Capcom 'Re-evaluating' Its On-Disc DLC Policies Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Gamers continue to express their dissatisfaction with the idea of on-disc DLC and Capcom has been specifically targeted as one of the more egregious offenders, a fact that the publisher is now setting out to take ownership of. A message from senior VP Christian Svensson on Capcom Unity (via GamePolitics) reveals that the approach taken in the past with offering bonus game content post-release is now being given a second look.

Svensson admits that Capcom has begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future," though he asks that fans be patient since the process only just started within "the past month or so." He then goes into an explanation of the extra content that you'll be able to get when Dragon's Dogma arrives on May 22, 2012, since that stuff is apparently on the disc. 

Product pimping aside, the important takeaway here is that your complaints are being heard and considered. There are valid arguments on both sides of the on-disc DLC discussion, but the customers wield the most power in the end and it's good to see Capcom recognizing that. Now we just have to hope that the promise to give the established policies another look results in some real action, or at least a more open and frank dialogue.

Read on for the full text of Svensson's statement:

Hey guys,

We've been getting several questions, here and elsewhere about the future of on-disc DLC.

We would like to assure you that we have been listening to your comments and as such have begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future. As this process has only just commenced in the past month or so, there will be some titles, where development began some time ago and that are scheduled for release in the coming months, for which we are unable to make changes to the way some of their post release content is delivered.

One such title is Dragon’s Dogma, where the decision to include some additional (but not all planned additional) game content for the game on disc was made at the beginning of the game’s development cycle as at the time this was determined to be the most efficient way of ensuring certain content was made available. Owners of Dragon’s Dogma will be able to further their gameplay experience with the release of additional quests, weapons and other items in the months following the game going on sale.

Dragon’s Dogma’s post-launch content will extend the lifespan of a title that already offers around 30-40 hours of gameplay by following the main story thread, but if a player was to complete all the side quests Dragon’s Dogma ships with, that increases to around 100 hours. Players will also be able to add to the stock of 100s of weapons and 1,000s of customization options to create not only their ideally equipped, but also their most elaborately designed character.

Just wanted people to know in advance the whys, wherefores and where we're going in the future. You are being heard. Thanks.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723783/capcom-re-evaluating-its-on-disc-dlc-policies/

Halo 4 Box Art Revealed Thanks To Group Puzzle-Solving Effort Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Microsoft is using the lure of Halo 4's box art as an excuse to teach the fan community about a little thing called cooperation. A series of e-mails were sent out to the community, with each one containing a chunk of an image and a note that read: "Your piece of the Halo 4 puzzle." The NeoGAF hivemind then put its many heads together to assemble the image (via Kotaku), revealing the official box art for Halo 4.

It's a pretty sweet image, wouldn't you say? We all got our first glimpse of the post-Halo 3 Master Chief in an announcement trailer at E3 2011. News has been trickling out slowly since then, with the latest big one being the long-awaited confirmation of the game's release date: November 6, 2012. We'll certainly be seeing more of the game at E3 2012, so stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723782/halo-4-box-art-revealed-thanks-to-group-puzzle-solving-effort/

Diablo 3 Error Message Blocks Out Game Access Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Diablo 3 is here at last, but the release hasn't gone as smoothly as Blizzard would like thanks to some launch day hiccups in the form of an "Error 37" message. Some players are reporting (via Shacknews) that they're greeted with a message upon launching the game that reads: "The servers are busy at this time. Please try again later. (Error 37)"

An update from the developer on Battle.net confirms that the issue is related to the servers being slammed hard with the influx of new users. "Due to high concurrency the login servers are currently at full capacity. This may cause delays in the login process, account pages and web services. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience while this is being resolved." There are also apparently issues affecting character creation that Blizzard is looking into.

This is a huge launch and issues were to be expected. Kudos to Blizzard for getting out in front of it and commenting quickly. How has your first-time Diablo 3 experience been so far? Is the game working fine? Running into these issues or any others? Let us know!

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723780/diablo-3-error-message-blocks-out-game-access/

Activision pays $42 million to ex-Infinity Ward members - Report

Reports have surfaced today on both Polygon and Gamasutra claiming that Activision has paid a sum of $42 million to a group of 40 former Infinity Ward members implicated in an upcoming lawsuit with the Call of Duty publisher.

Activision wants to focus its efforts entirely on ex-Infinity Ward heads West and Zampella.

According to the reports--both of which cite an anonymous source close to the case--Activision paid the $42 million to the group representing former Infinity Ward heads Vince West and Jason Zampella after reviewing the evidence for the ongoing lawsuit over West and Zampella's 2010 firing, and subsequent establishment of Respawn Entertainment with Electronic Arts.

Both Polygon and Gamasutra reported that the sum paid by Activison is not part of a settlement.

Instead, the sum is what the publisher believes the former employees are owed after reviewing trial evidence and reportedly finding that it does not implicate the group's 40 members. It is reported that Activision will now focus its legal efforts entirely on West and Zampella.

In March this year, Activision scored a partial victory in the suit, when a judge dismissed one of two fraud claims brought against the publisher by West and Zampella.

Activision claims that it fired the pair because they were secretly planning to start their new studio with the help of Electronic Arts, while still employed with the Call of Duty publisher. West and Zampella claim that the real reason they were fired was so that Activision wouldn't have to pay them millions of dollars in royalties associated with Modern Warfare 2. Beyond the performance-based payout and any other court-awarded monetary damages, West and Zampella are seeking to gain co-ownership of the Modern Warfare brand. If successful in court, West and Zampella would have the right to create and release both old and new installments in the Modern Warfare franchise.

According to the reports, the trial is set to take place on May 29.

Source : http://gamespot.com/news/activision-pays-42-million-to-ex-infinity-ward-members-report-6376776

Elder Scrolls Online Faction Daggerfall Covenant Detailed Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

There are three playable factions spread across the land in the newly revealed Elder Scrolls Online, and today we have the first details on one of them: the Daggerfall Covenant. Made up of Bretons, Reguards, and orcs, this faction is largely based in and around the regions of High Rock, where the capital city of Daggerfall can be found, and Hammerfell.

High Rock is the region situated to the west and slightly south of Skyrim. It's more southerly, coastal location results in a much more temperate climate than the frozen tundras to the north. Bretons and orcs dwell here, primarily. Hammerfell sits to the south of both High Rock and Skyrim, a region composed primarily of deserts, mountains, and flat grasslands. The Redguards call this region home, having built up its multiple cities and ports.

The Game Informer feature revealing all of these new Elder Scrolls Online details says that the Daggerfall Covenent is "a lot more democratic than" the other factions. The next faction to be highlighted is the "ruthless" Aldmeri Dominion, so stay tuned for added details soon.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723779/elder-scrolls-online-faction-daggerfall-covenant-detailed/