What happened to Capcom?

[Rayne]

Day one DLC is also blatant rip-off. DLC is meant to extend the lifespan of a product by being released further down the line but making it available separately at launch is blatantly stating that it was intentionally locked-out of the retail product to squeeze more cash from the consumer. If it's ready for launch then it was made along with the main game so asking money for it when the £40 RRP of the base game is supposed to cover that development time is also a bit wrong. Having day one DLC ready to buy straight away is just an insult to a gamer's intelligence, like Capcom (and other guilty publishers) either a) don't give a crap that they're ripping you off or b) assume that the gamer is so dim that they won't see what they're doing.

In fairness, I'm sure I read that the delay in a game going gold, being produced, marketed and subsequently released can be a period of months, time enough for the team to start crafting DLC while they wait for the impending release.

The locked fighters in SFvT is inexcusable but some other DLC packs might be a case of unfortunate timing?

[RetroMartin]

I don't have too much of an issue with them. I don't play lots of games by just one developer (I spread a lot more then I used to) so just stick to core franchises I know I'll enjoy. Therefore a lot of Capcoms franchises I skip by (I don't play Megaman for example so don't buy every game, but have played a few) whereas something like Resident Evil I buy them all practically as I enjoy the (ridiculously retconned all the time) story.

However as fighters go - their final bosses are ridiculously cheap, however they are beatable. I am not a fighter expert though, I only usually play on expert. The only game I got away with hardest mode fights was SF Alpha 3 because I was brutally good with Ken at times!

[HEAVYface]

Day one DLC is also blatant rip-off. DLC is meant to extend the lifespan of a product by being released further down the line but making it available separately at launch is blatantly stating that it was intentionally locked-out of the retail product to squeeze more cash from the consumer. If it's ready for launch then it was made along with the main game so asking money for it when the £40 RRP of the base game is supposed to cover that development time is also a bit wrong. Having day one DLC ready to buy straight away is just an insult to a gamer's intelligence, like Capcom (and other guilty publishers) either a) don't give a crap that they're ripping you off or b) assume that the gamer is so dim that they won't see what they're doing.

In fairness, I'm sure I read that the delay in a game going gold, being produced, marketed and subsequently released can be a period of months, time enough for the team to start crafting DLC while they wait for the impending release.

The locked fighters in SFvT is inexcusable but some other DLC packs might be a case of unfortunate timing?

i didn't say any of that...

i do agree with it though

[Misery]

This topic doesnt surprise me whatsoever. I've hated..... no, UTTERLY LOATHED these morons for awhile now, and it seems like lately..... and I dont just mean REALLY recently because of the SFxT fiasco.... alot of other gamers are seriously starting to dislike these clowns as well.

I mean, really, even EA and Activision havent been pulling REALLY DAMN STUPID CRAP with the extreme ridiculous frequency that Capcom is doing it. And at least those 2 are just kinda mean companies, so that's their excuse; Capcom is *only* stupid, and nothing more. They're just DUMB, and that's why these things happen.

I've been watching them pull one lame stunt after another for.... hmm... not sure just how long, but I'd say at least 5 years now. The worst of it for me is Monster Hunter; I'm not even going to go into the extreme stupiditiy that they've performed in relation to THAT series..... let's just say, I think it's a brilliant series, but Capcom is SO terrible at what they do that I'd honestly prefer it if even bloody NINTENDO owned it instead of them. Yes, I just said that.

And this thing with SFxT is just pouring boiling oil on an open wound. Capcom pulls crap like that because they KNOW they'll get away with it; hell, they're possibly even more BLATANT about it than EA or Activision usually are.

Quick quote:

Having day one DLC ready to buy straight away is just an insult to a gamer's intelligence, like Capcom (and other guilty publishers) either a) don't give a crap that they're ripping you off or b) assume that the gamer is so dim that they won't see what they're doing.

This.

They really DO think their audience is really freaking stupid. Not only do they do exactly that, but then they'll go an outright LIE about it. And when someone VERY IMMEDIATELY sees through their stupid veil of stupid and shows something that proves them wrong, they either A: go silent about it or B: run around Youtube trying to get accounts banned that are showing videos of the idiot move they made (yes, they actually did this. More than once.).

Just..... arrrrrgh. I hate them so.

It wouldnt be so bad if it werent for the fact that they actually DO have some talented designers under their belt. I love Monster Hunter, for one..... or I did until recently anyway..... and I recently ended up with a copy of SFxT due to someone giving it to me (thus satisfying my "I'm not paying for that game" condition), and yeah..... while I really disliked SFIV pretty strongly, THIS game I really like. It's very damn good. .....and so VERY heavily marred by their STUPIDITY surrounding the DLC thing.


All in all..... the crap they've been pulling is REALLY starting to get old.

I was gonna say more here but I cannot remember what it was.

The locked fighters in SFvT is inexcusable but some other DLC packs might be a case of unfortunate timing?

I wonder if anyone will be surprised by this, but the character DLC wasnt the end of it. The recently released costumes were, also, proven to be on the disc as well. I bet anything the gems are too.


And yes, before anyone says it, I know Capcom arent they only devs to ever do this thing. But they're the first ones to do it to such an ABSURD degree while still thinking that they'll perfectly get away with it.

[Sel Feena]

What's galling is that they are getting away with it, Mis. A few people here and there not buying their stuff? Pah. CAPCOM can just shrug it off.

Also, I loved Lost Planet! Need to get round to playing the second one.

[Misery]

What's galling is that they are getting away with it, Mis. A few people here and there not buying their stuff? Pah. CAPCOM can just shrug it off.

Also, I loved Lost Planet! Need to get round to playing the second one.

Sad but true.

And they DEFINITELY know it, and I think this knowledge just boosts their already overinflated egos.

Hell, look at the back of the case for the first MvC3 release. What does it say on it, in GINORMOUS letters? "SMASH. HIT." They knew full well that game would sell like hotcakes; honestly I'm surprised THAT game wasnt the one that started the DLC crap with them.

ONLY Capcom would put something like that on the back of a game case.

[pratty]

DLC is meant to extend the lifespan of a product by being released further down the line...

I keep hearing this but where was it ever written that would be the case? Not having a go at you for thinking that, and I hate DLC too, it's just I can't believe that cynically holding back content wasn't always going to be on the agenda as soon as the concept of DLC was conceived.

[Misery]

DLC is meant to extend the lifespan of a product by being released further down the line...

I keep hearing this but where was it ever written that would be the case? Not having a go at you for thinking that, and I hate DLC too, it's just I can't believe that cynically holding back content wasn't always going to be on the agenda as soon as the concept of DLC was conceived.

I agree.

This sort of thing was INEVITABLE. It sure as heck aint like Capcom is the ONLY super-hyper-mega-greedy company to exist.

I keep wondering why EA or Activision havent come up with something EVEN WORSE than the SFxT fiasco yet. They probably will, sooner or later.... you just wait.

[nakamura]

Just look how Operation Racoon City turned out Rayne. People are right to be concerned.

Yeah that was a pretty big c0ck up...

I own both Lost Planet games and I always loved the setting but felt the games weren't quite suited. Hearing that this is taking a little inspiration from Dead Space, along with other creative input just got me excited!

We also have DMC due out, regardless of anyone's opinion on the artistic direction I've no doubt it'll be a brilliant game. Ninja Theory have a good track record and always seemed to just stop short of making a real 9/10 title. Really glad Capcom gave them a chance with DMC

Fair enough it shouldn't be written off so soon but their games have not been brilliant. Their best perhaps Heavenly Sword was in the pipeline for years and it turned out fairly well but not good enough considering how long it was in development. Enslaved though is one of the most overrated games I have every had the misfortune of playing so I personally hold little hope for DMC myself.

[crusto]

For me the problem with Capcom, and its not just Capcom btw has always been there. These firms are there for one reason only, to make as much cash as humanly possible. Its now far easier for them to do this thanks to DLC and the like. If they could have done so in 1988 then they would have.

[Evermore]

Seriously its DLC, they are embracing it the wrong way
Day one DLC is bad.
On disc DLC is even worse.
Bits taken from the game to sell on as DLC is pure just for the money.

I'm a big supporter of the people who makes games - I will only buy new titles to support developers unless the game is out of print, I disagree with piracy in ever respect and I will happily pay full price for a game if its worth getting. However, I am absolutely disgusted with this on-disc "downloadable" content censored that has been going on lately with the likes of Street Fighter X Tekken.

Holding back content is bad enough, but to put it on the disc, pack it up and ship it, charge full price and then ask you to pay for data that is already on the disc you own is outrageous business practice. Yes, its legal, but it is terrible PR on Capcom's part and will only frustrate their fans if they carry on doing it. It just feels like a rip-off, even if there is lots of stuff on the disc that is unlocked from the start. I feel its like Capcom is charging you twice - holding back bits of game that they probably planned on including back in the initial design phase of the game, only to make you pay for it after you've bought the game the first time round. A good way to increase revenue, but a terrible move in the long term as it will p!ss off the fans and lead to threads on the internet like this.

This whole DLC business is becoming a complete joke. And Capcom in general just aren't have the developers that they used to be. The days of God Hand, Resi 4, Viewtiful Joe, Okami, PN.03 and Killer 7 are long behind us I feel.

[Freestyler]

To put it in perspective:

When I buy a house I don't expect to have to pay extra to use the bathroom.
I can always pay extra later to have a bigger, better upgraded bathroom fitted, but that should be up to me.

That is how DLC should work. Additions to the final product. Not withheld toilets that I've implicitly paid for when I bought the house.


Let's not forget that DLCapcom were the ones trying to force us to not only buy a game brand new but prevent you from replaying it once you bought it! And suckers swallow this stuff like it's Christmas!

[pratty]

Just a guess on my part but it feels like some studios feel like they are in an adversarial relationship with gamers now, because of the used-game market. So they feel entirely justified in their DLC practices as it's the only way to be sure the consumer is actually paying them something for their game.

[Megamixer]

DLC is meant to extend the lifespan of a product by being released further down the line...

I keep hearing this but where was it ever written that would be the case? Not having a go at you for thinking that, and I hate DLC too, it's just I can't believe that cynically holding back content wasn't always going to be on the agenda as soon as the concept of DLC was conceived.

I understand that. As I said at the end of my mammoth post, I realise that Capcom are a business and business will do these sorts of things.

I just think that DLC is utterly pointless and redundant if it isn't done in a way that keeps a disc in a console long after launch. The way Capcom (and other publishers to be fair) do DLC renders it nothing other than a shameless rip-off and so many people can't see it or don't care that they are being fleeced.

I'd love the extra characters in SFxTekken and I think I'd genuinely feel left out by not having them but I'm not going to download them when they are released because I'm not giving Capcom what they want. Sure, it won't make a difference in the grand scheme of things but I can't really rally against it so forcefully if I download the stuff myself

[Dam]

They've always took the p!ss out of their customers, but the SFxT DLC debarcle was a step too far. I'm glad Resident Evil 6 looks crap too. Street Fighter and Resident Evil are (were) my two favourite game series, but I'm never buying another Capcom game ever again.

I'm actually enjoying playing some other games these days instead of spending all my time getting beat at SF4!