Is DLC a Blessing or a Curse to Gaming?

When a developer or publisher reveals that their new game will have downloadable content to keep you busy after the game releases, I’m sure there are gamers out there that will buy every single piece of content their connection can download, won’t be bothered with it at all, or weigh in their options.

This article really isn’t about sharing my definitive opinion about the subject, but more to get the reader to share their thoughts about what makes them buy, or not buy, DLC.

Here are some quick points on why DLC can be a blessing or a curse to the world of gaming.

Blessing:

• DLC gives any game a replay factor it may not have had before. This can be achieved by adding content to the multiplayer component, single player campaign, or both.
• Some franchises are very story-based, and DLC gives developers a chance to show more sides of the game’s universe, therefore improving on an idea. The Mass Effect franchise has so much single player campaign DLC to offer and buying them will allow you to explore subplots and different aspects of the Mass Effect universe, which makes the main story more believable.
• DLC is all optional of course.

Curse:

• The prices of some DLC aren’t reasonable, and will cause you to roll your eyes as you put your wallet back in your pocket. $9.99 for two more multiplayer maps and a weapon, are you kidding me?
• Some multiplayer DLC make it hard to think of it as optional, especially if you can’t join an online match because you don’t have the right items or levels downloaded.
• As gamers we have no idea if DLC is actually content they left out of the game, and now they are trying to make more money on top of the price paid for admission.
• The reason above has the potential to start a trend (if it hasn’t been started already) of publishers charging full price for 75% of the game, and selling the remaining 25% as DLC.

What do you think?