No DLC

[TheLastBrunnenG]

"Expansion Pack" DLC = want
"Bonus weapon and special horse mount" DLC = do not want

...then buy the DLC you want and don't buy the DLC you don't want? I mean, it's not like they're going to tie you to a chair and give you electric shocks until you send them more money.

Totally agree. Don't want the Alternate Outfits Pack #2? Then don't pay the $1 price for it. I hated all the F:NV and DA2 DLCs but I liked the DA1 and FO3 DLCs. And by DLCs, I meant, long, adventure-based DLCs, what some people probably call "expansion packs". I never personally bought the Weapon Packs or other minor DLCs, but I respect that some people would pay for them.

Before you knock "horse armor DLCs", read the Kickstarter page for WL2: "Pledge $15 or more: ... Also your party will start with a unique and quirky skill. (It won't affect game balance.)" So if I give $10 I get a warm fuzzy feeling but if I give $5 more, I get a bonus skill.

Imagine what happens after launch: inXile has spent all the $$$ fans gave them, the game is delivered, and follow-up sales have dropped off. They want to provide more content to us, the fans, in the form of a real expansion pack (aka Big DLC). But the developers all have families to feed, and they can't make quality content for free if it takes up time they could be doing other, paid work. So, they start another Kickstarter campaign which says:

"Pledge $10 and get a Weapon Pack with 20 new awesome guns It'll help us fund the DLC we want to make, WL2: Night Terrors."

What would be the difference between that, and simply announcing "Weapon Pack DLC now available for only $10!"? Would you buy it then? What if Fargo posted on his blog that he promised the profits would go toward an expansion pack, would that be enough? Or would it have to go through Kickstarter to feel "legitimate" and not like a Bioware-ish money grab?

[kopi]

Please no DLC. If you make an expansion, don't call it DLC. There are bad voodoo vibes eradiating from that word, you know, like "social".

[paultakeda]

Please no DLC, if you make an expansion, don't call it DLC.

That makes no sense unless you are advocating physical discs for the expansions and modules. You want Expansion Packs and Modules, fine. But they'll still be and I will want to acquire them as DLC.

[The_A_Drain]

Please no DLC. If you make an expansion, don't call it DLC. There are bad voodoo vibes eradiating from that word, you know, like "social".

Well I'll leave the voodoo vibes to the people that practice voodoo.

DownLoadable Content. If it's digitally distributed additional content, it's DLC. I don't care what people want to call it, that's what it is. Unless you want it to arrive by carrier pigeon or something it's going to be DLC whether it's a piece of horse armor or an expansion bigger than the original game or anywhere in-between.

[kopi]

Please no DLC. If you make an expansion, don't call it DLC. There are bad voodoo vibes eradiating from that word, you know, like "social".

Well I'll leave the voodoo vibes to the people that practice voodoo.

DownLoadable Content. If it's digitally distributed additional content, it's DLC. I don't care what people want to call it, that's what it is. Unless you want it to arrive by carrier pigeon or something it's going to be DLC whether it's a piece of horse armor or an expansion bigger than the original game or anywhere in-between.

A game with lots of dlc is made for the sole purpose of cashing in on the muppets. Are you a muppet?

[The_A_Drain]

DownLoadable Content. If it's digitally distributed additional content, it's DLC. I don't care what people want to call it, that's what it is. Unless you want it to arrive by carrier pigeon or something it's going to be DLC whether it's a piece of horse armor or an expansion bigger than the original game or anywhere in-between.

A game with lots of dlc is made for the sole purpose of cashing in on the muppets. Are you a muppet?

I'm Gonzo.

[paultakeda]

A game with lots of micro dlc (e.g. unlockable items/characters and single mission quests) is made for the sole purpose of cashing in on the muppets.

Fixed that for you.

[klyvenator]

Expansion pack= Yes!

Otherwise, DLC is only acceptable when it's free

[Drool]

Expansion pack= Yes!

Otherwise, DLC is only acceptable when it's free

So you want to pay 50% more for expansion packs because they'll only be available as physical media. Got it.

[klyvenator]

Expansion pack= Yes!

Otherwise, DLC is only acceptable when it's free

So you want to pay 50% more for expansion packs because they'll only be available as physical media. Got it.

Mate, expansions come in digital forms nowadays as well If you're trying to be smart with technical terms, the vast majority of people interpret DLC as the one off item, costume or quest that publishers charge for. So I adjusted my post accordingly.

There is no need for such an attitude here, please keep posts constructive.

[The_A_Drain]

Expansion pack= Yes!

Otherwise, DLC is only acceptable when it's free

So you want to pay 50% more for expansion packs because they'll only be available as physical media. Got it.

Mate, expansions come in digital forms nowadays as well If you're trying to be smart with technical terms, the vast majority of people interpret DLC as the one off item, costume or quest that publishers charge for. So I adjusted my post accordingly.

There is no need for such an attitude here, please keep posts constructive.

How is twisting the meaning of words to suit peoples own delusions constructive? All it does is make constructive discussion harder because people have to jump through hoops anticipating what magical words are going to set people off.

If it's distributed digitally, it's DLC regardless of size, shape, price or platform. I get it, people don't like peacemeal DLC doled out in little chunks. That's fine, I'm right there with you on that I hate it. But this is ridiculous. It's like asking people not to refer to the Sun as a Star. It's confusing and unnecessary.

The sooner people get over that stupid hurdle, the sooner we actually can get back to constructive discussion.

[gool]

So traditional 'expansions' ceased to exist when DLC became the norm? Is it then an 'expansion' if sold in store, but 'DLC' when online? 'Expansion' usually suggests a level of content similar to the original (Serpent Isle, Throne of Bhaal, Night of the Raven, Tribunal, etc.). DLC is always going to mean 'Horse Armour'. You're taking the word literally and ignoring the prevalent usage, it's as silly as thinking RPG means a game where you play a role.

[klyvenator]

How is twisting the meaning of words to suit peoples own delusions constructive? All it does is make constructive discussion harder because people have to jump through hoops anticipating what magical words are going to set people off.

If it's distributed digitally, it's DLC regardless of size, shape, price or platform. I get it, people don't like peacemeal DLC doled out in little chunks. That's fine, I'm right there with you on that I hate it. But this is ridiculous. It's like asking people not to refer to the Sun as a Star. It's confusing and unnecessary.

The sooner people get over that stupid hurdle, the sooner we actually can get back to constructive discussion.

And you think arguing points of technicality is constructive? If I recall these forums were designed for one purpose, to help Brian Fargo decide what should be implemented in the game and it's been established over 4 pages that what we want is full-sized content not run of the mill one off armor/horses.

Your posts are doing nothing but inflaming the board with pointless arguments on what "DLC" means.

[Drool]

So traditional 'expansions' ceased to exist when DLC became the norm? Is it then an 'expansion' if sold in store, but 'DLC' when online?

They're different terms that have some overlap. An expansion pack is a big addition. Point Lookout in FO3 was an expansion. Serpent Isle was and expansion. If the expansion is distributed digitally and is downloaded, then it's DLC. Things like the much maligned Horse Armor or Hat Pack 36 are also DLC.

Of course, technically, horse armor was an expansion pack too. It was just a buggy and useless one. However, Old World Blues was also DLC, and it was almost universally loved. Just saying "no DLC" is pointless and either means you want no digitally distributed content, or you're painting with way too broad a brush.

My father always told me to say what I mean and to mean what I say, which is why I get annoyed by this. You aren't charged per character, so say what you mean: no cheap cash-in DLC that's of terrible quality. I think everyone can agree that we don't want Silly Hats 5.

[SkyeFyre]

I am sick of DLC. I long for the days of full out expansion packs. I feel that this game would do better with an expansion. I've heard the argument that DLC maintains interest in the game after it's been finished, but I think that making the game moddable would enable the community to keep the interest while the company can spend that time making something really unique and special (features? new hardcoded things...etc), instead of working on a bunch of little mini quests and items.

[CaptainPatch]

There is a stage of development when a game or expansion has been mostly finalized, but is still going through betatesting and final tweaking. During that time, most of the development is NOT actively working on the game or expansion. However, during that time, it is very possible for them to throw together a DLC's-worth of material. One mission, several new weapons, armors, monsters, etc. Doing so would be keeping the staff fully and productively engaged instead of having to contemplate temporary layoffs for the otherwise idle or underused staff members. It also adds to the overall content of the series.

My only real objection to DLC is if a developer deliberately holds back some content, just so he can squeeze some additional cash out of the consumers. Initially, when DLCs first came out, they were _free_, meant to keep interest in the game heightened. But then outfits like EA, Activision, etc., started asking themselves, "Why ever would we want to _give_ away something of value?"

[Infinitron]

There is a stage of development when a game or expansion has been mostly finalized, but is still going through betatesting and final tweaking. During that time, most of the development is NOT actively working on the game or expansion. However, during that time, it is very possible for them to throw together a DLC's-worth of material. One mission, several new weapons, armors, monsters, etc. Doing so would be keeping the staff fully and productively engaged instead of having to contemplate temporary layoffs for the otherwise idle or underused staff members. It also adds to the overall content of the series.

Yes, and in a game like Wasteland 2 which is digitally distributed and requires no "certification" by a console manufacturer, we can and should get that extra content for free. Period.

[Drool]

Yes, and in a game like Wasteland 2 which is digitally distributed and requires no "certification" by a console manufacturer, we can and should get that extra content for free. Period.

It isn't free to create.

[oneyedjohn]

"Expansion Pack" DLC = want
"Bonus weapon and special horse mount" DLC = do not want

couldn't say it better myself.

[CaptainPatch]

Yes, and in a game like Wasteland 2 which is digitally distributed and requires no "certification" by a console manufacturer, we can and should get that extra content for free. Period.

It isn't free to create.

I was tempted to post something similar, BUT there are some relevant Marketing considerations. The primary one is that provided there ARE sequels and expansions scheduled offering DLC for free assures a greater Demand for the major products when they are released. If the Demand is already there, less needs to be spent on Advertising. So, effectively, offering DLCs for free represents advance advertising, and just like any other advertising, it's an investment.

[Not to mention that DLCs provide a greater level of consumer feedback that can help improve the sequels and expansions currently in development.]