Gears of War 3 Developer Explains On Disc DLC

The latest content that was released for Gears of War 3 titled “The Horde Command Pack” was included on the retail discs that shipped with the game in September. The practice of including content on a disc that is inaccessible by the purchaser is one that is frowned upon by gamers, but Epic Games feels otherwise.

The latest content that was released for Gears of War 3 titled "The Horde Command Pack" was included on the retail discs that shipped with the game in September. The practice of including content on a disc that is inaccessible by the purchaser is one that is frowned upon by gamers, but Epic Games feels otherwise.

In a recent interview, Rod Fergusson of Epic Games said that "We're not saying that everything on the disc is the product... The disc is another delivery mechnism." Fergusson told Kotaku.

While many gamers might not appreciate having to pay to unlock content on a product that they actually own, Epic is not being coy about the subject in the least. They make valid arguments considering that fact that Gears of War 3 was one of the more robust offerings of 2011 with a ton of value. However, nickel and diming gamers for gun skins and character unlocks that are already on the disc is sure to leave a bad taste lingering for some.

Gears of War 3 has already seen some controversy over their DLC plans when they announced the Gears of War 3 "Season Pass" which included the content, some of which is already on the disc. Sure it might make more sense economically for Epic to ship the game with this additional content already on board, but it doesn't paint them in any light other than trying to bleed every last penny from their fans.

By Charles Norris on November 4, 2011

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Bacon

I was right I told all of ya long ago that the dlc was in the game and that your paying extra just for a code to unlock it, some company epic is but then again they are being trained by Microsoft to sucker as much money as possible
- Cool dude
  
  You PAY for a DLC right bacon? Its just like Back to Karland or COD map packs you fanboy.
- Frank
  
  Cool dude, how the hell are you justifying this? Is M$ really that far up your ass? The “DLC” has been there since the 22nd of September, ON THE DISK you PAYED $60 for! Please don’t tell me that you’re really THIS retarded. This is why developers feel like they can shit on us gamers, because of people like YOU, and anyone that supports this shit. It isn’t about 360 vs PS3 because if Naughty Dog or Sucker Punch were to have done this, i’d be singing the same tune. It isn’t right. If this continues, in about 5 years, we’ll be seeing “Congratulations, you beat level 4! To finish the rest of this game, insert your credit card an download the $30 on disk dlc for a game you already payed $60 for!”. Retard.
- Frank
  
  Hell, and the more I think about it, the more it becomes a possibility to sue the shit out of developers that do this. A comment below says that Capcom did this with MvCC3, but no. Releasing a game twice or three times with added features that were not in the titles original release is NOT the same as on disk dlc. 3 months ago, did Epic say “Hey, theres on disk dlc.” No. They wait nearly 2 months after a games release to say it. The disk, and anything on it belong to the CONSUMER. My disk isn’t storage for developers to be cheap and not have to pay to put it on PSN/LIVE! If it’s on the disk, it should be FREE.
- BranchofLight
  
  Slow clap for Frank.
  
  Well said.
Truth

Xbots thumb down but this is PROOF they don’t care about their fans. You are their slaves and you know it. Stop being in denial.
- Cool dude
  
  Its a Friggin DLC! They included it on a disk so you don’t have to wait for a download. Its just like any other DLCs. Get that on your small mind okay? And thats the “TRUTH”
- dismall
  
  Yeah…”Cool dude” I don’t think you understand what DLC means because it stands for downloadable content, NOT unlockable content.
- Cool dude
  
  Maybe it could be called as ULC instead, it doesnt really make much of a difference.
Jimmer

So, when I buy a truck, Ford can charge me later to use the CD player because the truck already offers so many other features?
- bozmanbeyond
  
  This is called planning ahead and convenience, also time saving . I guess if it was already on a server before the game came out it would make you feel all warm and cozy then.
  
  This game is already well worth the 60 bucks between the 4 player Campaign, Horde Mode, Beast Mode, and the Verses game mode.
Jubay

Well I’ve been a fan since the 1st gears.. Always made sure to get the collectors edition and gears 3 I paid 150.00 for the epic edition.I would think that’s enough cash to give me more then 2 days of gold pass a playable father.. But I guess not.. Buy the time all the DLC’s are out your looking at over 200.00 bucks… Not fair at all.. I guess pick wisely my friends.. And epic shame on you.. Bad cliffy bad..
Raven

Uncharted 3 has disc dlc too, this isn’t a Xbox/Epic situation, it’s a problem with all companies
Underworld

That’s pretty cheap. If you’re going to have the dlc on disc, then make it available to people!

That would be like a DVD having extra features, alternate endings, ect, but charging customers extra to access it.
A113n

Wow, this is wrong on so many levels. It just brings up the issue of DLC all together, DLC is supposed to be something you can add to the game to make your experience more enjoyable. Having something available at launch, paying $60 for the game and then having to pay more to unlock what they already gave you.

Who’s to stop them from doing this on all xbox exclusives.
- Cool dude
  
  Uhh, yeah, again the DLC is INCLUDED on the disk because WE DONT HAVE TO DOWNLOAD IT and its a DLC just like anyone else’s. The difference is that its IN THE DISK.
  
  Did you hear that? WE DON’T HAVE TO DOWNLOAD IT.
  
  You probably didn’t hear that.
- drake
  
  why are you being an xbot cool dude don’t you fcking get it? if this dlc is ALREADY included in the disc why the hell should we pay extra for it even if its a dlc. We should have the right to access what’s already in the disc because it’s packaged as such. Their probably thinking of selling us stuff but paying more to ACCESS what’s already been sold. I heard that’s what their doing to movies on dvd, access to special content etc.
- Cool dude
  
  Theres basically two points of view here.
  
  Theres:
  
  “Ohh, its already downloaded and you just have to pay for it, no need to waste your internet on downloading DLCs any more”
  
  And “What a rip-off, this should be free since I already bought it”
  
  Its a very complicated matter. Im on the first point of view and your on the second one.
  
  :D
Jimmer

I know they did this same thing for some of the DLC for Resident Evil 5.
Titan

I bet this may have been going on for years, think of all the games with dlc in less than a month
Just Say’n

All games do. Look at Marvel Vs Capcom 3, there about to release a whole new game which the first one already had on disk. Plus Capcom keeps drag’n out there street fighter games, with 3 different versions???? So don’t even try to start an Xbox vs PS3, cause you don’t have both like some of us do. This is the game developers doing.
Bacon

I got no problem with hackers finding a way to unlock the code and give it out to everyone since its already in the disc that people pay full price for, bought it used instead? Well you pay extra then lol
- Cool dude
  
  Well good luck being hacked with your UC 3 disk then bacon.
AKA Zzz

So how does this affect the use of USB’s to unlock the content for free? If the content is already on the disc you own and you are able to get it off, is it considered illegal?
Ijust wanna play

all games and consoles are leading this way. Unfortunately. economy is bad and they are still trying to squeeze the pennies out of us. ftw
Jimmer

Let me put it like this. If the “DLC” is on the disc, it’s already done. The work is complete. You pay for an unlock code to get it. Now if they were working on it during their regular development time then this stuff is potentially already bought and payed for. When you buy the game you are covering the cost of production with it. Do you see what I mean? If they worked on the “DLC” during regular production time, they’ve already been payed for it. So when you buy the key, you may be paying them twice. It all depends on if it falls in the same development cycle. Now they could be designating a set amount of time before it goes gold where they get paid separate from what they make from the retail version.
XboxTom

it aint DLC if you unlock it, not download it. simple
IHATEHIPSTERS

honestly gears of war 3 has so much content and we are about to get 3 free maps so i dont give a shit. it was worth the 60$
Raven

There’s a big difference in developing dlc after a games release and locking out features on a disc you’ve bought.

I’m all for supporting developers by buying good dlc that they work on after releasing a game. But don’t hold back features to get more money out of me.
reality

When you buy a game you are simply buying a software license, there is no ground to sue based on the fact that you don’t own the game, you own what the disc gives you, if they lock content, which they are allowed to do, you must, if you want the locked content, do whatever they say to unlock it, or you could pirate it. By the way Capcom did this with every version of Street Fighter, you know those costume packs, yeah those are on the disc, no one seemed to care, so blame consumers for this, its their fault for voting yes with their money.
Lolsome

I don’t see them hating on CoD. Every CoD game has extra maps in the .ff of the disk for future maps which you cant get/unlock until they release the map pack for $15.