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Capcom: "'On disc DLC no different than download"

There is no difference...except for that difference. Yeah.

Do you understand that a company can create a content in paralell with the game's development and simply lock it up for laters, sell it as DLC, and not even include it on the disk? And you understand that there is no way for us to verify this?

So, instead of going by the definition that "DLC" had in 2005-2006, let us look at what they are using it for (every publisher!): selling content that is not ACCESSIBLE to the players for money. That is it.

"AUC" should be the name (Additional Unlockable Content) or simply AC, but still: there is no point in blaming Capcom specifically and ignoring that we have no way to judge whether a content was developed in paralell to the game or not with every single other publisher.

And no, realistically speaking, one should thank Capcom for saving global bandwidth with the inclusion of the content instead of wasting server capacity, user's download limit, power, HDD space on the 360's/PS3's and time that it takes to download all characters. That is my point of view on this.

The sole thing I think one should judge this is whether the content is worth it or not. If not? do not buy. Same goes for SfxT itself. 38 character not enough? Well, buy something else that has more character, if that is what you want. ; )
 
Maybe I have a narrow vision, but I get the sense that people are forgetting that games are basically software and the disc is just a storage option.
If you're used to buy software, then you're no stranger to the fact that there are times you have to buy a different license to access all the functionality of a program or a software suite, even though all the necessary files, and data are included in the installer.

I don't say I like this model applied to games, but the simple fact is that you're buying a license to access specific content and software functionality and storage. So technically Capcom is totally right in my opinion. But them being right doesn't mean mean I'll be spending a dime in this business model...
 
Do you understand that a company can create a content in paralell with the game's development and simply lock it up for laters, sell it as DLC, and not even include it on the disk? And you understand that there is no way for us to verify this?

So, instead of going by the definition that "DLC" had in 2005-2006, let us look at what they are using it for (every publisher!): selling content that is not ACCESSIBLE to the players for money. That is it.

"AUC" should be the name (Additional Unlockable Content) or simply AC, but still: there is no point in blaming Capcom specifically and ignoring that we have no way to judge whether a content was developed in paralell to the game or not with every single other publisher.

And no, realistically speaking, one should thank Capcom for saving global bandwidth with the inclusion of the content instead of wasting server capacity, user's download limit, power, HDD space on the 360's/PS3's and time that it takes to download all characters. That is my point of view on this.

The sole thing I think one should judge this is whether the content is worth it or not. If not? do not buy. Same goes for SfxT itself. 38 character not enough? Well, buy something else that has more character, if that is what you want. ; )
I'll buy it used.

Muhahahahaha
 
Does a game feel finished or do you feel like you are being ripped off? What the letter of the law says is kind of irrelevant. Do customers feel satisfied when they know there are finished characters locked up on a disk that they already payed money for?

"There is effectively no distinction between the DLC being ''locked'' behind the disc and available for unlocking at a later date, or being available through a full download at a later date, other than delivery mechanism."

Perhaps this is technically true, Capcom may be within their rights to withhold their content any way they see fit, but it sure doesn't change the way I feel about it.
 
Do you understand that a company can create a content in paralell with the game's development and simply lock it up for laters, sell it as DLC, and not even include it on the disk? And you understand that there is no way for us to verify this?

So, instead of going by the definition that "DLC" had in 2005-2006, let us look at what they are using it for (every publisher!): selling content that is not ACCESSIBLE to the players for money. That is it.

"AUC" should be the name (Additional Unlockable Content) or simply AC, but still: there is no point in blaming Capcom specifically and ignoring that we have no way to judge whether a content was developed in paralell to the game or not with every single other publisher.

And no, realistically speaking, one should thank Capcom for saving global bandwidth with the inclusion of the content instead of wasting server capacity, user's download limit, power, HDD space on the 360's/PS3's and time that it takes to download all characters. That is my point of view on this.

The sole thing I think one should judge this is whether the content is worth it or not. If not? do not buy. Same goes for SfxT itself. 38 character not enough? Well, buy something else that has more character, if that is what you want. ; )

Well, perception is very important. I'm well aware we would have no way of knowing if they just removed it off the disc but already had it complete, but we also have no way of knowing other developers are doing the same shady practices. I'm sure many of them are, as they want to get as much profit as possible and are certainly not our friends. However, we are still the piece of the puzzle that keeps them all employed, and they're slowly pushing people more and more with this stuff. It doesn't really matter if it's just Capcom or not, at this rate I hope another crash happens so these people wise up.

I also still think the characters here would already be out, it's more on the Vita version being unexpectedly delayed causing some stupid contract hangup that means they're sitting on content they didn't plan on holding back like this. SFxT also has multiple things on top of just the characters. I'm still curious to see what's happening regarding gems and whatever price they actually plan on attaching to that.
 
Well, perception is very important. I'm well aware we would have no way of knowing if they just removed it off the disc but already had it complete, but we also have no way of knowing other developers are doing the same shady practices. I'm sure many of them are, as they want to get as much profit as possible and are certainly not our friends. However, we are still the piece of the puzzle that keeps them all employed, and they're slowly pushing people more and more with this stuff. It doesn't really matter if it's just Capcom or not, at this rate I hope another crash happens so these people wise up.

I also still think the characters here would already be out, it's more on the Vita version being unexpectedly delayed causing some stupid contract hangup that means they're sitting on content they didn't plan on holding back like this. SFxT also has multiple things on top of just the characters. I'm still curious to see what's happening regarding gems and whatever price they actually plan on attaching to that.

We agree, except for one thing: not the developers benefit from this , but the publishers. Big difference. I have yet to see a game designer directly state that their wish was to butcher up their game ambitions into tiny pieces of DLC.

Also, this is a two way street: they are still artists, providing entertainment for us. And with this regard, I personally consider the makers of fighting games two or three categories above those that simply create games with anything between 5-30 hours of gameplay contained in them, still having DLC. Their games are more important to me than me keeping that money I need to pay in order to enjoy the games for years(!) - or in worst case scenario, months.

Sojgat said:
Does a game feel finished or do you feel like you are being ripped off? What the letter of the law says is kind of irrelevant. Do customers feel satisfied when they know there are finished characters locked up on a disk that they already payed money for?

You did not pay for those characters. You paid for the physical disc which is worth around $0.50-$1.50 nowadays. That is exactly the amount that you are paying for with "paying for the disc" - the software that sits on the disc is what warrants the price, not the method of delivery itself. If you buy a Windows 7 Home, you should not feel bad knowing that Ultimate features still sit on the disc. You did not pay for that license, after all. And that disc is still $0.50-$1.50.
 
Well, perception is very important. I'm well aware we would have no way of knowing if they just removed it off the disc but already had it complete, but we also have no way of knowing other developers are doing the same shady practices. I'm sure many of them are, as they want to get as much profit as possible and are certainly not our friends. However, we are still the piece of the puzzle that keeps them all employed, and they're slowly pushing people more and more with this stuff. It doesn't really matter if it's just Capcom or not, at this rate I hope another crash happens so these people wise up.

I also still think the characters here would already be out, it's more on the Vita version being unexpectedly delayed causing some stupid contract hangup that means they're sitting on content they didn't plan on holding back like this. SFxT also has multiple things on top of just the characters. I'm still curious to see what's happening regarding gems and whatever price they actually plan on attaching to that.

You are acting like people are totally powerless and are being forced to pay for the DLC.
 
Still not following you dude. You want free costumes because...? Capcom planned all along to...? Just sounds like more entitlement issues to me.

OK Here we go. What's one of the arguments for DLC? That shit had a separate budget right? OK. In SF4 vanilla they completed the costumes way way before the console release. When the console version was released they put those costumes on disc and charged you to pay for them. I think that's ucked up but then you argue that separate development time and budget had to be allocated and shit like that. Still shitty but whatever. then hat happened in SSF4? Code was copy and pasted onto the new game. These same costumes which did not take any additional development time you still had to pay to use, despite the fact negligible development time was needed. I am not talking about the new costumes to SSF4 i am talking about SF4's alts. Same shit happened in AE you still had to pay for shit present in old games despite no additional work needed. Do you understand?
 
OK Here we go. What's one of the arguments for DLC? That shit had a separate budget right? OK. In SF4 vanilla they completed the costumes way way before the console release. When the console version was released they put those costumes on disc and charged you to pay for them. I think that's ucked up but then you argue that separate development time and budget had to be allocated and shit like that. Still shitty but whatever. then hat happened in SSF4? Code was copy and pasted onto the new game. These same costumes which did not take any additional development time you still had to pay to use, despite the fact negligible development time was needed. I am not talking about the new costumes to SSF4 i am talking about SF4's alts. Same shit happened in AE you still had to pay for shit present in old games despite no additional work needed. Do you understand?

Sounds like you just want things for free and expect it to be given to you, honestly.
 
Technically it may be true. I'm no expert on u.s law, but I saw reasonable arguments of on-disk dlc being undistinguished from downloadable dlc under the U.S law.

But still doesn't change the fact that there IS a difference in the real life. I agree with ShackNews’s take on this, With day-one DLC and locked on-disk content (that can be easily be checked and discovered by the hacking community), the consumer knows when the publisher is willing to lock already done content from them for sake of squishing even more money from their wallets. It is about PR and fan perception, and this DLC policy is not doing any good for Capcom and EA's reputation.
 
We agree, except for one thing: not the developers benefit from this , but the publishers. Big difference. I have yet to see a game designer directly state that their wish was to butcher up their game ambitions into tiny pieces of DLC.

Also, this is a two way street: they are still artists, providing entertainment for us. And with this regard, I personally consider the makers of fighting games two or three categories above those that simply create games with anything between 5-30 hours of gameplay contained in them, still having DLC. Their games are more important to me than me keeping that money I need to pay in order to enjoy the games for years(!) - or in worst case scenario, months.



You did not pay for those characters. You paid for the physical disc which is worth around $0.50-$1.50 nowadays. That is exactly the amount that you are paying for with "paying for the disc" - the software that sits on the disc is what warrants the price, not the method of delivery itself. If you buy a Windows 7 Home, you should not feel bad knowing that Ultimate features still sit on the disc. You did not pay for that license, after all. And that disc is still $0.50-$1.50.

Yeah, publishers. Eff em. I'm still aware that the teams making these games are dedicated and great at what they do, but either way the products that have been coming out aren't getting supported by me when this baggage is attached.

You are acting like people are totally powerless and are being forced to pay for the DLC.

Er, am I? I'm more saying the companies being so blatant with the DLC is making me full out stop supporting them, and capcom is right at the top of my list right now. They still make great games, but I'm not buying them new.
 
OK Here we go. What's one of the arguments for DLC? That shit had a separate budget right? OK. In SF4 vanilla they completed the costumes way way before the console release. When the console version was released they put those costumes on disc and charged you to pay for them. I think that's ucked up but then you argue that separate development time and budget had to be allocated and shit like that. Still shitty but whatever. then hat happened in SSF4? Code was copy and pasted onto the new game. These same costumes which did not take any additional development time you still had to pay to use, despite the fact negligible development time was needed. I am not talking about the new costumes to SSF4 i am talking about SF4's alts. Same shit happened in AE you still had to pay for shit present in old games despite no additional work needed. Do you understand?

What is happening here is that Capcom is making sure that the people who actually PAID for the costumes are not feeling ripped off - so their purchase does not get devaluated. It would be very bad business practice to sell a game for $60 with DLC and then make that DLC a part of a game that costs $40 AND that new release has new stuff in it as well.

Also, it does not actually matter when they are made. This is not a development process and not a development issue. It is the publishers playing a 22 trap with the developers AND with the customers while trying to maintain profitability.

Because if the game does not sell well enough?
Then the DLC sales MIGHT make the project profitable after all.

And if the game sells well enough?
Then the greed kicks in (see: Modern Warfare), and they want to capitalize on that success.

I am not saying that we should get behind the whole DLC thing, but there is a reasonable way to approach this, and there is an unreasonable one.
 
What is happening here is that Capcom is making sure that the people who actually PAID for the costumes are not feeling ripped off - so their purchase does not get devaluated. It would be very bad business practice to sell a game for $60 with DLC and then make that DLC a part of a game that costs $40 AND that new release has new stuff in it as well.
/QUOTE]

Game of the year editions have all the content included, they do this already.
 
I do not see Capcom doing it. Never saw a game of the year edition for SFIV/SSFIV/SSFIV:AE, or MVC3/UMVC3, for that matter.

Why would people feel ripped off if the next version of a game ahd all the content from the previous version. I don't get it?
 
You did not pay for those characters. You paid for the physical disc which is worth around $0.50-$1.50 nowadays. That is exactly the amount that you are paying for with "paying for the disc" - the software that sits on the disc is what warrants the price, not the method of delivery itself. If you buy a Windows 7 Home, you should not feel bad knowing that Ultimate features still sit on the disc. You did not pay for that license, after all. And that disc is still $0.50-$1.50.


Also true, but I still feel ripped off.
 
then hat happened in SSF4? Code was copy and pasted onto the new game. These same costumes which did not take any additional development time you still had to pay to use, despite the fact negligible development time was needed. I am not talking about the new costumes to SSF4 i am talking about SF4's alts. Same shit happened in AE you still had to pay for shit present in old games despite no additional work needed. Do you understand?

In those cases though, had you bought the costumes before, you kept them afterwards, even in the SF4 -> SSF4 transition, with SSF4 being compatible with the past purchases. It's not like they were making people buy the same costumes multiple times.
 
Well technically they are right....

Downloadable content= DLC

Disc-Locked content= DLC

Your avatar is making me read it in Newman's voice with his serious face, a bit like the Seinfeld episode where they make Newman decide if Kramer or Elaine keeps a bike they bought.
 
Im confused, how is Modern Warfare and by extention Activision greedy but Capcom gets a pass?

This is Capcom getting a pass? Seriously? If this is Capcom getting a pass, I do not know what Capcom "getting what they deserve" even would mean. A flogging? Deathrow?
 
Disc Locked Content

Problem?

They did say it'll be DLC.

Disk Locked Content.

The nickel-and-dime bullshit and disc-locked content ("DLC", hah) really need to go.

They're just hiding behind semantics.

DownLoadable Content

Disc-Locked Content

No difference in their acronyms. 'Tis true.

Did anyone point out that disc-locked content can be shortened to DLC yet? I'm in no way at all defending this crap, but it did make me laugh.

I guess we can all agree when it comes to Capcpom DLC, it really stands for "Disc Locked Content" and not "Down Loadable Content"

Haha, I never thought of DLC = Disc Locked Content. Capcom you sly dogs!! Nothing can stand against that explanation, they had this put in place if something like this went down. Oh man, haha...

Disc Locked Content

not sure if anyone posted this or not

Well technically they are right....

Downloadable content= DLC

Disc-Locked content= DLC

Guys, I think the point has been made.
 
Bull shit!

It's dishonest plain and simple. Why not just simply make it available?

E.g. From the Ashes for ME3. It is part of the deal when you buy the collectors edition of the game. Why not simply make it available from the start without downloading a tiny piece of code? Consumers are already paying a premium to have this content! Just sell it already unlocked! I believe the reason is that they are trying to deceive both the the collectors edition owners and the vanilla owners into believing that the DLC is something "extra".

Day one DLC is grimy in my book. But if I have a choice to buy a physical copy of the disc AND the data is on the disc don't artificially create hurdles to my access to my bonus content. It's dishonest. Plain and simple.
 
E.g. From the Ashes for ME3. It is part of the deal when you buy the collectors edition of the game. Why not simply make it available from the start without downloading a tiny piece of code? Consumers are already paying a premium to have this content! Just sell it already unlocked! I believe the reason is that they are trying to deceive both the the collectors edition owners and the vanilla owners into believing that the DLC is something "extra".
No, the reason for that is so they can have a single disc production SKU which covers manufacture for both CE versions and normal versions.
 
Capcom are right. Don't let your opinions on their offerings as DLC affect your ability to face the fact that their comment is true.
 
No, the reason for that is so they can have a single disc production SKU which covers manufacture for both CE versions and normal versions.

I believe this is only part of it. And also bullshit. CE owners are already paying a premium. pressing 2 sets of discs is not going to cost them that much more. If it does roll it into the cost of the CE edition or simply advertise the fact that there are hidden unlockables ON DISC. The downloading a simple unlock also costs them bandwidth and storage space on there servers. I doubt that are saving money doing it this way instead of unlocking it on the disc. It's deceitful money grab plain and simple.
 
I never understand this argument. I think it's fair game to argue about DLC et.c but the delivery method doesn't matter. I don't get why it's part of the discussion. If everyone just decided to no longer buy on-disc DLC tomorrow then companies would just take the same content and take it off the disk and sell its for the same price as DLC.

In fact you could argue that for fighting games etc. it is better to have the DLC on the disk so you don't have the issues that Mortal Kombat online did with its DLC characters.

Whether the content is on the disc makes no difference. You still have to pay to use it.
 
If Capcom doesn't want the backlash, they shouldn't put it on the disc. Seriously, how much money did this bad PR save them? How much cheaper is having everyone download an unlock key vs a 100-200 meg file?
 
If Capcom doesn't want the backlash, they shouldn't put it on the disc. Seriously, how much money did this bad PR save them? How much cheaper is having everyone download an unlock key vs a 100-200 meg file?

Probably enough to make it worth it to them, I guess. Cost was the reason they didn't distribute a costume compatibility patch on the PS3 for Super and just gave you a "you have not purchased this costume" message instead.

I find the backlash pretty silly since a lot of complaints are solely based on the delivery method with the same end result.

I also think it's ridiculous how there just seems to be a lot of blind bandwagon hate for one company instead of looking at the cost/value proposition. Stuff like Namco's SCV music DLC is far more egregious based on how little development work is done. They're charging $1 a pop for 108KB unlock keys for pre-existing music tracks. 26 total. So $26 if you want all the music. It's not mandatory, but I think there's an amazing difference in level of effort and value in 12 characters than dumping a sound file into a game. Apparently people are ok with that, but not characters. Apparently the more value the content has, more they demand to get all of it for free. People don't seem to be taking every opportunity to create a new thread when Microsoft release a new theme for $3. I don't see how asking customers to pay for characters in a fighting game that require so much more effort by comparison is so much worse.
 
If Capcom doesn't want the backlash, they shouldn't put it on the disc. Seriously, how much money did this bad PR save them? How much cheaper is having everyone download an unlock key vs a 100-200 meg file?
It was either get backlash for having the content on the disc or get backlash for not having the DLC characters work in online multiplayer because not everyone will have them.
I think they made the right choice.
 
Is there any situation in which you could *not* feel ripped off without increasing Capcom's costs or decreasing their revenue?

Yes. A fighting game in particular should be a singular thing, stop selling it piecemeal and maybe more people would buy it. DLC stages for a fighting game would make way more sense, but then that would take more work than putting Ken in a fucking cowboy hat.
 
I believe this is only part of it.
No, it's pretty much *all* of it.

Pressing 2 sets of discs is not going to cost them that much more.
It's doubling the certification processes they have to go through.

If it does roll it into the cost of the CE edition
Make people pay more to cover their inefficiency which they're only doing to placate the people who apparently are demanding that the inefficiency takes place?
My head hurts.

or simply advertise the fact that there are hidden unlockables ON DISC.
That *shouldn't* matter. I'm not saying that it doesn't matter - we're clearly seeing otherwise - but it shouldn't.

The downloading a simple unlock also costs them bandwidth and storage space on there servers.
Not as much as the alternative. Besides, this also allows them to *sell* the simple unlock - using the *exact same framework* - as well as give it away for free. That is an efficient solution.

I doubt that are saving money doing it this way instead of unlocking it on the disc.
They are.

It's deceitful money grab plain and simple.
There is no actual deception, here; every option is presented in an honest manner. I'm not disputing the money grab!
 
Yes. A fighting game in particular should be a singular thing, stop selling it piecemeal and maybe more people would buy it.
Unlikely. Or rather, Capcom should have done the costings and come to the conclusion that it's not the case that *sufficiently* more people would buy it to justify that approach. They should have a fairly good idea by now of how large their potential audience is.

DLC stages for a fighting game would make way more sense, but then that would take more work than putting Ken in a fucking cowboy hat.
I'm not actually much of a fighter player; aren't (non-interactive) stages just as cosmetic as a cowboy hat?

I'm not gonna read through 19 pages!
I don't particularly blame you, particularly with search being unreliable right now. Just amused at the fact that so many made the same observation.
 
It was either get backlash for having the content on the disc or get backlash for not having the DLC characters work in online multiplayer because not everyone will have them.
I think they made the right choice.

I just think that if they kept the new characters under wraps and off the disc, and announced that 12 new characters would be available as DLC for $20 before the end of the year, we would be singing their praises. "It's a super update, but you don't have to buy a new disc!" we'd say.

Instead they got this thread and severe backlash. Some people who would've bought the DLC aren't because it's on the disc. Some people didn't even buy the game because of this crap. Was it really worth it?
 
Did anyone else stop buying capcom fighters when they started releasing incomplete versions or just me? I am only a very casual player of fighters but the unavailable characters immediately hit my fuck it button.



but then it is a one player fighting game.

Yup, I'm all but done buying Capcom fighters. I don't play them online, and prefer to play them live, with friends that are equally as bad at them as I. Generally, I'd grab the game and a sixer of beer, and bring them to a friend's place. I'm not comfortable with the idea of bringing 3/4 of a game, with the rest locked at home.
 
I get why people are upset on principle about the concept of on-disc DLC, but do they honestly believe the alternative is functionally better for consumers?
 
I'm not actually much of a fighter player; aren't (non-interactive) stages just as cosmetic as a cowboy hat?

Cosmetic, yes, but much more worthwhile. Plus wouldn't they be easier to implement, if the other player (online) doesn't have them, then they could play on a default background. No need to download content packs or have on-disc DLC. If nikel and diming their loyal fanbase is the only way Capcom can make money then they might as well not bother. They will kill of the fighting craze quicker than in the 90's leaving the hardcore by themselves playing their hacked 360 discs so they can use all the characters.
 
Cosmetic, yes, but much more worthwhile. Plus wouldn't they be easier to implement, if the other player (online) doesn't have them, then they could play on a default background. No need to download content packs or have on-disc DLC.

Completely subjective. Some people think characters are the focus so costumes are more worthwhile.
 
I just think that if they kept the new characters under wraps and off the disc, and announced that 12 new characters would be available as DLC for $20 before the end of the year, we would be singing their praises. "It's a super update, but you don't have to buy a new disc!" we'd say.

Instead they got this thread and severe backlash. Some people who would've bought the DLC aren't because it's on the disc. Some people didn't even buy the game because of this crap. Was it really worth it?

So basically: Be more inefficient, and no-one will complain. Be efficient, and people will have a problem with it.

In that respect, you're basically arguing against your own self-interest, here.
 
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