With the dawn of DLC becoming either a fraction or a major part of video games, they are now here to stay and have sometimes altered the game entirely. Now with Publishers being more demanding with deadlines and other time restraints, Developers are sometimes releasing their video games 99% complete and then giving out DLC with the release of the game or at a later date.
For the most part DLC has either enticed gamers before release or has given them a reason to keep playing the video game until the content is made available for purchase. Usually DLC that is purchased after a video game is designed for adding another small portion to the overall experience.
As of late depending on what titles a gamer has purchased, the DLC can range from some extra weapons or clothing that doesn’t really affect the overall game to additional levels and sometimes a whole new game that is smaller in size compared to the main game but can have a major effect on the overall experience.
One noticeable developer taking such big risks in giving gamers a chance to add another dimension to the game is Bioware. With its RPG title Dragon Age: Origins, it has gone beyond just the realm of it’s over 40 hour game play but has extended the time played and the story itself with Dragon Age: Origins Awakening. Bioware’s DAO was a hit with gamers for its story and for it received remarkable and rave reviews from various video game websites and publications alike.
Not every developer drops DLC as big as Bioware but with what Bioware has done, has raised the question; Should DLC that can change the overall gaming experience, change the original review score that was given to the game that was released before the DLC?
With many video game endings there are a lot of unanswered questions and many situations get left un-complete, leaving gamers to wonder what becomes of those adventures/missions until the next instalment. DLC has provided developers time to finish or add to the existing video game without a deadline or anything of the sort. Of course the adverse effect can happen with DLC as well; it can cheapen the experience and not please everybody.
Another example of Bioware’s success with DLC is its other RPG-Shooter Mass Effect 2. Unlike the first Mass Effect, there were many questions and unanswered ones with the sequel. Many of the characters had their own story woven into the main one and with various DLC released for it, depending on the character the gamer could further and tie up any loose ends.
Again both of these games were given close to perfect reviews scores from all over the web, but do you think they should get the higher scores because of the DLC provided? Should DLC be a factor in changing a review score or should DLC stay out of the conversation when reviewing a video game?
