Home Trending Latest threads New posts Developer diaries

maybe is time to rethink DLC policy

Jump to latest Follow Reply
  • We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Show only dev responses
My main concern about the DLC policy is the scary looking list of DLC and expansions. I know I have friends that don't play because they find that list of DLC over the top. Even though most people will get all of these DLC during the -75% sales it still ~looks~ like a lot of money to shell out on the game. For a large part of this they are resolving the issue by having "content packs" instead of individual unit sets for the new expansions.
 
  • 9
Reactions:
Would you prefer they release their games with marginal improvements at full cost annually, bi-annually or even tri-annually? And do a few mostly meaningless DLCs for each? That's what most seem to do. As far as I'm concerned PDS system is great for fans in comparison to other companies practices and I selfishly wish it was acknowledged better. The games get meaningful DLCs that improve the base game. Hell some sequels don't even get that.

PS

EUIV and CKIII are going to be a tough task in order to deliver upon expectations. They've grown sustainably since they were developed and I'm guessing people won't be happy if features are cut from vanilla. So it may be a big ask to keep churning out DLC, I think that is valid but I think starting fresh won't be an easy solution either.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • 2
Reactions:
The constant updated game patch and DLC model is most of the reason I like Paradox games. Always something in the future to add to your games.
 
  • 4
  • 1
Reactions:
They need to bundle those expansions into the main game.

It`s downright scary to try to buy the game after two years of development let alone four.

What i propose is that the expansions be made part of the base game bar the last 3 new expansions.
 
  • 3
  • 1
Reactions:
Shatterfury said:
What i propose is that the expansions be made part of the base game bar the last 3 new expansions.
Click to expand...
In the case of CK2, that's 8 expansions. At even just $10 each, that would add $80 to the cost of the "base" game, so $120. And that's not counting the numerous cosmetic DLCs, which would push up the base price to, what, $200?
 
  • 5
Reactions:
Most AAA games are $120+ after you buy all the DLC and then a new sequel comes out the following year to repeat.
 
Last edited:
  • 1
  • 1
Reactions:
This discussion is now way off-topic. Please ask in the Vic 2 forums, thanks.
 
AndrewT said:
In the case of CK2, that's 8 expansions. At even just $10 each, that would add $80 to the cost of the "base" game, so $120. And that's not counting the numerous cosmetic DLCs, which would push up the base price to, what, $200?
Click to expand...
No, want I meant to say is to be given freely when the base game is bought.

This is the policy for WoW, they bundle provides expansions as part of the base game at no charge.
If I`m not mistaken they include all minus the newest expansion.

This could could attract far more buyers.
Do keep in mind that Paradox has like 4 games part of the same genre running simultaneously so I think it will help gamers buy more Paradox games and become loyal customers once they have more games and find out what flavour of grand strategy they favour.
 
Last edited:
  • 4
Reactions:
Shatterfury said:
No, want I meant to say is to be given freely when the base game is bought.
Click to expand...
But they already do that, by constantly releasing free patches
 
  • 3
Reactions:
loup99 said:
But they already do that, by constantly releasing free patches
Click to expand...
The patches don`t include the content included into the expansions.

I just drew a comparison with Blizzard`s model, they give previous expansions as part of the base game.

Free patches ? Patches are for fixing the game and rebalancing the game with the new expansions added, I wouldn`t compare patches with free content.
True, they include some content with the patch that is linked with an expansion.

I think that making use of Blizzard`s model will bring far more players and with that far more revenue.

Trying to sort through Paradox`s titles like EU 4 or CK 2 with all their expansions and dlcs can scare people away.
 
  • 3
Reactions:
PDS games are great if you're in from the start. Just throw money at at PDS whenever new content is released. However if you want to pick up a PDS game that has been out for a few year.... and there's like 25 dlcs..... yeah, no.
 
  • 1
Reactions:
yourworstnightm said:
PDS games are great if you're in from the start. Just throw money at at PDS whenever new content is released. However if you want to pick up a PDS game that has been out for a few year.... and there's like 25 dlcs..... yeah, no.
Click to expand...

Well they did some "complete" bundles for CK2 some time ago, but I think they should do it more consequentely for all games. Just add a bundle of all "old" DLC for new buyers for each of the games (throw everything in that is older than ... let's say a year) and keep them "Up-to-date" (aka add gradually all stuff that's older than a year) all time. Problem solved.
 
Sir Pellew said:
Well they did some "complete" bundles for CK2 some time ago,
Click to expand...
They have a CK2 Collection which includes all DLCs up to about 2 years ago, but it was never complete, and was never marketed as such. There's an EU4 Collection which is similar.
 
AndrewT said:
They have a CK2 Collection which includes all DLCs up to about 2 years ago, but it was never complete, and was never marketed as such. There's an EU4 Collection which is similar.
Click to expand...
That is not a bad idea.
You could reupdate the Collection from time to time, it will help latecomers jump into the game.
 
Just did the math for a friend who wanted to get into EU4, having never bought or played a Paradox game before, even with the current sale going on (75% for collection, 66% for all but the latest 2 DLCs, 25% for the previous DLC), it would cost them $71.94 to be fully up to date. In addition, the 2014 collection, bizzarely enough, costs more as a pack than it is to buy the seperate DLCs. The only time it ever becomes a deal is when the pack is discounted but the individual DLCs are not.

It kind of feels like EU4 is becoming like Distant Worlds before Universe was released, the price of the base game + DLCs is becoming too prohibitively high for newcomers. I am now starting to wonder if CK2 has the same issues...
 
Novacat said:
Just did the math for a friend who wanted to get into EU4, having never bought or played a Paradox game before, even with the current sale going on (75% for collection, 66% for all but the latest 2 DLCs, 25% for the previous DLC), it would cost them $71.94 to be fully up to date. In addition, the 2014 collection, bizzarely enough, costs more as a pack than it is to buy the seperate DLCs. The only time it ever becomes a deal is when the pack is discounted but the individual DLCs are not.

It kind of feels like EU4 is becoming like Distant Worlds before Universe was released, the price of the base game + DLCs is becoming too prohibitively high for newcomers. I am now starting to wonder if CK2 has the same issues...
Click to expand...
Yes, CK2 have the same issues. This is the downside with the DLC model. Too expensive for new payers a few years in.
 
I've stopped buying the CK2 and EUIV DLCs - I don't have enough time to play either game and, if I did, wouldn't spend it on games that I've already played plenty of. The last DLC I bought for CK2 was (I think) Way of Life which just didn't feel like it added much anyway.

I look forward to HOI4 and hope it gets a good amount of DLC.

Novacat said:
Just did the math for a friend who wanted to get into EU4, having never bought or played a Paradox game before, even with the current sale going on (75% for collection, 66% for all but the latest 2 DLCs, 25% for the previous DLC), it would cost them $71.94 to be fully up to date. In addition, the 2014 collection, bizzarely enough, costs more as a pack than it is to buy the seperate DLCs. The only time it ever becomes a deal is when the pack is discounted but the individual DLCs are not.

It kind of feels like EU4 is becoming like Distant Worlds before Universe was released, the price of the base game + DLCs is becoming too prohibitively high for newcomers. I am now starting to wonder if CK2 has the same issues...
Click to expand...

Guess how much HOI1 cost fresh out of the box: ~$65 in today's money (I think EU2 cost about the same).
 
You are comparing a game's price fresh out of the box, to a game that has already been out for a few years. At least with the CK2 DLC model (Somewhat, ever since Way of Life it had been slowly transitioning to a EU4 DLC model), you still got the base game feature complete and if you liked how that played, you could buy DLC for the Pagans, Muslims, Indians, Steppe Nomads, or whoever else you were interested in.

Wheras the EU4 DLC, each DLC tend to withhold a few core features and only Conquest of Paradise could be reasonably skipped without missing out on anything from the core game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back