Wait, don't they need to get the retail game out the door first?
Gearbox's loot-driven wasteland romp Borderlands ain't even on store shelves till next week--with a PC release following on Steam the week after that--but the developer is already spilling the beans about its post-release plans for downloadable content.
Described as "the first in a series" of add-ons, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned will run you $10 on all three platforms. Here's a brief description of what's in there.
Tasked with keeping the workers of Jakobs Cove alive, Dr. Ned (who is not related to Dr. Zed from Fyrestone) does his job a little too well, creating zombies and other abominations that now run rampant in this region. Players will have to work alongside Dr. Ned as they embark on a quest to cure the inhabitants of Jakobs Cove in this full-fledged expansion filled with new enemies, new quests and rare loot drops.
More importantly, here's what it looks like.
The real question, of course, is exactly how much content and how big a landmass this pack entails. Jeff's closing in on the level cap in Borderlands right next to me, so we'll have a full review of the shipping game next week, and you can look for this DLC pack to hit "later this year."
" The Borderlands team crunched hard to get the game awesome and on-time. The momentum was inspiring. As people wrapped the game, work began on DLC and the momentum continued even after the game was on lock-down to get through certification. This DLC could not be included with the game because it was started after the game was finished. If this effort was part of the game's development, then the game would be coming weeks and weeks late *and* it would cost $10 more to account for the costs involved in creating it. Given that - Anyone have some love for the Borderlands team who crunched their asses off to finish the game and then just kept on crunching in order to make more awesome happen for additional value? BTW - This DLC is SICK! These shots are cool, but it's just scratching the surface. - Randy Pitchford "
Don't worry Randy, I understand how the process worked and how the DLC couldn't be added. Sad thing though is that people will complain and not listen no matter what. Keep up the good work man!
" Wow... I just canceled my pre-order of this game... That is bullshit. "
You are seriously fucking kidding me, right? Bethesda was working on DLC for Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage during the time that they were making Fallout 3. They are talking about this content still being at least a month or two out. You cancelled a pre-order on what looks to be a pretty fan-fucking-tastic game solely because they said "hey, we WILL be supporting this game post-release, and here's a sneak peek at what we're working on"? Yeah, GOD FORBID the company gives me more confidence in their product by saying "we're still going to be making new shit for it after it comes out". "
settle down before you make him cry :P aslo I had no idea there was a cove on zombie island named after you "
They even spelled it with a "K". Makes my heart all warm and fuzzy...and ready to shoot the shit out of some zombos!
Sadly, it's not my real name. That makes my heart a little less warm and fuzzy...but oh well.
" Wow... I just canceled my pre-order of this game... That is bullshit. "
You are seriously fucking kidding me, right? Bethesda was working on DLC for Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage during the time that they were making Fallout 3. They are talking about this content still being at least a month or two out. You cancelled a pre-order on what looks to be a pretty fan-fucking-tastic game solely because they said "hey, we WILL be supporting this game post-release, and here's a sneak peek at what we're working on"? Yeah, GOD FORBID the company gives me more confidence in their product by saying "we're still going to be making new shit for it after it comes out". "
settle down before you make him cry :P aslo I had no idea there was a cove on zombie island named after you
The Borderlands team crunched hard to get the game awesome and on-time. The momentum was inspiring. As people wrapped the game, work began on DLC and the momentum continued even after the game was on lock-down to get through certification.
This DLC could not be included with the game because it was started after the game was finished.
If this effort was part of the game's development, then the game would be coming weeks and weeks late *and* it would cost $10 more to account for the costs involved in creating it.
Given that - Anyone have some love for the Borderlands team who crunched their asses off to finish the game and then just kept on crunching in order to make more awesome happen for additional value?
BTW - This DLC is SICK! These shots are cool, but it's just scratching the surface.
" So, Gearbox, you've already started designing this stuff, eh? Tell me then... Why is this not in the box of the actual game? *Cough* micro-transactions... *Cough* I'm not disappointed to see it, certainly looks great: I'm just disappointed to see such a blatant marketing strategy at work. "
Thats actually a good point and one I'm sure someone more intelligent than I could answer. "
This actually already has been answered a bunch of times. Gearbox announced that they started working on DLC after the game went into certification. A bunch of people were asking about if they were thinking about DLC and once the game went into certification they explained how instead of just doing nothing at that point, they decided to put people on working on DLC. at the point of certification no new content can be added to the game. So nothing that is DLC could be in the actual game. There is your answer
Curse them for having DLC!!! I really wish this game would just keep getting pushed back. Yes, I would never be able to play it, but I could still LOOK and READ about the awesome stuff that will be in it!
I guess we are just gonna disagree because I don't see adding extra content to the game after release as some vile and horrible thing. Is it really different if you get four chunks of DLC for $10 each or 1 expansion pack with all 4 for $40? I'd rather get the DLC sooner than wait longer for an expansion pack. Or do you dislike the idea of expansion packs too?
Personally, I see continued support of a game a feature, not something to demonize the company for. I just don't see what the complaint here is as to why a game with DLC is worse than a game without it. Unless the game MAKES you buy the DLC, that would of course be lame.
I don't get people who complain about DLC. If you hate DLC that much, DON'T BUY IT.
I agree, don't buy games that have DLC announced before the game is even out if you don't like DLC. "
Wow, nice job taking quotes out of context. I obviously meant don't buy the extra content that you seem to hate so much. Not buying a game for the sole reason that it has DLC makes absolutely no sense unless somebody is holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy all DLC for any game you purchase.
Only way the out of touch CEOs are going to get the message.
" Another one bites the dust. Chalk this up with Dragon Age as two games I was looking forward to but now am going to pass on because of ridiculous DLC scams to make the game more expensive. How about devs just put everything into the game until release, then start working on a large, PC-worthy expansion pack if you want to extend the game properly. "
"Zityz, I doubt they need to add in 'new guns', considering the borderline infinite amount of guns currently in the game already. I dunno, I think not hitting the level cap your first time is actually a good thing, it gives incentive to your second playthrough. Given that Jeff was at about level 38 early on in his second playthrough, the game seems to be balanced towards you hitting 50 by the end of your second time through. "
True. I'm just hoping that a second playthrough or harder diffficulty enables different challanges or hidden bosses that wouldnt be there the first time. Example would be Titans Quest where each difficulty had a different hidden boss that wouldnt have been there the previous time around. Keeps things fresh that way i think. "
Yeah, that'd be good, extra bosses and things like that (or even things that just aren't possible your first time through cause of levels) would be really nice. I didn't get a sense of that from jeff's quick look, but he didn't mention a whole lot about the second playthrough. It does seem to scale everything up to keep it at least moderately more fresh though.
"Zityz, I doubt they need to add in 'new guns', considering the borderline infinite amount of guns currently in the game already. I dunno, I think not hitting the level cap your first time is actually a good thing, it gives incentive to your second playthrough. Given that Jeff was at about level 38 early on in his second playthrough, the game seems to be balanced towards you hitting 50 by the end of your second time through. "
True. I'm just hoping that a second playthrough or harder diffficulty enables different challanges or hidden bosses that wouldnt be there the first time. Example would be Titans Quest where each difficulty had a different hidden boss that wouldnt have been there the previous time around. Keeps things fresh that way i think.
" Another one bites the dust. Chalk this up with Dragon Age as two games I was looking forward to but now am going to pass on because of ridiculous DLC scams to make the game more expensive. How about devs just put everything into the game until release, then start working on a large, PC-worthy expansion pack if you want to extend the game properly. "
I'd agree if the base game is pretty barren or broken in its initial release and made much better only via DLC. But if the base game is decent or good, then DLC is fine by me. DLC should be a way for ppl who like the game to experience more content in that universe, not to fix a shitty/broken game. Whether Borderlands or DA is okay out of the box or not remains to be seen.
But if you feel that having any DLC at all is nickle-and-diming enough the gamer, to the point that you boycott the game, well that's your perogative
" Wow... I just canceled my pre-order of this game... That is bullshit. "
You are seriously fucking kidding me, right? Bethesda was working on DLC for Fallout 3's Operation Anchorage during the time that they were making Fallout 3.
They are talking about this content still being at least a month or two out. You cancelled a pre-order on what looks to be a pretty fan-fucking-tastic game solely because they said "hey, we WILL be supporting this game post-release, and here's a sneak peek at what we're working on"?
Yeah, GOD FORBID the company gives me more confidence in their product by saying "we're still going to be making new shit for it after it comes out".
"The other problem is the how much they're charging. Now $10 is a bit for an area. If theyre adding in new shit ontop of that like guns and such then yea its worth the purchase.
at the end of the quote it mentions new enemies, new quests, and rare loot drops so im confused on if that means its the same loot just that harder to find ones are easier or rare as in only in the DLC..
and im still buying the game either way, the game has so many things going for it i think announcing dlc before release doesnt hurt it for me (i dont really like them announcing it so early like in MW2 cause it just make it sound like they could put it in the game but they probably started this about a month ago and about 3 weeks ago is when this went gold i think so it makes since that it didnt make it in the full version..)
I don't get people who complain about DLC. If you hate DLC that much, DON'T BUY IT.
I agree, don't buy games that have DLC announced before the game is even out if you don't like DLC. "
Wow, nice job taking quotes out of context. I obviously meant don't buy the extra content that you seem to hate so much. Not buying a game for the sole reason that it has DLC makes absolutely no sense unless somebody is holding a gun to your head forcing you to buy all DLC for any game you purchase.
Honestly, I don't mind that there's new DLC being made already, and I'll gladly pay the extra $10. I mean it's only $10, if it cost like $20-$25 or something ridiculous like that, yeah, then there'd be a problem. Also, to those who are canceling their preorders just because a company is making an addon that isn't mandatory, well, what the hell?
Zityz, I doubt they need to add in 'new guns', considering the borderline infinite amount of guns currently in the game already.
I dunno, I think not hitting the level cap your first time is actually a good thing, it gives incentive to your second playthrough. Given that Jeff was at about level 38 early on in his second playthrough, the game seems to be balanced towards you hitting 50 by the end of your second time through.
Here's what I'm thinking. How big is this game? Because if Jeff is on his second playthrough just to hit the level cap, wouldnt that make the game's story or lenght short as it is? Yes sure there is multiplayer and all and thats fine., but in the long run it doesn't seam like its not very lenghty to begin charging what they are?.
Now you add in content that they could have been working on before certification. It seams like they could have given the fact it doesn't seam like there is enough content to begin with. The other problem is the how much they're charging. Now $10 is a bit for an area. If theyre adding in new shit ontop of that like guns and such then yea its worth the purchase.
Both sides of the arguement have good valid points. Me? I'm buying the game anyway regardless cause it looks fun, but these are the things I'm wondering. *shrugs*
I don't get people who complain about DLC. If you hate DLC that much, DON'T BUY IT. Just pretend it doesn't exist and that they never released it.
The reason it isn't bundled with the box is that if they wanted to include it in the box, the game would be delayed by months. Then you people would complain that they are delaying the game. The disc has been printed for a while, as soon as they finished that they probably started working on the DLC.
If the content is lame, that's a reasonable complaint. This looks like new areas, quests, monsters, etc. That sounds pretty solid for DLC to me. To complain about the fact that they are including DLC? That's just ridiculous.
" So, Gearbox, you've already started designing this stuff, eh? Tell me then... Why is this not in the box of the actual game? *Cough* micro-transactions... *Cough* I'm not disappointed to see it, certainly looks great: I'm just disappointed to see such a blatant marketing strategy at work. "
Thats actually a good point and one I'm sure someone more intelligent than I could answer.
Not as bad DLC announcement timing as Dragon Age, but still irritating. The game is a week off and hopefully this DLC isn't done and they're still working on it (integrity of the company).
Still, one more reason for me to be glad I'm skipping this game.
@Ockman: agreed, one thing i hate about DLC. same thing goes with modern warfare 2, they already announced maps and said xbox 360 is going to have it like 2 weeks earlier then ps3.
" look il buy the DLC, but really guys. why not wait at least a month after the game is released before you start talking about DLC. "
because it shows the smart people (the people that realize Gearbox didn't withhold anything from the game) that they are willing to support the game after release. Borderlands needs all the reasons to buy it as it can because of all the huge games coming out. Knowing that a developer will continue to support a game is a plus to buy the game.
" Another one bites the dust. Chalk this up with Dragon Age as two games I was looking forward to but now am going to pass on because of ridiculous DLC scams to make the game more expensive. How about devs just put everything into the game until release, then start working on a large, PC-worthy expansion pack if you want to extend the game properly. "
Or they could actually just release the game this year instead of trying to get all this stuff and the other planned DLC crammed into the box and having the game come out mid next year...
And with Dragon Age, Bioware said a long long time ago that they were planning on making DLC for Dragon Age for 2 years after its release.
" Cool but i hate it when companies announce DLC before the game is even out, or just after it comes out, it's just gouging people for more money cause they know they can. It's kinda a big "fuck you" to the fans of the game. So whoever developed Borderlands, too bad, i beat you to it "
Actually it's nothing like that smartass. DLC went into production after the game went to certification. At that point no new content could be added. So way to make dumb assumptions to put down a developer and make yourself look like an idiot.
Cool but i hate it when companies announce DLC before the game is even out, or just after it comes out, it's just gouging people for more money cause they know they can. It's kinda a big "fuck you" to the fans of the game. So whoever developed Borderlands, too bad, i beat you to it
I wonder what Jeff's thoughts are on this DLC. On the one hand, he seems to really enjoy himself some Borderlands (and I hope to as well soon) but then there's this Zombie focused content. The franken-esque monster looks awesome, but I'm not too sure how great it is to announce paid DLC before you've established your game when it hits.
Though it does show commitment from Gearbox that they want to support this game, so that's a definite plus.
To avoid all of this bitching. It's a really annoying thing developers have been doing lately, recent examples being Naughty Dog who did it too with Uncharted 2, so did Bioware with Dragon Age. Just announce the damn DLC after your game comes out. "
I guess it would have stopped all the bitching but to be honest, this DLC was "announced" a while ago. It is no new thing that there will be DLC so quickly. The only new thing is what the DLC will be...but apparently knowing what the DLC is causes more bitching than knowing that DLC is coming quickly. I forget when they announced they started working on DLC...I think it was about a month ago.
" Ya know, it probably would've been just for the best if Brad didn't post this story at all. Leave me in the dark giantbomb, i like this site for all your great videos, and podcast, i dont care about news. lol I'd rather be blissfully ignorant than even know this DLC was coming already. "
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