Ubisoft VP Chris Early says resistance to DLC is in decline

[CtW]

Source: http://www.pcgamer.com/2014/07/04/ubisoft-vp-says-gamers-are-growing-more-comfortable-with-dlc-and-digital/

The Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag "Time Saver" packs aren't expensive—$1 for the Collectibles Pack and $2 for the Resources Pack—but it's the principle of the thing that's so outrageous, at least among those who remember that cheat codes used to be free. Yet according to Ubisoft Vice President of Digital Publishing Chris Early, there was no outrage. "There was no resistance," he told GamesIndustry. "Maybe there were 12 guys somewhere who said something, but whatever. As a whole, there wasn't a problem.

. He said that DLC and season passes are "pretty much accepted" these days, because publishers have been able to make players feel like they enhance the game rather than leave them at a disadvantage if they don't pay for it.

He also touched on what many people see as a potential problem with microtransaction-based games, even though in his eyes it's a positive development.

"I know people who've spent five digits or more of money in Clash of Clans, spending in the tens of thousands of dollars," Early said. "Who would think of that? But nobody's really angry about that. That's how that guy chooses to play, and he's playing against other people of the same caliber, whether they got there through spending hundreds of hours playing the game or tens of thousands of dollars. Good design, that's what it comes down to."

They just keep on digging. While I'm not against the idea of paid DLC, this is just crazy.

If this is a repost or there are formatting issues, please let me know as I'm writing this on mobile.

Edit: Fixed the link

[BookerDeWitt]

That's genuinely worrying ! because it means Ubisoft is about to attempt even more atrocious money grubbing attempts from its customers now & they're even not ashamed to publicly talk about it.

[LukaP]

thats quite bad...

 

and an obligatory ubisoft post gif

 

[Misanthrope]

Don't you just love how AAA publishers keep talking about Clash of clans and other mobile games? Go fucking make mobile games Ubisoft if that's what you really wanna do.

[Askew]

I'm sorry, but I don't believe he knows even someone who has spent 5 digits on Clash of Clans, that is quite ridiculous, but for him to say he knows people who have done this? That's entirely preposterous and I think it's bullshit.

 

 

Let's take a look at how I see the DLC/Season Pass situation from a personal perspective, if I observe a certain publisher to be the type who has countless pieces of tiny DLC or who produces seasons passes on the regular and nickel and dimes you for content that is obviously integral to the game before having been seperated for the purpose of creating little paywalls then I will just wait until their game and everything is on Steam for 75% off in one bundle and buy it then if at all.

 

If a company like CDProjekt for example release a game, I know there will be nothing cut out or a season pass, and I buy the game on day 1 for full price.

If a company like Deep Silver release a game (saints row) I know there will be a billion pieces of DLC and I will wait for it to be $10 for the whole lot before I buy.

 

 

If you're selling games to me, you'll make somtetimes 8 to 10 times the amount if you don't try to fragment the product.

[Imabigmac]

And so I guess ubisoft sales will just keep on declining 

 

They are going to continue doing an "EA". Its liek they blind and jsut keep saying things to re assure themselves that they are fine but in reality the gaming world is getting irritated. Ubisoft's next big move will be single use activation codes. 

[ilikemacandpc]

I hope that Ubisoft dies in a fire...

[Foxxer]

What insurance does Ubisoft use again? 

[dizmo]

I can see where they're coming from, but honestly guys the answer is simple. Just don't pay the money for the games that do that. The gaming industry is largely controlled by us (gamers and tech enthusiasts), this isn't like modular phones where there's millions upon millions of other consumers that aren't as informed. Most gamers are informed to some degree.

We need to make them change. It's up to us, otherwise they'll just keep reaching their hands into our pockets.

 

 

I'm sorry, but I don't believe he knows even someone who has spent 5 digits on Clash of Clans, that is quite ridiculous, but for him to say he knows people who have done this? That's entirely preposterous and I think it's bullshit.

 

Believe it. I know people that have spent that much on mobile games. It's retarded, and I don't know why people do it, but it happens.

Some people just have too much expendable income. I have a few friends that make in excess of $12,000/month. Say they spend $3,000/month on the game because they're addicted and bad with money. That's only a few months until they're within the 5 digit range. Not hard to fathom.

[Askew]

Say they spend $3,000/month on the game because they're addicted and bad with money

 

If I had $1bn in the bank I would not spend 3k a month on clash of clans I still think it's insane...

[pk-man]

This just in: Ubisoft continues to have foot-in-mouth disease. 

[daemonowner]

People aren't objecting so much to all this DLC crap because there are so many companies doing it and they have been for years now. Of course people won't complain about DLC to Ubisoft for years straight. Of course people buy it. Because 12 year olds are people, and there are lots of them. That doesn't mean we respect you Ubisoft.

[Legion]

5 Digits is he saying that as 10000 or 100.00 ?

 

Either way its insane for a mobile game.

I understand companies jobs are  to find how to make as much money as possible but that doesn't mean i've to buy your product.

I've been against Season passes since I heard of them.

[dizmo]

If I had $1bn in the bank I would not spend 3k a month on clash of clans I still think it's insane...

You might not, but others do.

So, it happens. It's not bullshit.

Just saying.

 

People aren't objecting so much to all this DLC crap because there are so many companies doing it and they have been for years now. Of course people won't complain about DLC to Ubisoft for years straight. Of course people buy it. Because 12 year olds are people, and there are lots of them. That doesn't mean we respect you Ubisoft.

Some DLC I'll agree with. Map packs and such. However I think they charge too much for it. $20 for 4 maps that likely come up a couple times a night? Please.

Time based DLC I do not agree with. Like say in an MMO you can carry x amount for x longer. Shit like that would be annoying and not something I'd be cool with having in a game at all.

You shouldn't punish those of us who either can't afford, or aren't hardcore enough to spend that kind of money on something that's not even real.

[Nick Paviour]

I don't think I've ever paid for some DLC, happily taken the free stuff. I don't pay for Clash of Clans or Jurassic Park Builder either. Don't quite know what the hell is going on over at Ubisoft, but the likely hood of me purchasing another one of their games decreases every time they talk poop like this.

Don't know what data they have to back this article up, people who play mobile/tablet games and pay for the in-app content, are not necessary the same people who buy DLC for computer/console games.

[jecho]

I'm sorry, but I don't believe he knows even someone who has spent 5 digits on Clash of Clans, that is quite ridiculous, but for him to say he knows people who have done this? That's entirely preposterous and I think it's bullshit.

 

 

Let's take a look at how I see the DLC/Season Pass situation from a personal perspective, if I observe a certain publisher to be the type who has countless pieces of tiny DLC or who produces seasons passes on the regular and nickel and dimes you for content that is obviously integral to the game before having been seperated for the purpose of creating little paywalls then I will just wait until their game and everything is on Steam for 75% off in one bundle and buy it then if at all.

 

If a company like CDProjekt for example release a game, I know there will be nothing cut out or a season pass, and I buy the game on day 1 for full price.

If a company like Deep Silver release a game (saints row) I know there will be a billion pieces of DLC and I will wait for it to be $10 for the whole lot before I buy.

 

 

If you're selling games to me, you'll make somtetimes 8 to 10 times the amount if you don't try to fragment the product.

Not that I believe it is right but I have seen people spend that much on clash of clans. It is true that people do it.

[The_Strict_Nein]

Jesus Christ Ubisoft, if you want to step out of the PC gaming market just say so.

Jump before you're pushed

[scaryjam823]

So Ubisoft is still driving down the road to beat EA as worst company of the year? Good to know.

[CtW]

*symbolically removes Uplay from taskbar*

[LAwLz]

Wait, you can pay to have all hidden stuff found for you?

Isn't that kind of like, paying for the game to complete itself? Are they going to release a 5 dollar DLC which unlocks all achievements for you? Maybe a DLC that makes you max level (*cough* World of Warcraft *cough*).

If they think people will want to pay to get collectibles collected without any effort, why not make collecting them more fun? I liked the hidden packets in Vice City for example. They were a pain in the ass when you had almost all of them, but it was still fun.

It was the same deal with Gold Skulltulas in ocarina of Time. Pain in the ass to find, but satisfying as hell. That's how collectibles should be if you ask me. If some part(s) of your game is so boring that you expect people to be willing to pay in order to skip it, then maybe you shouldn't include it at all.

[daemonowner]

Ubisoft. Here's a PR tip.

 

"Ubisoft VP Chris Early says resistance to DLC is in decline"

 

Do that.

 

Since apparently your PR department is that clueless that they don't know how to appeal to gamers at all.

[deathjester]

Source: http://.pcgamer.com/uk/2014/07/04/ubisoft-vp-says-gamers-are-growing-more-comfortable-with-dlc-and-digital/

The Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag "Time Saver" packs aren't expensive—$1 for the Collectibles Pack and $2 for the Resources Pack—but it's the principle of the thing that's so outrageous, at least among those who remember that cheat codes used to be free. Yet according to Ubisoft Vice President of Digital Publishing Chris Early, there was no outrage. "There was no resistance," he told GamesIndustry. "Maybe there were 12 guys somewhere who said something, but whatever. As a whole, there wasn't a problem.

. He said that DLC and season passes are "pretty much accepted" these days, because publishers have been able to make players feel like they enhance the game rather than leave them at a disadvantage if they don't pay for it.

He also touched on what many people see as a potential problem with microtransaction-based games, even though in his eyes it's a positive development.

"I know people who've spent five digits or more of money in Clash of Clans, spending in the tens of thousands of dollars," Early said. "Who would think of that? But nobody's really angry about that. That's how that guy chooses to play, and he's playing against other people of the same caliber, whether they got there through spending hundreds of hours playing the game or tens of thousands of dollars. Good design, that's what it comes down to."

They just keep on digging. While I'm not against the idea of paid DLC, this is just crazy.

If this is a repost or there are formatting issues, please let me know as I'm writing this on mobile.

 

Do these Ubisoft clowns not have people governing their idiocy when they open their mouths? Why would they even word it this way, or even say anything about DRM or DLC? Ubisoft has got the dumbest freakin PR department in the world. 

 

 

Uh ok. Thanks Ubisoft. I have no idea WHY any game maker would make this statement, but this will totally make me want to buy games from you and support the company. 

[Poohy14]

This is starting to get me really upset. Most of my games are from Ubisoft since I love the company. They do make good games but if they keep their shit up about microtransactions I will never buy another game again because thats just a pay to win or an pay to have something other people have when they dont have money. I for one do not buy DLCs much since I really dont care about them unless they make sense like Skyrim where it adds more to the story of the game and still gives you more than 1 hour of game play. A DLC should give you more than 4 hours of game play for the campaign for the price they want to sell you it. I never buy DLCs and nor will I ever unless its actually good and new instead of a new skin on a gun or something like that. I do play CoC and I have never spent money on it but I have a few friends that spent maybe $10 on it for more gems.. I can just keep going on a rant but I'm not sober enough to care.

 

Good bye Ubisoft, you have been a nice company in the past.

[kuddlesworth9419]

Video games are an art-form more so then any other media in my opinion but the way the industry is going it will just end up like Hollywood films. They lack soul. 

[Hulk]

Unfortunately, there is some truth in what this guy states. DLC was first outrageos, especially day one DLC but our resistance has been worn down. We simply don't care and accept it for what it is. Take a look at BF4 for example, a possible extreme case where the DLC was worth more than the game! I personally won't buy a game with DLC or even support a publisher who does the same in extreme cases, but once again, I do agree with what he says.