As we all know, video games have been around for a while, it has gone better as new technologies emerged and became even long-lasting with the increase use and benefits of the internet. Playing video games has never been as outstanding and tremendous like now. Years ago games were less animated, in 2D, blurry and less challenging. Today’s video games are better developed, astonishing to play and gone beyond belief to blow our imagination with jaw dropping displays and graphics, amazing music and sounds, cut scene and story line with remarkable adventures, all with many sort of game play that amazingly overwhelms our gaming experience.
One of the more important elements understood to have a huge impact in today’s video games market and among consumers are DLC (Downloadable Content) and UGC (User Generated contents).
Downloadable Content (DLC)
DLC referred to as downloadable content are highly popular and frequently published for video games. They are built as an extension or add-on to games, mainly comprised with new missions, maps, weapons, characters and many different features used to accompany the already released games. They are not released as a retail expansion pack but distributed through the Internet and consoles networks like Xbox Live and PlayStation network (PSN).
The content of these DLC depends on each game itself. For example,
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Whereas the first Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC, you have
- Four new Multiplayer Maps,
- One Zombies Mode called Turned
- One Zombies Map called Die Rise
- An extra weapon called peacekeeper
Downloadable Content are generally used to support each individual game of its genre and designed specifically for that game whereby an additional story or mission line may come in the form of downloadable content in Assassins creed III whereas a new songs or album in Rock Band may be offered to players in form of DLC as "Song pack". One of key elements that make DLC so popular is the fact that most of them are free and easy to acquired or download. Furthermore they are considered a huge aspect and key element of games now that some publishers have begun selling them as a bundle “Season Pass” at a discount price. These DLC bundles are constructed to allow players access to all downloadable contents of a particular game, but be well aware that they are not immediately available upon a games release and not all available to download after being promoted and offered for sale.
Take for example Assassins Creed III Season Pass DLC which was released for sale 3rd of October 2012 on PS3 for £23.99, All together the DLC is comprised with the five expansions that includes a three-part episodic pack sequel for the single player, new characters and Animi Avatars. The Season pass is 25% cheaper than buying all downloadable content packs separately. This is a more detailed description of the DLC:
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To have a better understanding of DLC packs like Assassins Creed III Season Pass, it is comprised with multiple elements built to enhance your gaming experience and get you to enjoy the game even further by playing the additional contents, not only you have multiplayer elements like maps, characters and weapons you also have single player elements like missions, side quests, new locations and new story lines that are there to get you more accustomed to the game, these in-turn makes the game more durable and enjoyable while increasing the life time value of the game.
The key notable facts to be aware of Downloadable contents are that:
- They are parts or additional contents of a particular game
- The content of every DLC vary and differentiate with every game especially the genre
- They are often free but otherwise paid for
- They are released by game publishers like Microsoft Xbox or Sony Computer Entertainment
- They can be downloaded from internet depending on the game platform but generally from publishers online services like PSN or Xbox Live
- The contents of downloadable content can be sold individually or as a bundle usually called “Season Pass”
- They are often being used as pre-order incentives. For example “pre order call of duty black ops 2 and get nuketown 2025 multiplayer map”.
- They come in many forms and often one or more of the following:
- Additional Levels – these are contents which add new maps or puzzles to the game. A good example is “Map Packs” released for Call of Duty, usually comprised with 4 different map packs in every DLC release.
- Extra Campaigns/Quests – these are content that builds a new story upon the main game, while adding or not adding new maps. These are most commonly found in action adventure games like Far Cry 3 “Deluxe Bundle DLC” or Assassins Creed III: The Tyranny of King Washington. Another good example is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – Dawnguard which is the first add-on for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This DLC includes new fractions of Dawnguard as well multiple side quests, characters, location, weapons and more
- New Game modes/Rule sets - Content that adds new game modes or rule sets to the game. A typical example of this will be Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Revolution which had a new zombie’s mode called “Turned” whereas killing zombies you’re playing as a zombie.
- Songs – These are content that adds new songs like in Dance Central 3 DLC were your adding new songs to the music rhythm based game, furthermore the Rock Band and Guitar Hero series which has tons of downloadable music contents.
- Equipment/Clothing – These are content that adds new equipment and clothing to characters in the game. They are commonly released on fighting games like Naruto Shippuden : Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 (Special Costume Pack) and open world action adventure games like Sleeping Dogs “Martial Arts Pack” and Tomb Raider 2013 “Out fit Pack”.
- Characters – These are content that adds new characters, usually with different abilities and attributes. These are usually common in Action, fighting and sport games like in WWE 13 for example, the WWE Superstars Pack and attitude Era Pack in WWE 13 includes numerous wrestlers like Rikishi, Ryback and the famous boxer Mike Tyson.
- Vehicles – These contents are usually included in racing games, they are basically new vehicles being added to a game, sometimes with unique abilities and attributes. A good example of this is Grand Turismo 5 “Complete Pack” bundle which includes the Course Pack, Racing Car Pack, Racing Gear Pack and Paint Pack. Not only you have the vehicles you get additional gears and paint that support it.
- Cheat/Boost - Content that unlocks part of a game that is normally earned just by playing the game. Examples include the Time is Money Pack for Skate 3 and the In-Game Money content like in The Godfather: the Game.
- The advantages of Downloadable contents are that:
- They extend the game play and longevity of a game by allowing players to play with the extra contents provided.
- The discount attached to the DLC Bundles (season pass) is a bonus with a significant benefit to players or consumers as they are able to acquire an entire game downloadable content at a reduced price.
- For publishers it allows them to gain revenue quickly from pre-orders without immediately delivering the DLC contents.
- The main disadvantages are that:
- They cost money, often a lot although the content within seem valuable, DLC like especially season pass are highly expensive i.e. Call of Duty Black Ops 2 season pass cost $49.99
- Some DLC basically sell contents that are within the game which you can play through to unlock, but you’re basically paying to unlock it.
- Contents on DLC are often questioned as to why they weren't in the main campaign of a game from the beginning whereby you’re made to pay to advance the story of a game like in Assassins Creed III.
- After purchasing a Season Pass, some portion of DLC are still made to be purchased like Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Season Pass which offers a large portion of Black Ops 2 DLC but still includes items to be paid for like the Personalisation Packs for weapons.
- Downloadable contents are not to be mistaken with Downloadable Games. Downloadable Content’s are not Downloadable Games which is why they are mainly referred to as “Add-On”.
- They are not the same as User Generated Contents (UGC) as these refers to in-game contents that can be edited or created by players whereas downloadable contents are additional content that can just be added to a game.
User Generated Content (UGC)
The popularity and consistent use of Downloadable Content (DLC) is thus followed by the addition of User Generated Content (UGC) in games. They are not the same thing or function the same way. UGC contents are put into games allowing players to create their own contents within a particular game i.e. build and customise a character, create a new level or map and so on. Instead of buying addition contents (DLC) for a game, User Generated contents (UGC) are tools placed within a game that allows you create your own contents. They are not downloadable contents but instead tools like level editors and character customisation and so on built within a game usually gained upon the release of that game. A typical example that’s very popular and caught on lately is LittleBigPlanet, reaching a landmark achievement with an astonishing 6 million User generated games, LittleBigPlanet UGC is probably the most popular and shared game in terms of utilising User Generated Contents. The ability to create your own Levels, designs, and even customise characters which can then be shared for everyone to take advantage of is exceptional. User Generated contents not only extends the replay value of a game, but it also gives players a creative outlet while allowing them to share their work with the rest of the world. LittleBigPlanet is just the sort of game that attracts this feature, the game is a puzzle platformer with a creative aspect of whom you’re allowed to built your own world, environment and customise your own character as well as sharing it with others within LittleBigPlanet online community.
As acknowledged from LittleBigPlanet, UGC has proven to be more relevant than ever from a business point of view and consumers yet alone it looks even more promising for the future as games and item creation tools become more accessible to users. Although the concept hasn’t been adopted by many games it’s still a future prospect as it has such an impact into video games. As it’s intensively creative, it allows players to gain a new level of enjoyment adding to their gaming experience. Take for example Trial Evolution released for XBOX 360 and PC in 2012. The game features a multiplayer and single player mode as well as a User Generated Content called “Track Central”. Track Central is Trials Evolution hub for user created content. Tracks can be created using Track Editors (Lite Editor and Pro Editor) whilst you can also upload (Get Tracks) or play (Play Tracks) other people tracks.
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The key elements to know about User Generated content are that:
- They are not the same as downloadable contents
- Downloadable content are contents that adds to a game that cannot be edited to the extent of UGC that allow players to edit and create what they want usually depending on the game itself. I.e. a racing game with UGC may allow you to create a track or vehicles were as an action adventure game may allow you to customise weapon and characters or even create levels.
- UGC can be uploaded or shared with other players, most game with user generated contents:
- Has an online community outlet whereby the games or levels created can be shared with other people whilst you can also play or upload other people contents.
- UGC always allow you to create (creation centre) or edit (level editor) something, it can be a level like in LittleBigPlanet or map like Far Cry 3, a track like in Track Evolution, a characters like in Fight Night Round 4and so on
- These contents remarkably extend the life long use of a game, as they allow players to create their own levels, maps or whatever that in-turn keeps them playing the game and be creative.
- The main advantages are that
- It allows player to get more involved and enjoy a particular game
- It make games more interesting, the ability to create and share your own content leads to hall new dimension of playing which in-turn boost players gaming experience.
- By allowing a player to create their own content it can lead to a completely new style of play and a new game as oppose to the original game.
- It can take a game that you might have played for a few hours and extend it to something you can enjoy for years to come i.e. LittleBigPlanet
- It can drive the sales of existing games due vast amount of contents created and shared.
- UGC are used differently in games depending on the genre
- Racing game usually has UGC for players to customise their vehicle, character and to create tracks
- A fighting game UGC would typically be based around creating your own fighter, having different ability and fighting technique, these are often found in boxing and WWE games
- An action adventure game may have a UGC for level editors to create a map like in Far Cry 2, or also weapon customisation, or crafting weapons like in Dead Space3, editing emblems like in call of duty Black Ops 2
- A strategic or puzzle game may allow you to create your own puzzle like Echochrome II