Should We Just Wait for the Game of the Year Edition?

Necuno

Necuno

The Piper
Not playing vegas till all dlc been bought on specials or via goty. Same with Dragon Age2 and related. DLC is the cash cow, it's been pissing on my battery next to episodic gaming as it failed us and half life :mad:


Should We Just Wait for the Game of the Year Edition?

In today's award-winning edition of Speak Up on Kotaku, cold-hearted commenter Monsieur.Froid wonders if other gamers are beginning to catch on to this whole Game of the Year trend.

So with Fallout 3, I discovered the advent of the gaming industry's newest conception: the 'Game of the Year' edition. Sure, it comes in other flavours, like the Ultimate Edition, Complete Collection or what have you, but the most notable seems to be the GotY (Game of the Year). All of these mean the same thing: Game + all DLC.

Here's a short list of some of the games that have used it.

Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4, Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition, Dragon Age: Origins, Mass Effect 2 (PS3), Oblivion, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, Borderlands, Arkham Asylum, Uncharted 2, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

Here's a list of some of the games that I figure will use it in the future:

Dragon Age 2, Skyrim, Fallout: New Vegas, Borderlands 2, Uncharted 3, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Arkham City.

So because of having rebought Fallout 3 (for 20 bucks) for the GotY edition, I learned my lesson to wait for the game to come out with the DLC-included version. I waited for Dragon Age: Origins, and am happily playing that now. I waited for Borderlands and GTAIV and again, have been very happy with both. Because of this I'll be waiting for Borderlands 2, I've been holding off on DA2 and New Vegas and I'll be skipping the 2nd MvC3 and will pick up the inevitable 3rd version with even more characters.

Who else is waiting to pick up these big name titles for the bound-to-be-released DLC versions of the games?
About Speak Up on Kotaku: Our readers have a lot to say, and sometimes what they have to say has nothing to do with the stories we run. That's why we have a forum on Kotaku called Speak Up. That's the place to post anecdotes, photos, game tips and hints, and anything you want to share with Kotaku at large. Every weekday we'll pull one of the best Speak Up posts we can find and highlight it here.
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Oh god don't let them find out you found a loophole because they will fucking close it in a heartbeat.
 
Staple2 said:
Oh god don't let them find out you found a loophole because they will fucking close it in a heartbeat.
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Too true...

On-topic, I don't think that majority of gamers will do this... Most gamers want the game as soon as it becomes available. So yes, you have the minority (The clever few?) that wait for the GOTY Edition, but most will still go out on release day and pay more for the game alone then what you do for the game and all it's DLC...
 
Well its in our (gamers) Nature to go out on release date and buy the latest games. At the moment I've got 4 titles on Pre Order xD So I am guilty of this. I do agree though..Games should be released when they are finished, the way I look at it...DLC is just another way of them finishing the game ( adding new content.."We just had an idea to add this and that and something sparkly") after its already been published, and then milking us for it.
 
The Joker said:
Well its in our (gamers) Nature to go out on release date and buy the latest games. At the moment I've got 4 titles on Pre Order xD So I am guilty of this. I do agree though..Games should be released when they are finished, the way I look at it...DLC is just another way of them finishing the game ( adding new content.."We just had an idea to add this and that and something sparkly") after its already been published, and then milking us for it.
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Definitely.

But it needs to be asked: do you mind supporting your favourite developers? :p
 
I don't think you can say all DLC is just milking the game.

Sometimes it is milking the game like a fair number of the Mass Effect's DLCs (R80/120 for 1hr of content) other times like Borderlands' Secret Armoury of General Knoxx or Dr.Ned's Zombie Island and Fallout New Vegas' Old World Blues, where you are getting 10+hrs of content for R70.

Fighting games are also pretty bad when it comes that this, R50 for one character type of thing.

As for waiting for a GOTY version of a game I would say it depends on how much you want to play the game and when you are going to be buying it. If it's a game you are excited about on release then I don't see the benefit of waiting a year to play, if it's something you may only get around to in 6-9months then yeah I reckon just wait for a GOTY. It also depends on specials and pricing, taking Fallout New Vegas for example, Steam just ran a special which would have got you the game + all the dlc for $25. Considering there is only one more dlc left and the GOTY version would probably only hit in Dec and the DLC would cost $10, you are only saving R35 by waiting an extra 5months. In that case it would have made sense to purchase the game now. :)

Also quite often the DLC means nothing to the original experience so waiting 12months just for the DLC doesn't really make sense. Say for example ME 1/2, bought them on release and have never felt it needed any DLC, especially after trying the first one out. So for me waiting a year for the DLC wouldn't have been worth it.

*Edit Just thought of another one

Batman: Arkham Asylum, the DLC was I think 4 challenge maps, two of which iirc you got for free if you purchased the game new, so definitely not worth a 12month wait.
 
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MOnk said:
I don't think you can say all DLC is just milking the game.

Sometimes it is milking the game like a fair number of the Mass Effect's DLCs (R80/120 for 1hr of content) other times like Borderlands' Secret Armoury of General Knoxx or Dr.Ned's Zombie Island and Fallout New Vegas' Old World Blues, where you are getting 10+hrs of content for R70.
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Couldn't agree more.

Some DLC really does a fantastic job of seamlessly expanding content whereas other DLC really just feels like overpriced shit that just got thrown together for the hell of making a few bucks.

I've really enjoyed the Fallout: New Vegas DLC and feel like it was worth every penny. Needless to say I'm looking forward to the next one, especially since it's where we... *grin* :)
 
The GOTY or DLC Bundled versions are sort of a catch 22 situation
There would be no DLC developed if initial sales of titles did not reach a specific sales break limit, therefore there would be no GOTY or DLC Bundled version.

Waiting on one of these editions is feasible, but what if the game is never released in this format due to poor initial sales, keep in mind that no publisher on the planet spends additional development funding and time on titles that perform poorly in the sales market.


Aren't we simply stating that we prefer our titles to be sold or re-released with all bugs fixed and all projected content alreay added in?
If this is the case perhaps development studios need to learn to release FULLY developed titles instead of releasing something that is bug ridden and incomplete (When compared to what the project was initially planned as) simply to hit a publishing deadline

Personally I think the gaming market only really considers GOTY or DLC Bundled versions to be as good as they are due to this, we want more for our money and we don't mind waiting -- Isn't that what we should take away from the GOTY version debate?
 
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Yah, I agree with the general consensus here. Gamers (like myself) can't wait over a year for a GOTY edition to be released. I haven't played THAT many DLC's but I can say from my experience, which is basically Fallout NV, that the DLC was definitely NOT just milking us for more money. Each and every DLC had a unique storyline, new gear and was truly a unique experience.

On the other hand, DLC which is simply something pretty and shiny for your character to wear IS milking you for money. I think of some of the Mass Effect DLC.
 
Some of ME's DLC was not that AAA as you guys are making it out to be, the only one I really enjoyed was the shadow master which could have easily been included in the game as it was. Same with Borderlands, Maxxi's dome really not that great, but rest is better. Then there's fallout 3's dlc, not too many great ones there either. Hopefully vegas and batman proves me wrong when I get around to them.

Other part of my "rant" is that it's strange how back in the day it was the norm and quite feasible to release a complete game with little or no bugs. Then expanding it with a proper expansion. Guess that was only a dream then or did we turn release now and fix later ? oh wait that's actually the mandate of today's dev houses as everybody have instant and constant connection. Might as well slap in 70% of the game and other 30% as "DLC" just look at DA1.

Xero, good point.
 
I can't think of one game that I've played that was improved by its DLC, not even 1. I love mass effect...dlc sucked ass for that!!
Same with call of duty and the map packs dlc..Why not release it with the game??? Nope they would rather wait for us to buy it and then announce "we decided to add new maps, but it'll cost you another $$"

To each their own, people have their reasons why they love/hate DLC for games.
I just can't stand it. DLC is just a way for them to finish a game after it was released 80% complete.
 
The Fallout New Vegas DLCs was not bad, as for Mass Effect 2 DLC was Ok'ish. The problem is how do you rate this stuff? Everyone has there own idea and the developers try to compromise between time and content and sometimes it just fails. That being said, still you choice if you buy now or later or never. I personally bought Borderland and Fallout 3 GOTY Editions. I am also a fan of GOTY editions because, I don't want to manage a bunch of little DCL files all the time.

My view on this however is no one forces you to buy, or play games, so you will just have to go with the flow.

(OR) As our comrades in the ANC would say you must satisfy the majority. :)
 
The Joker said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Fallout 3 DLC cost $50 for the 5 dlc packs when the 5 were made available?

The only way I'd ever change my mind about DLC....If you got to download them for free, as you already invested in buying the game on launch date at a set price. Simple as that.
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Bit like being forced to buy a game's sountrack when it's already been paid for, I torrented my dragon age's soundtracks no way I'm re-buying content I already paid for.
 
Pr⊕phet said:
Bit like being forced to buy a game's sountrack when it's already been paid for, I torrented my dragon age's soundtracks no way I'm re-buying content I already paid for.
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Yip and by the looks of it DLC is now becoming very popular, It wouldn't surprise me if games get released 50% complete and then in order to finish the game properly you need to buy the other 50% spread over 5 months at a set price..LOL They really do think we are idiots.
 
The Joker said:
Yip and by the looks of it DLC is now becoming very popular, It wouldn't surprise me if games get released 50% complete and then in order to finish the game properly you need to buy the other 50% spread over 5 months at a set price..LOL They really do think we are idiots.
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Codemasters were actually discussing something like that a while back. I'll check if I can find the article somewhere.
 
According to Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens, future games could be sold incomplete at retail, with mandatory downloadable content required to get the remainder of your newly purchased title.

“It’s not inconceivable to say that we send out a Formula One game that’s not complete,” he said.

“[M]aybe it’s got six tracks. Then they have to buy their next track, and you follow it around the world. When you turn up in Abu Dhabi you have to pay for the circuit, and whatever the changes are to the cars that are put through. That, I think, would deal with a lot of [piracy issues], and also address the pre-owned.”

By “address the pre-owned,” Cousens is obviously talking about the games industry’s increasing fears that second-hand sales are losing publishers and developers money.

The issues of piracy and used sales often go hand-in-hand. Most retailers no longer stock used PC games due to DRM issues, which lock the game to one particular user.

And both concerns raise an important question: when you purchase such a game, are you buying a product to own outright and sell on at your leisure (as with a house, or a car), or are you buying a service, and a license to use that service?

Either way, Cousens believes that the current situation – in which publishers and retailers seem to be working against each other on the matter – is destructive. Speaking in the interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the Codies boss said: “t’s negative to creativity and innovation. I believe it has to be managed – there’s an element of it which is acceptable, and there’s an element that isn’t.

“If the content creators could participate in the secondary or subsequent exploitation, I think that’s fair game. I think equally the retailer then has an argument that he should participate in some of the DLC, which they ordinarily wouldn’t. By default, you manage the process.

“What I don’t buy off on is that retailers are responding to pre-owned because that’s what consumer traffic tells them. If you put the price at zero, you’ll get even more traffic, but where does that go?”

For my money, the industry’s worry about losing money to used sales misses one key point: many people flock to the second-hand market because they simply cannot afford to pay full-price for games. And there’s always the risk that eliminating second-hand sales all together could mean less players are exposed to these games, at no significant fattening of their publishers’ wallets.
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Source

Found it.
 
I don't buy the argument that games get released unfinished and that dev's release DLC that was suppose to be in there anyway. It may be true for some companies but I don't think it's an industry wide thing.

There is no ways you can say Dragon Age Origins was an incomplete game, yet it came with DLC, even an expansion, none of which you were forced to buy. I think it's a case of getting the hand and wanting the whole arm.

Bugs have ALWAYS been part of games the only difference now is that instead of having 5-10 people working on a game you have 200-300 sometimes even more people working on a game at different stages of development. So as things have gotten bigger and more complicated YET I find in general bugs are fairly minor or at least sorted with a speedy patch. Bethesda games are probably the only exception I can think of but that's largely due to them using a crusty old engine way past its expiry date.

My biggest qualm with DLC is the price, I don't think you should be paying $40/50, for something like Fallout 3's dlc packs in total they should have been closer to $25.
 
that is what I did with Red Dead Redemption...
but you miss out on multiplayer...
also what will happen, is more piracy!!!
 
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