I'm interested in what's going to happen in our gaming software future. I wanted to originally say "scared", but I'll stick with "interested."
I'm interested because XBL Marketplace and this DLC that's already on disc has driven a specific point:
You do not own what is on that game disc that you paid money for at the store. You are leasing the content that they choose to make available to you.
You are not entitled to anything, really. And really, if you're able to start, play through an acceptable length of gameplay, and see an ending, then the developers have accomplished what they set forth to do: make an enjoyable gameplay experience.
Let me give you guys a more direct, acceptable analogy.
I make the next version of Grand Theft Auto. Its as huge as San Andreas, with all the graphical bells and whistles, the ability to put in your own music, and so on. You're able to unlock new costumes for your character, and after you beat the game, you can start the game over with all of your previous stats, and there's now new missions, cars, and objectives available. There's even an arena where your character can do a demolition derby or race against other folks online.
The reviews are in. "The Best GTA Yet." "So Much To Do." "Frothing Demand For This Game Increases." Well hell! Time to get!
Now, a month goes by, and I post up on marketplace "New City with missions available." The new city promises a couple more unlockable things, with some new challenges. Its about 10 bucks more. Cool! You pay, and procede to download... a 108k key.
The new area shows up on your map. It wasn't there previously, and there was no way of traveling there otherwise before the key. But its there now, and damn! Its pretty damn cool. You also just got 2 new cars, a costume, and a new home out of this. Sweet!
A couple weeks later there's new missions available in that town. Aliens have abducted most of the townsfolk, and now you can go find out what the hell is going on. You can now also unlock the Death Ray, a flying saucer, a teleportation tool that will beam you to any of the other homes that you own, and it also unlocks another Police Star. If it goes past 6 Stars, Men in Black come after you. You don't want Men in Black after you.
its about 8 bucks, and another 108k.
Other paid unlockables follow. Other costumes. New cars. A co-op option (play as an alien!). All were on the disc already.
But the core game was there. You never felt that you were missing anything, because none of the unlocked features were shown from the start. You played through the game. You enjoyed it. Now there's more stuff to do! And the game's "life" extend because of this.
I see this as being the future of game software. If you don't want it, that's fine! You still get a very full game. But there is going to be content that is available that will extend that particular game. Stuff that you will see fellow friends and forumers enjoying, or griping about. Stuff that you could also experience...
...for a fee.