Guitar Hero DLC..., good or evil? Options

[AJ]

There has been a lot of downloadable content from Xbox live over the course of it's 5 year history. From highlights like free cars, free multiplayer maps and free themes and icons, all the way down to $2 "unlock" codes, $2 "training" videos and of course the infamous Oblivion horse armour, there has been a wide range of hits and misses. There are two things which are most often heard as complaints about downloadable content, 1) Why are we paying for something which should be free, and 2) why wasn't it in the game in the first place, instead of being an pay for use add-on? This brings me to Guitar Hero 3 and the newly announced downloadable song packs from Velvet Revolver and the Foo Fighters....

Traditionally, people get pretty annoyed with downloadable content the day after release. I think it was Need For Speed that had you pay for a car that was actually already in the game, but just hidden until you coughed up the cash. The argument is always, I paid my $100, I should get all the content IN the game, not have to pay MORE to get all the available content. I certainly agree with this when clearly a game has been "cut back" with the view of selling the content at a later date.

But how do people feel about buying Guitar Hero 3 for $150, and then the day after release 6 new songs popping up at $8 per pack? I'm on the fence. On one hand, the game comes with the expected number of songs (based on previous releases of GH), so these songs truly are "extra", not something just missing from the game. On the other hand, the only reason these songs aren't in the game is because the developers/publishers clearly see it as a little extra revenue. Had the songs been released in a "collectors edition" for an extra $16, I am sure not too many people would complain.

I think the thing that makes this set of downloads on the side of "good" rather than "evil" is that they are at least the same artists. Previously, games like DDR and Guitar Hero 2 have had song packs with clearly different genres, giving you the feeling that you've signed up for another 10 pay tv channels just so that you can get the damned comedy channel. In this case, I'm a fan of the Foo Fighters, and when I pick up GH3, I will most likely cough up my $8, download the song pack and slap myself in the face for supporting nickle and dime marketing.

I'm interested to hear what people thing about this one.

[Stevorooni]

I think it's a load of crap releasing extra songs instantly after the game is on sale.

I could understand if it was 3 months after release, I think downloadable content is fine if it's stuff that couldn't be put into the game on time because of development schedules, or even size restrictions on the disc, but this is just rubbish.

I haven't bought GH3 (or any GH game for that matter), but when I do I doubt I'll pay for these ripoff packs. $8 for 3 songs? I'd want 10 songs for $8

[Myles]

The consol sales model is all about maximising profit, which is why Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo fight so furiously against people modding their own property. (I view this as analogous to car companies suing you for converting your vehicle to run on water.)

So why would anyone be surprised when consol manufacturers pull this "value adding" kind of crap? When you buy a consol, you're buying the right to have your wallet syphoned.

[Claude the Duck ...]

The consol sales model is all about maximising profit, which is why Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo fight so furiously against people modding their own property. (I view this as analogous to car companies suing you for converting your vehicle to run on water.)

So why would anyone be surprised when consol manufacturers pull this "value adding" kind of crap? When you buy a consol, you're buying the right to have your wallet syphoned.

Sensationalistic! WOO!

BUYING THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOUR WALLET SYPHONED!

[mickiscoole]

Well there could have been a cut-off point and they hadn't finished these new songs at that point (which was probably months ago), and have been finished since then. That could be why they're available on day one.

That said, I don't like having to pay any extra for games after I have payed the initial fee.

[Morkai]

i bought them this morning, i don't particularly care either way, the bigger issue for me, is that they forgot The Foo's in the game :@

[AJ]

i bought them this morning, i don't particularly care either way, the bigger issue for me, is that they forgot The Foo's in the game :@

That is my question.... did they "forget" or intentionally omit, knowing that they were releasing a pack? Clearly it was omitted. So does that mean they've done the same with any other artists?

I still think you're getting your value for your money with the game as it is in this case. It's not like Tiger Woods 06 with only 5 courses or whatever it had....

[rhuri]

That is my question.... did they "forget" or intentionally omit, knowing that they were releasing a pack? Clearly it was omitted. So does that mean they've done the same with any other artists?

Good point AJ.

If you are going to bring out a game that is part of an already successful franchise like GH, you would know that the consumers would expect certain bands on there partially due to the nature of the game and also due to the fact, that in the persons mind, the developers would be stupid to omit it.

If you think about it, you buy GH3 and some of the bands you thought would be in there weren't... and then all of a sudden BAM you can get them, you would get the wouldn't you? So yes, they may have done it for other artists. The lure of extra songs is too strong for some. especially when the mix is right.

It's clever money spinner in a way, but the timing is pretty bad. It's too soon to start offering downloads. The game just came out.

[Morkai]

That is my question.... did they "forget" or intentionally omit, knowing that they were releasing a pack? Clearly it was omitted. So does that mean they've done the same with any other artists?

I still think you're getting your value for your money with the game as it is in this case. It's not like Tiger Woods 06 with only 5 courses or whatever it had....

yeah, good point, but when i got the game for $98 on wednesday, instead of waiting until saturday, so seeing as i saved roughly 40-50 off retail, it's not so bad.

[AJ]

yeah, good point, but when i got the game for $98 on wednesday, instead of waiting until saturday, so seeing as i saved roughly 40-50 off retail, it's not so bad.

eh? you got GH3 for $98?? how'd you manage that?

[SgtReznor]

yeah, i'm on the fence about this too - paying 500MPs for three random songs is a little extreme, when you consider you can buy the game for $98.

i wouldn't mind paying that much if the songs were singular. with nearly all the packs for GH2, there was usually 1 dud that i would never buy on it's own.

i actually quite like all those 3 Foo songs, so I'll probably buy it, but those other songs from the last GH? I totally regret buying one of those packs

[ShadowTalon]

big w special price

i wont be buying the extra songs. i dont know them neway. and getting wii version ..tho i may get a guitar for xbox...

[EdgeCrusher]

Whether it's valid or not, it may be a bit too soon to start expecting MORE money from GH3 players.

Personally I feel all the GH3 stuff should be free. We really have already paid for the game.

It's hard to tell whether we're being offered nice bonuses, or having stuff held back from us so we pay extra.

[Morkai]

eh? you got GH3 for $98?? how'd you manage that?

Big W special, one day only, saturday 10th november, but i have friends working at EB

[EdgeCrusher]

If my housemate weren't buying it for PS2 I'd go grab the 360 + wireless controller.

This way is cheaper for me though

[Opiate of Blame]

That is my question.... did they "forget" or intentionally omit, knowing that they were releasing a pack? Clearly it was omitted. So does that mean they've done the same with any other artists?

If the DLC for Guitar Hero annoys you so soon after release then the DLC for Rock Band will really grind your gears. There's already a list of over 24 songs they are going to have for download not counting the Nirvana, The Who and the Greatful Dead songs already anounced, AND the game isn't even out yet. By the time Australians will be able to buy it there's going to be one hell of a backlog...

Here's the Joystiq article.

[AJ]

There is a difference with Rock Band though. With Rock Band they are offering ENTIRE albums for download.... I would certainly put that in the "specialised" content category. If you bought a game that offered 50 songs, and it was actually just 3 albums from Tho Who, Metallica and Nirvana then you'd probably not be thrilled. Offering entire albums for part of a game is pretty damned cool, and definitely not something you'd want as part of the standard package (although given the nature of albums being mostly filler...not such a great thing perhaps?).

With regard to the 3 songs per artist packs, I'm still not sure whether it is good or bad. I'm not a huge fan of The Police, Metallica or Punk... but I love Queens of the Stone Age, Black Sabbath and Bowie.... so obviously they're giving a fair bit of range to pick and choose what you like. Take this to the extreme and say that if something like Rock Band come out with song packs from every artist in the last 30 years... and most people would say that is pretty damned awesome. So I guess it depends on the mix of the songs in each song pack, and the variety and number of artists available.

I think the line is drawn when there is only one pack made available and it contains a song each from The Knack, Britney Spears and The Chemical Brothers....

[Opiate of Blame]

although given the nature of albums being mostly filler...not such a great thing perhaps?

You can still download individual songs from an album which is good. Its supposed to be like iTunes in that you can get individual songs or the whole album for cheaper than the sum of its parts.

[J1n]

If the DLC for Guitar Hero annoys you so soon after release then the DLC for Rock Band will really grind your gears.

you know what really grinds my gears? when i cant find the droid im lookin for.

[J1n]

GH3 just got

anyway you want it - journey

juke box hero - foriegners

peace of mind - boston.

anyway you want it is fucking awesome!