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[Pimpwerx]

It's not free. And you're allowed to be entitled when it comes to a service you pay for. I have no opinion on this either way, just wanted clear up the "free" thing.

The game is free with the service. Bandy around semantics all you want. You're paying for the online service, and you get free games with it. That's how it works. Understanding it differently will lead to people having fucked up and idiotic misconceptions and expectations about what they're getting.

It's not rocket science. Everyone knew what this was getting into it. If you didn't, you have yourself to blame. Crying about it now is childish and entitled. You're getting what you paid for and more than other comparable services. I know. Boohoo.

As someone who was against the pay model, I understand the sentiment, but we're mature enough to own up to the decision we made when we subscribed. This thread reads like so many children throwing a tantrum about their allowance being a free bucks short. Well, you did nothing to earn it. So be happy that you're getting far more than less instead of shitting on the effort.

Not you specifically, btw. PEACE.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

Really, like only 1 person understands the business logic behind PSN+ that makes it work for everyone (Sony, the devs, and the players). Games cost millions of dollars to produce. A full game big budget AAA title will never be given away for free upon initial release. Devs would go bankrupt if that was the case.

 

[King Beyond the wall]

It's actually more like on the day of Halo5 release, ms gives you a gwg version with the single player prologue and all mp modes with 5 maps and 10 custom loadouts.

Quoting this because it is an excellent comparison.

 

[Baleoce]

Interesting. So you can platinum the game with just 5 tracks? They stated in an earlier interview that you could get the platinum via the PS+ edition.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-02-driveclub-ps-plus-edition-is-the-full-game-minus-a-few-cars-and-tracks

I'm guessing there must be a lot of variation in those tracks and they get re-used as a result, during difficulty stepups / different modes etc.

 

[Schryver]

Anyone who thought they would get close to the full game is dumb, but I agree that at first glance this doesn't seem like enough for the free edition. 1 out of 5? countries and 10 out of ~100? cars? Even if they gave away 1/2 of the tracks and cars lots of people would still upgrade to the full game.

 

[StuBurns]

Interesting. So you can platinum the game with just 5 tracks? They stated in an earlier interview that you could get the platinum via the PS+ edition.

Don't count on it.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

The game is free with the service. Bandy around semantics all you want. You're paying for the online service, and you get free games with it. That's how it works. Understanding it differently will lead to people having fucked up and idiotic misconceptions and expectations about what they're getting.

It's not rocket science. Everyone knew what this was getting into it. If you didn't, you have yourself to blame. Crying about it now is childish and entitled. You're getting what you paid for and more than other comparable services. I know. Boohoo.

As someone who was against the pay model, I understand the sentiment, but we're mature enough to own up to the decision we made when we subscribed. This thread reads like so many children throwing a tantrum about their allowance being a free bucks short. Well, you did nothing to earn it. So be happy that you're getting far more than less instead of shitting on the effort.

Not you specifically, btw. PEACE.

The thing that is nuts is that the service goes across multiple Sony systems, as well: PS3, PS4, and VIta. You can potentially be downloading hundreds of dollars worth of games each month with a single year subscription that you likely purchased for less than the MSRP of $50.00.

 

[Papercuts]

Saying you could plat the game with the PS+ edition wasn't saying much when we don't even know what the list is. It could still be possible and the set is just really easy, or it could be a total grind.

 

[viveks86]

This is 5 tracks and 11 variants and 10 cars, and many of the modes. That's a huge amount of content for something like that. And if you like it, you can upgrade to the full game.

That's pretty nice any way I shake it

Pretty much what I thought as well. And I was pleasantly surprised because I didn't expect 5 tracks and 10 cars. I expected may be 3 tracks and 5 cars! I don't understand what's the raging debate in this thread. That we were tricked into NOT paying for the full game?

 

[TrueMenace]

Game seems promising. I'll definitely try out the PS+ version and if my friends and I enjoy that a lot, I'll probably dip in on the full version.

Just bummed about the 30fps. I just hope it's stable and plays smoothly.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

I can't believe people actually believed they were getting almost the full game for free. From Day One of this announcement I assumed the PS+ edition was going to be a limited version of the game. People would have no reason to buy the game if they only took out a few tracks and a few cars.

 

[EBreda]

I expected something like this.




No they didn't. They promised undefined amount of free content and nothing more.

Yes the did.

Rustchynsky also revealed that players will be able to earn the game’s Platinum Trophy in the PS Plus Edition. ”You can earn the platinum trophy in the PS+ Edition, remember it’s the full game minus a few cars/tracks,” he explained.

If we get 1 country with 5 tracks, and assuming there are 5 countries and 25 tracks, I wouldn't count cutting 20 tracks of a lineup of 25 "a few".

To be completely honest, he should've said "minus most of the cars/tracks".

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

What kind of nonsense is this? MS giving out Forza 5 after almost one year is going to look better than Sony giving out DriveClub day and date along with all the other games they have been giving out...what?

A full version of Forza 5 for free for Gold members is certainly going to be a PR coup if they hand it out at the same time as Sony hands out a half content version of Driveclub to PS plus subscribers. You know the comparison will be made if both announcements are made at E3. The release dates of either don't matter as much as the amount of content given. Forza 5 is a quality title.

 

[ricelord]

The game is free with the service. Bandy around semantics all you want. You're paying for the online service, and you get free games with it. That's how it works. Understanding it differently will lead to people having fucked up and idiotic misconceptions and expectations about what they're getting.

It's not rocket science. Everyone knew what this was getting into it. If you didn't, you have yourself to blame. Crying about it now is childish and entitled. You're getting what you paid for and more than other comparable services. I know. Boohoo.

As someone who was against the pay model, I understand the sentiment, but we're mature enough to own up to the decision we made when we subscribed. This thread reads like so many children throwing a tantrum about their allowance being a free bucks short. Well, you did nothing to earn it. So be happy that you're getting far more than less instead of shitting on the effort.

Not you specifically, btw. PEACE.

100% agree.

 

[Nafai1123]

I had this apple tree that used to drop a couple apples every month. One month, it dropped an apple that was particularly delicious, but was smaller than the others.

I burned that motherfucker to the ground...

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Didn't they originally claim that you could get the game's platinum trophy from the content in the PS+ version? That doesn't sound particularly feasible with what they're offering.

Gotta go faster.

 

[flyinpiranha]

The game is free with the service. Bandy around semantics all you want. You're paying for the online service, and you get free games with it. That's how it works. Understanding it differently will lead to people having fucked up and idiotic misconceptions and expectations about what they're getting.

It's not rocket science. Everyone knew what this was getting into it. If you didn't, you have yourself to blame. Crying about it now is childish and entitled. You're getting what you paid for and more than other comparable services. I know. Boohoo.

As someone who was against the pay model, I understand the sentiment, but we're mature enough to own up to the decision we made when we subscribed. This thread reads like so many children throwing a tantrum about their allowance being a free bucks short. Well, you did nothing to earn it. So be happy that you're getting far more than less instead of shitting on the effort.

Not you specifically, btw. PEACE.

Dude, what? Nobody is throwing a tantrum. People are disappointed because the final version we are getting with a service we pay for isn't as robust as they lead us to believe.

How do people not understand this? It wasn't PR speak, it was pretty simply stated:

DriveClub PS Plus Edition is the full game minus a few cars and tracks

I mean, what we're getting is awesome and PS+ is a great service I PAY FOR but just because your view on paying PS+ fits your narrative doesn't mean that's what 'it is'. It's something I pay for. I expected something they said I would get months ago. It's changed.

I'm still happy with what I'm getting and I enjoy the service but how can others not comprehend the disappointment? It doesn't mean we're throwing tantrums. We're simply stating that it's kind of BS they promised one thing and delivered another. PEACE.

 

[Loudninja]

Yes the did.



If we get 1 country with 5 tracks, and assuming there are 5 countries and 25 tracks, I wouldn't count cutting 20 tracks of a lineup of 25 "a few".

To be completely honest, he should've said "minus most of the cars/tracks".

When it was first announced:

Driveclub PlayStation Plus Edition gives you an exciting selection of cars across all 5 classes, beautiful locations and exciting race tracks featured that you can play in all game modes, but does not include all Driveclub content unless you upgrade.

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2013/08/20/driveclub-pre-order-bonuses-revealed/

 

[Synth]

I think it was two cars (viper and evo if memory serves, though I am prone to waking dreamstates), one or two race events and a small chunk of the open world map. It was definitely just a small taste, but enough to get a handle on the driving model and open world elements.

This PS+ seems like a lot of content for a demo. But its hard to exactly peg just what the hell this is without knowing the full game and cost of upgrading it ;p

k, back from checking.

It's three cars. The Dodge Viper, Lancer Evo, and Ford Mustang. Free Roam can be done with the first two, but once you switch from the Viper to the Evo via entering its event, there's no way to switch back (there's no garage in the demo).

The demo contains:

3 cars
4 unique tracks
Standard point-to-point race
Showcase race (versus plane)
Street race with traffic
Speed traps
Speed zones

It accounts for most modes available in the full game, minus circuit races and challenging festival racers as far as I can recall. It also maintains community features, so each tracks has online player ghosts to race against, and you speed trap and speed zone results are compared with other players on the server.

The main differences I see between the Horizon demo and Driveclub is the lack of direct multiplayer, and a lack of progression. There are no bars to fill, and no objectives to complete once you're done playing each of the featured races. All there's really left to do at that point is free roam, or return to the events for another go (and compete against rivals). It makes a significant differences in terms of how long a player would be likely to play the game for, but I don't think Driveclub PS+ is actually significantly ahead in terms of raw content.

Forza horizon is an open world racer. Which in the demo you can only freeroam with one car. Its nowhere near comparable.

Even still, that is one game. The general way this goes is racing demos have very little content.


Comparing other genres is just silly. Especially arena shooters.

Well, I did make a Test Drive Unlimited comparison too, but nobody has acknowledged that one yet. I don't see how Horizon being open world actually makes much difference though. When you're competing in race events those tracks are just as unique and designed as any other racer. It's actually one of Horizon's main strengths over similar games like TDU, the tracks don't feel like randomly generated points.

And I'm not stating that demos with as expansive content are common. I'm saying that I don't believe DriveClub's content really places it outside the realm of a demo. There have been demos offering similar content in the past. What appears to set DriveClub apart from similar demos would be an extended sense of progression, so you wouldn't complete each of its races once and then stop playing.

 

[shandy706]

Don't Platinum trophies usually involve completing most modes in a game....or at least unlocking/playing through a lot of stuff?

Is it possible I could buy the entire game....just race those 5 tracks and 10 cars....and get a Plat?

Or is there a PS+ Plat and a full game Plat?

Was this discovered at any point in the last 11 pages?

 

[Zombie James]

That sounds like a demo to me.

 

[gruenel]

Yes the did.



If we get 1 country with 5 tracks, and assuming there are 5 countries and 25 tracks, I wouldn't count cutting 20 tracks of a lineup of 25 "a few".

To be completely honest, he should've said "minus most of the cars/tracks".

Basing your arguments on assumptions is a bad idea.

 

[Remf]

The OP clearly says 5 tracks, 11 layouts. It's like we forgot how to read all of a sudden.

Yep, curious about the 11 different layouts they were referring to.

 

[Galactic Barret]

Don't Platinum trophies usually involve completing most modes in a game....or at least unlocking/playing through a lot of stuff?

Is it possible I could buy the entire game....just race those 5 tracks and 10 cars....and get a Plat?

Or is there a PS+ Plat and a full game Plat?

Was this discovered at any point in the last 11 pages?

I was thinking a PS+ Plat and a regular Plat.

 

[Kinyou]

Kind of expected something like this. Though I can also understand people who are disappointed, some of those comments made by the devs sure left a lot of room for intepretations

 

[AndyD]

And what will the full game have?

RIght. I feel its a good amount for a free demo.

I suspect they wanted to release it at launch with one country then have 2-3 more for the full version or as individual DLC. Which would have given + about a quarter or third of the game. And they probably expected to put out DLC of a country and cars every few months, keeping the whole thing alive.

As the game was delayed, they likely expanded the content to be initially included to probably 7-10 locations, which would make + only a tenth or so of the whole game. DLC locations and cars will likely still appear over time, but the initial content amount for the full version will likely be a lot meatier than it would have been in 2013.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

That sounds like a demo to me.

Name a demo with the features of this game on top of the content.

 

[StuBurns]

I had this apple tree that used to drop a couple apples every month. One month, it dropped an apple that was particularly delicious, but was smaller than the others.

I burned that motherfucker to the ground...

I was at this garden centre, I was looking at fruit trees and this guy came up to me and said if I buy this orange tree, I'll get this apple tree that produces just 'a few' apples short of a full price apple tree! In reality though, it only had a sixth of the apples of a full priced tree. But I guess I can't complain, it was 'free' with the orange tree after all.

 

[cackhyena]

I was at this garden centre, I was looking at fruit trees and this guy came up to me and said if I buy this orange tree, I'll get this apple tree that produces just 'a few' apples short of a full price apple tree! In reality though, it only had a sixth of the apples of a full priced tree. But I guess I can't complain, it was 'free' with the orange tree after all.

...wow.

 

[Griss]

The game is free with the service. Bandy around semantics all you want. You're paying for the online service, and you get free games with it. That's how it works. Understanding it differently will lead to people having fucked up and idiotic misconceptions and expectations about what they're getting.

It's not rocket science. Everyone knew what this was getting into it. If you didn't, you have yourself to blame. Crying about it now is childish and entitled. You're getting what you paid for and more than other comparable services. I know. Boohoo.

As someone who was against the pay model, I understand the sentiment, but we're mature enough to own up to the decision we made when we subscribed. This thread reads like so many children throwing a tantrum about their allowance being a free bucks short. Well, you did nothing to earn it. So be happy that you're getting far more than less instead of shitting on the effort.

Not you specifically, btw. PEACE.

The service, for most people, is the games. I signed up for the full retail games. That's what I'm paying for.

I'm okay with this DriveClub thing - I expected more, but it's okay. But the games aren't some bonus you get with the service. They ARE the service, especially if you don't have a PS4 and you're therefore not paying to go online.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Awesome points minus the name calling.



MSFT is using as a crux to try and garner sales. DC is a multimillion dollar game that is coming in hot with some great features. I see no reason to give that away free and this version sounds more than enough to let people try before they buy.

I'm not trying to make a case to give away DC for free. I'm simply making a case they are setting themselves up for a good counter by Microsoft that they can't really do anything about. They should have seen it coming. MS is getting ripped for not offering free games to Xbox One gold subscribers and they will likely offer something nice at the start. Forza is perfect as it gives them an opportunity to make the comparison at E3 of offering a full content racer versus playstation plus giving you a half content version of a racer. Sony isn't going to counter by giving the full game away anytime soon. All consumers are going to do is compare one quality racer to the other.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I'm not trying to make a case to give away DC for free. I'm simply making a case they are setting themselves up for a good counter by Microsoft that they can't really do anything about. They should have seen it coming. MS is getting ripped for not offering free games to Xbox One gold subscribers and they will likely offer something nice at the start. Forza is perfect as it gives them an opportunity to make the comparison at E3 of offering a full content racer versus playstation plus giving you a half content version of a racer. Sony is going to counter by giving the full game away anytime soon. All consumers are going to do is compare one quality racer to the other.

Fair point.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Dude, what? Nobody is throwing a tantrum. People are disappointed because the final version we are getting with a service we pay for isn't as robust as they lead us to believe.

How do people not understand this? It wasn't PR speak, it was pretty simply stated:



I mean, what we're getting is awesome and PS+ is a great service I PAY FOR but just because your view on paying PS+ fits your narrative doesn't mean that's what 'it is'. It's something I pay for. I expected something they said I would get months ago. It's changed.

I'm still happy with what I'm getting and I enjoy the service but how can others not comprehend the disappointment? It doesn't mean we're throwing tantrums. We're simply stating that it's kind of BS they promised one thing and delivered another. PEACE.

They didn't give us any details on content prior to today. The people lead to believe something lead themselves. Can't fault the studio for misplaced expectations. PEACE.

 

[Metallix87]

So people actually expected a full version of this game for free minus some content at launch of said game. A game they have now dragged on for an extra year they were just going to give away for free to the probably huge percentage of people who subscribe to PSN+ who own PS4s. Seems a bit much for a company that is always touted as on a razors edge to bankruptcy to just eat the entire cost of the game and make very little on it. Especially with the extra development time involved.

Well, they shouldn't have promised more than they could deliver. It's understandable why people expected more.

 

[StuBurns]

I'm not trying to make a case to give away DC for free. I'm simply making a case they are setting themselves up for a good counter by Microsoft that they can't really do anything about. They should have seen it coming. MS is getting ripped for not offering free games to Xbox One gold subscribers and they will likely offer something nice at the start. Forza is perfect as it gives them an opportunity to make the comparison at E3 of offering a full content racer versus playstation plus giving you a half content version of a racer. Sony isn't going to counter by giving the full game away anytime soon. All consumers are going to do is compare one quality racer to the other.

Hardly. Sony could just also give away Knack, then they have a free 'prologue' game, and a full one.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

I just hope Driveclub is good enough that none of this discussion matters. I think if it is anything short of electric, this misstep will detract from an otherwise good product.

 

[Zen_Arcade]

Dude, what? Nobody is throwing a tantrum. People are disappointed because the final version we are getting with a service we pay for isn't as robust as they lead us to believe.

How do people not understand this? It wasn't PR speak, it was pretty simply stated:



I mean, what we're getting is awesome and PS+ is a great service I PAY FOR but just because your view on paying PS+ fits your narrative doesn't mean that's what 'it is'. It's something I pay for. I expected something they said I would get months ago. It's changed.

I'm still happy with what I'm getting and I enjoy the service but how can others not comprehend the disappointment? It doesn't mean we're throwing tantrums. We're simply stating that it's kind of BS they promised one thing and delivered another. PEACE.

Because it boils down to you complaining that you're not getting enough free stuff. I get that they it's less then they originally said they would have, but it's still a reasonable amount. Those people just think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill and don't care.

I was at this garden centre, I was looking at fruit trees and this guy came up to me and said if I buy this orange tree, I'll get this apple tree that produces just 'a few' apples short of a full price apple tree! In reality though, it only had a sixth of the apples of a full priced tree. But I guess I can't complain, it was 'free' with the orange tree after all.

I wouldn't complain about that. You're still getting a bunch of free apples. I take it you're a glass half empty kind of guy.

 

[EBreda]

Basing your arguments on assumptions is a bad idea.

The facebook webpage above shows videos of multiple countries, Scotland, Norway, India etc

So that's 4. Including the confirmed UK, that's 5.

I guess I can safely say there are at least 5 countries in there. If there is more than that, it's even more embarassing - cutting 50 of 55 tracks and telling us it's "minus a few tracks" would be even worse. That's why I went for 20 of 25.

 

[NullPointer]

People would have no reason to buy the game if they only took out a few tracks and a few cars.

Sure, but that *is* how the PS+ version was originally described.

Never made much sense to me, but that's exactly how it was drummed up, so I can't get on a person's case for expecting exactly that. Nor do I think its OK for PR to make shit up out of whole cloth.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

Hardly. Sony could just also give away Knack, then they have a free 'prologue' game, and a full one.

I'm pretty sure offering Knack at this point would be frowned upon as it is a known quantity. Its rep isn't great. Japanese gamers didn't know any better at launch. Trying to give away Knack now would just get groans or worse depending on the mood at the time of announcement.

 

[BurnOutBrighter]

Interesting. So you can platinum the game with just 5 tracks? They stated in an earlier interview that you could get the platinum via the PS+ edition.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-02-driveclub-ps-plus-edition-is-the-full-game-minus-a-few-cars-and-tracks

I'm guessing there must be a lot of variation in those tracks and they get re-used as a result, during difficulty stepups / different modes etc.

My guess is the trophies are based around racing/social milestones rather than unlocks for tracks and cars. It'd be achievable but probably harder (eg if you have a drift trophy but the PS Plus cars aren't that great at drifting).

 

[flyinpiranha]

They didn't give us any details on content prior to today. The people lead to believe something lead themselves. Can't fault the studio for misplaced expectations. PEACE.

Misplaced expectations ... the studio said this:

DriveClub PS Plus Edition is the full game minus a few cars and tracks

Are you even reading that? Are you? Because I feel everybody that says "they never said that" is just skipping over the large amount of articles written a few months ago when it was announced.

How else am I supposed to interpret that?

Because it boils down to you complaining that you're not getting enough free stuff. I get that they it's less then they originally said they would have, but it's still a reasonable amount. Those people just think you're making a mountain out of a mole hill and don't care.

They care enough to come in and bitch about the people disappointed. How is that any worse than us expressing our disappointment? These threads usually turn into a circlejerk of negativity anyway .. and I try to avoid them. I failed at that today.

I believe they've stuck to that for the most part.

Hey, if that's true I'll take back what I've said. But I don't think it is. Especially if the demo is a 'good majority' of the game making that original statement true it means the game won't have much content in general. I can't imagine 5 cars being 'just a few less' than the retail release.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

I just hope Driveclub is good enough that none of this discussion matters. I think if it is anything short of electric, this misstep will detract from an otherwise good product.

It certainly looks like it will be but reading the blowup on this thread and the other about 30fps is more than annoying. All this won't matter when the game is out and it's just casting a bad light when it's not even bad news we've had.

Misplaced expectations ... the studio said this:



Are you even reading that? Are you? Because I feel everybody that says "they never said that" is just skipping over the large amount of articles written a few months ago when it was announced.

How else am I supposed to interpret that?

I believe they've stuck to that for the most part.

 

[kasane]

Drive Club: MGS Ground Zeroes Edition.

Except its free with plus

 

[PBY]

It certainly looks like it will be but reading the blowup on this thread and the other about 30fps is more than annoying. All this won't matter when the game is out and it's just casting a bad light when it's not even bad news we've had.



I believe they've stuck to that for the most part.

Come on. It's not really what they said

It's not a big deal tho.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

It certainly looks like it will be but reading the blowup on this thread and the other about 30fps is more than annoying. All this won't matter when the game is out and it's just casting a bad light when it's not even bad news we've had.

Personally, I understand the glorified demo argument but since I don't play racers it doesn't matter to me. I play almost anything and I would love to get into the genre but I don't want to spend money to do so. This is perfect for a guy like me. If I like it, then I could get in at a discount.

 

[spwolf]

I'm not pleasantly surprised, it's just I find it hard to complain about a very significant amount of content in a game being free with a subscription that also nets you tons of other full "free" games for. If you calculate the sheer scale of the shit we get per year with a PS+ sub, it's nuts. This is 5 tracks and 11 variants and 10 cars, and many of the modes. That's a huge amount of content for something like that. And if you like it, you can upgrade to the full game.

That's pretty nice any way I shake it

5/11 tracks and 10 cars, thats likely all you will need to enjoy this game for many, many hours... it is pretty good. I, and many others, played crap out of GT5, and I consider this on par with GT5, which was sold actually for $40.

Sure GT5 had 37 cars but this game will probably have more fun cars than GT5 did.

 

[StuBurns]

I'm pretty sure offering Knack at this point would be frowned upon as it is a known quantity. Its rep isn't great. Japanese gamers didn't know any better at launch. Trying to give away Knack now would just get groans or worse depending on the mood at the time of announcement.

It's an odd situation, because you had to have a metacritic of 75 (I think that was the number?) to get on PS+ last generation, but now as they've been day one indie games, we get them announced before the press rate them, so they don't have MC ratings. Knack would have been below par by Sony's rules, but presumably now they don't mind.

Personally, I'd like to see Knack on the service. Seems like the obvious first full priced retail game to me.

 

[Nafai1123]

I was at this garden centre, I was looking at fruit trees and this guy came up to me and said if I buy this orange tree, I'll get this apple tree that produces just 'a few' apples short of a full price apple tree! In reality though, it only had a sixth of the apples of a full priced tree. But I guess I can't complain, it was 'free' with the orange tree after all.

That sucks man. My apple tree produces apples every month, and the cost of upkeep is pretty miniscule compared to the price I'd pay for apples at the store. If you want more apples, I'd suggest buying a full priced tree.

 

[J'aime Fils-Aime]

The service, for most people, is the games. I signed up for the full retail games. That's what I'm paying for.

I'm okay with this DriveClub thing - I expected more, but it's okay. But the games aren't some bonus you get with the service. They ARE the service, especially if you don't have a PS4 and you're therefore not paying to go online.

Indeed. We should remember that if DriveClub counts as that month's PS4 game, then it's not free. It's technically around 83 cents ($40 a year divided by twelve moths divided by four games each month). Thinking about that way, is DriveClub's selection worth 83 cents?