Borderlands isn't out until next week, but already Gearbox has started pimping its first piece of downloadable content.
In what it's calling "the first in a series" of add-ons, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned adds new loot, quests... and zombies.
"Tasked with keeping the workers of Jakobs Cove alive, Dr. Ned (who is not related to Dr. Zed from Fyrestone) does his job a little too well, creating zombies and other abominations that now run rampant in this region," says Gearbox.
Borderlands
Official trailer
2:28Claptrap Trailer Part 1
Borderlands
Official trailer
2:28Claptrap Trailer Part 1
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"Players will have to work alongside Dr. Ned as they embark on a quest to cure the inhabitants of Jakobs Cove in this full-fledged expansion filled with new enemies, new quests and rare loot drops."
It's $10 (£6) on all three platforms, says Giant Bomb. Now let's see if the game's any good first before we consider buying it.
Im all for DLC extending the life of a Game (perfect example GTA IV) but when Devs start talking about releasing the DLC the same day as the Game gets released (Dragons Age) or just 1 week later (this Game and countless others) then I start to worry.
Will your Game not be long enough or have enough replayability after 1 month that i need this extra content?
This is why im pretty selective over the DLC I purchase and will not download anything so close to a Game being released.
Arrgh, why are people releasing incomplete games to try and scrounge more money?
I blame Bethseda for this trend, ever since Oblivion we've been treated to the worst excuses for DLC that it practically amounts to begging (only without the feel good factor of helping those in need).
Please developers, wherever you may be, don't follow Bioware, Bethseda, et al down the darkside.
Why do they always think they're doing us a favor with DLC's? "Ooohh look at this new content we're doing for you, give us X amount of money and it's yours!"
Yeah, couldn't you have just included it in the main game from the get-go?
Arrgh, why are people releasing incomplete games to try and scrounge more money?
I blame Bethseda for this trend, ever since Oblivion we've been treated to the worst excuses for DLC that it practically amounts to begging (only without the feel good factor of helping those in need).
Please developers, wherever you may be, don't follow Bioware, Bethseda, et al down the darkside.
That's why.
While hardly original anymore, I do enjoy a good zombie shooting fest. However, as others have expressed, I too find it a tad premature to begin discussing planned DLC before the main game has even shipped.
If you are as offended by DLC as many of you profess to being, don't buy games that announce DLC before they release the game.
This will have one of two effects. Either the DEVS will release a more finished product, the desired outcome, OR the DEVS will wait 2-3 weeks after the game releases and announce their DLC.
Should the second, and more likely event occur, we simply up our game to begin boycotting games with DLC altogether. This should give DEVS pause and maybe entice them to release complete games rather than piece work as they are beginning to.
If they still don't get it, stop buying the DLC period. No one buys the DLC and the DEVS stop creating DLC.
I'm also puzzled there do not seem to be any reviews yet - it's out next week! I've seen some vague gameplay reports, and I believe that Official Xbox Magazine will have a review next issue (next week?), but I'd like to see some proper reviews before I buy it, in case it turns out to be a repetitive and boring shooter.
Hmmn Low price as The_KFD_Case suggests and no reviews just days before it's due to release. Anyone else seeing Red Flags?
Why would a developer not release review copies to established reviewers to create hype for their product? Why are there no PC Stats released? Why isn't the game priced as any other "ground breaking", "cutting edge", "insert your favourite catch-phrase here" game upon release?
Hmmn Low price as The_KFD_Case suggests and no reviews just days before it's due to release. Anyone else seeing Red Flags?
Why would a developer not release review copies to established reviewers to create hype for their product? Why are there no PC Stats released? Why isn't the game priced as any other "ground breaking", "cutting edge", "insert your favourite catch-phrase here" game upon release?
My best guess? It's gonna disappoint.
I half expected someone to take the low price as a bad sign. Let me point out that ShopTo is the only place I have seen such a favourable price at and it's for the PC version which is cheaper than the console counterparts. On Amazon the console version costs 34.99 (22% discount) and the PC version 24.99 (29% discount) - in both cases that's after a sizable discount.
The indications, from the hands-on previews I've read, are that the game has highly addictive loot game mechanics, if a bit thin on plot, yet that was only from one preview where there was only granted access to the first area/chapter of the game. I have high hopes for this one.
Also consider that HaloDST was ready in May, but due to NDAs MS successfully kept a lid on the reviews until September despite a great many of those reviews undoubtedly having been ready for weeks or even months. Something similar could conceivably have occurred here as well, or perhaps someone bungled the PR for this game. Regardless, I'm not sensing red flags although it could turn out to be a lackluster game - there's always an element of risk with anything you do.
I think it would be better if devs held onto their their paid DLC until way after release as it does look dodgy releasing it within a week of the main game release. Now if the DLC were to be free then it would be a different matter. Looking forward to the main game though.
As for Dragons Age I thought the first set of DLC was free for that or am I wishful thinking?
What's up with all the negativity? This zombie DLC that will come some time in the future looks more like a small commercial trick, to spread more news about the game for free, just prior to the release. It will definetly get more players to buy the game itself.
And this is fantastic news. The DLC costs almost down to nothing. What this means to me, is that there will be more to do in it. I was afraid that this game might get boring after a while.
And for such a tiny cost this is a very good thing.
And I don't believe that it means that the game is unfinnished. What's up with all the negative assumptions?
I think it would be better if devs held onto their their paid DLC until way after release as it does look dodgy releasing it within a week of the main game release. Now if the DLC were to be free then it would be a different matter. Looking forward to the main game though.
As for Dragons Age I thought the first set of DLC was free for that or am I wishful thinking?
Somewhere in between, I'm afraid. From what I've read online, it appears that there are two or three side-quests that everyone can get as DLC free of charge (or perhaps that's only the PC version; console players may have to pay). However, only people whom have purchased the CE of "DA" will gain access to "The Stone Prisoner" side-quest and access to the character known as "Shale". Personally I think that's pretty lame.
Either make it part of all versions of the game, or as DLC - paid for or free. That way at least, it gives everyone access to it via legal means.
What's up with all the negativity? This zombie DLC that will come some time in the future looks more like a small commercial trick, to spread more news about the game for free, just prior to the release. It will definetly get more players to buy the game itself.
And this is fantastic news. The DLC costs almost down to nothing. What this means to me, is that there will be more to do in it. I was afraid that this game might get boring after a while.
And for such a tiny cost this is a very good thing.
And I don't believe that it means that the game is unfinnished. What's up with all the negative assumptions?
Like you I expect "Borderlands" to be a cracking game and the zombie themed DLC sounds cool too, IMO. As for the negativity, I think it may well stem from too many past disappointments and people laboring under the perception that they are being screwed out of a complete game experience when DLC is announced to be ready before the main game is even available in stores. It reeks of base greed in an attempt at money grabbing.
I don't mind paying a price I deem reasonable for a given product or service, but I very much object to being taken for a ride.
I remember. "BG II's Throne of Bhaal", while not as big as the main game (which at 150+ hours of gameplay if you count the major side-quests), is hardly surprising, but a good, solid addition nonetheless with a complete story incorporated.
I also remember the first time I felt a bit let down by the brevity of an expansion pack. "Half-Life 1's Blue Shift" - it was enjoyable and hit all the same, right notes from "Half Life 1", it was just quite short at some 7 hours or so. Heh. Now a days 7 hours is the length of some stand alone games. That's not an improvement in my opinion. Sure, quality over quantity but only to an extent. At some point quantity overpowers quality, and if the quality is too short in length then I'd rather have something of moderate quality but which packs in a lot more material.
I think it would be better if devs held onto their their paid DLC until way after release as it does look dodgy releasing it within a week of the main game release. Now if the DLC were to be free then it would be a different matter. Looking forward to the main game though.
As for Dragons Age I thought the first set of DLC was free for that or am I wishful thinking?
Somewhere in between, I'm afraid. From what I've read online, it appears that there are two or three side-quests that everyone can get as DLC free of charge (or perhaps that's only the PC version; console players may have to pay). However, only people whom have purchased the CE of "DA" will gain access to "The Stone Prisoner" side-quest and access to the character known as "Shale". Personally I think that's pretty lame.
Either make it part of all versions of the game, or as DLC - paid for or free. That way at least, it gives everyone access to it via legal means.
There's 3 DLC:
One is a suit of armour that you can use in DA and ME2. It comes free with every new, registered copy of the game.
Second is the extra character, with associated mysterious past and quests. This is also free with new, registered copies of the game.
Third is Warden's Keep, with story, new abilities and items, etc. This has to be paid for, certainly doesn't come with regular editions, and looking at the Dragon Age site, doesn't seem to come with the collecter's edition either.
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However, as others have expressed, I too find it a tad premature to begin discussing planned DLC before the main game has even shipped.
DST was ready in May, but due to NDAs MS successfully kept a lid on the reviews until September despite a great many of those reviews undoubtedly having been ready for weeks or even months. Something similar could conceivably have occurred here as well, or perhaps someone bungled the PR for this game. Regardless, I'm not sensing red flags although it could turn out to be a lackluster game - there's always an element of risk with anything you do..jpg){kind=small}
