Timed Exclusive DLC
I generally agree with most of what Microsoft does, not because I'm a fan boy and I'm definitely not getting paid anything by them to say nice things. Typically, it is because they are making the right moves. And to prove it... the only possible thought I have on timed exclusives for DLC is that wow, someone at MS is a giant douchebag and someone at the studio who made this possible is perhaps even more of a d-bag.
Exclusive games are one thing. There is actually *some* merit behind it. Targeting only one system means being better able to exploit the hardware. It means streamlining deadlines. And also offers a tangible value to console maker since it can drive sales for them too.
Timed exclusives on a game can offer many of the same benefits. While you can't make the game specific to one console. You can focus on one version first. As an added bonus, you may get bugs caught in the early release that you can fix before subsequent platforms see a release which may actually help the game more on latter platforms.
But timed exclusive DLC? The game is done, the engine is done. The DLC is basically just more content or extra features that are a fraction of the time and cost to make when compared to the game itself. DLC isn't going to drive console sales. So why do it? Basically, because someone is an idiot and a douche. All this will accomplish is pissing people off for no reason. And, it will likely piss off people who had no urge to buy the DLC in the first place. It's like the DRM rage, only this time it sounds legit.
[update]
Apparently Sony announced some similar stupidity. Is this the norm now? I hope not. All this will accomplish is make people hate the publishers that allow it. Not help the systems that take advantage of it.
[/update]
Exclusive games are one thing. There is actually *some* merit behind it. Targeting only one system means being better able to exploit the hardware. It means streamlining deadlines. And also offers a tangible value to console maker since it can drive sales for them too.
Timed exclusives on a game can offer many of the same benefits. While you can't make the game specific to one console. You can focus on one version first. As an added bonus, you may get bugs caught in the early release that you can fix before subsequent platforms see a release which may actually help the game more on latter platforms.
But timed exclusive DLC? The game is done, the engine is done. The DLC is basically just more content or extra features that are a fraction of the time and cost to make when compared to the game itself. DLC isn't going to drive console sales. So why do it? Basically, because someone is an idiot and a douche. All this will accomplish is pissing people off for no reason. And, it will likely piss off people who had no urge to buy the DLC in the first place. It's like the DRM rage, only this time it sounds legit.
[update]
Apparently Sony announced some similar stupidity. Is this the norm now? I hope not. All this will accomplish is make people hate the publishers that allow it. Not help the systems that take advantage of it.
[/update]
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