Paying for more Content

[BobeBrown]

I get the feeling from reading the articles that via a internet connection CIV5 ingame will let you buy more content like civilizations and other features.

Lots of games have gone down this avenue to boost profits.

[Seventh Child]

Which articles?

I think I could understand them selling Civs as DLC and maybe professionally designed maps. It's highly likely I would not buy them though and would rather see them in an expansion pack. I don't think I could see them adding anything other than those as DLC.

[Auncien]

I hope they use disc authentication only as their DRM scheme (if they must have one) and I hope they go the traditional route of flat-priced expansions as their supplementary content method.

I really hate this new trend of plugging people in to some horrible, cynical money-extraction, DRM 'community' system. It's tacky and the Civ series doesn't need that kind of thing to be successful or profitable.

[Voyhkah]

No. If they try to do that, I'll try to stop them. Who's with me?

[Voltage]

Speculating here, But it does seem to be the current trend. In game shop markets for buying new content. They could sell a lot like units, civilizations, leaders, more things like random events, scenarios and other features we dont know about. I think Sims 3 went down this direction ?

Furthermore, they could limit the ingame market shop to small components and save big changes for expansion packs. In this economy, I would not be suprised at all if they try to squeeze more money out of this game.

I'd be very put off if they done this.

[Krzowwh]

I would dislike this very much.

[Dale]

DLC for profit would destroy MP. They wouldn't do it for that reason.

[BobeBrown]

Originally Posted by Dale

DLC for profit would destroy MP. They wouldn't do it for that reason.

Not sure on that, theres a many ways they can set it up. For example they can work mutliplayer so every win earn you points to unlock new playable civilzations or alternatively they will just let people buy new civilizations with cash. It doesnt have to be new civilizations either, who knows what content Civ5 will bring.

If you look at Sims 3, that can be modded by the community but they also have an official shop to buy new official content. I mean i could be wrong, but loads of games ive played recently have this feature especially on XBOX and MMOs. But the description of the in game community hub to me smells of content you can buy.

[xienwolf]

In order to offer it, they would have to remove the ability of a modder to generate the exact same item and distribute it for free. Since Civ ENCOURAGES Modding, they wouldn't do it. I am quite certain that they are aware of the massive replay value and thus income generated by interest in mods, so they won't tie our hands and believe that they are HELPING their profit margins.

You mention Sims 3 as being moddable but also having DLC, but I would imagine that the DLC offers features which the mods are incapable of generating, because the mods are limited in what they can actually change. Or maybe as your context seems to indicate the DLC is just more professionally done. Civ doesn't exactly have that option, as most major mods are hands-down superior to the Firaxis base in almost every regard (at least eventually)

[Dark_Jedi06]

It will be the death of Civilization and I will most likely stick with IV if they go this route. I have no problem purchasing expansion packs but this is stupid, obnoxious and pointless.

I only need look at Dragon Age, with those pesky in-game characters asking me to purchase additional quests. No thank you.

[Tusked]

Personally, I wouldn't really have a problem paying a dollar or two on the internet and getting a (professionally designed, of course) civilization. I think two dollars is probably my max for individual civilizations, though. Obviously, the expansion route is better, but I don't have any major problems with DLC.

[Shiggs713]

well its not gonna happen with ciV so don't worry about it

i think Dale and xienwolf both made irrefutable points

A) it would kill multi-player, having different content means not being compatible
B) its already well known its going to be as moddable or even more moddable than cIV so it won't be long before mods take over this dept.

[GreatProfit]

Originally Posted by Shiggs713

B) its already well known its going to be as moddable or even more moddable than cIV so it won't be long before mods take over this dept.

Well let's hope they don't lie through their teeth like SEGA/Creative Assembly did with Empire Total War. Like a politician they promised the world before launch, then delivered the least moddable TW release to date. Why? So they could milk the fans with half-arsed palette swap DLC's and NTW, knowing full well the modders could do a much, much better job.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by BobeBrown

Not sure on that, theres a many ways they can set it up. For example they can work mutliplayer so every win earn you points to unlock new playable civilzations or alternatively they will just let people buy new civilizations with cash. It doesnt have to be new civilizations either, who knows what content Civ5 will bring.

I play you in MP. I have purchased Civ X or unit Y. You have not. I choose Civ X, game crashes (as you don't have the xml for that Civ).

[lostcause]

The only way I can see DLC working is if they put out expansions as DLC instead of as boxed items, and only if they didn't put out the items piecemeal and overcharge for them. But even then, why? That's the problem with DLC for Civ, I don't think you could come up with a good answer to that question. Don't want it in a box? Buy it on Steam. I'll stick with the box.

Besides, can anyone think of DLC for any game where they didn't overcharge?

[Abaddon]

Its almost bound to happen.

They can offer alternative graphics without ruining multiplayer

X-packs cause the same complications.. they just have to ensure they don't release too much DLC.

They make more money with DLC's than phsical X-packs

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Abaddon

Its almost bound to happen.

They can offer alternative graphics without ruining multiplayer

X-packs cause the same complications.. they just have to ensure they don't release too much DLC.

They make more money with DLC's than phsical X-packs

Actually, to ensure even playing field with no extra assets, even a graphics pack would conflict. If they use the same type of asset check (a digital key check) for Civ5 that they did for Civ4 then it won't happen.

X-packs don't cause complications because they are a standard set of extras. You know if I have game + xp1 then it will be identical to your game + xp1.

[Abaddon]

How is that different from

Game +DLC1


As far as I see it, DLC is just downloading a xp...

[lostcause]

Originally Posted by Abaddon

How is that different from

Game +DLC1


As far as I see it, DLC is just downloading a xp...

Ideally, yes, but if you look at some of the DLC for games on consoles, not getting the DLC cripples, if not outright eliminates, your ability to play multiplayer. The main issue is that DLC tends to be small updates that cost a lot of money while adding very little value. I think Halo Wars had a $10 DLC that just added two or three small gameplay variants.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Abaddon

How is that different from

Game +DLC1


As far as I see it, DLC is just downloading a xp...

See post 14 of this thread.

QED.