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Last post: 17 Jun at 14:30
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:01 |
Incentivizing early adopters with free Day 1 DLC
Launching a new IP is hard stuff. Need proof? Look at the sales numbers for the past few years; they're populated by sequels, spinoffs, and annual follow-ups. There was not one new IP (not bundled in with hardware) in the top 10 sales for games in 2011, and you need to go all the way down to #34 to find L.A. Noire (the next on the list was Dead Island at #69). Needless to say, there are easier things to do than find an audience for a new IP.
Bucking the trend however are 38 Studios and Big Huge Games who, in two weeks time, will be launching Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. To incentivize gamers to purchase their game early, the developers are throwing in bonus content to be included in new copies of the game.
The "House of Valor" quest line will include seven additional missions.
Now I know what some of you are thinking:
obj, that's crap! They've created an Online Pass for a single-player game!Well, concerned gamer, much like Obi-Wan said to Luke, it all depends on a certain point of view.
Curt Schilling, chairman and founder of 38 Studios (and bloody sock aficionado), took to the game's forums to explain the position. It is a rather lengthy response, and I suggest all concerned gamers read it, but I'll try to sum it up with a few choice quotes.
DAY 1 DLC, to be extremely and VIVIDLY clear, is FREE, 100% totally FREE, to anyone that buys a new copy of Reckoning, ANYONE.
If you don't buy new games you buy them used, and in that case you will have to pay for the Day 1 free DLC content the new copy buyers got for free.
It's clear the intent right? To promote early adopters and MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO ME, REWARD fans and gamers who commit to us with their time and money when it benefits the company.
Every single person on the planet could wait and not buy Reckoning, the game would hit the bargain bin at some point and you could get it cheaper. 38 Studios would likely go away.
That's just how business works. We MUST make a profit to become what we want to become. THE ONLY way we do that is to make games you CANNOT WAIT TO BUY! If we do that, and you do that, we want to reward you with some cool free stuff as a thank you.Furthermore, 38 Studios community manager "Muse" posted the following statement:
We wanted to post a quick clarification for something we've seen a few comments about. For what it's worth, the House of Valor content was not in the finished game/disc at one point, then removed. It isn't there and we're locking you out of it. The House of Valor was created as stand-alone content, and was always intended to be the first DLC. Instead of holding onto it and charging for it later, we opted to give it to everyone who purchases the game new, for free, on launch day. We hope that helps clarify that point, at least.So there you have it, RPG gamers. Buying Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning new will net you some free, Day 1 DLC. Is it enough to get you to purchase the game when it hits shelves on February 7th in North America, February 9th in Australasia and February 10th in Europe?
External link: http://forums.reckoning.amalur.com/showthread.php?3063-Did-you-push-back-at-EA-at-all-over-this-Quest-content-gated-by-online-pass.&p=52812&viewfull=1#post52812
Credit goes to EL HORSE for this story |
Last post: 19 Dec 12 at 15:36
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:05 |
| Not bad. Glad I pre-ordered it. |
Last post: 17 Sep 12 at 08:39
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:05 |
| I wonder if there will be a Bloody Sock in the game. |
Last post: Today at 07:48
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:13 |
| So basically, its an online pass for single player. Thanks for highlighting that, OSU! |
"Slutty outfit? You're one to talk." "This isn't slutty, it's...strategically placed." |
Last post: 29 Jan 12 at 00:41
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:41 |
| LV 1 Blue Slime said:So basically, its an online pass for single player. Thanks for highlighting that, OSU!No cause there's nothing online about it. I don't get why people don't understand that in order for these developers to make these games they need to make money. When you buy it used they don't see a dime of that money and you're usually barely saving any money for a potentially defective copy of the game. I just don't get people sometimes. |
Last post: 08 Apr at 21:37
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:41 |
| This doesn't sound any different than what Bioware did with the Dragon Age series. It's not like Arkham City. |
Last post: Today at 08:10
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:51 |
| Better than the alternative, so hat tip. Might consider dayone-ing it, I enjoyed the demo. |
Last post: 14 Jun at 12:40
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:51 |
| oh yay, day 1 DLC...............how fucking retarded do these companies think people are? |
Available M-Th after 7pm
Saturday after 4pm
Friday / Sunday All Day |
Last post: 13 Jun at 14:31
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:52 |
I preordered the stupid expensive one.
I am 1 part thrilled and 1 part worried on how to get it in the house without the fiance seeing it... |
www.rfgeneration.com |
Last post: 19 Dec 12 at 04:24
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:54 |
Bricoli said:LV 1 Blue Slime said:So basically, its an online pass for single player. Thanks for highlighting that, OSU!No cause there's nothing online about it. I don't get why people don't understand that in order for these developers to make these games they need to make money. When you buy it used they don't see a dime of that money and you're usually barely saving any money for a potentially defective copy of the game. I just don't get people sometimes.+1
I still can't figure out why people get so upset about developers trying to get you to buy the game brand new. They are a business and need a profit to run, plain and simple. Support the hobby you love! |
Last post: 09 Apr 12 at 18:38
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:55 |
XPhilesinIA said:oh yay, day 1 DLC...............how fucking retarded do these companies think people are?Yes...why a DLC code, when the sidequests are allready done!?
Could also be on the DVD...but dumb people are excited because there is something "free" to get..come on. |
Last post: 19 Dec 12 at 04:24
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:57 |
| XPhilesinIA said:oh yay, day 1 DLC...............how fucking retarded do these companies think people are?IT'S FREE jackass! |
Last post: 06 Sep 12 at 14:29
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:57 |
If it is DLC that is not on the disk, and you get it EXTRA with the game, HOW is it an "offline" pass Considering NOT owning it, doesn't stop you enjoying the full game?
It's like say, the next Call of Duty being released with a code for four brand new, not on the disk, maps. Not buying it new with the code, would NOT stop you from enjoying the game any differently. |
Last post: Today at 07:48
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:57 |
Bricoli said:LV 1 Blue Slime said:So basically, its an online pass for single player. Thanks for highlighting that, OSU!No cause there's nothing online about it.That's probably why I said "an online pass for single player" then, right?
I'm not touching the rest of your post because I don't want to have a hand in turning this thread into another online pass flame war. I will just say I disagree... |
"Slutty outfit? You're one to talk." "This isn't slutty, it's...strategically placed." |
Last post: 15 May 12 at 00:17
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 00:59 |
| I love the demo , day one buy for me . i will support new IP any time as long as i have money for it and as long as they are worth it . I am really glad we going to get some free stuff with release of Reckoning , any way i just want to say whoever loves games like me, and would like to see some new developers making new games (Dead island , Witcher AOK ) , implementing new ideas, making all this possible for us to try , we all should give little bit from us like for example $60 for a new cool game ;P |
Life is goooood ;) |
Last post: 30 Mar at 14:22
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 01:04 |
| The fact of the matter is that were they to make a brilliant game that people would grow to love they would earn enough profit regardless. If they've got the right product and know how to make people aware of that nothing else is needed. Period. |
You must exclude one thing in order to obtain another. |
Last post: 12 Jun at 02:04
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 01:08 |
| All i ask of the forum is not to explode into another Catwoman DLC argument/insult throwing fiasco. I am really interested in this game but i doubt it would ever come in Jamaica let alone be at a decent price |
Last post: Yesterday at 14:02
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 01:13 |
Cool.
Free stuff for something I was going to do anyway.
I hope this game does well for 38 Studios. |
Last post: 12 Jun at 23:03
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 01:18 |
On one hand, I'm already buying it day one, so I get it for free. However, I dislike including one-time use codes in new copies for content. As a poor college student, I have to buy a lot of used games, so I have to wait even longer for price drops on some games so I can actually afford all the content. I know they lose money in the used games market, but still. I'd be more inclined to save up to buy sequels at full price if I didn't have to wait until after the sequel was out to afford to either buy a used copy and the online pass or a new copy of the first game.
Looking back on that, I'm not sure if any of what I said made sense. But I understood it. |
Last post: 06 Jun at 07:32
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Posted on 29 January 12 at 01:23 |
| I usually buy my games new so it's alright with me. |