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Namco Bandai Does the Predictable Thing

Get ready to pay for more content that you already bought.

Pay for me again, you will!
Pay for me again, you will!
In a move that surprises no one, Namco Bandai announced this morning that Darth Vader and Yoda would be available as downloadable characters in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, respectively, of Soulcalibur IV for $5 a pop. I'm a pretty big proponent for the positive powers of downloadable content, but it's hard to defend against accusations that publishers are using DLC as a way to charge extra for content that should've been a part of the core package when they pull some very plainly orchestrated shit like this. It has long since been figured out that the actual data for both Vader and Yoda is already on the disc, yet Namco Bandai insists on maintaining the charade that this is a reaction to "overwhelming fan response" and not a cynically calculated plan to squeeze an extra $5 out of you.

I probably shouldn't be quite so devisive, but I find such practices fairly unethical, and the only way you're going to stop publishers like Namco Bandai from playing dirty pool like this is to not help make it profitable, no matter how much you love Star Wars.

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Ryan

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Edited By Ryan  Staff
Pay for me again, you will!
Pay for me again, you will!
In a move that surprises no one, Namco Bandai announced this morning that Darth Vader and Yoda would be available as downloadable characters in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, respectively, of Soulcalibur IV for $5 a pop. I'm a pretty big proponent for the positive powers of downloadable content, but it's hard to defend against accusations that publishers are using DLC as a way to charge extra for content that should've been a part of the core package when they pull some very plainly orchestrated shit like this. It has long since been figured out that the actual data for both Vader and Yoda is already on the disc, yet Namco Bandai insists on maintaining the charade that this is a reaction to "overwhelming fan response" and not a cynically calculated plan to squeeze an extra $5 out of you.

I probably shouldn't be quite so devisive, but I find such practices fairly unethical, and the only way you're going to stop publishers like Namco Bandai from playing dirty pool like this is to not help make it profitable, no matter how much you love Star Wars.
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Death_Burnout

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Edited By Death_Burnout

Sickening

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LordAndrew

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Edited By LordAndrew

Slow news day? :)

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Foil1212

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Edited By Foil1212

Oh, I wonder how many people were actually crying out for yoda.  Isn't he a  broken character?

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chililili

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Edited By chililili

Really sucks but are you surprised? A game that uses huge boobs as a selling point like get huge boobs with this game (not as a bonus as in get a good game with huge boobs) is not exactly pulling punches in what it will do to whore itself out.

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killdave

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Edited By killdave

I just sold my PS3 version, not that I would have downloaded the "unlock code" anyway.

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Lepuke

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Edited By Lepuke

No way! This was all planned the whole time?!? But I thought those "exclusive" characters they put on the box were just that, and the character slot at the selection screen that you can never unlock was just an oversight.

Now we need downloadable "breast augmentation" packs. $5 per bra size.

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gamer_152

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Edited By gamer_152  Moderator

 The only thing that I really dislike about this is that they said outright that this wasn't going to happen and we pretty much knew it was a lie at the time.

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kraznor

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Edited By kraznor

Five dollars for one character? They could've at least thrown in some zany outfits for them or something. Anyway, yeah, thats pretty weak.

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suneku

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Edited By suneku

I already played with both character, plus I'm bored with SC4 now so I'm definitely not going to toss my 5 bucks down the drain.

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supermuchbrown

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Edited By supermuchbrown

This is horrible and obvious.  I wish we could unite and have everyone agree to not buy this shit.  5 bucks, REALLY?

Oh and Ryan, I love you but it's "divisive", not "devisive".
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Edited By ImperiousRix

Really expected this and it was part of the reason I didn't bother with Soul Calibur IV.  I was cool with the platform specific characters for Soul Calibur II, but this time they were just going too far with the "exclusives".

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SoulTaker

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Edited By SoulTaker

I totally agree Ryan.  I'm not buying into this BS.

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LordAndrew

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Edited By LordAndrew
Foil1212is online
on Oct. 17, 2008
"Oh, I wonder how many people were actually crying out for yoda.  Isn't he a  broken character?"

From what I understand, he's "broken" in a "way overpowered" kind of way. So yeah, some people might want him.
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akumous

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Edited By akumous

Hm..what about false advertisement? They marketed the games heavily as character specific console exclusives, but now all the special guest characters are selectable regardless of which platform for a price..

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Hamz

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Edited By Hamz

That is some pretty underhanded shit to be quite honest. $5 to play characters which SHOULD no, WERE in the game already after you pay retail price for it and they want more money? What ever happened to the days of unlocking characters in story modes for fighting games? I guess now thats a thing of the past when all they want is more moola.

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Edited By Brackynews

This is why I'm skipping the achievement points and only getting SCIV for the PS3... once I finally buy a PS3.  Darth and the Apprentice will be enough crossover absurdity for my tastes, thank you.

Whether it's to Bamco's credit or not, the current DLC of extra custom weapons and such for the character builder, tells you quite clearly that all of them can be obtained in game.  Coming from a heritage of memory editors, Game Genies and Action Replays, I'm not able to easily stomach buying an unlockable.  Imagine if the Konami Code cost you 200 points?  The whole point is that you DON'T need to add 30 quarters, even if you could.

It really is the difference between rewarding the player, and playing the player.

I'm curious about the negotiations required between N-B and Lucasarts for who gets the biggest share of the profit from a Yoda "cookie" DLC.

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keoskey

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Edited By keoskey

ill play thew the story one more time as vader and throw the game back in my shelf and collect dust again

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

What a lame move on there part.

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fox01313

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Edited By fox01313

Not surprised that a Japanese game company does this, seems like they enjoy doing this but I think that by now (and with the cool games coming out in the next few months), hardly anyone will buy into this as they will be too busy playing games that don't have the obvious words written on it while everyone else sees right through it and the company just keeps on lying. Maybe if they were trying to trick 4th grade students it might have worked for a few days.

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ElectricHaggis

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Edited By ElectricHaggis

This is pretty disgusting.

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RedStripes

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Edited By RedStripes

Why not just charge more for the damn game and give us Vader/Yoda day one?  I would have bought it still.  I love Soul Caliber but no way are these guys getting $5 from me this way.   

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DragoonKain1687

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Edited By DragoonKain1687

Sadly Im a Star Wars fanboy, so I cant resist this. Yep, blame me in this case :(

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chet_awsomelaser

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Edited By chet_awsomelaser

just like jeff said scamco bandai

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Edited By Razor

The fighting system in this game is broken, who really cares for this series after the original Soul Calibur?  Having spawn, link, and heitachi as a playable character for one game and one for each of the last gen systems really spoke to me about how shitty the fighting system would turn out to be.

*BUTTAN MASHER*

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ThePelinal

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Edited By ThePelinal

You guys called it way back.  I think this is the slimiest DLC-related shenanigan so far, and there have been some doozies.

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Lunchbox

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Edited By Lunchbox

I'm not sure what's worse, the blatant gouging on Namco Bandai's part or the adsurd amounts of money they're going to make.  If I'm not mistaken they sold something like 2 million copies in the first two weeks?

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daniel_beck_90

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Edited By daniel_beck_90

I won't pay a penny  .  Ryan we are with ya

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Kantwon

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Edited By Kantwon

Wow pretty late their Namco. Even though we knew this was happening since you decided to leave an open space right next to the star wars character.

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Kantwon

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Edited By Kantwon

Wow pretty late there Namco. Even though we knew this was happening since you decided to leave an open space right next to the star wars character.

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TheAdmin

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Edited By TheAdmin

Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY IT. Think of the Children!

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ryanwho

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Edited By ryanwho

I made a page on this a while back called "exclusive excluded content" and it was deleted for no reason. I guess because, until now, it was "unsubstantiated". Now we know they're selling you shit already on the disc.

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fleshribbon

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Edited By fleshribbon

Another reason for me not to buy this game beyond just not liking the series :-)

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am_dragon

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Edited By am_dragon

I blame Bandai.  They are the kings of sucking every last penny out of fans.  Check the retail price on the Blu-Ray Wings of Honneamise anime.  Yes , that's right Bandai wants $79.00 for 2 hours of anime.    Well, I am not paying now, and I won't pay to unlock Ben10 or a Power Ranger in Tekken 6!

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Aas

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Edited By Aas

BS with a capital B. Wait...

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mordecaix7

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Edited By mordecaix7

It would be fine if this was a free thing.  I can understand having the two characters be timed exclusives for each respective system but making you pay $5 for something that's already on both discs is retarded.  These characters should be free.

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deactivated-5c468a9482ba9

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Fucking gamers in the ass is my business, and business is good!

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Edited By Bad_JuJu

I guess I can understand that they're charging $5 for the extra character+their story.  But it's straight up bullshit that they finished them before the games went gold and decided to hold them back for an extra charge.  Total BULLSHIT.

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valiantgoat

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Edited By valiantgoat

This makes me happy to say I didn't even buy the game.

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Kohe321

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Edited By Kohe321

I won't support this. Not buying.

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Geno

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Edited By Geno

As much as you want to, please DON'T buy this DLC. That is, unless you want to pay an extra $5-10 for your games from now on for content that's already on the disc and ready upon release.

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Afroman269

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Edited By Afroman269

Yah in the case of ignoring this, it will be damn near impossible because there are too many people out there that want a Vader V. Yoda match. Good thing i took the next step and completely ignored the urge to buy this.

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Media_Master

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Edited By Media_Master
BOYCOTT!!!!!!! BOYCOTT!!!!!!
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mrbrian

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Edited By mrbrian

Woohoo, I did one better and didn't even buy the game

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Ubergeist

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Edited By Ubergeist

Lost interest in that game already. Nice try though. Not worth $5. Sorry, Vader isn't that cool.

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skrutop

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Edited By skrutop

Bullshit.  Namco can go fuck themselves; I'm not paying for pixelated titties and Jedi.

You know what?  Fuck them even more.  Not only have I bought SC2 and 3 for the PS2, I've also bought every Tekken game.  I love Tekken.  And now I'm not going to buy Tekken 6 because of this.  Namco can suck it.

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FuzzYLemoN

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Edited By FuzzYLemoN

$5? Disgusting. They should feel ashamed.

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cgrady

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Edited By cgrady

do not support shit like this

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Creciente

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Edited By Creciente

Do not want.

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zitosilva

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Edited By zitosilva

The things they've been releasing as download content are ridiculous. But five dollars for one character? They'd be nicer to just put a gun into your face.