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@Conrad:
The notion of being charged or prosecuted for accessing content you own (as a consumer) went out the door in the early 90's with the release of the Game Genie. There's a somewhat-well known case that revolved around whether users had the right to edit data on the game disc to access unintended functions (IIRC, it was related to the GG), and it was ruled that consumers had a right to modify the code on their disc, provided they aren't using that content or code for financial gain.
These days, developers that previously told fans to run wild and use on-disc content for their own mods are now running into "rock and a hard place" situations with publishers who want to charge for on-disc DLC. Look at Mass Effect 3, for instance. Bioware had to take the middle ground and tell people that there was nothing stopping them from modding or accessing the locked code (which had the pre-order bonus, Collector's Edition content and some files for the DLC character), even though EA's (ridiculous) EULA basically says a consumer can't modify files on their own disc for any reason.
There's a difference between paying for content/DLC that is not on-disc, and being nickel-and-dimed for content that's already in the game you bought. As far as I know, no one has ever been charged in the last decade for modifying a game code to access deleted or "gated" content.
The notion of being charged or prosecuted for accessing content you own (as a consumer) went out the door in the early 90's with the release of the Game Genie. There's a somewhat-well known case that revolved around whether users had the right to edit data on the game disc to access unintended functions (IIRC, it was related to the GG), and it was ruled that consumers had a right to modify the code on their disc, provided they aren't using that content or code for financial gain.
These days, developers that previously told fans to run wild and use on-disc content for their own mods are now running into "rock and a hard place" situations with publishers who want to charge for on-disc DLC. Look at Mass Effect 3, for instance. Bioware had to take the middle ground and tell people that there was nothing stopping them from modding or accessing the locked code (which had the pre-order bonus, Collector's Edition content and some files for the DLC character), even though EA's (ridiculous) EULA basically says a consumer can't modify files on their own disc for any reason.
There's a difference between paying for content/DLC that is not on-disc, and being nickel-and-dimed for content that's already in the game you bought. As far as I know, no one has ever been charged in the last decade for modifying a game code to access deleted or "gated" content.
I liked paying for complete games. When the way to get extra content was to earn it in-game. That whole reward thing.
I love seeing all those SFxTK DLC characters on the game's replay channel!! Ahahaha but seriously, looking at them they did a better job on them than half of the existing characters, and it makes me want them more - the problem is that the game has various issues with the nature of the systems and balance that throw off so much potential. That being said they want to issue an overhaul patch that changes the game significantly, but that may be a ways off.
This whole thing with DLC nowadays is so sad. Video games should be better than they have ever been and in a lot of ways they are, we arent exactly living in the late 90s when tons of classic were coming out each year but still lots of impressive, great, unique, and seriously well made stuff is coming out.
Sadly, greedy companies are ruining the times we live in and so many business strategies are just horrendous and frustrating. Additionally, so many of these various DLC and other content bolted on over time to existing consoles is so sloppy. The XMB is okay in it's current incarnation, but the current Xbox Dashboard, while pretty, is pretty fucking garbage for people who care about games. This poor UI/software coupled with aging hardware not built from the ground up for all this is just what we have today - a huge mess, a disaster with tons of angry people around it.
That being said DLC can still be good if done right as far as content and pricing, and I hope the next consoles totally kickass as far as their UI, games, and general capabilities.
This whole thing with DLC nowadays is so sad. Video games should be better than they have ever been and in a lot of ways they are, we arent exactly living in the late 90s when tons of classic were coming out each year but still lots of impressive, great, unique, and seriously well made stuff is coming out.
Sadly, greedy companies are ruining the times we live in and so many business strategies are just horrendous and frustrating. Additionally, so many of these various DLC and other content bolted on over time to existing consoles is so sloppy. The XMB is okay in it's current incarnation, but the current Xbox Dashboard, while pretty, is pretty fucking garbage for people who care about games. This poor UI/software coupled with aging hardware not built from the ground up for all this is just what we have today - a huge mess, a disaster with tons of angry people around it.
That being said DLC can still be good if done right as far as content and pricing, and I hope the next consoles totally kickass as far as their UI, games, and general capabilities.
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