Fun With DLC - This Week: Crapcom

[stryc9]

I'm in two minds about this situation, IMO it's not as cut and dried as people might think.

I do think that characters as DLC in a fighting game is fundamentally wrong, but it seems that after the whole uproar about the closeness in release for MVC3/ UMVC3 Capcom has changed their game plan regarding updated versions, as they have said there will be no disc version including the twelve new characters for SFXT. Could be all the whining from the FGC that did that, I suppose.

I only really half believe this, and I hope I'm wrong.

Once again people seem to forget what fighting game players put up with back in the nineties. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we used to pay more money for the base game than we do now (which in the case of Capcom has way more characters available than what we got in the past), and then the same amount of cash again to get the latest version that had a lot less added to it than what we get these days (the various incremental versions of SF2/SSF2).

I would only count the twelve DLC characters as any sought of issue here, as figuring the cost of extra costume packs seems silly as they are only an aesthetic change and not one that effects gameplay.

Aren't the new characters $20 or something? Hardly breaking the bank, and as far as them being on the disc already, why does it matter? My biggest issue is they may never be on physical media, in their own stand alone version.

To argue that a fighter with 41 Characters (43 if you count the joke ones on PS3) is somehow incomplete without these extra twelve fighters is stupid, especially if you know your FG history.

Look at what ASW did with BBCS/Extend. That game had a fairly small roster (just two characters added from CT to CS, the other 4 were DLC. Then Extend arrived, unlocking those 4 and adding Relius Clover. That's why CS Extend was fine for me as I just waited for those DLC exclusives to be added to the next disc version).

SFXT has it's fair share of issues, but the character DLC thing is the least of them, IMHO

[Lordstar]

I think the main problem has been that the characters are there on the disc. but not only are they on the disc but they are somewhat balanced with all the necessary code with endings and prologues. It is a pretty shitty way of doing things.

I dont agree with Blazblue doing what they did. it was out in Japan and they still sold the first version in the EU with the 2nd on disc version coming out but a couple of months later. might of been due to a change in publishers/porting.

Tekken 5BR sold costumes to people which were just unlockables anyway but were sold in a way as to not mislead people as to getting new content but getting everything without having to do the campaign mode. Which is a good thing as most people just want to fight mates and online with wacky costumes but all the good stuff is locked away with 40+ hours of campaign trawling.

I really wanted to get the R.Mika/Kuma costume as I love both characters. they dont sell single costumes and I just dont like SFxTK all that much but the online 4 player tag battle could be a first step to actual tag partners tourny game.

[Ganelon]

I do think that characters as DLC in a fighting game is fundamentally wrong, but it seems that after the whole uproar about the closeness in release for MVC3/ UMVC3 Capcom has changed their game plan regarding updated versions, as they have said there will be no disc version including the twelve new characters for SFXT. Could be all the whining from the FGC that did that, I suppose.

I only really half believe this, and I hope I'm wrong.

Actually, what Capcom promised is that there would be no disc-only updates. The main problem with UMVC3 in Capcom's eyes was that unlike SF4AE, where the expansion was offered as both a full game and a DLC update, UMVC3 only provided for the full game option. Although UMVC3 retailed at a reduced price of $40 instead of $60 and comparatively offered more features than previous Street Fighter upgrades, fans weren't happy and sales didn't perform up to projections.

What Capcom left room for by promising no disc-only updates instead of no disc updates period is a collection of everything into a later physical collection, e.g. Mortal Kombat Komplete Kollection. Do I expect Capcom to try something like that? I actually don't think so. Capcom has already shown through precedence that it respects players who buy DLC: none of SF4's 3 costume sets and MVC3's costume set have been included in later retail versions. I feel that's been one of Capcom's wiser decisions.

I also don't believe Capcom will renege on its promise of having no disc-only updates. For the next year or 2, TXSF will take center stage and there are assuredly agreements in place to avoid competition in that time span. By the time TXSF gets its fair shake, the current generation of consoles will be on the way out. Capcom has many more options available than to immediately make another SFXT with another round of licensing. Consequently, by the time the next SFXT is created—assuming it happens at all—the game should be completely different.

[CMoon]

Actually I'm rather worried how this model will carry over into Dragon's Dogma (which at the moment at least, I am interested in.) Given how Bethesda/Bioware inspired this looks, I'm assuming there will be a shit-ton of downloads and this will turn into some $100 game.

I still am not sure what I think about DLC since it affords companies more income to continue to work on a title, but it doesn't excuse full price for unfinished games.

[Ruldra]

On-disc DLC is no different than download, says Capcom

[Shelcoof]

On-disc DLC is no different than download, says Capcom

"So far, Capcom has yet to issue a response to the Better Business Bureau on the lack of pair-play and why the feature was advertised but not implemented. For the rest of the community, we were fed the unsubstantiated truth that the team ran out of time and resources, even though they had more than enough time to include additional Gems, preset combos for each of the characters, 12 extra fighters, two alternate outfits for all 50 characters and 56 locked colors. That's not to mention that before that Capcom blamed Microsoft and the Xbox 360 for the lack of pair-play, which simply was not true."

WORD!!

[stryc9]

I think the lack of pair-play on 360 as advertised is a legitimate complaint, possibly with legal implications, but I think the whole disc-locked content thing could possibly be a case of people not being aware of their rights, or lack thereof.

It would seem that when you purchase a physical disc, you are only buying the licence to use the software present on the disc itself under the terms and conditions provided.

I'm not saying I know this as fact, rather from what I've heard it would seem to be the case.

Anyone know any different?

[Friendly]

It would seem that when you purchase a physical disc, you are only buying the licence to use the software present on the disc itself under the terms and conditions provided.

That is what they claim and would like you to believe. Fact is that the validity of these so-called EULAs has hardly ever been tested in court. On the contrary, they were found to be invalid in many cases, especially in Europe, where they automatically become void when they curb certain rights. So for now this claim that you buy only a license and not the game itself is just that, a claim, not fact.
Of course most people are sheeple who accept anything their corporate overlords tell them as sacrosanct and never even realize that they are getting the short end of the stick.

[E. Randy Dupre]

Once again people seem to forget what fighting game players put up with back in the nineties. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we used to pay more money for the base game than we do now (which in the case of Capcom has way more characters available than what we got in the past), and then the same amount of cash again to get the latest version that had a lot less added to it than what we get these days (the various incremental versions of SF2/SSF2).

Just because people got shagged over big-style in the past, that doesn't mean that a smaller-scale wallet-raping is fine and dandy.

Of course most people are sheeple

You just lost the right to have anything you say get taken seriously.

[Friendly]

Of course most people are sheeple

You just lost the right to have anything you say get taken seriously.

That's not how it works. The person who claims that the other debater has lost the right to be taken seriously in order to silence them instead of adressing their statements is the one who has lost the argument (ad hominem).

[E. Randy Dupre]

I must have missed the post where you said that, unlike all the other sheeple (hilarious! and original!) you were going to test the validity of EULAs in court.

Please, be sure and keep us informed as to your progress.

[undamned]

Of course most people are sheeple who accept anything their corporate overlords tell them as sacrosanct and never even realize that they are getting the short end of the stick.

Or folks understand that they are getting the short end of the stick, but don't have the clams to take a monster like Capcom to court over such a matter.
-ud

[Friendly]

It's not about taking them to court. It's about believing their EULA-claims, or not believing them.

There is a reason why (at least in Europe) none of those software corporations who like to wave around EULAs have ever taken anyone to court for allegedly breaking their supposedly legally binding EULAs: Because they know full well they'd be laughed out of court, thus setting a dangerous (for them) precedent.

[trap15]

Business practices like this is the reason why I no longer purchase and play Capcom games.

I speak with my money but I'm surprised to see others willing to throw money at companies that implement these types of business methods.

[stryc9]

Just because people got shagged over big-style in the past, that doesn't mean that a smaller-scale wallet-raping is fine and dandy.

I'm afraid I can't agree. I'm one of those people that welcomed the various revisions of SF2 that appeared in the arcades - SF2 was a phenomenal game and it grew as a result of tweaking from player feedback.

Your forgetting how much of a huge deal it was to be able to use the bosses in Champion Edition, or the added speed of Hyperfighting, or the move to CPS2 with Super and the addition of Super Combos in Grandmaster Challenge.

If you played these games in the arcade and were any sort of fan (and don't kid yourself, everyone was), you would inevitably want the home version, or your life obviously wasn't going to be complete.

You would want the latest version, simple as that, and the decision to upgrade was as simple as breathing. It might have to cost you $80, but that is what you payed back then. Shit is cheaper now, and you get a lot more content, right?

I don't like this DLC bullshit anymore than anyone else, just give people the option of having the new characters available on disc at some point.

[Casper<3]

i made a vid http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubG9Nu4nizk

[mesh control]

AHAHHHAHHHAAAAHA

[BIL]

Dear God... I'm laughing like Bixby Snyder here.

THEY SPINNIN NIGGA THEY SP- aw fuck

[Ed Oscuro]

that guy in the background

quality

BIL: That one did it for me too.

[ShmupSamurai]

Being a fan of Capcom since 1993, I've got a pretty big beef as it is with them right now- Most of the peopel I met in their America branch that was headquartered at Californa when I was a child w/ cancer on a Make-a-Wish trip have left the company by now, Infune himself among them, and their modern anti-consumer DLC behavior is just the tip of the iceburg-instead of acting butthurt like a certain group of fans...

I'm going to pay tribute/homage to the very game series that inspired me to create games, Mega Man, with my current project-Guncross; A nes-style in the same vein but with original caracters and music...aka my "dream game".

[Ex-Cyber]

I'm going to pay tribute/homage to the very game series that inspired me to create games, Mega Man, with my current project-Guncross; A nes-style in the same vein but with original caracters and music...aka my "dream game".

Just be careful that any homage is not too recognizable. ISTR that even back in the early 90s, Capcom took a shockingly dim view of an actual job applicant who expressed his love of Capcom through derivative works. I can't imagine that they're better about it now.

[Shelcoof]

I'm going to pay tribute/homage to the very game series that inspired me to create games, Mega Man, with my current project-Guncross; A nes-style in the same vein but with original caracters and music...aka my "dream game".

Just be careful that any homage is not too recognizable. ISTR that even back in the early 90s, Capcom took a shockingly dim view of an actual job applicant who expressed his love of Capcom through derivative works. I can't imagine that they're better about it now.

Are you referring to that EGM article where the guy created the chibi street fighter pics of Chun Li? I can't remember its been ages ago.

[Ex-Cyber]

I'm going to pay tribute/homage to the very game series that inspired me to create games, Mega Man, with my current project-Guncross; A nes-style in the same vein but with original caracters and music...aka my "dream game".

Just be careful that any homage is not too recognizable. ISTR that even back in the early 90s, Capcom took a shockingly dim view of an actual job applicant who expressed his love of Capcom through derivative works. I can't imagine that they're better about it now.

Are you referring to that EGM article where the guy created the chibi street fighter pics of Chun Li? I can't remember its been ages ago.

That was one component of it. IIRC, the relevant ROM images were eventually leaked and distributed under the aegis of "PD" (gee, I wonder why).

[mesh control]

Desk continues to do amusing things.

[Ruldra]

This is probably worth posting here:

Capcom's Better Business Bureau Rating Drops Due To DLC Fiasco

Congratulations gamers. You've effectively put a dent in Capcom's Better Business Bureau rating.

Effectively, the company's rating has dropped down three whole grades from an A+ down to a B. They now have more than 42 closed complaints with 40 of those being resolved with the assistance of the Better Business Bureau and more than 36 complaints closed within the last 12 months. This is up from the company's previous 10 complaints as of April 3rd, as reported by JoyStiq.

(...)

The reason the rating dropped so quickly is because of the outpouring of all the complaints gamers came together to file. Video game consumers have become fed up, they've become tired of the business-oriented bull crap and they've decided to do something about it.

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Capcom ... 41305.html

[Shelcoof]

This is probably worth posting here:

Capcom's Better Business Bureau Rating Drops Due To DLC Fiasco

Congratulations gamers. You've effectively put a dent in Capcom's Better Business Bureau rating.

Effectively, the company's rating has dropped down three whole grades from an A+ down to a B. They now have more than 42 closed complaints with 40 of those being resolved with the assistance of the Better Business Bureau and more than 36 complaints closed within the last 12 months. This is up from the company's previous 10 complaints as of April 3rd, as reported by JoyStiq.

(...)

The reason the rating dropped so quickly is because of the outpouring of all the complaints gamers came together to file. Video game consumers have become fed up, they've become tired of the business-oriented bull crap and they've decided to do something about it.

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Capcom ... 41305.html

Bravo consumers Bravo!

[BAD]

Even with all this stuff about DLC going on, for the most part I'm still enjoying the game. There are some questionable things about the balance, but there's a really deep game once you get into it. Multi-player tag battles are a lot of fun, and the presentation and design is great. Love the cameos! Too bad Guy wasn't swapped for Hugo, though; I think Hugo would have been better as DLC...

[shmuppyLove]

This is probably worth posting here:

Capcom's Better Business Bureau Rating Drops Due To DLC Fiasco

Congratulations gamers. You've effectively put a dent in Capcom's Better Business Bureau rating.

Effectively, the company's rating has dropped down three whole grades from an A+ down to a B. They now have more than 42 closed complaints with 40 of those being resolved with the assistance of the Better Business Bureau and more than 36 complaints closed within the last 12 months. This is up from the company's previous 10 complaints as of April 3rd, as reported by JoyStiq.

(...)

The reason the rating dropped so quickly is because of the outpouring of all the complaints gamers came together to file. Video game consumers have become fed up, they've become tired of the business-oriented bull crap and they've decided to do something about it.

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Capcom ... 41305.html

I guess it's good that the complaints had some effect, although honestly, when was the last time you checked a publisher's BBB rating before buying a game?

[Ed Oscuro]

Murf

[BareKnuckleRoo]

Who exactly makes the decisions as far as what content gets separated and turned into on-disc DLC? I wonder if the game devs themselves aren't actually in control of their product to that extent and basically get told by management or something to do that sort of thing.

It could just be wishful thinking on my part, though.