<![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @YCS: Live is already established, I would think switching to a free content system would actually generate more ill will than good. It would be a slap in the face to anyone who bought DLC.

As for the ads, I would question their ability to generate revenue, especially an amount comparable to DLC. Depending on what is advertised since there is no click through, it would need to be memorable (intrusive).

qin

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Valve (and also Epic for that matter) have the right idea. Paid for DLC in multiplayer gaming only divides the community between those prepared to pay and those who're not and, as such, should be totally free. I'd only be prepared to pay for new DLC if it added more substance to the single player portion of the game.

akwinters

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @qin:

The sites - for the lack of a better term - on XBLA could have advertising space on them. You further build your community, and foster even more communication between people who play the same game, increase the content people can use for games, and take away a lot of the bad will and inrease good will at the same time. The problem is if this is technologically feasable or not.

@Qwizatblah:


Hosting is the big question. And of course unlocking game files so to speak so they can be modded through the PC I imagine is another issue (I imagine piracy would be another factor if you do this). But if those things could be reasonably solved, I think Microsoft can make money, content can be free and there would be a hell of a lot more stuff for gamers to use and developers could use thier resources more efficiently.


This is all sort of off the top of my head, I'm sure there are some flaws I haven't thought of - multiplayer issues for one - but I do think the issues are solvable.

YCS

YCS

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @NotXenon:
uhh... what?

Is sieze forcing going to be in hl2:ep2? sounds cool.

meanwhile, even if they are doing episodic content that they charge for guess what. Someone can make their own levels and effectively their own HL2:ep2 and you can download it for free. It's so easy a cave man could do it.

Qwizatblah

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I'd daresay there are games out there that I've long since traded in that I would buy again if new free content came out.


Yes, but would you buy them second hand?

kibibu

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]>
They have the right to continue their shit-talk when they seize forcing their authoritarian STEAM crapware down consumer's throats and sell completed games with a stable engine.


And it's not like episodic content is rehashing the same game with new shaders and levels at all. Oh, wait.

Xenon

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @BlindEagle:

I explain it in two ways.

(1) Guild Wars 2 is not yet out, and thus whether it accomplishes true MMOness successfully while being free is not yet known.

(2) Guild Wars makes its money by pumping out expansion packs, which are by no means free, every 6 months.

RedRedSuit

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @YCS:
This would be good. But where would you host the files? I am guessing the only way you can get something onto XBL for download is to have MS host the files and they will want to get paid for doing this. Which is fine, if you pay for the bandwidth then you can charge for it. The problem is I am guessing that is the only option. I could be wrong about that, but it seems like that is how it works.

Qwizatblah

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @YCS: Win for consumers loss for Microsoft, why let modders make something free, when they can make the same thing and sell it for cash.

qin

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Bravo. I just hope they will let user created content on the console verisons.

Hylian-Hero

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I think they should create programs that you could create user mods which can then be put on live. the PC modding community really help extend the life of a game. This would not cost developers or publishers anything and popular games would always seem to have something new or useful. And if developers want they could always add more DLC stuff should they choose. Seems like it would be a win-win situation.

YCS

YCS

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Robin Walker speak words of wisdom and light. Now the real question is: Will the obligatory DLC of the Orange Box for 360 will be free?

Señor Cagon

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> "You buy the product, you get the content," Team Fortress 2 designer Robin Walker told us. "We make more money because more people buy it, not because we try and nickel-and-dime the same customers."

And this is why I'm going to be a customer of Valve's for a long, long, LONG time.

crazyspoonhead

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Valve can threaten to let the 360 version go cold turkey (minus bug fixes) so MS will have no choice but to allow it.

KillaPollo

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> If Valve threatens to let the 360 version go cold turkey (minus bug fixes) then I think ms will realize that they will be helping Sony and allow the free updates.

KillaPollo

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @RedRedSuit:
How then do you explain the fact that Guild Wars 2 will be based on the more tradidional MMO type game and STILL be free?

BlindEagle

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Qwizatblah:

That does suck.. Thank God for Gamefly though.. The first 360 game I've actually purchased retail wise was Guitar Hero II.. Next will probably be Halo 3 & GTA:IV.. other than that $60 is killer.

DeadPlasmaCell

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @xiphos:
Who gives a crap about HL2:Deathmatch, when the original Half-Life 2 package came with CS:Source?

hahnchen

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> well I remember some of the first DLC way back for the dream cast and sonic adventure. It downloaded modified levels for player to race on and try to get the best times to win prizes. The maps and prizes were all supported by advertising. Back then everyone thought it was the bees knees.
But when it comes right down to it the cost of a game is totally arbitrary, the only thing that sets the price is the consumer. Take dvd's for example i know people that paid 60 bucks for LOTR trilogy buying each dvd as it came out. I however only paid twenty for all three movies. So basically we the consumer can determine the price of the things they buy.

caster

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Marasai:

12 hours of gameplay for $60

seems like most next gen games.

Qwizatblah

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> What's that pot? I'm black?!!??!

modifiedbears

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Ah DLC should be free huh?
Then how come Valve charges your 10 bucks for HL2 Deathmatch?
That should have been built right into the engine. Yet it is not, and if you want to play deathmatch online, you gotta pay extra.

Really, this is bs in my opinion.

xiphos

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I wish Valve would nickel and dime me to death, rather than 20 dollaring me to death for 4 hours of fucking gameplay every year on an increasingly old engine.

Marasai

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> If you don't like being nickle and dimed to death.. dont pay for it, its pretty simple.

fishblades

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Seeing as Gabe Newell used to work for Microsoft, I'm sure he'll be able to get extra DLC on XBL for free. PS3, not too sure about that.

ChaosBahamut

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> " I would much rather have free extra content that is supported by advertising than a $5 map pack any day of the week."

And you promise not to bitch and whine about the ads?

wheezo

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Good luck getting this one past MS for the 360 versions. They are pretty against free DLC.

MadChad

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Amen.

anglon

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> This kind of makes up for Valve forcing you to repurchase Half-Life 2 and Episode One if you buy Episode Two in a store.

If you just want the new games you can only download them from Steam. They're overcharging for games on Steam to begin with so at least you know that extra money is going to developing extra content later on.

skullivan

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> The main problem with DLC is that in no other industry would this be possible.

Let me give you an example. Let's say I work as a producer at a TV studio making documentaries. I have a deadline, so I work to get it done on time. Then two months down the line I go to my boss and say "Hey, remember that doc I sold you? Yeah, well, I felt that I didn't have enough time to meet the deadline, so I shot some more stuff that can be added into the final product. But, I feel that only the people who really want to see my updated show can view it, so they better pay me extra. Oh? You say that it's been two months since it aired and only a few people care? Oh. Wait, I was supposed to be working on a whole new project? Why would I do that? I don't feel I've reaped all the benefits of this one yet".

Let's just say, in that scenario, I'd be looking for a new job.

Yet for gamers, they eat DLC up. I remember when user generated content was huge in games like Jedi Knight and Half-Life and all my friends were downloading it like crazy, making them incompatible with so many servers in the process. I never understood that.

I think as gamers/consumers we should enforce that when a game's released, it's done. If the company wants to make more money and give us new content, make a new game. It's not like they can't make a sequel. It's akin to George Lucas making the "Special Editions" and that blew up in his face. So why do we allow game companies to do this to us?

PolarZombie

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Wow, was that nice to read. And Walker's probably onto something, as Valve just hit the top of my list and will be the company I will be most eager to purchase games from.

Sloopydrew

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @TheGamer:

Given how superior Episode 1 was to HL2 I'd rather pay the extra cash over time. Also, people seem to forget just how much free shit Valve has given out over the lifetime of both games.

Cell9song

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> My bet is either there are going to charge for the xbox live content or either there won't be any content at all.

Except for patches of course.

skobar

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> For those complaining about being charged for Gears of War content, don't forget that that was Microsoft's decision because they were the *publisher* of GoW, not because they run Live.

That brings up an interesting point though. Here Valve is saying they want all their downloadable content to be free, but they're not publishing the Orange Box collection. EA is. EA also happens to have one of the worst reputations when it comes to nickel and diming consumers with downloadable content so it should be interesting to see who wins out between the two of them.

megahurtz

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @heretrix: It's not just EP2 they are working on, they are also working on TF2 and Portal at the same time. All of this takes time to develop...

Leaderz0rz

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @SlayerOfMuffins: Black box was cancelled... Only orange box will be available.

skobar

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @NitrousO: You're kidding right?

DeadPlasmaCell

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> You guys forget that valve is raping us with the episodic format. 20$ per episode with a 2-3 year turn a round time? give me a full on finished game for 50$ with a 3-4 year build time.

Episodes are taking just as long as if they were making a full on game.

TheGamer

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Valve talks too much shit. finish HL2: EP 2 and shut the fuck up.

heretrix

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @DeadPlasmaCell: Its not forcing you to do anything assuming you dont mind no longer playing with friends...

NitrousO

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @BlackDove:

Again, how is that forcing you to do anything? If you want to play on that map, you'll buy it.

DeadPlasmaCell

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> This is how ALL developers should think. There have been many games I didn't buy because I knew I would also have to buy the DLC for it. GRAW, Rainbow Six: 3come to mind.

As it stand now DLC is smoething that tends to lower the value of games in my mind. Heck look at Gears, since I didn't buy that $10 map pack I sometimes have problems finding people to play with.

FoxHoundADAM

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @BlackDove: Host your own game, lol. I have to deal with it until/if I purchase the new pack, then again that pack has not changed the game, we simply cant play those maps. Like Ive said before, last generation you bought the game and that was it... forever.

P.S. And Ever

AnonUserAnonymous

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> They force you by splitting the community into two - those who say, have new Gears of War maps, and those who will get kicked out of the game because the map that's about to load wasn't purchased by them.

That's how they're forcing you.

ClosedAccountDueToErrorsAshCouldn'tFix

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Marius:

Since when the hell do they force you to buy any of the extras?

sc00t420

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> err, feel*

AnonUserAnonymous

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Marius: So what company do you fell isnt greedy, or simply out there for the well being of the consumer 100%?

AnonUserAnonymous

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @WantedCreative:
I've told you people all along. The day I heard MS were entering the console market, I thought "now we're fucked too". They are greedy and have nothing left for a gamer. If you can't get money for a game, then it's not worth making.

Valve didnt get money for their new maps. They probably had great fun making new maps at their office.

Marius

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @RedRedSuit:
I partly disagree with that. If they would charge full price for the retail games, which they don't, they would earn alot of that money back in. However, I do understand that the servers are such heaveyduty servers that it requires alot of money to be run.

But anyway, the shock was still the same, and Valve is still right about their own philosophy. You buy the game you get the content. Charging money for content later should be a crim. I mean, is it right in any ones minds that you have to purchase new maps for a game you've bought?

And don't coming saying that since it's free, it's not quality. When Valve makes new maps for Counter Strike, it's always unbelievable fun. I remember when De_dust2 came, that was sure one of the best multiplayer maps any fps game has ever had.

Marius

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> This guy should work for EA.

ecto311

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Marius the dark age of gaming is already upon us. As much as I like my 360 I have to say M$ is the driving force behind the butt fucking of gamers right now.

I have a feeling we will look back on this generation of consoles and have some serious regrets for what we let the game industry get away with.

WantedCreative

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> We all love free content, and I'm not going to complain if more companies continue to give it to me. That said, if the original game is worth the price I pay for it than I am fine with paying a nominal fee for extra content. We have gotten spoiled with extra content.

It used to be that when you bought a game you got what you got. No patches, bug fixes or extra content. If the extra content is worth the price I'm fine with it. I'm all for my favorite developers making more money if they do extra work to bring me more product. They just have to be fair about it and cant't try to rip me off.

HanSolomente

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Some of my only good experiences with extra content has been paid extra content. So I totally disagree with Fahey.

There are a number of games that I would be glad to shell out 5$ for extra content in. MS has given DLC a bad PR makeover because they haven't exerted quality control over Live Marketplace and there have been bad deals galore.

But a good deal? I'm willing to pay for it, so long as it doesn't split the multiplayer community in half. I love extending the life of games that I already like and I vastly prefer professionally made content over user generated.

That sentiment might be heresy on a message board, but user generated content tends to suck. A mechanism for flooding my game with semi-sucky maps is OK, but I'm fine with paying for quality too.

RedShell

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Yeah, Epic was saying the same thing before MS accountants got their hooks into them. We'll see how this goes...

Sinnix

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> This seems a little strange coming from valve, the company that mastered the tiered FU pricing structure, "Oh, you want to play that mode?, that'll be another 10$ or you could just buy our overpriced super pack that will unlock everything, or buy the slightly less overpriced mega pack that will unlock some modes but not others", ugh.

terryboot

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Well, they're perfectly welcome to charge for DLC they produce, it's just that since they don't offer us any mod tools, that is all you get - paid content. If mod kits for console (xbox) games were released as they are for PC games there would be a far more diverse selection of content for players to enjoy.

Of course, it'll never happen.

The Commissar

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Qwizatblah: Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2 stuff comes close, but it still technically belongs to Bioware. They argue that it's necessary to maintain their ownership over user-created maps and mods so that people can't sell (or otherwise charge people for) stuff that was made with their intellectual property.

el_gordo

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Im all for free content like everyone else, so if valve and anyone else keeps giving free content then im on board. Im not against paying for dlc on consoles though because at first when you bought a game, you had that game and that was it, nothing else, ever. As long as the content price is affordable and justified both free and paying content is c00l with me. Just don't get out of hand.

AnonUserAnonymous

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> While we are on the topic.

I would prefer free, ad-free, user created content. Since a lot of the time user maps, mods, models etc are just as good if not better than a lot of developer created DLC. Also free user created content is not so heavily bound by copyright law.

Qwizatblah

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> @Marius: MASSIVELY multiplayer online RPGs (not pseudo-MMOs like Guild Wars) *must* use monthly fees because that's the only way for them to make money.

MMOs don't belong in this discussion.

RedRedSuit

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I feel like 360 is the way to go for orange box, even though I've got the PS3 and a decent PC, just seems like a good fit. But ya little worried about microsoft charging for all the cool downloadable stuff. I did buy the gears maps, which I felt was worth it, but mostly I won't buy that stuff..$65 for the game and then $10 for maps that could have been included in the damn game a month later..freakin sucks.

drack48

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> It depends on what a company (and users) defines as DLC. I don't like buying upgrades either, but it happends all the time. People buy Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic cards to upgrade their game, per se. D&D fans buy news books to expand their games. I don't see how selling DLC is all that different.

Do Kesubei

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I grew up with Valve's games, and when I started seing Microsoft charging for downloads, that was absolutely insane. And same thing when MMORPG's came. When they started charging a monthly fee, ever after you have payed mone for the game, that completely made me feel like a dark era of gaming was coming.

Marius

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Keep an eye on M$ if they start charging for anything from Valve then you know that major nelson has been lying ever time he says it's not m$ that decides to put a price on download content.

Shermi

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Free would be nice.. but then you'd get a flood of uninspired doo doo thrown at you.. like my visits to the assisted living center.

DeadPlasmaCell

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> By 'custom content' I should clarify I mean 'user-created content'. It's only on Microsoft's closed network that you need to pay for something as petty as a custom weapon.

The Commissar

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I would much rather have free extra content that is supported by advertising than a $5 map pack any day of the week.

Depends on the ads, I guess. I prefer ad-free content, even if I have to pay for it.

Ads are generally annoying as a rule, and when I want to game, I don't want to be annoyed.

doubtful

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I appreciate the distinction between Episodic Content and Downloadable Content enough to understand why I see one thing after hearing another.

Oh wait, I don't.

Maldron

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> i totally agree, all DLC should be free!!!!!

kw4k

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Valve continues to earn my respect and love. Yay Valve!

Atheist Jew

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Hey as long as Valve itself is cool with that. DLC is a great way of extending a game's life but what justifies the development costs for a mother company?

Miletus

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Not like it matters.

With STEAM's security hackers will have your CC# anyways.

hungry_for_worms

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> is this PC only? Because I know Epic was beating the "we'll keep all our DLC free" drum before they released the latest Gears maps.

ErinIsADrunk

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> "I would much rather have free extra content that is supported by advertising than a $5 map pack any day of the week."

Tell that to the people who crapped all over The Discovery Channel's "Future Weapons" sponsoring the first Gears map pack.

Agies

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Totally agree, Valve are the masters within this and online games how-to. Everyone should listen to Valve.

Marius

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> I would rather have a $5 map pack that I own, and let the advertisers pay for their bandwidth instead of leeching mine.

crashlanding

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Meh. Most DLC is custom content anyway. HL1 was revitalized by the release of CS - prior to it being a retail stand-alone release. They are just doing what's right - for the popularity of their product.

It's only on XBOX Live where people are accustomed to paying for things others get for free.

The Commissar

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> GIVE EM HELL VALVE!

Qwizatblah

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Until M$ forces them to charge for DLC over Live when they release the HL2/Ep2 package for the 360.

Franklin Comes Alive!

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> but what if i want... horse armor on my terrorist in cs!

=O

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Im down for that.

The only bad thing is I have to reinstall steam now *shudders*

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Two words.
Black. Box.

SlayerOfMuffins

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> Hear hear.

Raynre

]]> <![CDATA[Valve Keeps DLC Free]]> But...all of Steam IS downloadable content. Does this mean I'm getting HL2:E2 for free?

(I kid...I'd pay for it even if I didn't have to.)

Volante3192

]]>