[Kotaku] Capcom Calls "BS" On Resident Evil 5 DLC Complaints

2360 Views 42 Replies 26 Participants Last post by OmegaNemesis28, Mar 18, 2009

Admiral Mudkipz

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2009

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Capcom received some backlash last week when they announced that they would be selling downloadable content for Resident Evil 5 which would add multiplayer modes to the game.

Most of the Internet angst seems to surround the timing of the release and questions why it wasn't just included on the disc. But Christian Svensson, vice president of Strategic Planning & Business Development for Capcom, isn't having any of it.

"This is the part where I get to say "BS"," he wrote on the Capcom forums. "RE5 is well worth every penny of $60. A huge game, with tons of replay value, loads of unlockables, new weapons, co-op, mercenaries mode, etc. If any game warrants its price point, it's RE5.

"Prior to the announcement of the Versus mode, no one complained they weren't getting their money's worth with the initial release because it packs TONS of value because it is an amazing game. So if people were already satisfied with what the package had, when we offer MORE, why is it people feel they've been somehow cheated? If you don't find value in our secondary offerings, the choice is simple, don't purchase it. If you do find it valueable (and we hope you do) please do buy it and enjoy it."

Svensson goes on to explain that any downloadable content that Capcom does has a budget separate from the main game.

"Secondly, whenever we do PDLC, that content exists with its own budgets, it's own profit and loss analaysis with its own forecasts. If it didn't, that extra content wouldn't have been put into production, because it did not fit within the production budget of the base product.

"The content that is shipping in the full game exists within its own budget. The content shipping afterward (regardless of how close to release it is... because the goal IS to have it release relatively closely to the base product's release) exists within its own budget. To try and have it release in a timeframe that is relatively close to the initial release, development starts well before the base product is on the shelves. There's no other way to keep it within 3 to 6 weeks of the initial release (which is the goal)."

It is an interesting phenomenon that people seem to get incensed about the timing of DLC alone. Would news of Resident Evil 5's DLC been less upsetting if it came six months after the game was out?

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justarealguy

· #2 · Mar 16, 2009

I really, really don't like DLC unless it's obviously some sort of afterthought.

DLC should be exactly that - An afterthought, something neat the devs came up with that they didn't during development. As of now it seems the devs can say "Oh, don't worry if it's not finished - we'll release the game and a few months later we'll patch/fix/update the game with that thing, forget it!"

If you need 3-6 weeks to develop it - then put that in your initial timeframe.

rx7racer

· #3 · Mar 16, 2009

I agree, why are people complaining, oh yea because what game DOESN'T already come with multiplayer modes!!!!

Of course I know squat about this and could care less as I will never play it but for multiplayer to have to be a DLC that you have to pay for, that's just stupid in my opinion.

OmegaNemesis28

· #4 · Mar 16, 2009

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Originally Posted by Me

Paying $5 extra for stupid costumes and accesories is one thing. Paying extra for new content is a whole different story.

You can call it being "nicked and dimed" (if that even is the correct phrase) all you want to - but its not going to change the pricing or whether or not people are going to buy it.

I agree, 7 hours is short. But, its not a game you play once and put away. Its a game you're supposed to play twice or even three times, and it rewards you by doing so with a plethora of content. Hell, I haven't even gotten everything and I've been through the game 5 times already, this will be my 6th. Thats about 35 hours right there, a little less because you get better each time (especially with the tricked out weapons).

And then you have the co-op of the single player, which is a completely different experience from playing it offline. Its really strange, yet incredible, how even though you're playing basically the same thing - it feels like something you've never played before and it varies with who you play with. Thats countless hours of varied gameplay and strategy. In RE5, there are more then just 1 way of doing things.

For example, the executioner - whats the best way of taking him down? EVERYONE will have a different answer whether it be throwing gernades, using X weapon, using the exploding barrels, melee, flashbangs, running away and shooting from a distance, or just not fighting him at all. I find it alot of fun to test myself and shoot him, then melee him until he dies, but other people might find it fun/easier/more challenging to using the barrels and only the barrels. So what exactly does this have to do with co-op? Simple, you mix and combine and experiment with other people! This applies to every part in the game.

Not to mention you have The Mercenaries Mode which can be played offline (thats about 5-10 hours right there) or online (an additional 5-10 hours), because like the Storymode offline and online - its a COMPLETELY different game, its like night and day. Right there is another 10-20 hours of gameplay.

I pretty much just summed up about
~7 hours (offline singleplayer, normal mode)
~7 hours - infinity (online singleplayer)
~5-10 hours (The Mercenaries offline)
~5-10 hours (The Mercenaries online)
You do the math.

I personally have easily spent over 60 hours on this 1 single game, and I plan on spending alot more time. Its not the greatest game, it infact IMO is a step back for the RE series, but its a good solid game and there is no reason to be skeptical about it. You either love it or hate it. If you liked RE4, you'll love RE5. Plain and simple. RE5 is certainly no "half-baked game" regardless if you like the RE series or not.

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If you don't find value in our secondary offerings, the choice is simple, don't purchase it.

/thread

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Guruboy

· #5 · Mar 16, 2009

Mmm I don't really buy what the guy is saying. Honestly I think someone made the decision to do this when they knew it wouldn't have been much trouble to include the content on the disc. $60 is too much for the game as it is and this just kind of *****-slaps everyone who bought it.

gtarmanrob

· #6 · Mar 16, 2009

lol you guys complain about the game being $60, and that being too expensive? in australia, it cost me $84, and that was on special, its usually $99.95, as are the majority of other games, especially new releases.

$5 doesnt bother me one bit, but as it has been repeatedley said, by OCN members and now even Capcom themselves, "if you dont like it, DONT buy it." theres no need to complain guys. fair enough, yeah maybe it should have been included, or could have. at the end of the day, it wasnt. you're not missing out. and i agree the game is worth what its worth. has a tonne of value and content. this game has one of the best co-op modes i've ever seen in a game.

Opeth07

· #7 · Mar 17, 2009

if you dont complain they'll keep doing stupid stuff like this. voice your complaints with your words AND wallet, it will certainly force them to stop this crap.

StarryNite

· #8 · Mar 17, 2009

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Secondly, whenever we do PDLC, that content exists with its own budgets, it's own profit and loss analaysis with its own forecasts.

So they have layers upon layers of management, which often doesn't talk with the main management, and the result is the game gets messed up as communication is lost.

This happens w-a-y too much in gaming.

Gamers usually just ask that the game mechanics work; that what they're playing has some reason (like there IS a plot even!); that they won't get bored in 2hrs of playing it; that they have more options (SP and/or MP); and that they can customize it.

But publishers and devs are guilty as sin in trading all of the above for creativity, claiming they know better than gamers. The results are upon release how gamers can boycott a franchise or publisher in disgust.

The history of Deus Ex is something every dev house and publisher needs to study. In it, it shows how and why a top shelf franchise can die on the vine when they PO their gaming base.

Korben

· #9 · Mar 17, 2009

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Originally Posted by Opeth07

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if you dont complain they'll keep doing stupid stuff like this. voice your complaints with your words AND wallet, it will certainly force them to stop this crap.

Yeah seriously consumers are letting them walk all over them. I for one think this should have been implemented in the game from the beginning, but it wasn't so nothing we can do about that.

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Manji

· #10 · Mar 17, 2009

Capcom should complaint at valve for putting gamers under the impression that all DLC are free.

Valve ftw!

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kkbob33

· #11 · Mar 17, 2009

3

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Originally Posted by Opeth07

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if you dont complain they'll keep doing stupid stuff like this....

How is this stupid? Its smart business.

Quote:

"This is the part where I get to say "BS"," he wrote on the Capcom forums. "RE5 is well worth every penny of $60. A huge game, with tons of replay value, loads of unlockables, new weapons, co-op, mercenaries mode, etc....."

From what i have seen, read in reviews, and heard from my friends people seem very happy with the game as is. Multiplayer doesn't seem necessary in the initial release. Maybe for the extra money people will have to pay for it, it might actually be decent compared to some other rushed and haphazardly thrown in multiplayer modes i have seen in the past, especially, on the current generation of consoles.

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Originally Posted by OmegaNemesis28

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If you don't find value in our secondary offerings, the choice is simple, don't purchase it.

/thread

I agree.

People Whining about having to pay for this are borderline childish. if you don't want the product simply don't buy it!
This is the future of gaming people.
Get used to it.

-- My

--

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justarealguy

· #12 · Mar 17, 2009

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Originally Posted by gtarmanrob

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lol you guys complain about the game being $60, and that being too expensive? in australia, it cost me $84, and that was on special, its usually $99.95, as are the majority of other games, especially new releases.

$5 doesnt bother me one bit, but as it has been repeatedley said, by OCN members and now even Capcom themselves, "if you dont like it, DONT buy it." theres no need to complain guys. fair enough, yeah maybe it should have been included, or could have. at the end of the day, it wasnt. you're not missing out. and i agree the game is worth what its worth. has a tonne of value and content. this game has one of the best co-op modes i've ever seen in a game.

Oh yeah because you live down under its ok for companies to charge extra for content that should've been there in the first place?

I see now.

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OmegaNemesis28

· #13 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opeth07

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if you dont complain they'll keep doing stupid stuff like this. voice your complaints with your words AND wallet, it will certainly force them to stop this crap.

Complaining does NOT do jack as clearly shown. He stated it - the complaining will not change their minds. Same applied to the Fallout DLC.

If you do not want it, do not buy it. End of story.
If people do not buy the DLC - then they won't charge for it. Complaining and moaning won't do anything. But even then, there will still be people who will buy it.

I for one will, because I think this DLC package is great. ESPECIALLY compared other DLC crap floating around.

MS charges 100-500 MS points for stupid little tiny gamer avatars. Thats like.... 5 bucks or something. Yet people buy them all the time! Its like a money machine!
Same applies to MS charging for the name changes and stuff. They charge $10 I think it is for a stupid name change! Yet, my friend goes and changes his name every other week, I swear to god. I know for sure he isn't the only one.

Sony has Media Molecule PUMPING out Little Big Planet Costumes for $1/each or $5 for 6 of them usually! They are actually selling! Yes, its true!

EA is charging people for cheat codes! Yep, you heard me. Skate 2 - you can buy for $5-10 to unlock everything in the game. At one point I believe it was like #2 most bought on the XBLM during that week it came out.
The guys who did Soul Calibur 4 put a price on Yoda 4 months AFTER the game came out, yet Yoda was proven to already be located on the disc and playable with a hack! (Or Darth Vader, whichever console you're talking about)

Honestly, if you think this is bad - you're out of your mind. Go ahead. Take a trip onto XBLM or PSN store. This is a steal compared to all the other crap.

I'm not trying to get you to buy it. Don't take it that way. I'm just clarifying that this should be the least of your concerns when it comes to charged DLC. Crying over spilt milk like this is futile and pointless. Just don't buy it.

Quote:

Oh yeah because you live down under its ok for companies to charge extra for content that should've been there in the first place?

wow - that was pretty ignorant considering everything that has been said previously.

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murderbymodem

· #14 · Mar 17, 2009

/waits for PC version with DLC already included.

kkbob33

· #15 · Mar 17, 2009

2

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Originally Posted by justarealguy

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Oh yeah because you live down under its ok for companies to charge extra for content that should've been there in the first place?

I see now.

Is it not their right to charge for their IP the way they choose?

I suggest you look four posts up

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gtarmanrob

· #16 · Mar 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by justarealguy

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Oh yeah because you live down under its ok for companies to charge extra for content that should've been there in the first place?

I see now.

what the hell you on about? i was making it clear that we down under have to pay more for the game as it is anyway. get it, some people from the US are complaining about $60, when we pay more to begin with. i think its still worth it though, otherwise i wouldnt have bought it. then i said that i dont mind about paying for extra content, as its my choice whether or not i want it.

please read post carefully before responding.

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OpTicaL

· #17 · Mar 17, 2009

What Christian Svensson said is right, if you don't like it don't buy it. It's not like DLC is hindering the player from completing the game. DLC is customizable content. With the rising costs of making a game DLC is justifiable, just like when Valve announced there would be commericals in future games.

PaRaDoX_883

· #18 · Mar 17, 2009

Ahhhh... Remember the old days? Where if the devs didn't get something right then let something slip past for release then that was it? Or they could do a whole new version of the game, but that was only for the big screw ups... Not leaving anything out for a update. You didn't have that on consoles.. Now you only got that on consoles. When did you have to pay for downloadable content for a PC game? Not very often.

OmegaNemesis28

· #19 · Mar 17, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaRaDoX_883

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Ahhhh... Remember the old days? Where if the devs didn't get something right then let something slip past for release then that was it? Or they could do a whole new version of the game, but that was only for the big screw ups... Not leaving anything out for a update. You didn't have that on consoles.. Now you only got that on consoles.

That too. Thats a pretty big positive I wasn't even thinking of.
Now that this is available for devs, its like - a problem now.

Quote:

When did you have to pay for downloadable content for a PC game? Not very often.

Well this isn't a PC game yet.

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dharmaBum

· #20 · Mar 17, 2009

I think the outrage isn't pay-DLC per se, but that basic things like multiplayer support (or "modes," as the article states) need to be bought.

I argue this from a completely ignorant position, as I don't know if RE5 comes with some "standard" MP support included with purchase of the box (I know next to nothing about the game, as RE isn't my cup of tea.) But this article makes it sound like Capcom is "selling" MP gameplay, which is silly because MP support is rather quiet easy to implement (for an established game developer) and shouldn't cost money.

Apart from that, I dunno how well the game replays, so can't address any other claims or scoundrel behavior from Capcom. But It's a company I respect for quality. So if all we can derive from this discussion is the the native game is good, then what's the problem?

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