And what exactly caused this differential shift in marketing/pricing policies across platforms? In other words, why do companies think they can get away with this on consoles and if so, why didn't they think that way about PC's?

Additionally, discuss what the pricing should or shouldn't be for PC and console maps, modifications, expansions/updates, and even total conversions.

They can get away with it for a number of reasons:

1) Console users don't know any better.
2) Companies such as Microsoft control the content that goes through their service and thus charges a fee, even if companies such as Epic and Valve want to release additional content for free.
3) PC gamers are used to free content and won't put up for any content that is charged for.

But the biggest reason is that console users are willing to shell out big bucks for this stuff. If no one bought them, then they probably wouldn't charge for it.

Joeshie:
They can get away with it for a number of reasons:

1) Console users don't know any better.
2) Companies such as Microsoft control the content that goes through their service and thus charges a fee, even if companies such as Epic and Valve want to release additional content for free.
3) PC gamers are used to free content and won't put up for any content that is charged for.

But the biggest reason is that console users are willing to shell out big bucks for this stuff. If no one bought them, then they probably wouldn't charge for it.

Don't PC gamers occasionally shell out $20-$30 for the odd expansion pack? Perhaps I'm just too far out of the PC gaming loop to have a strong opinion on the subject.

juandonde:
Also piracy isn't a big problem on consoles so without an incentive to prevent it by charging a price that is somewhat reasonable they just stick it on there knowing that if someone buys it fine if they don't they are not going to get it on their console otherwise.

If piracy is the issue, then wouldn't it make more sense to charge for the microcontent in the first place?

Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

OverlordSteve:
Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

Only one I can think of is the CoD4 map pack, I believe that was because of Nvidia.

Oh and the updates for TF2 (Valve plans on charging for the 360 one because of Microsoft)

Microsoft and Sony decide what is free and what isn't, and from a recent article I read on Shacknews, M$ and $ony (OMG DOLLAR SIGNS!) want to charge for bonus content, even if it's already on the disc (Bad Company!).

OverlordSteve:
Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

Another one that just popped in my head is the Mass Effect expansion...err.."Expansion".

ElArabDeMagnifico:

OverlordSteve:
Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

Another one that just popped in my head is the Mass Effect expansion...err.."Expansion".

And let's not forget the huge update The Witcher had and the extra modules for it.

Oh yeah, I'm thoroughly enjoying Witcher EE (for free!) - don't know how that didn't come to mind.

Though, I think I've found a loophole (or just a loop) - LittleBigPlanet - it will allow users who are picked by Sony themselves, who want to charge for ingame content, to do so, but everything else (including support from Media Molecule) will be free.

It's a start, and it's doing much better than UT3.

EDIT: Though the reason I'm saying "doing" is because of the beta right now, and that the beta content will be available (free) at launch.

That's why I almost always buy console exclusives. :P Even though usually all the extra stuff on japanese games gets rereleased in Japan, usually on a Sony system and kept exclusive to Japan. (Tales of series, anyone?)

OverlordSteve:
Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

http://storefront.steampowered.com/platform/update_history/

Just about all the Valve releases (along with some others) have official free content released for it.

PC games not only frequently get official DLC released for free, there's also mods and enhancements (Oblivion leaps immediately to mind) that give the PC version an edge over its console counterparts. You can't get OOO or KCAS for the 360 or PS3, which really does make me pity the poor console fools who had to play vanilla.

Joeshie:
But the biggest reason is that console users are willing to shell out big bucks for this stuff. If no one bought them, then they probably wouldn't charge for it.

I tend to think it's because console gamers only pay a handful of hundreds as an entry fee. Even adding up a 360, Gold membership, the extra DLC and software prices, it's still one hell of a lot cheaper than a several-thousand-dollar gaming PC.

SimuLord:
PC games not only frequently get official DLC released for free, there's also mods and enhancements (Oblivion leaps immediately to mind) that give the PC version an edge over its console counterparts. You can't get OOO or KCAS for the 360 or PS3, which really does make me pity the poor console fools who had to play vanilla.

We're not going down that road again, don't start up a whole "PC gamen teh pwnzors" stuff. I pity those PC fools who think console owners care boo-friggin'-who.

I don't really see a solution any time soon in the near future, though I'd gladly pay for some Sackboy Costumes :3

GreenHerring:

Joeshie:
But the biggest reason is that console users are willing to shell out big bucks for this stuff. If no one bought them, then they probably wouldn't charge for it.

I tend to think it's because console gamers only pay a handful of hundreds as an entry fee. Even adding up a 360, Gold membership, the extra DLC and software prices, it's still one hell of a lot cheaper than a several-thousand-dollar gaming PC.

Oh shit, I suggest you get a Fallout Shelter.

I don't really see a solution any time soon in the near future,

It's quite easy to make a solution for the DLC issue. Just make it free if the PC version gets it free. How hard is that? :s

Amnestic:

I don't really see a solution any time soon in the near future,

It's quite easy to make a solution for the DLC issue. Just make it free if the PC version gets it free. How hard is that? :s

Greedy corporations? S: As Joshie said, console gamers are willing to pay for this stuff so I highly doubt that DLC will just all of a sudden become free.

Then why can't console gamers just magically stop being willing to pay for this stuff?

OverlordSteve:
Wait, there's free content for PC gamers? Please direct me to some, good sir.

Every EVE Online expansion has been free. All eight (soon to be nine) of them. not bad for a company with barely any income compared to that other company we all know that charges for expansions, only releasing three(?) so far, and yet makes a billion a year ;)

As for the console thing, you have to bare in mind consoles are run by the companies that manufacture them. PC's have managed to get away with this issue, despite the fact they have to run windows in order to run almost every game out there.

PC gamer's have for years had online play and patches for free. When Microsoft tried to introduce a pay-for-online service it became the business equivelent of an epic fail. Even developers where wondering wtf Microsoft were thinking.

Now look at consoles. OK so now it has been around for years, but not as long as on computers. Dreamcast had a nice online mode, as did the PS2, but the king of the hill was XBOX Live. Now people (developers and console owners alike) on the whole expect to have to pay for it.

You are right, it stinks, but as is the way.

Eggo:
Then why can't console gamers just magically stop being willing to pay for this stuff?

Because they're stupid. ;/

GreenHerring:

I tend to think it's because console gamers only pay a handful of hundreds as an entry fee. Even adding up a 360, Gold membership, the extra DLC and software prices, it's still one hell of a lot cheaper than a several-thousand-dollar gaming PC.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.67044?page=1

Read.

There is no console modding community. A lot of extrat content for the PC is comminuty created and thus not possible to charge for. XNA was supposed to help create communiy content for the X box but you still need a PC to use it.

I'm not so much peeved at PC's getting bonus content over consoles. What annoys me is that some games have different content depending on what console you're using. Bull plop!

Jumplion:

SimuLord:
PC games not only frequently get official DLC released for free, there's also mods and enhancements (Oblivion leaps immediately to mind) that give the PC version an edge over its console counterparts. You can't get OOO or KCAS for the 360 or PS3, which really does make me pity the poor console fools who had to play vanilla.

We're not going down that road again, don't start up a whole "PC gamen teh pwnzors" stuff. I pity those PC fools who think console owners care boo-friggin'-who.

I don't really see a solution any time soon in the near future, though I'd gladly pay for some Sackboy Costumes :3

I'm against elitism and all, but you'd pity people that don't get to experience ridable sheep.

Also, please don't buy sackboy costumes, it's already a pain having buy PAIN characters just for a dollar, even though they are already in the updates. I'd hate to try and make an arabian sackboy and then realize I have to buy him >_<

...AND WTF?! I have to buy extra difficulty levels on MegaMan9....Did EA take over Capcom?

Joeshie:
They can get away with it for a number of reasons:

1) Console users don't know any better.
2) Companies such as Microsoft control the content that goes through their service and thus charges a fee, even if companies such as Epic and Valve want to release additional content for free.
3) PC gamers are used to free content and won't put up for any content that is charged for.

But the biggest reason is that console users are willing to shell out big bucks for this stuff. If no one bought them, then they probably wouldn't charge for it.

Expertly summed up. Well done. The primary reason is, of course, #2 on your list. Microsoft, Sony, and even Nintendo are money gougers. They look for any way to charge the players for content and features because, well, they're in the business to turn a profit. This charging for content and the hurdles these companies make developers go over to even provide new content and updates is causing some to not even bother anymore. Just look at the sparse new features for Team Fortress 2 on the 360 as opposed to the plethora of new content given out, freely, on the PC.

Eggo:
And what exactly caused this differential shift in marketing/pricing policies across platforms? In other words, why do companies think they can get away with this on consoles and if so, why didn't they think that way about PC's?

Additionally, discuss what the pricing should or shouldn't be for PC and console maps, modifications, expansions/updates, and even total conversions.

1) The PC owner paid big bucks for the computer... they are not going to pay big bucks for the games too then.
2) PC games are easier to update, while updating a console game is either impossible or at least very hard. Hence the console games must have a much higher quality before going to the presses. Beta testing is almost impossible. Testing and erradicating bugs takes time and hemorages money.
3) Development tools for consoles often have down right rediculous licensing costs attached to them while PC development tools range from free to about 1000 USD per developer seat (Visual Studio Professional is in that range), which in comparison is not that much compared to the console dev tools.

/S

Heck looking at Steams surveys (which aren't that accurate, but they are getting better) - a lot of people's PC's are just shit that they've been trying to keep alive for a long time.

Eggo:
Then why can't console gamers just magically stop being willing to pay for this stuff?

You keep mentioning "this stuff" and the like, but I've yet to see any definitive examples given. The problem with this is that I could easily argue that console players generally don't and there is no basis for contesting the point.

mark_n_b:

Eggo:
Then why can't console gamers just magically stop being willing to pay for this stuff?

You keep mentioning "this stuff" and the like, but I've yet to see any definitive examples given. The problem with this is that I could easily argue that console players generally don't and there is no basis for contesting the point.

We've been over this:

-Witcher Enhanced Edition

-Bring Down the Sky

-Team Fortress 2 updates

-Mods

etcetera?

ElArabDeMagnifico:

mark_n_b:

Eggo:
Then why can't console gamers just magically stop being willing to pay for this stuff?

You keep mentioning "this stuff" and the like, but I've yet to see any definitive examples given. The problem with this is that I could easily argue that console players generally don't and there is no basis for contesting the point.

We've been over this:

-Witcher Enhanced Edition

-Bring Down the Sky

-Team Fortress 2 updates

-Mods

etcetera?

Call of Duty 4 map pack as well, as I recall.

Aries_Split:

Sayvara:

Eggo:
And what exactly caused this differential shift in marketing/pricing policies across platforms? In other words, why do companies think they can get away with this on consoles and if so, why didn't they think that way about PC's?

Additionally, discuss what the pricing should