Haefele:Well, I am only getting the free download. I refuse to pay for something that should already be in the game. I wish Microsoft hadn't done this download content thing. I am fine with downloading new maps of something huge like an expansion pack, but i don't want to download some new vehicles for MONEY! Cmon Agent G, how hard could it have been to toss in those vehicles and a new game mode in the retail copy of the game. Oh, and if the free content has boss resetting and some new achievements ONLY, then I will be pissed. I have been waiting for the Crackdown DLC for months, and I DO NOT WANT TO RESET MY BOSSES. I could give two shits about that. Also, the fucking achievements don't matter if I don't have anything new to do! If that's all I get, I may not buy anything from RTW. And I still stand behind my decision to NEVER buy anything from Xbox Live Marketplace. Especially when I can go play an original Xbox and get ALL the game has to offer instead of a half assed retail copy and some so-so $15 downloads. Oh and BTW, good luck selling that DLC to the 64 people who actually care!
Not attacking you or bashing your opinion, just adding my own. In your example, if RTW waited and released it all together in the retail copy, then Crackdown would've released in May or June 2007. I think that's a
little bit past their deadline. Besides, they couldn't have done this anyway, because they didn't know what we wanted. They're ADDING content, not "putting something in that should already be there". True, some game companies do this, RTW, however is not. As I stated in another post, RTW waited to see what
WE wanted before creating content to add to Crackdown. In other words, they
started creating the content
after the game was out, not before. They already had ideas, sure, but still they waited to hear from us first. Lots of game companies figure "hmm, well I think this is something the gamers will like (or will buy)" and they start that content before the game has even gone gold. That content may or may not suck, but we had no input on it what so ever. Some of them (Chromehounds, for example) even have the supposedly "new" DLC
already on the disc!!! You actually, physically already have the content, and then they make you pay to unlock it. RTW waited to see what we were doing with Crackdown for a couple of months, then started making content accordingly. They waited to see what we like, hear what we want, and then complied the best they could. They didn't make it beforehand then push it down our throats.
Now, I'm
ALL with you about not supporting greedy companies that consistently screw their consumers. At least Realtime Worlds (which is practically a brand new game company just starting out) is going about it the right way. Also, they make something cool as an extra for you and they ask you to pay for it. What's wrong with that and when has this been new? How many times as a kid have you seen a commercial with "Batteries not included" or "vehicles/accessories sold seperately"? Hell, PC games have been putting out extra content (free and premium) for
years.
Also, think of how many original XBox games that could've benifitted from extra content (I don't mean patches). In fact, there would've been more DLC for the original XBox if the downloads were as easy to release as they are with MS's new system. Plus, unfortunately, this is a capitalist society and nothing is truely free. Either you pay with paper, credit, ethics or sweat. If you really put in a lot of time, worked very hard and invented something that everybody wants, would
you give it away for free, or would you charge people for it? (If you would truly choose to give it away for free, I highly respect that and salute you!)
Very few companies <coughEAcough> hold back content that actually
should've been in the game, and make you pay seperately for it. The idea of DLC is here to stay, as other companies are also jumping onto the popularity of it. I don't buy DLC just because it's released. Hell, I can't afford to buy a huge library of games anyway. I like the idea of DLC, even though I agree with you that Microsoft usually charges way too much for it. Besides, nobody is forcing you to get any of it. Do what I do, if it seems like something you'd like, and you can afford it, get it. If you know it's going to be free eventually (such as the new Gears of War content M$ is forcing to be charged for, then will eventually release for free), then let your patience speak up for you. Don't pay for it and wait for it to be released for free. Teach the greedy bastids a lesson.
Keep in mind, it's also ultimately up to
MICROSOFT how much (if any) to charge for DLC. RTW and other game companies may give their input, but the final decision is up to M$. In my opinion, even though MS gets some of the money, I don't mind "donating" to RTW if it's something I want. I'm not going to buy it blindly, if I don't like it, I won't get it. But, I'm all for supporting a new game company that seems to be on the right track.
<Pants with tounge hanging out, takes a breath, steps off his soapbox, then promptly burns it>
