NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

NPD: DLC on Consoles Downloaded by Just 6% of Consumers - IndustryGamers

While many people live in a very connected age, and certain hardcore gamers love being able to download new content and whole new games, there's a whole swath of mainstream consumers who don't download much at all. A new report from The NPD Group, "The Connected Experience: Building a Bridge Between Devices & Content," shows that "there is a large and untapped market for devices that offer connected capabilities and the digital content played on those devices."


The report found that 75 percent of U.S. consumers (age 13 and older) did not connect or download content in the previous three months, and only 6 percent downloaded with a video game console, compared to 15 percent who connected and downloaded content via PC or Mac; also, 4 percent connected via smartphone, and 2 percent connected via a Blu-ray player or a digital video player, like Apple TV or Roku.


NPD said that devices with online services like Xbox Live and Amazon's Kindle store "are driving content associated with particular types of devices, but owners are consuming more general content, as well; for example, smartphone platforms are increasingly accessing a range of media services, from games to music to video to productivity apps."


"Discoverability, driven by a rich user experience, is key to content exposure," commented Anita Frazier, industry analyst for toys and video games for NPD.


"Today's gamer might be a hard-core teen-ager playing games online with his friends, a 40-something female playing Farmville on Facebook, or everything on either side of that spectrum," Frazier continued. " We would not have seen this type of audience diversification and expansion if it weren't for connected Internet, smartphone, and online gaming options."

I like how the analyst just makes up some bullshit.

The fact of the matter is console gamers don't like paying $60 for what was supposed to be a full game and then have to pay more just to get the full experience. It looks like bullshitting the consumer isn't very profitable, so perhaps they should just stop trying to pretend they're doing it to combat piracy or whatever other nonsense they want to cook up.

Go back to releasing complete games, guys. Its not that hard.

[Raydeus]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

Full expansions were already hard to sell except for the "Gotta catch em all!" crowd who were guaranteed to buy them.

With overpriced DLC only the very hardcore (to be polite) would be willing to pay 1/10th the price of a full game for 0.5% of the content.





PS > Ah, reminds me of good old SE and their scenarios, man that was messy.



What? It isn't over yet? Oops. <_<;

[Kailea]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

well by Sony's recent logic with their harware... not enough people use DLC so will they take that out like they did BC?

[Ufgt]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

I don't understand the hate against dlc.

[Clever Ninja]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

I don't understand the hate against dlc.

There's a difference between some DLC and a few others. Like for some games I pay 20-40 for an expansion, which has a ton of content. And then others ask you to pay 5-15 for little things, some want a few dollars to get something like a better gun or armor or something. I'm not saying I don't want DLC, I personally love the idea behind it, but when it gets to the point that a game is released and there is DLC for levels and shit THE VERY DAY IT IS RELEASED, you're just abusing at this point. Games already cost $60 new, that should entitle me to the entire product that was ready at production, don't hold shit back and then try to charge me $3 each for some levels that you already had made but withheld.

[Ufgt]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

But... day zero DLC isn't always ready when the retail game goes gold. The production team can work on the DLC while the game is waiting to be shipped and released since the requirements to have DLC approved requires less time than trying to stuff it onto the disc when it's not ready.

Should the day zero dlc be free? Thats up for debate, but I would think no.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

But... day zero DLC isn't always ready when the retail game goes gold. The production team can work on the DLC while the game is waiting to be shipped and released since the requirements to have DLC approved requires less time than trying to stuff it onto the disc when it's not ready.

Should the day zero dlc be free? Thats up for debate, but I would think no.

Day One DLC is a scam. All it serves to do is guilt people into buying new when the rationale is that its going to "prevent piracy." You know, as if pirates are that easily stopped.

They withhold that content so they can get their games through the approval processes faster. Faster to market means faster to profit. What it doesn't mean is a quality product. A lot of DLC from Bethesda and Bioware in particular has been buggy as hell on day one.

[Rodin]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

I don't understand the hate against dlc.

Go Buy Call of Duty 4. (The first modern warfare.)

Play the multiplayer.

Go Buy Modern Warfare 2.

Play its multiplayer.

Buy the DLC map packs for Modern Warfare 2.

Understanding has occurred.

[Durahansolo]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

requires less time than trying to stuff it onto the disc when it's not ready.

What about when they stuff it into a DLC and it isn't ready. I'm looking at you Bad Company 1 and your Conquest mode that was supposed to come out Day 1 but came out 2 months later. It was free, but should've been in the game to begin with.

[Aeni]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

They should just sell their games for $5 and charge for DLC. At least they can honestly say they're holding back content and will deliver it in the form of DLC later on down the road. Some players out there are content with playing the demo. Over. And over. And over again.

[Mhurron]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

But... day zero DLC isn't always ready when the retail game goes gold. The production team can work on the DLC while the game is waiting to be shipped and released since the requirements to have DLC approved requires less time than trying to stuff it onto the disc when it's not ready.

That scenario used to mean a game didn't ship until it was done. Now they ship an unfinished game instead of having the release date slip and charge you more fore the privilege.

Gold is supposed to be 'finished', 'not most bugs worked out, lot's of content not complete.'

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

Gold is supposed to be 'finished', 'not most bugs worked out, lot's of content not complete.'

Pfft. That's what "gold" always meant "most bugs worked out, lots of content, but not complete" to Bethesda, Bioware and Obsidian. In Bethesda and Obsidian's case, it means extra bugs were left behind and the games can only be truly playable once the users decide to fix them.

And when that's done, they can release a "Game of the Year" Edition.

[DakAttack]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

Pfft. That's what "gold" always meant "most bugs worked out, lots of content, but not complete" to Bethesda, Bioware and Obsidian. In Bethesda and Obsidian's case, it means extra bugs were left behind and the games can only be truly playable once the users decide to fix them.

And when that's done, they can release a "Game of the Year" Edition.

Big games will always have bugs that slip under the radar. Sometimes additional bugs are created when other bugs are fixed. It's just the way things are.

[Ziero]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

It really depends on the game to me. Like with MAG, their first few "DLCS" were just spare item unlocks that were already on the disc, but at least they were kind enough to make them free. Their first real big DLC however were three completely new maps in a completely new game mode with a brand new style of functionality that was made in direct response to player demands. That's the kind of DLC I can get behind, something that was completely developed post launch based on player wants and demands. However no one else seemed to buy it so now it's just an unplayed game mode.

Or LBP, which uses it's DLC profits to help support it's servers. For LBP, the DLC acts as a Cash Shop in a F2P MMO. Everything they release is newly developed content and released regularly at a decent price, and for the most part is completely optional.

DLC I can't stand however is just them giving you access to maps/characters already in the game, then charging you full price for it. Case in point, the new Transformers game, where the first DLC was literally nothing but characters and maps who were already in the game. That's not worth the 10-15 bucks to have imo, especially when the game itself sees little to no actual support in the first place.

Of course, there's also the fact that full games and and such can be considered DLC as well. Considering this was only a sampling from the past three months (which I don't think there's been much in the way of big DLC) I would take any numbers from this "study" with a grain of salt.

[Mhurron]

Re: NPD: 6% of console gamers use DLC

Pfft. That's what "gold" always meant "most bugs worked out, lots of content, but not complete" to Bethesda, Bioware and Obsidian.

Gamers have no one but them selves to blame. They continually bought it, and praised the developers to high heaven. Why spend the money and time when you don't have to?

You have an issue with it? Stop buying shit from developers that keep shoveling shit.

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

Big games will always have bugs that slip under the radar. Sometimes additional bugs are created when other bugs are fixed. It's just the way things are.

Some bugs will always happen. Developers that always ship bugs that make the game almost unplayable are another.