Console exclusive DLC strategies such as GTA IV's 360-only 'episodes' are still unproven, Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian has said.
Speaking to CVG, Sebastian said that competition between platform holders to secure exclusive DLC will increase over time.
Microsoft reportedly paid in the region of $50 million for exclusive GTA IV DLC, which is due for release in "fall 2008", and Sebastian says that the new content will be "a key test" of the costly strategy.
"I think it's reasonable to assume there is some correlation between game sales and the availability of exclusive content for a particular platform," he said, "but the content needs to be high quality and add something to the overall game experience."
Microsoft has been the most active of the platform holders in running with the strategy, having also tied up deals for exclusive Fallout 3 and Tomb Raider: Underworld content, while Sony announced recently that the PS3 version of Mirror's Edge will be getting exclusive DLC post launch. While it has yet to do so, Sebastian also said that Nintendo would get in on the act in the future.
"I think it's inevitable that Nintendo will introduce more online content and services, but in the near-term it's pretty clear that consumers are finding a lot of value with the offline gameplay offered by the Wii," he said.
"We're still in the early stages of growth, but over time, there is going to be more competition for online content as Sony and Nintendo enhance the services available to their users, and close the gap with Microsoft.
"It's more cost effective for the platform manufacturers to lock up exclusive online content than entire games," he added. "This also serves to enhance the profile of their online services, which they see as a key source of long-term growth in this industry."
So less console exclusive games but more exclusive DLC in the future. How much does exclusive DLC influence your purchasing habits, readers?
Probably because we have had none yet! They have taken far too long with the DLC for GTA4. I've lost all interest in the game now. The first chapter should have been out in August.
I'm still looking forward to the DLC for GTA but it has to be amazing. New vehicles, costumes and weapons just won't cut it.
Maybe new characters, buildings and interiors would add something new to the game but i'm hoping Rockstar will have a little something in mind that we're not expecting.
I'm actually refusing to partake in the DLC issue. Any game that has exclusive DLC for a console, is an automatic, do not buy. Not going to encourage this kind of BS marketing, in fact, I'll do just the opposite and D/L the games to PC. Play them there for free.
I thought the DLC was supposed to be a new island?
Either way, I'd prefer they did something like adding more content to the existing world than expanding out of it that much. More buildings you can go into, a greater variation of vehicles you can drive, more characters to find and get missions from, etc.
Because if the DLC adds a new car that smokes all of the current ones, having to go to that island to get one every time is going to get annoying.
DLC needs to be either something special, or regualar.. and definitely not months and months after people have moved on to a new game. The last thing I want to do is buy some new maps, long after forgetting everything about the game and get my ass kicked all day! Bring it out a month after the release then it will keep my interest up, and away from further distractions
If it's out in fall 2008 where's the friggin' media coverage? If 'recon' has been teased since spring for an expansion that's not out for another year then what's the deal?
Is it coming or what?
I really thought we'd get a bit more out of TGS than more conjecture.
If it's out in fall 2008 where's the friggin' media coverage? If 'recon' has been teased since spring for an expansion that's not out for another year then what's the deal?
Is it coming or what?
I really thought we'd get a bit more out of TGS than more conjecture.
This is a case of a man whose paid a crazy amount of money and whos job is just to state the bleedin obvious.
I think DLC will probably be a good thing for the next year or so, but I fear that once devs realise they can make alot of money with it, we will see a stream of short, half completed games that publishers will rush out the door because they know that they can make a killing from the DLC.
Yeah I totally agree....we've seen in already. Tiger Woods '09 has firestone as a downloadable course even though I'm sure that that was in the previous iterations.
Soul Calibur 4 are charging for additional costumes which they had undoubtedly planned to do from the start and the halo map packs up to now have been 800pts for three measly maps. I know they turn out free in the end but they have the sales have already peeked by then anyway.
DLC will be the way in the end, it's gaining steam (get it?) all the time and like internet play on consoles it will be part of the gaming bread and butter by the time the next gen rolls around, mark my words.
It's a new business model at the moment and I a governing body (whoever deals with keeping these companies in line) will slap Microsoft et al very sharply if they step too out of line. Competition from Sony and Nintendo will hopefully keep them honest. (well as honest as we have come to expect)
My main concern here is that that Halo is getting all this attention and it has a year to go and the only game that beats it in mainstream awareness has an incoming expansion which is supposed to 'redefine what we think of DLC' which is merely shadows and whispers at this point even though it's still touted even now as 'Fall 2008'.
There are two possibilities I can draw from this....either it's not coming out until next year or they're keeping it very shush shush until the unveiling of the new Xbox Experience. I'm going for the latter.
Can I be an analyst? I predict that the papers, radio and tv are going to keep flapping about the world ending for a year or so and then they'll be about the banks not giving the money back in a few years time. The monster raving loony party will be in power by then and George Bush will be the first man on the mantelpiece
It'll probably end up just being extra missions within liberty city.
I'd prefer it to be something like a new area reachable by boat or helicopter from within liberty city. A brand new island maybe(a large one), so that the new missions bring new sights as well(rather than new missions around the same liberty city we've all seen).
It should be interesting to see what direction they take it in.
"I think it's inevitable that Nintendo will introduce more online content and services, but in the near-term it's pretty clear that consumers are finding a lot of value with the offline gameplay offered by the Wii," he said.
Nintendo there saying "i have too much money to be bothered with such pathetic little ventures... I dont even know what an XBox is"
gta4 was a joke , there was nothing to it , all the fun games had gone , and why ? so people can pay for them at a later date , so you pay twice for a complete game
Im happy to pay for additional DLC as long as it is not something glaringly missing from the main game.
Many games in my collection have been dusted down and brought out to play once some DLC has been released.
As long as its good not too expensive and I enjoyed the game, chances are ill buy it. GTAIV being a DEFFO!
sounds like you`ll be as p**sed off as everyone else it seems that the actors have not been called in,which would suggest that either there will be no story add-ons or it`ll be similar to crackdown DLC in that it`ll provide a mini game and new gear or as the case seems to be putting removed content back in namco would be proud rockstar.(P.S did the DLC provide new gear ,it didin`t did it???)
It all comes down to the quality of the DLC. Rockstar are providing two exclusive installments for the 360 version and I am hoping it will give me new interest in the game. I haven't touched it since completing it.
One exclusive DLC you can count on being awesome is Bethseda's Fallout 3 DLC. They are the masters of DLC.
It all comes down to the quality of the DLC. Rockstar are providing two exclusive installments for the 360 version and I am hoping it will give me new interest in the game. I haven't touched it since completing it.
One exclusive DLC you can count on being awesome is Bethseda's Fallout 3 DLC. They are the masters of DLC.
Agreed most of the obliion DLC was awesome (although the horse armor,no thanks)shivering isles is a standout example of how DLC can be done ,but this guy is on about console specific DLC so we have ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrm, dammit where`s suiv and his exclusive list when you need him
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