DRM - All DRM is complete and utter crap. All forms of it. Hackers are gonna hack it, and then all your left with is some pretty peeved consumers, (or a lack thereof) unable to freely play the game they legitamately purchased, whilst the pirates happily play their copy for free and without the hassles.
Downloadable Content - DLC is - majoratively - produced after the main game software is completed, and get the consumer extra content and the developer extra money. Simple enough, no? But when company's decide to finish a product and then:
- Lock some of the content from being accessed despite you having rightfully bought it and then having to use a code to unlock it or
- Cut some content from the finished product solely for the intention of selling it back to us at extra cost...
Exclusives - It seems that there is now no longer a clear definition of what an "Exclusive" is in the video game world. Journalists have generally taken to having to ask developers if they mean an Exclusive "Exclusive", or a Timed "Exclusive". Rockstar seem to be most guilty of this with the Episodes From Liberty City expansions, which although "exclusive" to the 360 and PC, are now on the PS3.
So basically, an "Exclusive" is bought, but an Exclusive isn't. Glad that makes sense.
Ubisoft - Oh boy... Ubisoft, you are in trouble enough for the crappy DRM thing (Annoying, but hacked within 24 hours), but now there's this Splinter Cell: Conviction thing. When questioned about a PS3 release of the game, a Ubi rep said that it was "A true Microsoft Exclusive" and that one of the reasons was due to the franchise and Microsoft having a "link of heart"... What? All the other Splinter Cell games have been entirely Multi Platform! Being on the PS2 and Gamecube, then the Wii and PS3, even the DS and PSP! How is that a "link of heart" to any one of those companies?
Whatever. I'm gonna finish this post before I get carried away. Feel free to comment on these and other things, or just to get something off your chest. - XW
EDIT: UBISOFT HAVE PULLED THEIR GAMES FROM STEAM! >=C
A comment about DLC - I agree with the concept of Project 10 Dollar (giving first time buyers of a game extra content but requiring subsequent owners to pay $10 for it) so long as it is extra content and not as you say, content removed just for the lols.
ReplyDeleteAnother DLC thing that peeves me is DLC that breaks the forth wall - Dragon Age: Origins is massively guilty of this. In the game you meet several characters who describe a quest or area to explore and after 5 minutes of dialogue it says 'Purchase this extra content with 800 Bioware Points'. It's like being slapped out of the story back into EA's pocket change.