Grave Gamer News & Views — chris svensson

“You Are Being Heard,” Capcom Re-evaluates On-Disc DLC

Fan and media pressure did the trick.  The critical backlash against Capcom’s polices behind the sale of disc-locked downloadable content has been vehement enough to dent the publisher’s armor.  Egregious methods to shop-vac the cash from your wallet (such as twelve complete characters trapped behind a digital wall collapsible by payment only) are being reexamined and supposedly dealt with according to Capcom’s senior VP, Chris Svensson.

“We’ve been getting several questions, here and elsewhere about the future of on-disc DLC.  We would like to assure you that we have been listening to your comments and as such have begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future.”

Svensson’s entire statement on the matter can be found within the forum threads of Capcom Unity.  The vice president doesn’t make mention as to how they plan on changing the distribution of additional content, but seeing how the decision to reassess the reaming model is still in its infancy, he does note that several games going forward will release unaffected by the company’s policy shift.  Dragon’s Dogma was the only name dropped as an example of a title packing locked away content (quests, weapons, and skins being the most probable additions sealed on disc).

There’s sure to be other DLC offenders in Capcom’s 2012 lineup, however – Resident Evil 6 a likely suspect since retailer specific content bonuses were already announced – but by next year, we may see the maligned model gone…at least on Capcom’s front.  That, or a new brand of monetary injustice, worse than the last, will take its place (the dark prophecy made complete).

I have a little more faith in bigger companies listening, though, as opposed to trying to find a different means to screw me.  Not because I want to believe in softer hearts caring about my opinion or anything as maudlin as their employees taking one of my complaints personally (keeping them up at night, driving a stake in their relationships, etc.).

No, no, I trust in the supreme sway money has over your savvy businessman above something as delusional as “they’re looking out for my best interest."  And if said businessman is truly savvy, he’d pay attention to changes in the market such as huge dips in sale percentages in comparison to last year.  I believe companies are now understanding it’s time to start asking why, and that if tired, fallback schemes like this content locking shenanigans even remotely attributes to strained sales, adaptation and flexibility in careful measures is exactly the remedy.

"Just wanted people to know in advance the whys, wherefores and where we’re going in the future,” Chris says at the end of his blogged statement.  “You are being heard."  I really don’t need you to mean it, but your customers need to hear you say it.