The Witcher 2 DLC Won't Cost You a Dime, But Expansion Packs Will -- Er, What's the Difference?

Patrick there is no way the ERSB would rate it even an M rated game given the what I read about the sex in the game. I don't think it would pass with it being killed on ps3 or xbox via a AO rating . It got an 18 cert in the UK but then that's the highest rating they give to games in the UK. Plus looking at the specs for it they much better than the PS3 or 360. I am going to wait till i get a new gaming PC my self.

I miss Expansion packs.  Micro DLC is awful.

At times like this I'm sad I made mistake not joining "Cd Projekt Red" couple years ago. And its going to land on consoles I'm sure of it.

@Vitor: 

You mean anti-valve

What an awesome developer.

Still need to play the first Witcher. Awaiting my laptop...

@aku: That worked so good on the last game.

• a rerelease version with more content and full spoken english dialogue which was also release as a free patch
• a more advanced engine which is used in this game
• an almost complete console version (which was never fully licensed and so never released)
• this game.

DLC blurred the distinction between the two, and the consequence to me, is that the value of both has been unfortunately decreased.

Now try berating Snide and his penchant for Russian developers!

Wait, these guys are Polish? Fuck it, that's close enough!

Seriously, much love to CDProjeckt for this move.  Much much love.    

Expansion packs will only be a dime?! What a deal!

Should I get this? I just don't want to get fantasy RPG fatigue before Skyrim.

Not everyone has a gaming rig ya nerds. Stop getting all butthurt. That being said, it is nice having a PC exclusive. Makes a girl feel special.

The thing I like about GoG is that you can buy a game and just play it. You don't need to sign into five services through forty web pages of convoluted bullshit and download seventeen different pieces of content using eleven passwords stored in old emails from years ago and resetting the two passwords you've completely forgotten and lost and then enter seven serial numbers and be online for validation.

You just paid some fucking money and you got a fucking game.

With The Witcher 2, they "don't have any DRM", but you have to register your copy and then login to get patches, updates, DLC, etc and claim it as "attached to your identity". These are all the bullshit fucking hoops I try to avoid and is the reason I bought it directly from GoG instead of over Steam (where all my other games are). If I'd have known it was going to have all this goofy new-industry shit along with it, I'd have just stuck with the Steam version (even though that was a bad move with the original game since it came out in four or ten different editions on Steam over the years and was censored and was broken several times, to different degreees).

 It's the reason I hate DLC to begin with -- on consoles, steam, and everywhere else. It's not even that I am necessarily against paying for DLC. It's just that I used to buy a game and have it in a box and THE WHOLE FUCKING GAME WAS RIGHT FUCKING THERE. Now, it's in thirty seven pieces of content accessed different per-game (or sometimes even differently within the same game) and relying on existence and continuation of outside sources and services. Imagine how fucking complex a game collection will be in fifteen years? I have a collection of systems and games dating back to the 70s and the way I know if I have a whole game is whether the cartridge is on my shelf. I don't have to worry about all the additional trivial bullshit on top of it.

I dig The Witcher and CD Projekt and GoG, but fucking hell was I disappointed when I logged into the service this morning to finish downloading the game and find out that I had to do all this bullshit to get a game from *them* of all people.

Oh, on top of that, I had to wait a long time while it downloaded the DLC and additional pieces of content that only "registered users" who login via the game and provide a serial number get -- like voiceovers (1gb) and subtitles.  I have no fucking clue how you play the game without logging in and registering, if you don't otherwise get "voiceovers" or "subtitles". That one totally fucking baffles the shit out of me.

Oh - and this would fucking suck on a console. Grow up and buy a PC, Patrick.

That's cool. I miss expansion packs. They have more moxie than Weiner-y DLC.

Get a real computer Klepek!

Currently playing Witcher 2. It's like the greatest thing since sliced bread, once I got past its quirks (the tutorial just isn't enough 'in-your-face' and it's tips are easily missed, yet it contains tons of key informations).

If you can run it. GRAB IT NOW!

i like this approach better

forget the console, i want them to put 100% of their attention and energy on those expansion packs. maybe they can outsource that console stuff to somebody else, but the team needs to keep on making new content.

As fine as I am with more people getting to play The Witcher 2, it's kind of annoying that damn near every press story about the game mentions that it needs/should/might be on consoles.

Makes perfect sense.

Very good :)

This is such an amazing game. Goty 2011 for me :P I highly doubt that elder scrolls could be better

What's the difference between a DLC and an Expansion Pack. Really...? I fail to see any possible confusion between the two, but alright...

I'm out of town but my Witcher 2 copy should be home waiting for me by the time  I get back!  I can't wait to play.

I don't see the confusion here.  DLC is downloadable content.  Expansion Packs have historically come on a disk, in a box.  Pretty simple distinction.  It's possible they will offer the Packs via download.  I don't see how that is confusing though.

Any plans on a Quick Look?

This game is amazing. I encourage anyone with a capable PC to pick this up.

I think I'll be waiting six months for the "Enhanced Edition", since the last time I bought The Witcher (boxed, full price at retail) it didn't come with an activation code and I was stuck with the super buggy, super glitchy 1.0 version for about a year. Until they got off their asses and decided to fix their mistake of not shipping activation codes in Canadian boxes.

Expansion packs are good value for your buck. That's the difference.Only DLC's that can be seen as Expansions in my eyes are DLCs like Undead Nightmare.

Patrick - I think they will port this to a console for sure.
I just plugged in my GamePad and started going at it - it's fucking superb with a GamePad. Stopped playing with my Keyboard and Mouse almost immediately after changing some config files so I had inverted GamePad controls!

What's the difference? I hate them both...

@MooseyMcMan said:

Technically if it's content that is downloaded, it's downloadable content. 

Technically if it expands the game, it's an expansion pack.

Technically if it's content that is downloaded, it's downloadable content. 

Technically if it's content that is downloaded, it's downloadable content. 

To me, DLC is simply additional stuff like quests, weapons and whatnot. Expansions pack are story-driven continuations of the main quest, or simply spin-offs that takes the high road of six hours and more of content.

I'm glad that CDProjeckt decided to treat their fanbase such as this.

I just purchased the 1st witcher for $4.99 and have to say I am totally engrossed.  I might wait a bit to get the 2nd so as not to get burnt out, but I am really, really enjoying it so far.  Best RPG Ive played in quite some time.

Get a decent PC and enjoy the game in its full glory Patrick. There's nothing quite like.

A company that treats DLC as a reason to have someone keep playing your game, as opposed to a reason to make someone pay you again - is a company that I want to see do well.

Game's great so far although optimisation could use a little work judging by how many people on the official GOG forums are having issues.

Downloading this right now on Steam, if the game is even half as good as it looks I think i'll be in for a treat.

That would be a dream come true <3But I do find it funny how you can get scoffed at if you want something on the PC, but not on the consoles...

@Kpek

harkening to when "expansion pack" meant hours of content and often a retail product