Analyst Calls Console-Exclusive DLC 'Unproven' Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Analyst Calls Console-Exclusive DLC 'Unproven' Posted by XanTium | October 13 14:52 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From thegamereviews.com: [QUOTE] There's been a rush by Microsoft and Sony to snatch up exclusive post-launch DLC for high profile games. The Xbox 360 will be sporting exclusive content for Grand Theft Auto IV and Fallout 3, and Microsoft recently announced plans to offer two expansion levels for Tomb Raider: Underworld to be released later this year. For its part, the PS3 will be getting a heaping helping of Mirror's Edge DLC at an unspecified date. So the manufacturers are lining up to make deals, but the question at hand is does this have any effect on consumers' purchases? Lazard Capital analyst Colin Sebastian thinks that this new frontier is as yet "unproven," and that the new content being made available for Grand Theft Auto IV will go a long way toward answering our questions. As for the practice as a whole, Sebastian concedes that it likely does have some effect, but at yet it's impossible to determine exactly what that effect may be. "I think it's reasonable to assume there is some correlation between game sales and the availability of exclusive content for a particular platform," he said, "but the content needs to be high quality and add something to the overall game experience." [/QUOTE] Full Story: thegamereviews.com

[nectar12]

"but the content needs to be high quality and add something to the overall game experience."

ok.. isnt that obvious?

[Verity]

this new frontier is as yet "unproven," and that the new content being made available for Grand Theft Auto IV will go a long way toward answering our questions.

Somehow I just don't think some extra levels provided months after a game is released will sway gamers who ignored the original title to begin with.

What downloadable content (DLC) really does is allow the publishers to make another quick cash-grab from customers who have already paid a rather high amount for the original game. Sort of a 'game surcharge' so to speak.

If anyone is ready to capitalize and market network DLC, it's certainly Microsoft. They've already convinced millions of people to pay $50 per year for Xbox-Live, and it seems to be a strong rationale for newer Xbox purchasers. DLC exclusives may not benefit the individual publishers as much as Microsoft itself, where they are likely to use such DLC as a marketing point in selling the 360 hardware. MS is (usually) great at marketing.

Maybe its just me, but I just can't see Sony coming up with a competent plan to market DLC.

This post has been edited by Verity: Oct 13 2008, 09:09 PM

[DeMoN_DARREN]

Gimme that GTA IV content and i'll let you know if DLC works or not

[bucko]

So you could argue that Game Expansion packs are Unproven (you see them a lot on PC's). Really I don't see a problem in it, it's just an easier way to distribute expansion packs which I much prefer really.

[Verity]

I think this DLC also allows publishers to have their cake and eat it, too. Grab the widest audience (i.e. the most money) at first by releasing the original game cross-platform, then make sweetheart DLC deals to buddy up to their favored hardware maker.

"Sure, we're releasing Adventure Jumper 3 on both yours and your competitor's console. But we promise we'll release the Extended Cave Dweller Level only for you -- *kissy kissy*"

[twistedsymphony]

Exclusive DLC sucks IMO...

if the game came out on multiple platforms then so should the DLC IMO...


Gamers' don't benefit from it at all, half are left out in the cold and it doesn't make the content any more or less special to the people who do get it (though it does reduce the probability of a good strategy guide or other helpful info since less people have the content).

It doesn't really help the developers either since at the DLC level they really don't have to tweak stuff much to release cross platform and they're cutting their potential buyers down substantially.

The only people this benefits are the console makers who (if they're lucky) will ship a few extra consoles and sell a few extra copies of the game to people who know about the content before they make their purchase.

[feflicker]

twisted, I don't think I've ever disagreed with you, but I must this time.

Console-specific DLC is genius. Gone are the days when games were platform dependant. More and more games are console-independant. Now, the console manufacturers can lure people in with DLC that is specific to their platform. It's win/win. All the consoles get the game itself, and you make your platform decision based on "extras". It gives each console manufacturer a real stake in how great the game experience is for their platform, making it much more competetive, and giving us higher quality games in the end...

Plus, it's a total money making enterprise. There are a lot of people that buy that content just because they own the game, and they want all of the levels and bonus material with it. Generally its also a way to feed the user community something new while development on the sequel is in the works... Don't let them forget about your killer game while you spend millions developing another one!

[phistyle]

where's this exclusive GTAIV DLC? geez I stopped playing GTAIV for a long time now and it's still not even out yet...by the time they release the 1st downloadable content , they probably already be announcing a new GTA game for the next system....

[Exobex]

Not all downloadable content is there for moneymaking. Burnout Paradise has around 800MB of updates that add night driving and bikes to the existing game. Completely free. You don't even need an Xbox Live Gold account, Silver will do.

Sadly I think Criterion (authors of the Burnout series) are the exception rather than the rule.

[dokworm]

I had totally forgotten the was DLC coming for GTAIV.

Yawn, I am all for DLC extending the life of a game, but perhaps it should come out before the game is extremely old news.

[trentdadi]

It's just not advertised enough to be worth it. I check this site everyday and I had no idea about any exclusive content besides the gta4 one.

[chorizo1]

Exclusive DLC sucks IMO...

if the game came out on multiple platforms then so should the DLC IMO...

+1

[gAm3 Fr3aQu3]

Exclusive DLC doesn't do anything for me, just because I don't care for the "extra" stuff (whatever that may be). I buy games based on the game itself, not because of some extra little stuff that's only available for 'XYZ' console. Example; You go watch a movie, and you like it a lot. When the DVD/Blu-Ray releases, you buy it mainly for the movie, not the extra cutscenes and all those other BS.

Exclusive game titles... now that's a different story.

[HotKnife420]

Exclusive DLC sucks IMO...

if the game came out on multiple platforms then so should the DLC IMO...
Gamers' don't benefit from it at all, half are left out in the cold and it doesn't make the content any more or less special to the people who do get it (though it does reduce the probability of a good strategy guide or other helpful info since less people have the content).

It doesn't really help the developers either since at the DLC level they really don't have to tweak stuff much to release cross platform and they're cutting their potential buyers down substantially.

The only people this benefits are the console makers who (if they're lucky) will ship a few extra consoles and sell a few extra copies of the game to people who know about the content before they make their purchase.

Agreed. I hate for the swaying factor in my purchases to be based on "console specific extras". If someone like me bought GTA4 for the PS3, despite the 360's "exclusive content", then I'm stuck simply not being able to purchase the DLC.