Non-Cosmetic DLC Content?

[breezerHOG1]

I wonder how people would have reacted if Frontier included the Spooky pack as a "free" update, but instead released the Fireworks as a paid add-on? Personally, I wouldn't mind trading fireworks for Spooky [tongue] What exactly does "Cosmetic" mean anyway? Will we ever see Non-Cosmetic DLC?

Ignoring the Spooky DLC, how popular are the licensed DLCs? Are most fans happy with the vehicle kits? Would you prefer if the licensed kits had more generic car pieces? It probably would have increased the amount of available blueprints if the kits were bigger. Or what about entertainers and/or animated statues of Doc brown and the Munsters? Could have been nice if Universal let the licensed content be one big DLC, and there could have been a separate non-licensed set too. Might help the workshop to reduce the number of microtransactions maybe possibly?

Any chance of there ever being a bundle? The 4 DLCs combined are $23 USD thats over half the cost of the full game, even when they were on sale 33% off last week I still didn't buy them, I can go without the scenery packs and its not about the money its about the content. I'd really like to know what/if any bigger expansions might be planned for 2018, water parks, carnivals, UGC/CSO, safaris, scenario editor, etc? JWE should have been an expansion to PC [big grin]

Also, would Frontier ever consider remaking RCT3mobile in the style of RCTClassic and/or OpenRCT2? Anyway, cant wait for the Expo next week to find out what's coming in the big anniversary update!!!

 

[Serpentrax]

That's a lot of different and unrelated questions, but to answer the topic title:

Cosmetic DLC means new stuff that contains no gameplay features or things that influence the in-game universe in any way. They only changes the appearance of certain items, perhaps even only visible to certain players. It doesn't matter who does and who does not see/ own it, as mentioned it has no effect on the actual game at all. Think skins, hats and taunts.

Now, the term "cosmetic" is a bit tricky in the context of PlanCo since everything in the game is about cosmetics. The actual gameplay and simulation are shockingly shallow and almost insignificant compared to the visual and creative aspect. However, new rides, like those counter-intuitive darkrides they threw in the Spooky Pack, do add something to the game-world and even expand a thin (and half-baked) layer of gameplay because we can change vehicle orientation. So do scenery items; They cost in-game money, guests notice them, they add to the park's reputation and therefore people that bought the DLC have more ways to "win" in the game than people that didn't. By definition, even scenery is not purely cosmetic, no matter how lame and inflexible, like the licensed ones.

The only things that are purely cosmetic in this game are alternative cars (skins) for existing rides; Like those for the Go-Karts in the licensed packs. People without them have access to exactly the same ride and in-game benefits and those with it gain no benefit except for visual variation. Therefore you could easily ignore them and not miss a single thing. Personally I would even suggest you should, because I feel that licensed stuff from the real world have no business in the carefully crafted fictitious Planet full of faux but believable brands. But that's just me I suppose.

 

[Snodge Snoodle]

I wonder how people would have reacted if Frontier included the Spooky pack as a "free" update, but instead released the Fireworks as a paid add-on? Personally, I wouldn't mind trading fireworks for Spooky [tongue] What exactly does "Cosmetic" mean anyway? Will we ever see Non-Cosmetic DLC?

Who would want to pay for the firework sequencer anyway? It's shockingly awful on so many levels. I feel the fireworks should be removed from the game until the whole system is reworked. Charging money for a feature that bad would be criminal, I don't even want it for free.

 

[Citytrader]

I wonder how people would have reacted if Frontier included the Spooky pack as a "free" update, but instead released the Fireworks as a paid add-on? Personally, I wouldn't mind trading fireworks for Spooky [tongue] What exactly does "Cosmetic" mean anyway? Will we ever see Non-Cosmetic DLC?

I think a lot of people DID believe that Spooky would be a free download (fourth seasonal pack). That led to a lot of complaining about "included in the base game" nonsense. Who are we to determine what Frontier puts in their "base game"? And what exactly is a "base game"? Just because some other title that Frontier made for another developer had a Spooky category included, it does not in any way, shape, or form mean they have to follow that same plan for their new game which they have complete control over.

I could care less about fireworks, so that would have been one DLC I would not purchase anyway.

Ignoring the Spooky DLC, how popular are the licensed DLCs? Are most fans happy with the vehicle kits? Would you prefer if the licensed kits had more generic car pieces? It probably would have increased the amount of available blueprints if the kits were bigger. Or what about entertainers and/or animated statues of Doc brown and the Munsters? Could have been nice if Universal let the licensed content be one big DLC, and there could have been a separate non-licensed set too. Might help the workshop to reduce the number of microtransactions maybe possibly?

As someone else mentioned, you ask a lot of questions!!! [big grin] I personally like the car kits only because you can utilize the various bits and pieces. Yes, an animatronic or two would have been cool, but for only $3, I'm not complaining. Perhaps this small micro DLC was a test by Universal and Frontier to gauge community reaction. If positive, perhaps they will roll out more smaller stuff. Or they will abandon the micro transactions altogether, and just go with the bigger sets. I guess time will let us know what direction they pursue. As for a big set, yes, Spooky has a ton of stuff, but no Frankenstein, Wolfman, other witches, or any mad scientist/witch laboratory stuff. So is Spooky really a great expansion?

Any chance of there ever being a bundle? The 4 DLCs combined are $23 USD thats over half the cost of the full game, even when they were on sale 33% off last week I still didn't buy them, I can go without the scenery packs and its not about the money its about the content. I'd really like to know what/if any bigger expansions might be planned for 2018, water parks, carnivals, UGC/CSO, safaris, scenario editor, etc? JWE should have been an expansion to PC [big grin]

Were you ever into Sims? My daughter spent more time with her created Sims family than she ever did with us!!! Seriously, that game, when you add up all the expansions and the "stuff" packs, could easily top $300! Remember, Frontier is a company doing business to make money. It is not about how much something costs, it's about how much something can make. If they hit on a winner (Sims Pets and Babies {or whatever it was called} sold billions of copies. They hit the button of what the consumer was looking for. Frontier hopes they hit pay dirt as well.

Personally, if they can keep quality up, I can see this title surviving at least two or three MAJOR expansions (Water and Zoo come to mind), as well as a boatload of either individual DLC's (I would pay a couple bucks for a grand carousel, for instance) or a more specific update like say Midway games and rides.

Can't believe I actually answered all your questions!

 

[breezerHOG1]

In other games cosmentic means non-gameplay, but in a construction game cosmetic is actually the gameplay. Cosmetic should be like the thrillseeker items, like the special hat for your avatar. If a DLC requires a separate tab in the workshop to find blueprints, than it is not purely cosmetic. Especially since the Spooky stuff has 2 new rides in it. Its that very reason why people think the DLC is overpriced, because its sold as "cosmetic" but priced as "gameplay".

As for the fireworks not worth being paid for, thats kind of my point. The fireworks are something that should cost extra because the devs should have put more time and effort into that feature (for those who wanted it) instead of rushing out a crappy feature for "free". Not enough people use fireworks for it to constitute being free, but if it was better than people would happily pay for them if they want.

when you add up all the expansions and the "stuff" packs, could easily top $300! Remember, Frontier is a company doing business to make money.

I played the sims a bit, and several of its expansions, but I certainly did not pay hundreds of dollars to play that game. I've purchased much cheaper games that had more value to me. Which is why I stopped pre-ordering games (PC is the first game I pre-ordered since Batman Arkham City). I was happy to pre-order PC but I refuse to buy DLCs at full price unless they are valueable to me. Like I said the licensed kits were on sale last week and I still didn't buy them (its not about money) its about the fact that I find them to be peddling for change. Add an entertainer to the licensed kits and suddenly they would be worthy of purchase IMO.

Also, the employees and entertainers should have various outfit/color choices!!!

The actual gameplay and simulation are shockingly shallow and almost insignificant compared to the visual and creative aspect.

thats why we need an advanced scenario editor, similar to the one RCT3 had, it would solve a lot of the complaints regarding the lackluster career and challenge modes.

 

[Citytrader]

In other games cosmentic means non-gameplay, but in a construction game cosmetic is actually the gameplay. Cosmetic should be like the thrillseeker items, like the special hat for your avatar. If a DLC requires a separate tab in the workshop to find blueprints, than it is not purely cosmetic.

I think again a lot of people got hung up on the label "cosmetic" when those first DLCs were announced. They were in fact cosmetic as they were simple re-skins of an existing ride. The downside, from what I understand, is that you can look at a park with the content, but you can't save the park or the pieces as a blueprint. This makes sense as otherwise no one would have to pay for add on content if they could just save it from someone else's park file. Bo never said ALL future DLCs would be cosmetic.

In a community such as ours, many people read what they want into many of the statements made by the developer and even other members. Then that opinion or train of thought gets repeated as gospel truth. Case in point, the Spooky expansion. No one at Frontier ever said there would be a free Halloween or Spooky pack, but most of the members here assumed there would be because A) RCT3 had it, and B) A new fall/autumn freebie is on the way. Or is it? Have they officially announced that there will be a fall update for free, or is this something that many have just assumed because we had a couple in the past?

See my point? People read way too much into the postings, and then criticize because their assumptions have not been met.

 

[breezerHOG1]

A new fall/autumn freebie is on the way. Or is it? Have they officially announced that there will be a fall update for free, or is this something that many have just assumed because we had a couple in the past?

Only a few people have said they expected "everything" to be free, and some people regret paying extra for the pre-oder bonuses, but I personally just wish the DLCs offered a tiny bit more. My point though, was more to do with how things are organized. I know the devs will be adding some more color options to certain scenery items, but everything should have that option. The "sneak peek" that we saw of the new feature that allows us to switch cars/trains without rebuilding the whole track is something I was really hoping to have, so I'm pretty excited for the big anniversary update! Hopefully its got a lot of content and UI/QoL improvements, and then Frontier can announce something bigger soon [wink]

We will get an anniversary update probably for free.

yes its probably free, hopefully its got a lot in it though (like maybe coaster smoothing?), and we can probably assume more DLC is coming too

 

[Chems]

We will get an anniversary update probably for free.

 

[mr.sugar]

yes its probably free, hopefully its got a lot in it though (like maybe coaster smoothing?), and we can probably assume more DLC is coming too

I hope people won´t get mad when they find out there is no coaster smoothing fixed. This is not a simple thing to change/fix and we can only imagine how complex this is. And I have my doubts Frontier would be able to fix that within a year since the release..

 

[breezerHOG1]

Coaster smoothing is not really a big deal to me, theres other things I'd rather have before that (like click+ drag for walls, or optional grid-snapping for terrain), but it is a big request around here

 

[mr.sugar]

Coaster smoothing is not really a big deal to me, theres other things I'd rather have before that (like click+ drag for walls, or optional grid-snapping for terrain), but it is a big request around here

Yea, click and drag is a big one for me personally. Selecting (group of) objects is a true horror for me. And for game that is build around this it´s major flaw. Also visibility option (hide trees/walls...etc.) would be welcome addition.

 

[Chems]

I hope people won´t get mad when they find out there is no coaster smoothing fixed. This is not a simple thing to change/fix and we can only imagine how complex this is. And I have my doubts Frontier would be able to fix that within a year since the release..

I can imagine it. Doesn't seem that complicated. [tongue]

Not that I am expecting it to be fixed or anything.

 

[Vanessa913]

In a typical game I play, which for me is mostly Paradox titles, I think a non-Cosmetic DLC is something that fundamentally changes the gameplay. It would add a few hundred years to your gameplay or introduce new species options. Of course they often release Cosmetic DLC with those in the form of character avatars or music because some people care a lot about roleplaying. I think for a game like this, we will see non-Cosmetic DLCs in the form of expansions. They might have to turn to multiple gate options in order to have all the kinds of parks people want, but I think the potential is there for the water parks and safaris desired by many on this forum.

 

[mr.sugar]

I can imagine it. Doesn't seem that complicated. [tongue]

Not that I am expecting it to be fixed or anything.

Oh yea, you just write down "if coaster THEN smooth" and it works right?

I guess if you have an idea how exactly to fix it, you should let developers know. I assure you this is not an easy thing to fix...