AfterDawn: News

BioShock 2 DLC already present on game disc, fans say

There is something that doesn't seem right about charging games consumers extra fees to unlock content that is already present on a disc they bought, or at least that is what gamers feel. Fans have pointed out that new Downloadable Content (DLC) for BioShock 2 is actually already present on the game disc itself, despite being labeled and sold as "DLC".

The Sinclair Solutions pack was "released" on Thursday and includes two new playable characters, 20 new trials, weapons upgrades and increases the level cap to 50. The add-on is priced at 400 Microsoft Points, the equivalent of about $5. However, fans of the game posted on the 2K Forum that the download size for the PC add-on was just 24K in size.



Similarly, the download size for the Xbox 360 add-on was just 108K in size. Clearly the content is already on the disc itself, fans believed. According to forum community manager Elizabeth, they are right. She posted that the download was already on the disc to ensure there was no split in the userbase for the games' multiplayer mode.

"I know some of you have strong beliefs about DLC, and I'm not here to sway your opinion or convince you to buy our stuff - if you like what we're offering, I hope you get it and enjoy it. If it's not your speed, enjoy BioShock 2 as we released it," she commented. No format comment was made by senior Take-Two staff.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 15 Mar 2010 8:03

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• 16 comments

• Mysttic

  Now why doesn't this surprise me at all...

  15.3.2010 08:19 #1

• xnonsuchx

  Another Resident Evil 5 conspiracy???

  15.3.2010 09:14 #2

• bam431

  Since when did the "D" in DLC stand for Disk.

  15.3.2010 11:06 #3

• Vondoom

  Thank you M$ for screwing me outta more of my money! What's a matter did you run out of space on the puny dvd your still using.
  I wonder if it was M$ or 2K that decided to charge for what obviously should be free?

  15.3.2010 13:45 #4

• scorpNZ

  So having DLC on the disk as opposed to having to download it is a big deal how ? 360 disks have mostly had free or paid content so get over it

  15.3.2010 14:09 #5

• tatsh

  So, lock away the content on the disc on shipment, and sell the unlock on the Internet service.
  
  This sounds like another Divx if you ask me.

  15.3.2010 14:11 #6

• Dela

  Originally posted by scorpNZ: So having DLC on the disk as opposed to having to download it is a big deal how ? 360 disks have mostly had free or paid content so get over itThe difference is downloadable content is generally something that can add something new to a game after time. Take for example GTA IV... after a while Xbox Live got DLC for it in the form of The Lost and Damned and the Ballad of Gay Tony... months after the game came out it got new playable content developed by rockstar and at the time only available via DLC until it was released on the "episodes from liberty city" disc.
  
  In the case of BioShock 2, the content was already on the disc but locked so users could not access it. It is NOT downloadable content if its already on the disc, its just a B.S. way of making consumers pay a premium to unlock data on a disc. It's not the same thing at all. The DLC in this case added nothing to the game that essentially wasn't already available. If they had labeled it as what it was... content on the game disc that can be unlocked by paying a fee... at least it would be more honest than trying to pass it as DLC and hope that nobody would notice that its not.

  15.3.2010 19:59 #7

• Oner

  Originally posted by Vondoom: Thank you M$ for screwing me outta more of my money! What's a matter did you run out of space on the puny dvd your still using.
  I wonder if it was M$ or 2K that decided to charge for what obviously should be free?Actually it's not Microsoft that should be blamed here for putting "Downloadable Content" on a Disc (that's 2k Games fault) and even charging for it should be the fault of 2k Games as well. I really don't think MS should hold any responsibility here. It's unfair to them because they didn't dev the game. They shouldn't be faulted and are clear in my eyes here.
  

  
  
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  15.3.2010 20:32 #8

• DoomLight

  DLC = Disc Locked Content

  15.3.2010 23:16 #9

• KSib

  Originally posted by Vondoom: Thank you M$ for screwing me outta more of my money! What's a matter did you run out of space on the puny dvd your still using.
  I wonder if it was M$ or 2K that decided to charge for what obviously should be free?
  
  Usually the publisher decides that so I'd assume 2K. What would make you even bring MS into the equation?
  

  16.3.2010 02:39 #10

• TBandit

  Are you kidding me? 60$ for a game and then you wanna charge more for what's already on the disc?

  16.3.2010 03:56 #11

• lethalis

  Originally posted by Oner: Originally posted by Vondoom: Thank you M$ for screwing me outta more of my money! What's a matter did you run out of space on the puny dvd your still using.
  I wonder if it was M$ or 2K that decided to charge for what obviously should be free? Actually it's not Microsoft that should be blamed here for putting "Downloadable Content" on a Disc (that's 2k Games fault) and even charging for it should be the fault of 2k Games as well. I really don't think MS should hold any responsibility here. It's unfair to them because they didn't dev the game. They shouldn't be faulted and are clear in my eyes here. I agree, mickeysoft isn't to blame. Even though I find it easier to get through my day if I can blame them for atleast one thing that's gone wrong. You win this round mickeysoft.
  

  Discover,and conceive the secret wealth

  16.3.2010 14:14 #12

• Tarsellis

  Wow, another argument to pirate not buy? when are these @$$hats going to figure out we're sick of their bend over and take it b!tch business model?

  18.3.2010 12:25 #13

• elitepunk

  its amazing that some people still buy games. i just shake my head.

  18.3.2010 17:26 #14

• bluetac

  so if the content was ready on the launch date why not just let people access the stuff they paid for ffs

  19.3.2010 08:36 #15

• 的妻儿 (unverified)

  第四天

  31.8.2010 02:25 #16