2 I felt were lame because they had rehashed levels in them and were still very expensive. So I made the choice not to buy them. But it was my choice.

However as mentioned before, the DLC for Fallout 3 and Borderlands were great! It's how DLC should be done. They added a ton of playing time, and extended the life of games that I already loved. I made the CHOICE to buy them because I wanted them.

If you don't want DLC then don't buy it...if you want DLC then buy it. Can't get any more easier then that my friends.

I buy mini games over DLC so...yeah I fit in this group for sure and have only purchased two DLC content for Borderlands and nothing else....ever.

@Bakewell; I agree completely. Some DLC really is worth it, whereas some isn't. I think, funnily enough, Bethesda hold the two positions of "How to do DLC" and "How not to do DLC", with Fallout 3 and Oblivion respectively.

Dale North is a huge fag if he doesn't think the Mass Effect 2 DLC was worth it.

Here's an interesting counterpoint to the study by EA Sports 5 days ago. It may be an isolated case, or it may be what publishers are seeing.

FIFA DLC revenue greater than physical disc sales

(I know it wasn't written as a counterpoint, but it works as one)

Fine, more DLC for me. Oh wait, no, it doesn't work that way, does it?

Rock Band 2 DLC is the best one...

I liked the Borderlands DLC I got: Zombie Island and General Knoxx. They added a lot more to the gameplay.

Bad examples are $15 map packs. I'm usually very picky about what DLC I buy, so the Borderlands stuff was more the exception than the rule

"This reassures my faith in humanity because this means 94 percent of consumers aren't stupid."

Best comment ever.

The problem I find is that DLC is priced for maximum profit. When I download a map pack and can't play it because so few people downloaded it, it's just going to ruin DLC for everyone as I'll be a fuckton more cautious about my spending habits.

What Criterion and Incognito (Burnout Paradise and Warhawk respectively) did by releasing both free and paid DLC is really the best way to get consumers on your side. It also helps when the DLC actually adds to the game as well.

the problem is that not alot of new content is given, overpriced maps, costumes like in SSFIV, In game lock content, and so much more.

i think the MGS4 LPB is the best DLC has to offer. pure fun :D

Here's hoping DLC dies and we all go back to just unlocking content already in the disc. Good times.

Yeah DLC is stupid. Because can cram 1000+ songs onto one $60 disc, right? Right guys?

DLC should be discretionary, for the consumer and the provider. This may sound obvious, but if the DLC is worth it and couldn't have been included in the initial release, I'm all for it. I'm more than happy to have an option of buying more of something that I enjoyed in the first place. I was very content with the RE:5 DLC, which included two new scenarios, new costumes and an alternate Mercenaries mode with new playable characters. Although I do understand the argument against DLC. Nobody wants to be nickel-and-dimed, if that's the case. DLC that is already on the disc is complete fucking bullshit.

Because *harmonix can* wow, that was a bad typo

You know, the GTA4 DLC was fantastic. So up yours, haters.

@ djratchet: Actually, yeah, you could do that, but only on PS3. But then MTV/Harmonix wouldn't make any money. Shit, they barely make money as it is off RB.

Anyway, I'm kind of with Dale here. Never enjoyed any DLC for story based games. Although I must admit that I like map packs for shooters and the like.

I thought I was the only one who hated DLC. I can’t stand the stuff, never partook in any of it ever, except Valkyria Chronicles because well.....I’m a whore.

And I still can’t believe that Ubisoft tried charge us for the ending of Prince of Persia, that’s outrageous!

I don't agree with Dale here. At all. I don't think he'd be complaining if Square decided it there was 10 additional hours of Final Fantasy 13 content hiding somewhere, and released it for $10. But more to the point, I don't buy the "don't give me an incomplete game" argument. The game on the disc, in many cases, is done. But due to advances in technology far beyond that of what we saw in the "golden days of gaming," developers/publishers have the ability to add value to a game through DLC, to expand on what was created.

Does is sometimes feel predatory and like a rip-off? Totally. But to write off all DLC as bad for the consumer, to say that it should all be forgotten and that it offers no value to the gamer, that's small-minded. I think that the folks who received content for Burnout Paradise (both paid and free) well beyond the game's release would disagree with you. Same for folks who purchased a game like Borderlands and received dozens of more gameplay hours on top of their initial experience. Or fans of Fallout 3, who got some amazing (if uneven) content after its release. It's already been used as an example, but downloadable music content for music games (which Dale also hates, by the way, and will write this example off, I'm sure) is far preferable to many gamers than four iterations of one disc a year.

I do agree with the NPD that there's an untapped market. It's not that people don't WANT it. I firmly believe they do (and will) if the content is valuable and not some throwaway bullshit like new outfits or unlocked in-game powers ups. It's a matter of broadband penetration and educating consumers that the content is THERE. Most folks do NOT know about this stuff; they never look beyond the disc, because they're not educated in how this kind of stuff works. It's why GameStop is selling downloadable codes for games and publishers throw downloadable content in a box to sell at Walmart. That 6% number is surprising to me, but I don't suspect it will stay that low over the next five years.