Exclusive DLC - weapons in the war of platforms
Downloadable add-ons for video games (DLC add-ons) have long become an integral and extremely important for all market participants an element of the modern gaming industry. DLCs ​​are a way to tell players about the events that preceded the game,
continuing the storyline
')
developing parallel to the main action
due to various reasons not included in the main edition,
being a kind of background to the full sequel,
or related to the main game, in fact, only a setting, but not a plot.
However, in addition to its main purpose - expanding the boundaries of virtual worlds, downloadable add-ons also perform a number of important additional functions that deserve detailed consideration.
For developers, DLC is a way to win loyalty of players and maintain interest in the franchise until the studio exits the next masterpiece from the depths of the studio. Best of all, this approach works in Bioware, which masterfully, for one and a half years, did not allow fans of the two main universes of the developer's studio, Mass Effect and Dragon Age, to break away from the original.
For DLC publishers, firstly, a stable guaranteed additional income, which, moreover, very quickly gets into the pockets, much faster than, say, retail income (1.5 months against 5-6). Secondly, downloadable add-ons are the knight's publishing move in the market for used games. No matter how indignant are the austerity supporters of the fact that it has become fashionable in games to use a one-time code to activate exclusive content (for example, RockStar Pass in LANoire), this approach is quite fair and humane: you want to save a little - very well, play the game bought in the secondary market, but if you want a full-fledged action - give us "to help the beak." Thirdly, the DLC is an integral part of the fight against pirated products: activation of the DLC via the console network service significantly complicates the lives of irresponsible citizens, forcing them to either silently suffer from the inability to safely load the DLC onto the console, or still try to do it, but still tremble from fear of the likely possibility to get a network ban.
What the DLC is for the players is hardly in need of comments. The ability to get new missions and quests for your favorite game is difficult to overestimate. Of course, only if the DLC is a full-fledged storyline supplement that adds + 2-6 hours to the gameplay, and not some abstract nyashechkoy that for $ 10 you can fasten on the main character. Nyashechka, of course, is also necessary and important, but not to say that their role was strongly decisive for the game.
For manufacturers of DLC consoles - this is an excellent field to fight for the consumer. Exclusive add-ons have an excellent stimulating effect on players who do not have a console yet, but are soon going to purchase it, as well as owners of all major consoles facing a choice on which platform to play cross-platform hits. In this aspect of the war platforms, Sony has an impressive competitive advantage: Mafia II: Betrayal of Jimmy, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: Copernicus conspiracy, Dead Space 2: Extraction, LA Noire: Consul's Car Traffic are just some of the amazing additions available exclusively to users. PlayStation 3. Until recently, the main competitor of the console had its ace in the sleeve - excellent DLCs “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” for the mega-hit Grand Theft Auto IV, but ultimately they could resist the charm of the playstation.
Draw conclusions, gentlemen :)
continuing the storyline
')
developing parallel to the main action
due to various reasons not included in the main edition,
being a kind of background to the full sequel,
or related to the main game, in fact, only a setting, but not a plot.
However, in addition to its main purpose - expanding the boundaries of virtual worlds, downloadable add-ons also perform a number of important additional functions that deserve detailed consideration.
For developers, DLC is a way to win loyalty of players and maintain interest in the franchise until the studio exits the next masterpiece from the depths of the studio. Best of all, this approach works in Bioware, which masterfully, for one and a half years, did not allow fans of the two main universes of the developer's studio, Mass Effect and Dragon Age, to break away from the original.
For DLC publishers, firstly, a stable guaranteed additional income, which, moreover, very quickly gets into the pockets, much faster than, say, retail income (1.5 months against 5-6). Secondly, downloadable add-ons are the knight's publishing move in the market for used games. No matter how indignant are the austerity supporters of the fact that it has become fashionable in games to use a one-time code to activate exclusive content (for example, RockStar Pass in LANoire), this approach is quite fair and humane: you want to save a little - very well, play the game bought in the secondary market, but if you want a full-fledged action - give us "to help the beak." Thirdly, the DLC is an integral part of the fight against pirated products: activation of the DLC via the console network service significantly complicates the lives of irresponsible citizens, forcing them to either silently suffer from the inability to safely load the DLC onto the console, or still try to do it, but still tremble from fear of the likely possibility to get a network ban.
What the DLC is for the players is hardly in need of comments. The ability to get new missions and quests for your favorite game is difficult to overestimate. Of course, only if the DLC is a full-fledged storyline supplement that adds + 2-6 hours to the gameplay, and not some abstract nyashechkoy that for $ 10 you can fasten on the main character. Nyashechka, of course, is also necessary and important, but not to say that their role was strongly decisive for the game.
For manufacturers of DLC consoles - this is an excellent field to fight for the consumer. Exclusive add-ons have an excellent stimulating effect on players who do not have a console yet, but are soon going to purchase it, as well as owners of all major consoles facing a choice on which platform to play cross-platform hits. In this aspect of the war platforms, Sony has an impressive competitive advantage: Mafia II: Betrayal of Jimmy, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: Copernicus conspiracy, Dead Space 2: Extraction, LA Noire: Consul's Car Traffic are just some of the amazing additions available exclusively to users. PlayStation 3. Until recently, the main competitor of the console had its ace in the sleeve - excellent DLCs “The Lost and Damned” and “The Ballad of Gay Tony” for the mega-hit Grand Theft Auto IV, but ultimately they could resist the charm of the playstation.
Draw conclusions, gentlemen :)
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/123020/
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