Comments on: Downloadable Content for Offline Games http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/12/12/downloadable-content-for-offline-games/ a group of adventurers on an epic quest Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:28:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: rob http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/12/12/downloadable-content-for-offline-games/comment-page-1/#comment-29085 rob Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:20:12 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=2925#comment-29085 Content patches don't stop people pirating the game (pirates can release updates faster than developers); expansions don't stop people pirating games; for examples of both, check your nearest torrent site for Civ4/Colonization. And content patches don't stop people from pirating WoW, they keep them paying $15/month. Content patches don’t stop people pirating the game (pirates can release updates faster than developers); expansions don’t stop people pirating games; for examples of both, check your nearest torrent site for Civ4/Colonization. And content patches don’t stop people from pirating WoW, they keep them paying $15/month.

]]> By: gattsuru http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/12/12/downloadable-content-for-offline-games/comment-page-1/#comment-29082 gattsuru Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:19:48 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=2925#comment-29082 I'm not sure, to take a random example, that a lot of pirates would have purchased Oblivion to get free horse armor or even one of the larger micro-transaction content. That's even suggesting that you can manage to have this extra content be impossible to pirate, far from a given. It works for MMOs because they use the very sort of method that we skewer EA for wanting; every time the game boots up, the game calls home. Depending on what model, it either calls home several times a second (client-server like EQ/WoW) or only a few times a minute (client-client with servers organizing like S4 League), and doesn't work unless it gets a reply back. People aren't going to put up with that sort of behavior for a normal game, even if the updates are freaking amazing. There are places where people will allow that sort of behavior -- online multiplayer, for example, or SPORE and its creature sharing. Unfortunately, not all games design well for those attributes, and even of those that do, not all of them are really core components of gameplay significant enough to deter pirates. I’m not sure, to take a random example, that a lot of pirates would have purchased Oblivion to get free horse armor or even one of the larger micro-transaction content. That’s even suggesting that you can manage to have this extra content be impossible to pirate, far from a given.

It works for MMOs because they use the very sort of method that we skewer EA for wanting; every time the game boots up, the game calls home. Depending on what model, it either calls home several times a second (client-server like EQ/WoW) or only a few times a minute (client-client with servers organizing like S4 League), and doesn’t work unless it gets a reply back. People aren’t going to put up with that sort of behavior for a normal game, even if the updates are freaking amazing.

There are places where people will allow that sort of behavior — online multiplayer, for example, or SPORE and its creature sharing. Unfortunately, not all games design well for those attributes, and even of those that do, not all of them are really core components of gameplay significant enough to deter pirates.

]]> By: Thallian http://www.killtenrats.com/2008/12/12/downloadable-content-for-offline-games/comment-page-1/#comment-29080 Thallian Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:30:58 +0000 http://www.killtenrats.com/?p=2925#comment-29080 I think if companies did this instead of having to fix bugs for the first three months while the content got stale before adding anything, it might make MMO's seem more alive. I like the fact that they change. It almost lets me call them virtual worlds if they do it enough, but really there are certain things that can just change on their own too, like the Darkemoon Faire in WoW. I hope someone pays attention to your message here though. As far as training the players to receive free updates this is true, so unless you make paid updates grander on another level or something as Lotro/WoW/etc have, then you might be in trouble. Great thoughts Zubon. I think if companies did this instead of having to fix bugs for the first three months while the content got stale before adding anything, it might make MMO’s seem more alive. I like the fact that they change. It almost lets me call them virtual worlds if they do it enough, but really there are certain things that can just change on their own too, like the Darkemoon Faire in WoW. I hope someone pays attention to your message here though. As far as training the players to receive free updates this is true, so unless you make paid updates grander on another level or something as Lotro/WoW/etc have, then you might be in trouble. Great thoughts Zubon.

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