Dragon Age DLC could go for two years

By Robert Purchese Published 7 April, 2009

"Invest in it," BioWare commands.

BioWare's Greg Zeschuk reckons Dragon Age may still be treated to fresh downloadable content two years after launch.

Furthermore, he wants each piece of DLC to represent significant value to consumers, because you lot are too canny to hoodwink.

"We have a very strong philosophy: it's got to be valuable. This is one of the most important things that we believe; anything we give to our consumers, like to sell to them, whether it's smaller or bigger, if you're selling something to someone it's got to be good and it's got to be a certain value for the money they're paying for it," Doctor Greg told MTV Multiplayer.

"You have to remember that videogame consumers are some of the smartest, most connected people on the planet. You can't trick them with anything, so don't even try. I don't think it's so much as to trick them, as it is the strategy behind it has to be fully thought out.

"This is the reason that with Dragon Age, our DLC strategy is doing it in maybe a year and-a-half or two years - planning exactly when you're going to do it and how you're going to do it. Some of our fans would really like us to extend the world, so it's going to be something that will make the world even bigger and more interesting. It's not going to wreck it or break it," he added.

Doctor Greg said a great way to approach DLC is to have a separate team working on it a year before launch in parallel to the main development horde. Then, shortly after release, the content will be ready to "expand the experience".

"Invest in it, and treat it like a separate project, because it is. It's not the game being launched, but it's linked into it," he said, without confirming whether that model will be the one used by Dragon Age.

Dragon Age: Origins will launch for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 this autumn. The PC version had been planned for earlier in the year, but was pushed back so the three games could use the same beefy marketing campaign. There was, more than likely, plenty of extra work to be done on the traditional role-playing game, too.

For all we know so far, head to our Dragon Age: Origins PC gamepage.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • jim1975 #1 3 years ago

    DLC IS FREE ON PC

  • robg #2 3 years ago

    "You have to remember that videogame consumers are some of the smartest, most connected people on the planet. You can't trick them with anything, so don't even try. I don't think it's so much as to trick them, as it is the strategy behind it has to blatently flatter them to later catch them off guard"

  • NewbieZilla #3 3 years ago

    I'm sure DA:o will get fantastic treatment of DLC. Just like Mass Effect.

    Oh, snap.

  • Tomnd #4 3 years ago

    yeah after the LIES that were made for Mass Effect excuse me if i am a little wary.

  • hiddenranbir #5 3 years ago

    Doctor Greg said a great way to approach DLC is to have a separate team working on it a year before launch in parallel to the main development horde. Then, shortly after release, the content will be ready to "expand the experience".

    So as soon as we pay full for the game, only a matter of weeks until we're gonna have to unload a bit more.... why not just dump that extra into a special collector's edition?!?!

    I'll wait for the pirates and modding community to "expand" my experience.

  • the_dudefather #6 3 years ago

    RAR RAR DLC SUCKS

  • makeamazing #7 3 years ago

    @hiddenranbir

    To be honest if you feel that way you should just not buy the game at all. Pirates are losers and help no one but themselves :)

    If you dont like the content provided in the DLC then dont buy it.

  • hiddenranbir #8 3 years ago

    It will be handled the same way I handled Oblivion.

  • matrim83 #9 3 years ago

    @makeamazing I think the point he is trying to make is that the DLC could easily be included in the game but is being held back to sell at a price later. No one can actually say thats a good thing for video games. And its happening more and more recently.

    Personally I have never bought DLC and never intend to. Its a cheap way to rip off customers 90% of the time. If developers really want to offer good value for money they should release a full blown expansion. Or at least something sizeable like the GTA DLC.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 13:19

  • NewbieZilla #10 3 years ago

    "To be honest if you feel that way you should just not buy the game at all. Pirates are losers and help no one but themselves :)"

    So, don't even pay for the game if not paying for the DLC? Throwing out the baby with the bath water there, no?

  • Gastrian #11 3 years ago

    Whats to say that the DLC isn't the same as expansion packs. Both Tales of the Sword Coast and Throne of Bhaal were about £20 quid at launch a couple of years ago and TOTSC only really added one area, one dungeon and a higher level cap. The Throne of Bhaal one though was quite expansive but only did exactly what Greg Zeschuk is saying they are doing for Dragon Age? Even if it isn't in that scale as long as the total DLC is under the £20 of an expansion pack and provides the same total content then its not an issue.

  • AphoticCosmos #12 3 years ago

    I have no problems with DLC as long as it's actually done well. With the exception of Horse Armour, most of Oblivion's DLC is an example of "how to do it", specifically Knights of the Nine which was very, very entertaining. Mass Effect's lone piece of DLC was a good addition to the game if you're interested in the backstory [as you should be], but . . . where is the rest of it? A year and a bit later and we've been hinted at getting some fracking ARENA DLC? I mean come on - put some effort into it, BioWare. ME2 isn't going to be out until 2010 for sure, so go to town on producing some cracking DLC for the first game to get people interested in it again!

    I would love Dragon Age's DLC to be done well, because Mass Effect was let down by a lack of it.

  • ChthonicEcho #13 3 years ago

    Release the game first, you greedy cunts.

  • Dizzy #14 3 years ago

    In before the emo whiners.

    Oh wait....

  • Silvervein #15 3 years ago

    Why do I get the feeling that people who talk about games using language of shoe manufacturers are rather out of touch with the topic? ...Our valued consummers...we provide top quality product...stocks of our company rose sharpy in third quarter...Can someone tell me what all that has to do with just...you know...fun? The thing that games are supposed to be about?
    Kind of sad when it happens to be person who started a company to make roleplaying *games*. And after some time (and getting swallowed by EA) sounds like travelling amway salesman.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 15:52

  • Turrican #16 3 years ago

    Whats the point in DLC if the game is rubbish? They need to focus on making the best product they can especially as they are comparing it to Baldur's Gate a lot. Early previews of the game have seen mixed opinion.
    Edited by 1 at 07/04/09 @ 16:30

  • Drakron #17 3 years ago

    ""You have to remember that videogame consumers are some of the smartest, most connected people on the planet."

    Funny ... when I go to videogame forums I get the impression they are more of easily impressed imbecile 11 years old type.

  • metalangel #18 3 years ago

    I hate DLC for games like this that have a story with a very clear middle and end.

  • clockworkzombie #19 3 years ago

    More likely to be, hang on to your copies and do not sell them or trade them in and we may drip feed you some horse armour. If you are lucky.