Okay, I've got a topic for you for the next podcast.

RESIDENT EVIL 5 DLC

The Versus DLC, which adds a 'horde' style mode and a player-vs-player mode, is currently up for $5. There was some initial outcry at Capcom for releasing was sounded like content that should have been on disc as DLC, not a month later; Capcom basically said, "Stop whining, we didn't plan on doing this at first and we just put it together using assets already on the disc".

"Assets already on the disc" is Capcom's wording.

The DLC was released, and people noticed something: The DLC is only 1MB. It would seem that most, if not all, of the modes are on the disc; the DLC is just a key to unlock it.

This has brought up the issue of dev's charging customers for keys that unlock content already on the disc, which you already paid $60 for. The vibe I'm getting is that DLC such as Fallout 3's selection or GTA's L&TD episode are quite fine, as it's ADDITIONAL content to extend the life of the game. DLC "keys", however, which unlock content you already have is nickel-and-diming at it's worst. As someone put it, it's like buying a car, and then the dealer offers to sell you the keys to open the trunk.

http://kotaku.com/5202917/rumor-resi...disc-all-along

http://kotaku.com/223420/some-market...lready-on-disc

I agree with you, but, being devil's advocate here:

It's also just like unlocking certain content for having a certain previous game. They do that with quite a few handheld games, and Castle Crashers does this with Alien Hominid.

But, on the other other hand, those things are games in and of themselves, so my point is stupid.

Glad I could help....

That's sort-of a good point, but here's the thing: That's really more a reward for being an existing customer. You played Gears and beat it, and are coming back for our next product? Okay, here's a bonus for you.

But charging for that sort of thing? That's nickel-and-diming. You thought of it, worked on it, put it on the disc, made it work...and then wanted an extra $5 from everyone to get at it.

It's the same thing, and yet it's totally different. It's also like unlockable characters in fighting games. It's there, it's on the disc, but you have to unlock it by completing X task. I know people who even complain about THAT, but I think it's one of those arguments that if you take it far enough you'll end up arguing that the game should come complete with a "game complete" save file so you can instantly view the ending.

I don't think this is about being denied what's on the disc as much as it is being charged for it under the pretense that this is adding something to the experience that wasn't planned.

Another good example I read used Final Fantasy X as an example. At the VERY end of FFX, you open up a quest that adds about 15 hours to the game. It's on the disc. Now, imagine if Square charged you five dollars or more to download a key to unlock that. It's not additional content. It's not "above and beyond" the original scope of the game. You're just being charged to access something you already bought.

The argument they will give, however, is that the content you bought did not include the content you're unlocking with the $5. Even though it is on the disc, you do not technically own the content on the disc, just the disc. This is the DRM machine at work. It's the fear of this kind of BS happening that spurs on some of the more passionate software pirates out there. That companies will start using our outdated and corrupt copyright laws to find ways to get extra money out of people for content that they eventually don't own at all. It's why the EFF exists.

I don't know if this is true, but I read something that said that LEGALLY, all you own is a license to play the game. Thus, it's technically illegal to even lend the game to a friend.

My attitude is that if it's on the disc, it should be accessible for free. Maybe you have to work to unlock it or have something you earned for free from another game, but it's yours.

I don't mind paying (reasonable prices) for add-ons that are actually adding-on.

Yes and maybe. What I know is that the original plan, before they released the 360 and PS3, was that both companies were going to do this. I don't know if MS did it for sure or not. I do know that Sony definitely did.

Cool..I know we've briefly had this conversation at some point before, although it may have been in a casual setting, so it's something I would love to discuss on the show in depth.

Katamari for the 360 is one of the biggest offenders of this that I've ever seen. ALL DLC they've ever offered was already on disc.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Also..I'm looking for a way to sneak in a segment next episode where I talk about Retro Game Challenge for the DS without the other two yelling at me. Any suggestions?

Tell them Thawmus wants to hear about it, so shut up.


And don't tell them that it's a complete lie. Or that they really shouldn't care.

I'll just talk about the game for 20 minutes and then at the end say it's on DS only. Oh..did I forget to mention that?! My bad. Also Thawmus hates you both.

And that disc it was already on was the PS2 Katamari games

I will punch you in the mouth!

"Katamari" is Japanese for "stupid Americans buy anything".

True story.

We could not speak to each other in real life.

You mean like fire axes that are labeled "guitar"?