Digital games, are they the future?
As you all know, we can now get games via demand and downloading them online through PSN, Xbox Live and even Steam. Not only can you just download games but add-on contents and expansion packs counts as well.

I will reference games being obsolete because it really relates to this discussion.

After playing a game and getting most content out of it; a sequel is announced and you are ready to trade the game in. What happens to the DLC add-ons and expansion packs you downloaded for that game?

Let's say I have Gears of War, I downloaded a mappack for the game, Gears of War 2 was announced and then I sold Gears of War 1. What will happen to the map pack I downloaded for Gears of War 1? Sure I can make money by selling GOW1, however I won't be able to make money with downloaded content.


Some people may think that after selling Gears of War 1, I can later re-buy the game preowned and still play it with my downloaded contents. That is acceptable although what happens when Gears of War cost the price of a collectible item? What if the next generation system appears; how then will you be able to play your old games with downloaded content?


Combating preowned titles
Not to mention the method of combating preowned games. Publishers are fighting for a way to combat preowned games so that gamers can buy games brand new rather than preowned. EA are the first to take the bold step by making sure buyers who purchase Battlefield Bad Company 2 will get exclusive VIP maps for free. I'm not entirely sure how their system works. I do think if you buy the game brand new, you'll get contents free, however if you buy the game preowned, you won't be able to access those free contents or more also you have to pay for them.

Now DLC also adhere the way to combat gamers from buying preowned games. Because if you paid for a DLC expansion pack such as GTA4 Lost and the Damned, you'll be forced to either keep GTA thus you can play the DLC again or re-buy the game after making sales with it.


I love Dante's Inferno, I'm waiting for Trials of St Lucia. I won't be able to keep up with my old games so I'm selling them to gain money and purchase more new games. What does this mean for Dante's Inferno and it's DLC? Well I can't keep playing and creating maps forever because I'll soon move on to other games. In the end I'll eventually sell the game and what will happen to Trials of St Lucia expansion I downloaded!?

Purpose of buying
Gamers you have to remember that Developers don't care what happens to their games. All they care about is making 500k copies or reaching the 1 million mark unit sold. After the target has been met, they can continue to provide new games, come up with a new IP or make a sequel.
Developers will not feature a way to make gamers go back to their previous games.

So imagine people who had paid for so much content for Halo 3's DLC; Halo Reach is on the way and you and I know that everyone will move onto Halo Reach's big multiplayer game. Only a small handful of players will continue to play Halo 3. Yet again you will be forced to download Halo Reach's DLC.


Prices for DLC
I hope people understand what I'm trying to say here. This is another complain most people are talking about here- prices for DLC. They cost so much yet we get something so little. I can't believe how much Dark Forest for Dante's Inferno cost and you only get small handful of equipment and a 20min gameplay, all worth 400ps/£3.99/$4.99! It's ABSURD!

We have another company like Namco Bandia who give out DLC that's already on disc! You are only paying for unlocking code not the DLC itself and the DLC cost a lot. Basically you've paid for the DLC that's already on disc in the first place.

Fans of a game will vigorously pay for any DLC for the game they loved and have anticipated for a long time. We have people who will pay a large sum of money just for map packs...seriously MAP PACKS! They contain a few maps for you to continue your multiplayer mayhem.

When we start to complain about prices for DLC, fanboys will rebuke us using the phrase "we don't have to download it" or "no one is forcing you to". It's not about freedom, it's compulsory acts! Did anybody force us to buy Iron Man video game? NO! If no one buys Iron Man video game, how else will developer make a sequel for it? If no one buys Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, how else will Team NINJA make Ninja Gaiden 3? So this theory applies to DLC, if people ignore DLC contents; developers will be put down and will not bother to make DLC's anymore because people will not buy them.

Yet they will continue to do so because people will aid them by buying their overpriced DLC's. One thing gamers are forgetting is that, after paying for DLC it instantly becomes obsolete! You won't carry your Halo 3 contents to Xbox 720 or Uncharted 2's DLC to PS4.



So what are your thoughts on DLC contents?