Japan's corrupted DLCs: Top 5 most DLC-abusive Japanese games

[Giant Zoo]

Remember the good old days when you were buying the final product?

Since the appearance of downloadable cotent (DLC) in this gen, a 100%, fully finished game is becoming a thing of the past. While Resident Evil 5 is stirring up heat in America, regarding its distribution of the versus mode as a paid DLC, I notice that even the most gossippy Japanese websites uncanningly don't care about the issue.

Why? Because sadly, this is just tip of the iceberg for Japan's standard. J-gamers know they've got raped seen way worse.

So here, I've compiled a list of the most DLC-heavy Japanese games out there. By the time you've finished reading, you should feel proud that y'all got relatively genuine developers such as Criterion and Valve. (That's if you're from Europe or US, of course)

*Note: Before going verbal-bukkake on me, please note that the article is not meant to criticize the quality of the games themselves, but to address their abusive use of downloadable content. A lot of them are clearly not "added" content, but are things that were purposefully lifted out at post production.


5. OTOMEDIUS G (Japan only release)

Made by Konami, Otomedius is a Gradius-style 2d shooter that features anime chicks instead of hi-tech mecha or hardcore alien tentacles. It's a full-priced game at 6980 yen, with tons of DLC planned ahead. Same thing can be said to a lot of the J-shooters this gen: The game's fine, but the quantity of content doesn't justify its pricetag. It's more like a budget title that should've been put on XBLA or PSN instead.

Otomedius DLC examples:
BGM Pack 1-6: 400MSP(Microsoft Point) each =2400MSP total
Extra playable character 1: TBA
Extra playable character 2: TBA


4. TALES OF VESPERIA

Among a lot of gamers in both US and Japan, this installment of the Tales series is known as one of the best JRPGs on the platform. But Namco just couldn't let gamers go without a bad taste in their mouth. Why grind if you can gain everything with $(or yen)?

Tales of Vesperia DLC examples:
5 levels up: 200MSP
10 levels up: 300MSP
300000G: 300MSP
HP recovery recipe: 100MSP


3. BEAUTIFUL KATAMARI

A fun, innocent game that is totally fine on its own, until you realize its true evilness lies in the amount of stuff (that's already on the disc) that's available only via purchasing DLCs. It is one of the first games that makes you pay for 108KB.

Beautiful Katamari DLC examples:
Extra missions: 200-300MSP per mission
Character and accessories: 200-250MSP each
All DLC total (excluding themes and icons): 3300MSP *More expensive than the game itself.


2. ONEECHANBARA

Japanese gamers waited for 9 months since its initial release, and what they did they get? A bunch of overpriced DLCs on top of an already overpriced game (note: the game was full-priced, 7,140yen in Japan). Not to mention the game was awful from the start.

Oneechanbara DLC examples:
Extra playable character 1 (more like palette swaps): 500MSP
Extra playable character 2: 500MSP
Extra playable character 3: 500MSP
Extra Outfit: 200MSP each, and there's a bunch of them.


1. THE IDOLMASTER

Possibly the biggest scam in Japanese gaming. Idolmaster (or iDOLM@STER) is infamous for its atrociously priced content.
The concept of the game itself is fine; you take the role of a producer who works for a fictional idol production studio.

However, the problem is that despite its full price (at initial release), the game essentially serves as a platform just so Namco can scam you more. Namco even releases a DLC catalogue every month, known as the "iM@S Catalog", shamelessly showcasing its overpriced accessories, songs, outfits, headgear, short stories available for each of the 10+ characters in the game.

Above: Virtual animal clothing for your virtual idol......1000MSP

Above: Kindergarden outfit! 1000MSP

Above: You get the idea. In Japan, Idolmaster has established the formula that "anime chicks + DLC = big ass profit" among publishers, and Namco is apparently proud of it too.


So, what do YOU think about DLCs these days?

Above: Available only in a perfect world. (Image from Minus World's "Finished, Totally Completed Game Ships To Retail Wit...)

[Jehuty-隊長]

tho i'm not a fan of the game, i can understand why re5 is getting dlc. From the developer standpoint, I think capcom at one time had over 300 people working on re5. Now this is over 300 people making so-so ~ good salaries and more often than not working long days for quite some time so there is over time pay involved. For absolute shitty games, dlc can lick my ass, but for games with higher production quality, the $60 price tag with a possibility of not selling well justifies dlc. Sure ps2 wasn't doing all of this dlc shit, but then again, ps2 didn't have the consumer expecting top notch everything as well as many, many hours of gameplay. Unfortunately what should have been a way to ensure the game studios at least make back their production cost has been turned into a pimp's scenario. In a way, its absolutely amazing that games even come out with all that's working against them...and this whole big business hollywood-type dev bullshit isn't helping the future of pure gaming either.
my 2 cents

[Giant Zoo]

@lyte
Dude, Im pissed too :)
music, gameplay, design...everything in that game was top-notch.

@masaru
"they release the expansion, but you won't have the full content after half year or something"
that is FUCKED UP.

[lyte edge]

People were actually angry over Bionic Commando. Apparently the staff that worked on the game had other developers getting in their face over releasing a high quality product so cheap. LOL

[Masaru the Great!-凄いマサル]

SE actually kinda did the same thing with FFXI, they release the expansion, but you won't have the full content after half year or something, which makes you pay all the monthly fee if you wanna have the full content/story...-_-; I guess that's also another way of financing DLC...good lord.

[Mister 庭]

Extreme good article Giant Zoo. I also had some good laughs.

But DLC these days is a real problem... I hope this isnt going to be worse.

[pointzeroeight]

Ah, soliciting opinions and possible members, sneaky Zoo :o

[Giant Zoo]

@pointzeroeight

lol
Yep that was me, just to see how they would respond.
Actually they got some good point. I might write bout that later.

[pointzeroeight]

Somewhat related to the article, look what I found here.

[Giant Zoo]

Scamco...hahaaaa
Wow, I just realised 3 out of the 5 games I mentioned are from them!

Keep up the good work, Namco!

and yea, I'm afraid Capcom is trying to become the next scam-M@STER.
I remember Bionic Commando Rearmed was so underpriced (only 800MSP). What the heck happened.

[lyte edge]

Yup; I'd remove the games with actual DLC and replace them with the unlock-key garbage. Look at Soul Calibur IV, another Scamco release-- I think the Soul Calibur 1 BGM tracks might be actual DLC, but all the weapon packs? The extra create parts? Vader and Yoda? All unlock keys. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL.

Street Fighter IV's outfits too.