DLC

The three most hated/loved letters in all of video gaming. DLC. At times great, but mostly trash. The basic definition of DLC is downloadable content, something that is added onto a previously existing game that you already have. Some is free but most involve purchase of a usual cost of about $10 on an average. Some DLC is just extra characters, weapons and maps, while others are new missions, while others add whole new levels and change things drastically.

In games like Halo, or Call of Duty, most of the time, the DLC is a map pack, or maybe new weapons. The trouble with this, is that not everybody will buy it, and that can make the community a little disjointed when some people have maps and others don't. The same goes for DLC drop weapons. If you buy weapons and somebody doesn't, you generally have the advantage over the ones who haven't. This forces people to buy the new weapons as well as maps. In something like League of Legends, you can download new characters. While some will most likely be overpowered, most of the game devs take time and effort into making sure they are not broken or unbalanced and that they will cater to the people who like to play as them. But, why not just put in those extra characters in the first place when you buy them in stores? It wouldn't be too difficult to make Freddie Crouger's character from Soul Caliber before release date? If it's a long (and I mean really long) running game like LOL and eventually, you feel like rewarding the players, then make new characters. 

Most of the time though, devs tell you about the DLC they are going to make and then don't actually let you get it on the disc without another purchase or a pre-order. It makes sense that devs might want to reward fan loyalty with Pre-order bonuses, but when you don't pre-order a game that comes: "with early access to the next drop off" you feel a little ticked off. If they're making something which they plan to be in the game from the beginning, then why not just give it to us? Oh, that's right...money. If a game has been out for a while and developers feel like they can make something new and interesting for the player, then sure, DLC could be cool, but most of the time it feels like a money grabbing ploy against your wallet. 

And most DLC's are short anyway. Most of the time, reviews criticise DLC for being short or unpolished. Take most Mass Effect DLC. Short and probably not all that worthwhile. Even Batman's "Harley Quinn's Revenge" DLC could have been much better as it was fun, but short and didn't really add anything new to the experience of Arkham City.

The absolute best DLC comes from some of the best minds out there. Valve's TF2 comes out with lots of updates frequently as well as things like Maan vs Machine which is free. Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption got Undead Nightmare which was a long, well crafted and cheap add on to RDR that really made the future of DLC look bright. But most likely, DLC will remain a cheap way to con cash.