Bioware backlash shows what serious business DLC has become

Downloadable content is something of a hot topic in the gaming world of late, and events of the last couple of days have highlighted the fact that downloadable content, or DLC, is a very important part of the modern gaming world, both for publishers and gamers. The story has centred around a new piece of downloadable content for the game Mass Effect 2, a small expansion pack called Kasumi's Stolen Memory. The story that has emerged over the last couple of days has highlighted some issues regarding the entire concept of downloadable content, and highlighted how serious a business it now is.

The first important point is that this is Bioware's first piece of full price, paid-for downloadable content for Mass Effect 2, and hence, is the first content to released through the Xbox Live Games Marketplace, rather than through Bioware's own Cerberus Network.

The reaction from fans over that decision has been mixed, with some happy to pay the require 560 Microsoft points to buy it, and others claiming that downloadable content should be free. This, in turn, raised another issue, as people started to speculate what the real purpose of DLC is. It certainly exists to enhance the player's experience, but it also gives some extra benefit to the publishers involved, as when used correctly, it can be a powerful incentive not to pirate the game. In the same way, it can also be used to cut down on the sale of second-hand games, a practice that does hurt developers financially. By making free content available only to people who have bought the game brand new, and charging everyone else, there is a powerful incentive in place for people to buy the game new.

Of course, there is also the argument that extra downloadable content takes time and effort, so it is only right to expect users to pay for it.

However, the case of Kasumi's Stolen Memory is also interesting because it shows what happens when the system breaks down. With the downloadable due to be available on April 6th, fans waited eagerly to get their hands on a new character for the game, and it did not arrive around the time Bioware's downloadable content normally arrives. Hours went past with no word from the developers as to what was happening, as the Bioware community drove themselves into a furore. Eventually, the news was broken that due to server issues, the content pack had been delayed, but it would be downloadable within a few hours.

Whilst it was interesting to see the fanbase up in arms (which served as a reminder that, even with big games companies, good customer service should never be forgotten), some of the comments raised another interesting issue: that of so-called on-disc DLC. This is where the content the player is paying for, whether on the PC or the Xbox 360, is already included on the disc they originally received. This is, of course, something that gamers are much less inclined to accept, which makes it worrying that some publishers are actively thinking of having that last boss in the game, for example, as downloadable content.

While DLC is an important part of the games business, and whilst it does help combat piracy, problems only happen when it is taken too far, with things like on-disc DLC being particularly insidious. But please remember, if a game does come with on-disc DLC, of if the download you're waiting for is delayed, please try not to throw your Xbox 360 across the room in disgust.