Like I said :
DLC =/= Expansions packs
- DLC = New Content
- Expansions = New Game mechanic
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When you sell new game machanics, you sell another way to play the game. It's almost a different game, which is normal to pay.
When you sell the content, you just create, in the same game, inequalities between poor and rich players ... which is a shame.
Not to mention that when studios sell DLC (let say a new "shop" for example) then this should be sold for a few cents, to meet the proportional margin relative to the game price.
But of course, it's never the case in reality, and instead they are sold for few euros ...
Cities Skylines DLC methodology is an interesting approach in the Online Software Distribution Platform era. Legitimately can see what the community likes and does not like per each DLC pack. Granted with the setup as well, you aren't required to buy the DLC's to continue playing the game as you normally would.
Whereas with expansion packs, getting an expansion pack can (and generally does) drastically change the underlyings of how the game functions. [big grin]
It's great that you talk about Cities Skylines, because this is the perfect exemple of what I try to say for a long time.
Like you can see on the official website, they sell "expansions" (and not "DLC")
It
was almost "fair" to see expansions packs, and the only place where you can see the term "Downloadable Content" is on Steam, because it's where you "download the content in your library"
... But, this road is always dangerous, for us, the players, because the risk is that the studio becomes greedy, and it is perfectly the case here : they started to sell overpriced DLC, instead of just "expensive" Expansions, with, for exemple the "Stadiums" for 5,99€ (
http://store.steampowered.com/app/536610/ ) or 9 pretty simple buildings for 4,99 € (
http://store.steampowered.com/app/515190/ )
Just no comment ...
I think that what people are agree to pay for is new "
FEATURES" or new "
GAME MECHANICS",
not the "
CONTENT".
On the contrary, given the many requests about UGC on PlanetCoaster forum, I think that we want free content updates + user generated CONTENT, and I'm sure people are ready to go to the checkout when it will be possible to add new MECHANICS (resort management, water park management, zoo management, etc... the list is long). But just don't sell the content !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In many countries DLC means : a small overpriced content generally purchasable by micropayment. (like the few buildings for 5€ above)
I don't know if it's the same in England or USA, but it's the case in France, where this acronym was kidnapped a long time ago by some too greedy studios. (yes, it's sad, but it's like that)
If you want to sell something called DLC here, then shame on you, and you will not want to read what people will think of Frontier after this.
So
please, stop using the word "DLC", it has become a cancer, nobody want that !!!
Give us some free content, let us make the content, and sell the new game mechanics with expansions to earn money.
Many people will be happy to pay for Expansions packs in a few months/years to renew the gaming experience, while enjoying free content updates meantime.
I'm sure you understand Brett !
