(2) Fallout 3, GTA IV and now Tomb Raider: Underworld are all getting exclusive downloadable content on the 360. To what degree will these types of 'extra' content affect gamers' decisions to buy 360s versus PS3s (or at least, the 360 version of a game over the PS3 version)?
A year ago my answer would have been that it's only the hardcore guys that really care, and while that's still mostly true in principal, I don't think you can discount the whole value thing with everyone else.
For anyone that's been sucked in, and is completely enamored with one of these worlds, the prospect of spending $20 or $30 for another big chunk of quality familiarity is pretty attractive versus spending $60 on something new. I'm not sure that will necessarily sell hardware, but it will definitely change how people think about what to buy next.
Now that the PS3 has its own achievement system with Trophies, the number of bullet points both Sony and Microsoft can list to differentiate their consoles, especially when multiplatforms are so prevalent, are dwindling. While I think it helps knowing you can get a "fuller game experience" with some of your favorite games on Xbox 360, its importance is likely vastly overshadowed by the consumer's desires for whichever company's first-party exclusives.
It will depend a lot on the depth, quality and cost/value ratio of the DLC. I find it hard to believe that any individual game can really move a console (Halo being an exception) There may be a tipping point where there are so many 360 exclusives that gaming on the console will just be a better experience, but I think Sony is smart enough to strike similar deals. In addition Blu-Ray is one heck of an exclusive feature and it will take a heck of a lot of DLC to match that value.
Blood runs deep when it comes to 360 and PS3 loyalists. It's hard to imagine downloadable content making a difference with anyone in either of those camps -- or anyone actually. So far, no downloadable content has really reached "system seller" status.
I am not into the whole DLC thing, but even I can't resist the allure of extra content. It definitely runs through my mind when purchasing a game, and I think that most consumers are the same way. Same price, roughly the same graphical presentation...yet different content. Why not get the version that gives you more bang for your buck?
There was no mention of the GTA IV 360 DLC in the marketing campaigns for that game or on the 360 box. Bethesda still refuses to explain what the 360 bonus content will be for Fallout 3. So for those games, I don't think the exclusive DLC can make much difference to the average gamer who not only doesn't have a 360 and a PS3 but is unlikely to have heard about the content. Clearly, the console-makers' hope is that the differences will sway the game-purchasing choice of hardcore tastemakers. It may. But I don't think it will sway new console-buyers unless this stuff gets publicity from the publishers and console-makers.
I'm sure it's a great bullet point to have, but I'm not sure how much it actually affects console sales. What percentage of console users are actually online? Now what percentage of those actually purchase content online? And further more, what percentage of those are owners of the original title? I think as a hardcore gamer who does answer yes to all the questions - then this should most definitely influence their decision, of course if they are a hardcore gamer they probably own both consoles anyway.
For knowledgeable gamers who have both systems, the version with the exclusive downloadable content will be more attractive. What's interesting is that as games become more expensive to create, thereby making true exclusives more difficult to justify, consumers are now asked to pay for the right to pay extra for the additional content. Here's what gamers should be thinking about, however: in the last generation, publishers used higher-priced limited edition versions of games to test whether consumers would pay more than $50 for a game. They did, and now we have $60 games. What is in all likelihood being tested now is how much content publishers can leave off the disc and charge for later as DLC without alienating gamers. We have seen the future, and it is horse armor.
It depends on whether the consumer is bothered by the extra DLC and whether or not the DLC is a timed exclusive or not. If a person generally buys the multiplatform games for their PS3 and aren't too bothered about a few extra levels or whatever for some amount of Microsoft Points, they would probably stick with getting it on the PS3. However, the die hard gamers who love getting the most out of their games and are willing to pay for more of the game would probably favor the 360.
If one version of any game can claim superiority over another by adding substantial content to the final experience then the decision should be easy for gamers; at least that's the theory on paper. In the case of GTA IV, the exclusive content hasn't helped push sales in the Xbox 360's favor as it was expected. The issue is telling customers they'll eventually get some type of content later without outlining what that content is. Will adding missions to Fallout 3, a game that is already bursting at the seams with content, help push sales? Probably no more than it did GTA IV, unless gamers know what they'll get for choosing one platform over another.
I've gotten to the point that exclusive DLC doesn't really dictate what version of the game I buy. The only way I'll let that ever dictate which version I purchase is if I know what the DLC is beforehand. I'm sure many gamers though allow exclusive DLC dictate which version they buy. Gamers like the idea that they will be able to get something extra with their game after they already played the hell out of it.
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