News
Borderlands DLC Already Announced and Priced
Before Launch? Really?
by Coop
Wow, that was fast. 2K Games just sent out a press release, announcing that the first DLC pack for Borderlands will hit soon. This might be the first time that paid DLC for a title was revealed before release, and depending on the response, it might be the last. The kicker? It's going to cost $9.99, or 800 Microsoft Points.
The pack is called The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned and is detailed in the press release below. It sounds fun and all, and I'm sure if it was announced a few weeks after the game came out it would be a different story, I just don't know why they would reveal it so early. It's just begging for controversy, and not the good kind that sells copies. Developers have made a point to never, ever say that paid DLC was far along in development before a game was on store shelves. They might have hinted at it, or said that content was on the way, but this is the first time, as far as I can remember, that DLC was priced a solid week before the game was on store shelves.
For as excited as I am for the game, I have a feeling this might annoy a few people who are about to drop $60 on a game. The press release and a few more images are below, what do you think about this?
2K Games Announces First Downloadable Content for Borderlands™
The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned to infect players later this year
New York, NY - October 15, 2009 – 2K Games announced today that the first piece of downloadable content for Borderlands™, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, is planned for release later this year for all available platforms for $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points). The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned is in development at Gearbox Software and is the first in a series of downloadable expansions that will enhance the Borderlands mayhem in fun and exciting ways.
Tasked with keeping the workers of Jakobs Cove alive, Dr. Ned (who is not related to Dr. Zed from Fyrestone) does his job a little too well, creating zombies and other abominations that now run rampant in this region. Players will have to work alongside Dr. Ned as they embark on a quest to cure the inhabitants of Jakobs Cove in this full-fledged expansion filled with new enemies, new quests and rare loot drops.
Featuring extensive co-op integration that seamlessly blends the single-player and multiplayer experiences, Borderlands allows players to freely join or leave each other’s games at any time for collaborative mayhem or the freedom to choose to play in full single-player mode to experience the world on their own. Borderlands also includes a groundbreaking weapon generation system that offers a near infinite variety of weapons to the player. Borderlands combines these features with addictive non-stop action to form a breakthrough experience that challenges the conventions of modern shooters and RPGs.
Developed by Gearbox Software, Borderlands™ is available at retailers in North America beginning October 20 for the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and beginning October 23 internationally. The Windows PC version will ship to retailers in North America and internationally on October 26 and October 30, respectively. Borderlands is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.
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Comments
Seems to me a smart move announcing the DLC right before all the reviews hit. Increases the probability reviewers will mention DLC in their review. As consumers we like to hear a game will have DLC right? What does it matter when it is announced or released? How does announcing DLC hurt sales? As consumers, we have to figure out if the game is worth the money we laid down on it on a case by case basis - then if we crave more of the game, we get the DLC. We read reviews of the DLC just like we read reviews of the game. If the DLC comes out a week after, or a year after, it's still an additional cost.
In the end, the DLC is optional. Just because the DLC is ready to release sometime around game release, doesnt mean it didnt make the cut because it isnt good. It doesnt mean the developer/publisher is trying to bleed money out of gamers. It could, but again - judge it on a case by case basis. I have no idea if Borderlands is going to be worth the price tag. On videos and gathering information about the game - it seems like it is to me. Certainly seems to be more bang for your buck than a $40 on a 1.5 hour chick flick that your girlfriend/wife wants to see. Then again, I guess the part after the movie might be worth $40 :)
A smart move? Hmmm...I don't know. This is what announcing DLC before the game's release means to me. The developers got to a certain point and decided that they had done enough to justify the $60 price tag. Instead of putting more content into the game, they polished it up (it better not have ANY bugs) and set it aside. Then, they started working on ways to make more money. If the DLC is so far along, why isn't it in the game? They would have been better served by saying "Hey, we are releasing the game two weeks late because we came up with some killer extras and had to put them in" not "Buy the game. We've been working on DLC." That, to me, says that they might have even cut some content knowing that fans of the game will buy the DLC. DLC is basically pure profit. Buy cutting content and selling piece by piece, the profit from DLC will more than cover any lost disc sales. But why announce the DLC now? I see no upside.
And, sadly, I'm convinced that all future DLC is going to be just like Fallout's DLC; short 'n' sweet. $10 equals 2-3 hours. Even Left 4 Dead's Crash Course DLC is only two chapters instead of the standard five. Yes, I know it was only 560 points.
Who here whould pay $110 for Fallout 3: GOTY? Well, that's what you did if you bought all the DLC.
Not to nitpick, but Beatles had day-and-date DLC... >_>