You are right that (just like horse armor), the anger is over the principle of the thing, and is in part caused by fear that this will lead to worse things.
I wonder if we'll see more games -- especially long-winded RPG's -- just do the same Day One DLC gimmick DAO has going on.
But for some reason EA believes this will cause people to actually buy the thing (whether it be at full price now, or from the bargain bin years later). Having looked at it, I have seen that it (the DLC) is pretty worthless, and won't really take away from the 70 hours of quality game that Bioware put together.
Not having it probably won't take away anything from the game, but you'll still have that "something's missing here" feeling b/c you don't have The Definitive Version.
Actually, a better example -- this DLC thing is kind of like how some of the later Premium DLC Modules for NWN never got published on disc by Atari or Bioware -- the DLC that got published (see Kingmaker DLC Collection) version just had the disc check. Not everybody bought the Premium DLC -- namely b/c of its constant online DRM check, for when you actually load a game every damn time.
The worst example is how DLC's nature is when we don't even get a chance to get it or buy it. We PC gamers didn't even get offered a chance to even buy PoP: Epilogue DLC -- we feel like a part of the game, no matter how small it is, just isn't there when other (console) versions got this Epilogue to at least be able to purchase. Same goes for TR: Underworld, as well -- as the consoles got two DLC's we on the PC just didn't get period. Worst of all, those PC games didn't even get say a full re-release of the game with the extra DLC available to buy in the store, at some late date! On a flip-side, on an expansion pack side -- from what I read on Sacred 2's official forums, a lot of console gamers are NOT happy that there's NO plans for Sacred 2: Ice & Blood (Expansion) to even be coming to the consoles PERIOD -- which just flat-out sucks for them.
On another note, I appreciate that companies like Treyarch have decided to just release the (paid) console DLC for COD: WAW for FREE in PC version patches for COD: WAW.
With the amount of money PC gaming is leaking to piracy, you know publishers want to try something. I would still rather they do this than DRM. Thankfully this game doesn't have any aside from a disc check.
I can understand them doing this DLC thing, since it's been a big source of income for dev's since Bioware did it w/ their Premium Modules for NWN and since DLC exploded for Oblivion -- now it's like all the designers do DLC pretty much. But, the way Bioware EA is going about it here with THREE Day One DLC's is pretty "ugh."
I'm glad DAO has only a disc check, as well.
BTW, I had a look at the "Warden's Keep" situation, and yes, I am a little offended. Making one DLC only a part of digital distribution isn't fair when I am paying 70 dollars for a collector's edition.
Exactly.
You can tell that they make more money from their online service rather than retail, which is why they are encouraging you buy it as a download. That doesn't make it right of course.
They could always charge more for the Collector's Ed Retail Box then -- charge $70 for it and throw in Warden's Keep.
The Collector's Ed Retail Box (without Warden's Keep) now retails for $64.99; Amazon has on it sale for $59.99. My original plans were no matter what, were to buy DAO - CE Retail Box upon release. You know, if all the DLC was in the box, I probably would've still bit the bullet and bought the CE Retail Box. Now after all this DLC stuff, I really don't know what the hell I'm actually going to do about DAO. Bioware EA is on the verge of losing the purchase of a CE Retail Box (retailing for $60-65) on the week of release for me. Very rarely do I buy CE's on Release Date -- I think Fallout 3: CE is the only one I did make the leap for, actually ($70 retail, week of release).
