How this generation changed Video Game Development – Part 3
The high cost of game development caused a lot of ‘AAA’ studios to shut down this year because they could not get the returns necessary to offset the cost of developing the games. It is common knowledge that a ‘AAA’ studio is likely to go bust if two of
its games bomb in the market.
The worst thing to come out of this generation was arguably the downloadable content (DLC) for games. In theory, DLC is a great way to extend the life of a popular game as it keeps the gamers busy with additional game-play until a proper sequel is released.
Publishers however have started abusing the idea of DLC up to a point where it has started to adversely affect the quality of the games.
Publishers like Capcom and Electronic Arts (EA) have taken DLC to a new level as it was discovered by hackers that some games by these two publishers already had the entire DLC already on the disc in the console version of the game. This nefarious practice
defeats the purpose of DLC which was to give players additional content to play after they were done with the game, not to hold back parts of the game just to let players access it if they are willing to shell out an extra $10 - $20 in addition to the cost
of the game.
Capcom fighting games like Street Fighter 4 and the recently released Street Fighter x Tekken are prime examples of this unethical practice. Capcom has even admitted to already having the majority of the planned DLC already available on disc only to be unlocked
at a later date. Gamers have criticised the publisher for holding back characters from fighting games as this really unbalances the game for players who haven’t purchased the DLC. This just proves that DLC is not being done right if it breaks the original
game.
EA on the other hand was called out for the DLC of Alice: Madness Returns which could be unlocked in the PC version by just modifying a game settings file which lead many gamers to believe that it must also be present on disc in the console version waiting
to be unlocked with a code worth $10.
Bethesda, the developers behind Fallout 3 and the Elder Scroll Games have always had the right approach when it comes to DLC. Their releases feel complete and when the DLC is finally announced and released some time later, it actually feels like a complete
add-on which greatly extends the life of the game.
The major affect that DLC has had on the gaming industry is that it changed the way developers approached game development. Before DLC, developers strived to create the best game they could, adding every little detail that would make their product shine
and stand out from the competition. The success of DLC has ensured that developers don’t waste their time with adding value to the game and just do the bare minimum required. Any additional work is expected to be released later as DLC.
As the next generation approaches with the Wii-U planned for release this holiday season, everyone is wondering how it will impact the gaming industry. Analysts believe that free to play with micro-transaction will be the dominant model but whether it improves
the experience for gamers remains to be seen.
DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the editorial policy of bettor.com.
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