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Downloadable Content Comes To Giant Bomb

A new section of our database now allows you to write your own reviews of downloadable add-ons.


Horse Armor: Still, like, one of the worst things ever. 
Horse Armor: Still, like, one of the worst things ever. 
Today is DLC day here in Giantbomblandia, the native lands of Giant Bomb. You may know it as Sausalito, CA, but enough about that! The important thing is that we've expanded our database to allow entries for all sorts of downloadable content, from Rock Band 2 track packs to the nefariously offensive add-on that started me thinking "man, someone should start writing reviews of this stuff," the horse armor for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

On the database side, you can enter release dates and descriptions for the different downloadable add-ons that are out there. And once something's in the database, you can also write reviews. Yes, now you can tell the world what you think about that Darth Vader download for the Xbox 360 version of Soulcalibur IV, or The Lost & Damned for Grand Theft Auto IV.

We'll also be able to write our own reviews of this stuff in the coming weeks. But for starters, it's all about y'all. So here are a few basic guidelines about how we've set this stuff up.

First, this system is designed to primarily handle piecemeal add-on content for games. This system isn't (yet) intended to handle, for example, retail expansions to PC games. Also, this is only for in-game content, not wallpaper, themes, or any other out-of-game junk.

You can flag DLC entries with one or more types. Here's a list of those types and how they're intended to be used.
Here's where you want to click to get there. 
Here's where you want to click to get there. 
  • Song (Individual) - one song, usually intended for use with a rhythm game.
  • Song (Pack) - a pack of songs, again, usually intended for use with a rhythm game.
  • Multiplayer Add-On - this will be primarily used for map packs, but things like the additional ruleset add-on for Halo Wars totally counts here, too.
  • Single-Player Add-On - Packs that add new story content or other solo elements--like Fallout 3's Point Lookout, for example--are prime examples of this category.
  • Equipment/Clothing - Examples include new costumes for fighting games, new jerseys for sports games, additional skateboards, new guns, all of that stuff.
  • Cheat - This category is for the (sort of filthy) type of download that unlocks things in the game without you having to play the game. Things like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09's fully-powered golfer, or the ability to pay to unlock "Unlimited Ragna" in BlazBlue--even though you can get those things by normally playing the game--apply here.
  • Character - Additional full-on characters. In some cases, the line between character and costume may seem a bit blurry, but if they're giving a guy a new name in the process, chances are it's a new character.

So bang around on it, write a few reviews, and let us know what you think. You can find it by clicking on the "DLC Add-ons" tab on the left side of a game page, provided that game exists on a platform that allows for DLC. We're pretty excited to be adding a whole new section to the database, and we hope you're into it.
Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

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jeff

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Edited By jeff

Horse Armor: Still, like, one of the worst things ever. 
Horse Armor: Still, like, one of the worst things ever. 
Today is DLC day here in Giantbomblandia, the native lands of Giant Bomb. You may know it as Sausalito, CA, but enough about that! The important thing is that we've expanded our database to allow entries for all sorts of downloadable content, from Rock Band 2 track packs to the nefariously offensive add-on that started me thinking "man, someone should start writing reviews of this stuff," the horse armor for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

On the database side, you can enter release dates and descriptions for the different downloadable add-ons that are out there. And once something's in the database, you can also write reviews. Yes, now you can tell the world what you think about that Darth Vader download for the Xbox 360 version of Soulcalibur IV, or The Lost & Damned for Grand Theft Auto IV.

We'll also be able to write our own reviews of this stuff in the coming weeks. But for starters, it's all about y'all. So here are a few basic guidelines about how we've set this stuff up.

First, this system is designed to primarily handle piecemeal add-on content for games. This system isn't (yet) intended to handle, for example, retail expansions to PC games. Also, this is only for in-game content, not wallpaper, themes, or any other out-of-game junk.

You can flag DLC entries with one or more types. Here's a list of those types and how they're intended to be used.
Here's where you want to click to get there. 
Here's where you want to click to get there. 
  • Song (Individual) - one song, usually intended for use with a rhythm game.
  • Song (Pack) - a pack of songs, again, usually intended for use with a rhythm game.
  • Multiplayer Add-On - this will be primarily used for map packs, but things like the additional ruleset add-on for Halo Wars totally counts here, too.
  • Single-Player Add-On - Packs that add new story content or other solo elements--like Fallout 3's Point Lookout, for example--are prime examples of this category.
  • Equipment/Clothing - Examples include new costumes for fighting games, new jerseys for sports games, additional skateboards, new guns, all of that stuff.
  • Cheat - This category is for the (sort of filthy) type of download that unlocks things in the game without you having to play the game. Things like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09's fully-powered golfer, or the ability to pay to unlock "Unlimited Ragna" in BlazBlue--even though you can get those things by normally playing the game--apply here.
  • Character - Additional full-on characters. In some cases, the line between character and costume may seem a bit blurry, but if they're giving a guy a new name in the process, chances are it's a new character.

So bang around on it, write a few reviews, and let us know what you think. You can find it by clicking on the "DLC Add-ons" tab on the left side of a game page, provided that game exists on a platform that allows for DLC. We're pretty excited to be adding a whole new section to the database, and we hope you're into it.
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MasterOfPenguins_Zell

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Oo, cool. More to fill in. ;___;

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RiddleBrother

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Edited By RiddleBrother

niiiice

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hatking

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Edited By hatking

Cool, this was probably needed.

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VWGTI

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Edited By VWGTI

Awesome stuff.

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lemon360

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Edited By lemon360

nice

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deactivated-5ffc9b0923f9f

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So does Shivering Isles for Oblivion count as DLC? Or is that an "expansion?" What decides what is DLC and what is an expansion? Is there even a difference anymore?

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Azteck

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Edited By Azteck

Dude, awesome! Now I can actually get to fill in some info.

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snide

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Edited By snide

Also should note that only 1000+ scoring users can actually add new DLCs to the database.

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citizenkane

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Edited By citizenkane

This stuff is great so far.  Awesome job, guys!

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Karmum

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Edited By Karmum
@snide:
I just noticed for the GTA IV DLC page, I noticed you could put a review for the upcoming GTA IV DLC release. I didn't try and actually send a review to the website, but it lets you type stuff. Just wanted to point that out.

Awesome, by the way! Just added my old Lost & Damned review onto the website. Thanks guys!


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JJOR64

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Edited By JJOR64

Awesome new addition.

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Legend

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Edited By Legend

Awesome!

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Phetz

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Edited By Phetz

Very cool. Definitely needed this, especially for the bigger DLC like the Fallout 3 stuff. Good call, guys!

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apathylad

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Edited By apathylad

I just submitted a review for the second CoD: WaW map pack.

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LeadNinja

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Edited By LeadNinja

Awesome!  I've been waiting for this.  The quick looks are useful, but now, just about everything can be reviewed.

Links to the 360 marketplace might be nice...

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Aaron_G

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Edited By Aaron_G

That is awesome.

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Edited By oDr3w

Jesus, I sign up today and already DLC?! Awsome.

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Reverseface

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Edited By Reverseface

can i get some horse armour plx.

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

I can't wait for some Horse Armor reviews.

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maxszy

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Edited By maxszy

Awesome! Always improving the Bomb of the Giant! Thanks guys!!

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Aashammer

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Edited By Aashammer

Don't mock the horse armor!

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FLStyle

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Edited By FLStyle

So I can go through each of the Valkyria Chronicles DLC? oooo that's nice.

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InFamous91

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Edited By InFamous91

great

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Nadril

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Edited By Nadril

I totally thought you guy's meant that you were going to sell DLC for Giant Bomb for a moment there XD.

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CoolDrMoney

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Edited By CoolDrMoney

Cool, time to add and review the Motorstorm DLC

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mracoon

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Edited By mracoon

As if I didn't spend enough time on this site already. Just wondering, does the TF2 class updates count as DLC as it was a multiplayer add-on but it was given to everyone.

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master

YAHOO

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Karmum

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Edited By Karmum
@mracoon:
As of right now, it doesn't appear that way. Although, those updates would make sense.
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skrutop

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Edited By skrutop

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!


http://www.giantbomb.com/list-of-rock-band-compatible-downloadable-content/92-2232

Ok, after creating a few items, some feedback:
  1. I have 4000+ points, but my subs still weren't automatically accepted
  2. Why can't we choose multiple platforms for DLC?  For Rock Band, this might actually help, as the Wii tracks haven't caught up with the 360/PS3.
  3. In the case of songs, the packs are made up of individual songs.  So what about some sort of container system for the packs that simply holds the individual tracks, rather than having packs and individuals have duplicate info in them?  I'm not sure if there is other non-RB DLC out there that this might work for as well.
  4. Is there a way to flag DLC for multiple games?  Since Rock Band DLC works on multiple games, it would make sense to be able to have one set of DLC for both.  Likewise the Metallica Death Magnetic stuff could be flagged for GH3 and GH:Metallica.

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Claude

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Edited By Claude

I wonder how Endogene would feel about this?

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Edited By mracoon
@Karmum said:
" @mracoon:
As of right now, it doesn't appear that way. Although, those updates would make sense. "
Yeah I think they do count as they're downloadable and they all include content for the game. It won't hurt to fill the page in.
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MattyFTM

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Edited By MattyFTM  Moderator

Awesome, I've been waiting for something like this on GB, but wouldn't it make sense to make the DLC page like a full wiki page, where users can add full wikified descriptions, with large plot summaries, features descriptions, images etc. to each of the add-ons? Because some games with particularly large add ons (e.g. GTA4's The Lost & The Damned) or lots of reasonable sized add ons (e.g. Fallout 3's many add ons), there is a lot of information, and while it is fine on the main wiki, it takes up a lot of space and it can make navigating the wiki page to find the info a bit clunky. It would probably be easier to just click on the DLC tab to find most of the information, while the main games article could just briefly mention it?

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Karmum

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Edited By Karmum
@mracoon said:
" @Karmum said:
" @mracoon:
As of right now, it doesn't appear that way. Although, those updates would make sense. "
Yeah I think they do count as they're downloadable and they all include content for the game. It won't hurt to fill the page in. "
Especially since there are guides on some of the recent updates. Damn you guide masters! You're all behind in the TF2 updates! Then again, these guides might outline all of the positives and negatives of the updates.
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Edited By chuckimus

Not to be a stick in the mud but a greater enhancement would be to get rid of the grey text on the black background.  It's a major detraction.  Take a look at the news / release bar on the right.  Heck, even look at your own screen grab.  




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Nasar7

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Edited By Nasar7
@chuckimus said:
" Not to be a stick in the mud but a greater enhancement would be to get rid of the grey text on the black background.  It's a major detraction.  Take a look at the news / release bar on the right.  Heck, even look at your own screen grab.  
"
I love the colors, its easy on the eyes.
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Nasar7

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Edited By Nasar7
@skrutop: Sorry man, but at least you got the points lol.
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KillaMaStA

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Edited By KillaMaStA

Why dont my points show up on the game page?


Are DLC like a totally different thing seperate from the game page?

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phlegms

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Edited By phlegms

THE PARTY NEVER STOPS A GIANTBOMB MUTHA FUCKAS!

And yes the all caps were necessary .

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mracoon

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Edited By mracoon
@KillaMaStA said:
" Why dont my points show up on the game page?Are DLC like a totally different thing seperate from the game page? "
It's the same for game releases, the points don't affect the top contributors for that games page.
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RHCPfan24

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Edited By RHCPfan24

Whoa! That is really awesome. I love this idea! Thanks!

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Kajaah117

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Edited By Kajaah117

Holy shit. This was one of my favorite features of achieve360points.com, but now my favorite site has it? And it's already even better? I just want to go to my rooftop and shout I LOVE GIANT BOMB!!!... and my friend Evan. /reference.

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Video_Game_King

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Edited By Video_Game_King

One question: will this count for old school variants of DLC, like what was offered on Satellaview and Sega Channel and similar things?

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zyn

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Edited By zyn

Awesome!

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Froy544

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Edited By Froy544

this seems like a really cool idea and something not alot of other sites do.

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Potter9156

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Edited By Potter9156

What about user created mods? I mean, they're downloadable, and add content.

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jeff

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Edited By jeff

No, the Sega Channel and Satellaview stuff worked quite a bit differently. We're specifically after add-ons to existing games. Downloadable add-ons, to be exact. 
 
And another one of you asked about TF2 class updates. No, those are just patches. We're looking for optional updates, the kind that usually cost money.

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Hamz

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Edited By Hamz

Brilliant stuff folks!

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c_rakestraw

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Edited By c_rakestraw

Sweet. I was wondering when this was going to arrive.