with all the discussions about whenever there should be an expansion or small mission packs, it's better too see what the community as a whole wants.|||Tough choice...
Small content updates are nice because they're more frequent. And you pay for what you want, but that's moot for me because I'll probably end up buying all content updates anyway.
Expansions are nice because (1) they bundle content at a cheaper price per quantity, (2) they allow a more involved story to be told, and (3) they can provide a range of related features that don't make much sense separately.
Basically, whatever format works for me. Chapters seem wasteful though, 3 tutorial areas in GW1 where only 1 was really needed (with small updates for added professions).|||expansions, I liked Eye of the North a lot.|||I would say either an Expansion or a Chapter. Not DLC, simply because you want something on the shelves. A product out in full view on the shelves has the potential to bring in new players.
Recently NCSoft went with the Digital Download Expansion for City of Heroes 'Going Rogue'.
I heard, but I think it may just be a myth, that there were hard copies, maybe in the US. But over here in the UK City of Heroes had a chance to bring in some new blood & failed miserably as they have zero shelf space.
I've just finished a 60-Day Pre-Pay card I picked up for �4.99 as they were desperately trying to get rid of it, as it was the very last NCSoft Pre-Paid Card they had. I'm sure I could have waited another month & got it for �1. They told me they will not be getting any more as NCSoft titles just didn't sell.
The only NCSoft product they now sell & is usually within the top 20/50 is Guild Wars. Every 'Chapter' had shelf space & brought in new players, same with the Expansion.
DLC does not get Shelf Space! DLC does not bring in New Players!
Additionally, Guild Wars is a 'B2P' (Buy to Play), so having 'Shelf Space' & being in the Public Eye is critical for its success. DLC works only for those that already play & have bought a copy, Chapters & Expansions are for those that already play, have already bought a copy AND attracts new players.
I know people who do not play Computer/Video games (sad people ) but they have still heard of World of Warcraft, of Guild Wars, etc, because they get seen on shelves.
DLC means you buy the game & then the copies that don't get sold sit on the shelves whilst we players enjoy the DLC & as players move away to play the next big game title no new blood is introduced to take their place.
DLC also works against the current model, as it feels more like F2P & may just get tarnished with the same dirty brush. You buy the content as you play.
Their current business model has kept them high up amongst the top names in MMO's for 5 years ... I think it could be financial suicide to change their business model now ... especially during a recession.
That's just my two pennies worth|||Katarine makes some great points about ‘presence’ in the market. I remember a game I played probably ten years ago. Sold as chapters only on-line, didn’t really go anywhere. About a year after they had released the whole thing on-line I saw it in the bargain bin at stores. They eventually went with the B&M distribution, but the distributor didn’t back it with marketing as they had already done a run of sales on-line, thus no marketing money, and no sales.
To me there is little difference between a chapter and expansion aside from the tutorial part, I bought them all anyways. Chapters just seem like a much better business model for them. You don’t have to go buy the first part to get in and play the new content that everyone else is playing. With expansions if you start playing when the second expansion comes out you get to play through all the old stuff while everyone else is playing the new stuff, all you want to do is rush through the old stuff to get to the new stuff. There gets to be little incentive to pick up a game if you have to go back and buy all the old stuff just to get to the new stuff. With chapters that you can buy separately you can start where you want and get hooked, then go back and get the rest of the games as you have time.|||im fine with either expansions or standspansions|||Other! I want what Guild Wars gave us: EVERYTHING. I want small, frequent updates with new dungeons, missions, etc. (Sorrow's Furnace, BMP, WiK). If they're DLC, okay, why not?
I want Chapters! Full, new stories, new enemies, new NPCs, new content, new classes, etc. (Factions, Nightfall).
In my mind, the difference between a chapter and expansion is just whether it requires the original game or not. I honestly don't care about that, as long as the content is there. I guess I'd prefer an expansion because then we don't have to deal with duplicate skills and stuff.|||Why do I have to lock myself down to one mode? Why can't we have a mixture of things?|||Voted "other", agree with Alaris.|||Another "other" vote. Any way I can get more of my GW fix is fine with me!
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