Bioshock 2 DLC already on disc

[Dumac]

I know some of you guys are invested in the evolution of DLC, so I thought you may be interested

BioShock 2 DLC is Already On the Disc
Fans upset, but 2K calls it necessary so as not to split the player base.
By Steve Watts, 03/12/2010

Trouble is brewing in Rapture. The recently released Sinclair Solutions multiplayer pack for BioShock 2 is facing upset players over the revelation that the content is already on the disc, and the $5 premium is an unlock code. It started when users on the 2K Forums noticed that the content is incredibly small: 24KB on the PC, 103KB on the PlayStation 3, and 108KB on the Xbox 360. 2K Games responded with a post explaining that the decision was made in order to keep the player base in tact, without splitting it between the haves and have-nots.

"The way our engine and game structure works is that people need to have the exact same content for people to play together," wrote community manager 2K Elizabeth. "One of the challenges with post launch content for MP is that it can split the player base, and we want to avoid that whenever possible. For this content, creating the DLC package the way we did allowed for us to not split the player base - so whether you purchase the new content or not, you can still play with your friends." The answer may not be enough to satisfy upset fans who would've preferred on-disc content unlocked from the beginning. But as Shacknews notes, it's possible this content was made on a separate DLC budget. That would essentially force the company to recoup the development costs through DLC charges.

It does raise the question of what will happen with future DLC. This pack is a large boost to the multiplayer, but 2K has promised more packs coming in the future, which could include more multiplayer expansions. If this move was made to keep from splitting the player base, one has to wonder if future multiplayer DLC is already on the disc as well. The effort to keep everyone playing together is noble, but if it leads to more instances like this one months down the line, fans will probably grow increasingly annoyed.

For their part, 2K is handling this pretty modestly. "I know some of you have strong beliefs about DLC, and I'm not here to sway your opinion or convince you to buy our stuff," wrote 2K Elizabeth. "If you like what we're offering, I hope you get it and enjoy it. If it's not your speed, enjoy BioShock 2 as we released it." Unfortunately for 2K, since these controversies tend to ruffle feathers, some potential buyers might just enjoy BioShock 2 as it was released out of principle.

Article: http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3178326

I personally don't buy their excuse, not like it matters.

 

[Queasy]

The question now becomes...how much more DLC is on the disk? Will they ever get to a point where they DON'T have DLC already on the disk but want to release something? What then?

 

[gorcorps]

Their excuse doesn't make any sense. They didn't want to split the player base into haves and have-nots, but you still have to pay for a key to have the stuff? Makes no sense and has nothing to do with why it was on the disc.

 

[Kabob]

Not like this is an original practice. Capcom did the exact same thing with the RE5 multiplayer. This is only slightly more shady than Capcom charging money for extra outfits for your SFIV characters.

But I agree, where does it stop? And +1, their response makes absolutely no sense. Honestly in the end dev's are going to wise up and just decrease the amount of content on a disc and make you DL the rest, apparently it makes the fan base happier.

 

[gorcorps]

Not like this is an original practice. Capcom did the exact same thing with the RE5 multiplayer. This is only slightly more shady than Capcom charging money for extra outfits for your SFIV characters.

But I agree, where does it stop? And +1, their response makes absolutely no sense. Honestly in the end dev's are going to wise up and just decrease the amount of content on a disc and make you DL the rest, apparently it makes the fan base happier.

What's scary is if they just made the 'unlock key' take up more space, nobody would have noticed and nothing would have surfaced. What if we start seeing THAT practice of inflated downloads just so people don't get wise.

That's my paranoid delusion of the day. :awe:

 

[Queasy]

What's scary is if they just made the 'unlock key' take up more space, nobody would have noticed and nothing would have surfaced. What if we start seeing THAT practice of inflated downloads just so people don't get wise.

That's my paranoid delusion of the day. :awe:

Oh noes! That means we'll have to have multiple DVDs for the 360 just for the unlock keys!

 

[mugs]

Their excuse doesn't make any sense. They didn't want to split the player base into haves and have-nots, but you still have to pay for a key to have the stuff? Makes no sense and has nothing to do with why it was on the disc.

Sure it makes sense. It's multiplayer DLC. In order to see the DLC that you're using, everyone has to have the assets.

I don't see what the big deal is. Everyone who bought the game knew they weren't getting this content, right?

It's the same stupid argument every time with DLC. "They held stuff back to sell as DLC, it should have been in the game!" Yeah, they held stuff back even though it was complete when the game launched. But would they have developed it at all if they weren't going to sell it for a few extra bucks? Maybe, maybe not.

Two simple rules -
1. Buy games based on whether you think they're worth the price you're paying for what you get.
2. Buy DLC based on whether you think it's worth the price you're paying for what you get.

Follow those rules, and DLC should never cause you angst.

Go Devils!

 

[gorcorps]

Sure it makes sense. It's multiplayer DLC. In order to see the DLC that you're using, everyone has to have the assets.

I don't see what the big deal is. Everyone who bought the game knew they weren't getting this content, right?

It's the same stupid argument every time with DLC. "They held stuff back to sell as DLC, it should have been in the game!" Yeah, they held stuff back even though it was complete when the game launched. But would they have developed it at all if they weren't going to sell it for a few extra bucks? Maybe, maybe not.

Two simple rules -
1. Buy games based on whether you think they're worth the price you're paying for what you get.
2. Buy DLC based on whether you think it's worth the price you're paying for what you get.

Follow those rules, and DLC should never cause you angst.

Go Devils!

I didn't say it was unfair, or that they held back... their explanation simply doesn't make sense. It would be just as easy to release a patch which lets people play with other people who bought the stuff, that way they would have avoided this whole thing of having the stuff already on the disc. DVDs are already cramped for space, so why waste it on stuff that not everybody wants or will get?

I agree that the game is complete anyway, and I would appreciate you not putting words in my mouth. All I said is their explanation sucks, I didn't say anything about the DLC itself.

 

[mugs]

I didn't say it was unfair, or that they held back... their explanation simply doesn't make sense. It would be just as easy to release a patch which lets people play with other people who bought the stuff, that way they would have avoided this whole thing of having the stuff already on the disc. DVDs are already cramped for space, so why waste it on stuff that not everybody wants or will get?

I agree that the game is complete anyway, and I would appreciate you not putting words in my mouth. All I said is their explanation sucks, I didn't say anything about the DLC itself.

I wasn't addressing you specifically with most of my post, just the part about whether or not it makes sense. Yeah, they could have released a patch, but if they had room left on the DVD then it wasn't necessary (and as someone who wouldn't buy the DLC, I'd rather have it on the DVD than taking up space on my hard drive).

 

[purbeast0]

i still havent played this game.

 

[R Nilla]

Two simple rules -
1. Buy games based on whether you think they're worth the price you're paying for what you get.
2. Buy DLC based on whether you think it's worth the price you're paying for what you get.

Follow those rules, and DLC should never cause you angst.

I still say this is DLC done wrong, in principle, but mugs is right. Especially because it's impossible to know the developers' original intentions. It's ultimately not worth arguing or worrying about if you follow these guidelines.

 

[Ackmed]

Sure it makes sense. It's multiplayer DLC. In order to see the DLC that you're using, everyone has to have the assets.

I don't see what the big deal is. Everyone who bought the game knew they weren't getting this content, right?

It's the same stupid argument every time with DLC. "They held stuff back to sell as DLC, it should have been in the game!" Yeah, they held stuff back even though it was complete when the game launched. But would they have developed it at all if they weren't going to sell it for a few extra bucks? Maybe, maybe not.

Two simple rules -
1. Buy games based on whether you think they're worth the price you're paying for what you get.
2. Buy DLC based on whether you think it's worth the price you're paying for what you get.

Follow those rules, and DLC should never cause you angst.

Go Devils!

First off, I buy DLC all the time. Bought two for Borderlands.

Your two rules are not always going to be true. Because they have, and will in the future hold back part of a game, to sell to you later. You are in a no win situation, because if you like the game, you are going to buy it. No matter if they hold back part of the game or not. And since you can no longer take back a game, and demos arent out for games like they once were, its hard to tell if the game is "worth it" before buying it. Sure you can read a review and see posts online about it, but its all subjective. The price isnt going to drop because of this, in fact, it will probably go up. Because games in general are going up.

Oh well, I may have downloaded Bioshock 2 anyways. And once again they're didnt get the aspect right, 75 FOV is retarded. Yes, I know a patch came out to "fix" this problem. Im surprised it wasnt in the DLC and had to be bought though.

 

[blurredvision]

I have an opinion on this, but it doesn't really matter. Both sides of the argument have good points IMO.