THQ Asks Players to Pay for DLC Before It's Even Out
THQ Asks Players to Pay for DLC Before It's Even Out
Posted 10/13/2010 at 6:49pm
| by Nathan Grayson
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Used-game sales have been a particularly painful thorn in game publishers' sides (and wallets) for years now, so we can certainly understand why THQ would want to dig its fingernails in deep and yank them right out of existence. On the other hand, however, the publisher's plan to ask for even more of gamers' money up front might be the equivalent of poking and prodding the thorn until it goes in even deeper.
The program's making its debut in WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011, and asks players to hand over a flat sum of $9.99 in exchange for the promise of “select select downloadable content released throughout the life of the game for a one-time anticipated purchase." For now, they're calling it “Fan Axxess,” which caused our spellcheck to run to its room in tears and stop speaking to us.
So, why fork over your dough before the DLC's even finished cooking? Because, in the long run, this method's cheaper for you. For instance, the first DLC pack will go for 560 Microsoft Points (or $7.00) on its own, while the second one will lightly tickle your piggy bank to the tune of 240 Points ($3.00). With Fan Axxess, you'll pay $9.99 up front and get both once they release later this year and next year, respectively, on top of immediate access to all the game's unlockables and -- presumably -- more DLC in the future.
The implication, of course, is that this is only the beginning. Two DLC packs could hardly be called a “life,” so more is probably in the pipeline. A potential problem, however, climbs into the ring and clocks the ref with a steel chair if the game tanks and DLC development stops being worth THQ's while. Fortunately, for now it seems THQ's only sticking Smackdown vs. Raw's giant, steroid sponge of a neck out with this one – probably to gauge players' reactions before deciding whether or not to implement it into other titles.
So, the obvious question: Would you pay for “Fan Axxess” – assuming, of course, that it didn't have a name that made you want to hack THQ in two with an axe? In retrospect, we would've killed for something like this back when DLC-heavy games like Fallout 3 and Borderlands first launched. Of course, we're saying this now – after both games have already fulfilled all their DLC-related promises. What's your take?
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jasonricard
October 20, 2010 at 11:13am
DLC was never that great an idea to begin with, in terms of how 'micro-transactions' were never micro. Now, it's just getting worse and worse, especially for console gamers, with tiny offerings the norm. Fallout 3 being a rare exception.
Jason @ Approaching Women
devastator_2000
October 14, 2010 at 8:58am
All the game publishers are trying so hard to stop the second had market, but are forgetting why used games are so popular. Price. I cant afford to spend 50+ dollars on every game that comes out that I like. So I wait for it to get widly circulated at the used game stores, then go and buy the game at a price I can afford. So my advice to thes game publishers it to make this crap more affordable, then maybe more people with buy it new.
Ghok
October 13, 2010 at 10:57pm
I've learned after purchasing a few different "deluxe" games that if the game turns out to be bad, the bonus content isn't worth it. I don't purchase bonus content, I'd prefer to buy an expansion pack.
ak_lj@hotmail.com
October 13, 2010 at 8:22pm
Ha ha ha haaa! I mean seriously, how much more are we supposed to pay for what turns out to be mostly crap anyways? Here's an idea, why not make a game that doesnt make poeple wish they hadn't spent the money on it and take it in to a game store to be purchased used by someone else in the first place? You greedy bastards make and play video games for a living?! How much more money do you need to make?
TommM
October 13, 2010 at 8:19pm
Only someone dumb enough to buy a wrasslin' game to begin with would pony up cash for sight-unseen content.
Biceps
October 13, 2010 at 7:19pm
I'm pretty sure that the kind of people who get turned on by WWE vs. RAW aren't allowed to have credit cards, so that could make the whole paid membership thing a little tough. Now, if they let you trade in a rusty truck or a broken lawn chair for "full future access", then this might just work.
DLC is, by and large, not very good. There have been a few exceptions (like about half of the Fallout 3 DLC was worth the price), but a lot more flops. Considering that we are already expected to shell out 40-50 bucks for half-baked 'finished but needs a little patching' games now, what makes THQ think we'd want to increase that pricetag by 20-25% for DLC of unknown quality and quantity? If I want to play the lotto I'll head on down to the corner store.
Dear THQ: I would pay 20-25% more for consistently good games that don't need 3 weeks of patching to work properly. I would pay more for consistent quality in game conception, design and implementation. I won't pay more for more junk tossed together and labeled as a game. If you are having trouble with your business model, I suggest you call Valve and ask for advice... they seem to have their shit together, and unlike you guys, haven't tossed out 10 new ideas for screwing over their paying customers in the past 6 months. Oh, btw, I am a paying gamer who buys at least a game a month, and I never pirate, so I am your market.
Ok, rant over.
atruebond
October 14, 2010 at 4:49pm
This. Biceps, you hit the nail on the head, although your idea of stating that only children beleive that wrestling is cool, dare I say it - real, is a little off. Not that I am a fan of it by any means, there is a reason why wrestling is still popular. I dont know what that reason is really, but if you turn your tv on, you will see that wrestling is on networks like USA and I think TNT, at prime time spots... three or more times a week. Not to mention the PPV events. I DO remember hearing that wrestle mania 20 (I think this was held at Investco Field) had only 75,000 people in attendance (this is still not including the millions of people who paid for the PPV).
Again not a fan, but, there IS a market for this, and it isn't as small as you think.
hoseman18
October 13, 2010 at 6:59pm
This game won't even be around for the first "update" much less enough to make the extra dough worthwhile. What a complete rip off. Of course, this is "professional" wrestling, so....
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