Gamers continue to express their dissatisfaction with the idea of on-disc DLC and Capcom has been specifically targeted as one of the more egregious offenders, a fact that the publisher is now setting out to take ownership of. A message from senior VP Christian Svensson on Capcom Unity (via GamePolitics) reveals that the approach taken in the past with offering bonus game content post-release is now being given a second look.
Svensson admits that Capcom has begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future," though he asks that fans be patient since the process only just started within "the past month or so." He then goes into an explanation of the extra content that you'll be able to get when Dragon's Dogma arrives on May 22, 2012, since that stuff is apparently on the disc.
Product pimping aside, the important takeaway here is that your complaints are being heard and considered. There are valid arguments on both sides of the on-disc DLC discussion, but the customers wield the most power in the end and it's good to see Capcom recognizing that. Now we just have to hope that the promise to give the established policies another look results in some real action, or at least a more open and frank dialogue.
Read on for the full text of Svensson's statement:
Hey guys,
We've been getting several questions, here and elsewhere about the future of on-disc DLC.
We would like to assure you that we have been listening to your comments and as such have begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future. As this process has only just commenced in the past month or so, there will be some titles, where development began some time ago and that are scheduled for release in the coming months, for which we are unable to make changes to the way some of their post release content is delivered.
One such title is Dragon’s Dogma, where the decision to include some additional (but not all planned additional) game content for the game on disc was made at the beginning of the game’s development cycle as at the time this was determined to be the most efficient way of ensuring certain content was made available. Owners of Dragon’s Dogma will be able to further their gameplay experience with the release of additional quests, weapons and other items in the months following the game going on sale.
Dragon’s Dogma’s post-launch content will extend the lifespan of a title that already offers around 30-40 hours of gameplay by following the main story thread, but if a player was to complete all the side quests Dragon’s Dogma ships with, that increases to around 100 hours. Players will also be able to add to the stock of 100s of weapons and 1,000s of customization options to create not only their ideally equipped, but also their most elaborately designed character.
Just wanted people to know in advance the whys, wherefores and where we're going in the future. You are being heard. Thanks.
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jorel78
why is it that when the government or some extreme group attacks the gaming industry. G4 is there to voice their opinion on the injustice to the consumer. but when the gaming industry is the one doing all the cheating, and underhanded lying to the consumer. the game websites and shows like G4, IGN, Game trailers, Electronic Playground and others. seem to be silent, never speaking ill of those horrible corporate practices. is this what we call shaking hands with the devil. at times I feel that Jack Thomson should have won in his court battle against the game industry. maybe then there would be some sort of regulations and guidelines for them to follow. they don't seem to know if they want to known as an art form or a business, good or evil. this is how i see it. an artist can't afford to screw over their customers. corporation can and will.
imwith
I was done with capcom after abadoning mvc3 8 months after launch plus im cheap as hell I planned on getting Arkham city but my neighbor got it and i just borrowed it for him now that the goty edition is coming out im probably going to get it
did the same thing with gears 2 waitiny for goty gears 3
ZyX2323
Capcom has always been a add and repackage comoany... How many versions of SF2 were there? Nothing new with them... i have gotten to the point of waiting and never buy any Capcom game day one. Actually i still not got any SF4, MvC3 or SFxT game yet. Remember a time Capcom gave points for stuff for there fans (which I got stuck with 250+ points), miss the fighter points... Nothing against DLC, i know its money and games aint cheap to make... But its a real piss in the face for true die hard fans to wait many months and charge for stuff the put in the game disc they have, especallty when the going to change to a Ultimate or Super version soon after... And if you want to still play the Reg versions without the ex version, good luck finding anyone online...
Add it up capcom, 60$ day 1, Dlc charactors 20$, Super Version, 50, more Dlc 20$... 150 for one game at least if you are a fan. EA and Activsion are not the cruel...
njdss4
Buy games on Steam when they're on sale, tell Capcom to go screw themselves.
RushLedger
The trick is to realize how much you'll ACTUALLY be spending on a game before you get in. A new game is 63 bucks with tax, then theres a range of DLC from 10 bucks to 50 most times, maybe even more.
SonyNmbrOneGuy
You kids that keep saying on disc dlc is ok need to stop gaming. If it's on the disc, you've already paid for it. Sense doesn't get any more common than that.
Stop buying Capcom games people. They've been at it since Mega Man 3...
Memu
The problem with you people that get upset over on-disc DLC is that you are confused. All DLC is equally bad no matter when it is released!
crocodilius
is this the same moron that said he couldnt differentiate
between downloaded content and locked disc content.
here's a difference i noticed: i already paid for the f#cking
disc whereas the other one, something is actually held
back from me and essential.
hellterskelter89
If I double posted, I apologize. Every comment I go to post gets me "object reference not set to an instance of an object". Staff look at the code for this site, or direct me what plug in I don't have?
hellterskelter89
You know what guys? When I download a demo of a game, I'm actually downloading the whole game. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO UNLOCK THE GAME WHEN THE WHOLE THING IS INCLUDED IN THE DEMO?! I should get it all for free shouldn't I? I don't care that it says "demo" or that I was advertised a certain character roster when the game came out. If the whole game is included, I get the stuff for free! You guys just want the world from these games, and you really don't get that anyway. Content on disc has been happening since "DLC" has been produced for games. SFxt, albeit a dumb game anyway, advertised 38 characters, which is what we got. You know it takes 6-8 weeks for a game to get through clearing with sony/microsoft before they actually start producing the discs? You expect the people who make our games for a living to sit on their asses and do nothing during this time? Here we sit at an impass: Either continue to bitch and moan so that DLC takes longer to come out because it needs to be made after the physical game disc is released, or suck it up and accept the fact that its still a business. This isn't some fantasy where the companies are ready and willing to bend over to these outrageous demands. Before someone comes at me with "well then they're losing customers".....I bring exibit A: the call of duty franchise. For as much bitching and whining people make about the franchise, it should of been dead after mw2 no? Why is the series still thriving then? Why is each iteration selling MORE than the last? Exactly. These companies have us by the balls. We WANT their products. Give me the "well if enough people stop buying into their crap" excuse. All I can say is I'll believe it when I see it. No one is getting ripped off. Don't want to support the developer? Then buy the game used and support gamestop. I don't think some of you would last that long heading a business.
hellterskelter89
You know what guys? When I download a demo of a game, I'm actually downloading the whole game. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO UNLOCK THE GAME WHEN THE WHOLE THING IS INCLUDED IN THE DEMO?! I should get it all for free shouldn't I? I don't care that it says "demo" or that I was advertised a certain character roster when the game came out. If the whole game is included, I get the stuff for free! You guys just want the world from these games, and you really don't get that anyway. Content on disc has been happening since "DLC" has been produced for games. SFxt, albeit a dumb game anyway, advertised 38 characters, which is what we got. You know it takes 6-8 weeks for a game to get through clearing with sony/microsoft before they actually start producing the discs? You expect the people who make our games for a living to sit on their asses and do nothing during this time? Here we sit at an impass: Either continue to bitch and moan so that DLC takes longer to come out because it needs to be made after the physical game disc is released, or suck it up and accept the fact that its still a business. This isn't some fantasy where the companies are ready and willing to bend over to these outrageous demands. Before someone comes at me with "well then they're losing customers".....I bring exibit A: the call of duty franchise. For as much bitching and whining people make about the franchise, it should of been dead after mw2 no? Why is the series still thriving then? Why is each iteration selling MORE than the last? Exactly. These companies have us by the balls. We WANT their products. Give me the "well if enough people stop buying into their crap" excuse. All I can say is I'll believe it when I see it. No one is getting ripped off. Don't want to support the developer? Then buy the game used and support gamestop. I don't think some of you would last that long heading a business.
FossilHead4
The day that this was going to happen was the day that parents everywhere would stop fighting.
BigBadBOOM
Why does it matter if the DLC is on the disc or not. DLC is part of game development now just like the campaign and MP and is planned and created from the get go. As long as companies don't hold back on something essential to complete the advertised game there is no harm in not putting as much on the disc as they can.
If you feel that you didn't get your money's worth out of the main game then that's a whole other issue. However if you are cool with the game as is (which hopefully you are since you are buying add-on content), you shouldn't care if the DLC you just bought was on the disc or not.
Sigmund_Fraud
This is precisely why I wait for the Game of the Year edition to be released before buying a game, or I wait until the prices drop below $30 before buying (below $20 for the games that have the most DLC ripoff additions). I only have a limited amount of time to play games due to work, so I rarely get a chance to play most games when they come out, but when I do I refuse to pay full price for an incomplete gaming experience.
dudeman3132
he used his "apology" as an advertisement
Matthias2k4
It's about damn time that this money grubbing company takes note of the utter dissatisfaction from its customers regarding this issue. Back in the day a costume would just be an unlockable after beating the game with that character, now they have it set up where you have to wait at least a month, then pay a buck per costume which really adds up when there's over 20 characters in the game. Maybe now I'll buy another Street Fighter game....maybe.
Panda-chan
Honestly, I could not make sense of what they said in that letter.
Is the game going to have have on-disc DLC that we have to pay extra for to unlock?
grrr
Panda-chan
wait wtf? : /
...
so then I guess I'm not going to buy Dragon's dogma...
>:(
stupid dlc!
2ply
But, having DLC on the disc and charging us extra to access it isn't really the problem though..
The problem is just how they (and mostly all companies) see DLC now, it's abused.
Having it on the disc already or making it available for download makes no difference whatsoever.. the bottomline is they boldly remove things and charge us extra when it's something that SHOULD BE IN THE GAME IN THE FIRST PLACE, PERIOD.
That's not what made the gaming industry into the power house that it is today, just imagine for a simple example.. if way back when.. we were given Mario on the NES but in order to use the mushrooms to take another hit you had to pay extra for them.
At face value that is basically what they are doing now, removing something essential to either making the game special or more enjoyable, purely because they can sell it.
Bloodthr0e
Until you people stop buying DLC from Activision and Capcom, these companies won't stop doing it. Don't stop buying their games. Just stop buying their DLC.
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