Theory of Content on Disc

Content on disc is when a publisher charges money for content already on disc and gamers are so furious about this new trend happening lately. The biggest abusers are Capcom, Namco, and EA.  How do you know when a DLC is content on disc? well if it spans a size of 100kb or under 1mb then surely it is content of disce rip  off.

Now on this blog I am here to revoke all these delusion mind thinking of us gamers being ripped off in which case we weren't.
Back in the days when a DLC would appear like Map packs, if you jump on Multiplayer and the host picks a DLC map. When the game starts it wouldn't start for you but for everyone else, the game would then prompt you that you are missing a DLC. The last game (7th gen) I noticed used this old feature I  was believe Killzone 2 and I think F.E.A.R 2 did the same.

Think about this, if you do perceive the DLC available but do not own one, how would you know if it's a worthy item to purchase?
I noticed this concept with Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2's costume DLC. When the DLC came online PSN the game came with an updated patch. After that players who had purchased the DLC Costumes could pick the costumes at the selection screen. Now if you don't have the dlc, you would see the player pick the costume and eventually see it in action in-game. This is where the content on disc clicks.
Basically the update contained the DLC costumes so everyone could see in action, now the DLC itself is just the unlocking code so you can choose the item.

The solution to allow and market their DLC is to make sure people can experience  the DLC others are using. Now if gamers want to be naive and mourn about "content on disc". If publishers were to put a DLC online, they would have to provide an update so that DLC would be compatible with the game. Mostly DLC that requires patch updates are usually Map packs, however the update would not contain the code for the map pack. As map pack span above 100mb.

As for the costumes DLC in which case gamers label as content on disc. Remember I said something about promoting DLC so you can decide to buy it. Well if the costumes are not content on disc, it would require an update each time a new DLC costume comes online thus making it a pain in the ass. Therefore if the costumes are content on disc, you would see another player use it so that you can get a taste of it. If you can't see another player use DLC costumes in action, would you risk and pay for it? no because this is where the content on disc plays it parts. (I know you would pay for it because you are a fan of the developer or the game itself).

So is Content on Disc a crime/rip off? Absolutely not, it's a concept developers cannot help, it is the only valid way to promote the DLC to you so you can see it in action and help you decide if you should pay for it or not. And also conserves time, if you are going to make 10 costume updates for 4 weeks, that means you would have to keep making patches every week. It's best to just make everything on disc, provide 1 patch that enables all costumes to work, and start releasing the costumes week by week so that you can continue working on your next project. And you know the ironic thing is when gamers expect a proper DLC with patch provided, doesn't the patch contain the DLC? :) Therefore they are receiving an item already on disc or in a patch!

Next up I'll be writing about Craving for Nostalgia