Posted on Dec 1, 2008
Rockstar Games announced this week that the episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV will cost $20. It will also be available in shops, as a special token that players can buy to later download the game via Xbox Live. The company has set an ambitious price for their downloadable content, asking a higher price than many other companies dare for additional gameplay. For example, Lionhead has recently announced an upcoming add-on pack for Fable 2 that will retail for around $10 (800 Microsoft points). Like Lost and Damned, the Fable 2 DLC adds new weapons, characters, and story details to the core adventure. So, is the Lost and Damned DLC worth $20? The short answer is, it depends.
It depends of course, on whether Rockstar can really deliver the goods with this heavily hyped downloadable content. At $20 per episode, Rockstar is essentially asking fans to plunk down the entire retail cost of the game one more time, in order to enjoy some zany new adventures in what amounts to the same game world. Here is what would make Lost and Damned worth $20 of our hard earned GameFlavor bucks:
If Rockstar includes some new map areas to explore, with new things to do in those areas, this would be a step in the right direction. ($6)
If Lost and Damned has an entertaining plot and cast of characters that carry the story for at least 6 hours, we would be even happier. ($6)
Each episode of DLC should come with new challenges to complete that make creative use of the environment of Liberty City. ($4)
Finally, we want a whole bunch of interesting little extras like weapons, outfits, vehicles and music to round out the experience. ($4)
If Rockstar can pull off all of these things with the first episode of downloadable content, then we will be happy customers. There will also be a much higher chance that we will be excited to do it all again when the second episode finally arrives. The Lost and Damned is expected to go on sale this February 17.
