Downloadable Content Transfer - keep gamers playing and paying

We have all heard about the Console war of Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii but now there is another war brewing in the games console world. This time it is directed at downloadable content and how the latest games have more downloadable options to keep gamers playing and paying.

The game developers know that adding better downloadable options will bring a lot more ways of making money after the game is sold and this area can be expanded over the life of the product. One example is a new game I have for the Sony PS3, SingStar 2 lets you buy the game at a cheap price and then download more songs after for around £1 each in the UK. This is good value; you get the song, a video and all the lyrics to sing along too. Our Playstation 3 now has over 60 songs added to the list of 30 that came with the disc at first.

The newest versions of all games are doing this, just look at the recently announced Rock Band 2 and other games like Guitar Hero: World Tour. These will give you many options to get downloadable content to expand the game after purchase. Once you have the content, what will happen when you upgrade the game?

With SingStar 2 your able to play all previously downloaded songs, as they are stored on the hard drive and linked to your online account but the songs on the disc of the first game cannot be taken off. This is a shame but you can still access them by putting in the disc.

Rock Band and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock have completely embraced this concept of downloadable content but you will get problems with some games. Content for Guitar Hero III will not work with Guitar Hero: World Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

PS3 Daily show that Rock Band have done a better job when it comes to thinking about the user, this is because all content you downloaded for Rock Band will work with the second version. This seems common sense but then maybe not to every brand. What’s your view of making content work with all sequels?

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