Home Gaming Turtle Rock fires back at Evolve DLC criticism

Turtle Rock fires back at Evolve DLC criticism

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Is Evolve's DLC unfair?

Evolve is just a few weeks away, and up until yesterday it was pretty unanimously agreed that it was looking really hot. That perception changed for a few after Turtle Rock detailed their extensive DLC plans for the game, which will charge players for new monsters, hunters and skin in the future. There was outrage, but Turtle Rock maintains that it’s fair.

Responding to comments from fans on the games official forums, co-founder of Turtle Rock Studios Phil Robb maintains that their isn’t on-disc, locked content, and that it’s all still a work in progress.

“If we thought we could have finished all those monsters and hunters for ship we would have put them in the box…. Hunters and monsters are a pretty big undertaking, they cost a lot of money and time to make. We’re hoping that once people see how much new hunters and monsters bring to the game that they’ll feel like they got their money’s worth.”

Robb also wanted to remind everyone (again) that not purchasing DLC wouldn’t lock you out of games. Players who purchase DLC will be able to access it, but Evolve won’t boot you from a server just because it’s sporting a monster you don’t personally own.

“So we worked it out so that any DLC maps are free, any new game modes are free. Then, recognizing that not everyone wants to buy DLC, we made sure that even if you didn’t purchase any of the paid content, you could still play with people who did! So if I buy a new monster or hunter, and you don’t, we can still play together.”

It’s curious that fans have only picked up on Evolve’s DLC plans now, considering Turtle Rock has been relatively open about their roadmap for a few months now. The idea was always to sustain Evolve with constant DLC content, in order to keep the game fresh and returning fans hungry for more. That much was told to me last year at a hands-on event, and Turtle Rock has never tried to hide it.

Still, I can understand where some of the anger stems from. It’s a full priced, multiplayer focused game at the end of the day, which itself is a rarity. Asking fans to fork out for more might be the best way to keep Evolve alive content-wise, but it could lead to the game falling out of mass favour in the same way Titanfall did. Do you think some of this content should be free?

Last Updated: January 15, 2015

93 Comments

  1. Because gamers like bitching about something. It’s impossible to enjoy anything anymore

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 15, 2015 at 15:13

      Publishers has to get this perception out of our minds(see below) as quick as possible, fortunately for them the younger generation aren’t as in the know as we are.
      http://internationalhouseofgeek.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/mona-dlc.jpeg

      Reply

      • Ghost In The Rift

        January 15, 2015 at 15:15

        lol now do it with a Hustler,mega rich in seconds:-P

        Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          January 15, 2015 at 15:20

          Don’t give people ideas. Next Leisure Suit Larry I’m putting the blame solely on you.

          Reply

          • Ghost In The Rift

            January 15, 2015 at 15:59

            Uhm okey, do you need a businesses partner?:-P

      • Mandom (Umar)

        January 15, 2015 at 15:25

        Thing is, They spoke about DLC plans middle of last year though, so it’s not really a problem, DLC as a mean of prolonging a game isn’t a bad thing, they’ve been upfront about it and they’re not blocking you either from the server.I don’t know, to me it doesn’t seem too bad

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 15, 2015 at 15:27

          Like I said, at least the maps are free and you aren’t blocked fro p[laying with people that bought the DLC.

          Reply

          • Mandom (Umar)

            January 15, 2015 at 15:29

            Oh, up top you said that yeah. But I agree, we all have a bad taste in our mouths when it comes to DLC, wonder if it will ever change

          • Hammersteyn

            January 15, 2015 at 15:32

            Nope. Unless they promise us the game is a ten year game as with Destiny. Then it turns out they meant it’s a two year game and the sequel is already being developed.

  2. Grant [_G_] Hancock

    January 15, 2015 at 15:06

    All sounds very reasonable to me. No issue with way they are doing their DLC.

    Reply

  3. HairyEwok

    January 15, 2015 at 15:06

    Remember the Technical Test happening on the 16th and the server stress test the 17th. All those who have left for dead and/or Bioshock: Infinite, you can play the beta tests. Those who were Big Alpha testers are automatically granted access to the test.

    Reply

    • ToshZA

      January 15, 2015 at 15:15

      If I had the bandwidth I’d already be downloading that. Sadly, 3G doesn’t let us have nice things.

      Reply

      • HairyEwok

        January 15, 2015 at 15:16

        Surely somebody you know did the alpha test and could perhaps borrow on a permanent basis their data files.

        Reply

        • ToshZA

          January 15, 2015 at 15:18

          I don’t know anyone else with either the alpha or beta access. 🙁

          Reply

  4. Ghost In The Rift

    January 15, 2015 at 15:09

    Corporate Greed sticks its head out yet again,i will buy the game,and when im bored ill play something else, not in the mood to spend money on hunters and monsters,thought i get those, it is why i will buy the game after all,i got a PC to build so my money will go somewhere else,oh and not Gigabyte anymore, until they earned my trust again.

    Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    January 15, 2015 at 15:11

    I feel a bit better, it just felt like they were heading the same route as EA and Ubisoft for a second. Yesterday they announce it’s $60 for a “full game” then BAM $80 for the digital deluxe version and then BAM $100 for the Monster Race. But at least they allow you to play with people that bought the extra hunters and monsters. Oh and the future maps are still free? Right?

    Reply

    • Devon Stanton

      January 15, 2015 at 15:12

      yeah all maps are free, they don’t want to limit people from playing the game.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        January 15, 2015 at 15:14

        And this is good. BF3 forced you to purchase map packs to play with your friends. I’m 50/50 on this game. All depends on the review now.

        Reply

  6. PsyChoPanthis

    January 15, 2015 at 15:15

    I dunno, I understand where they are coming from, but I dont really know how I feel about it. I’ve been wanting to get Evolve for a long time, but having to pay over and above the already expensive R800 PS4 price tag kind of puts me off a bit. As for PC, even that is around R600… I think I’ll wait for a GOTY with all the DLC before i delve into Evolve. It looks awesome, no doubt, but I dont know if Evolve is R1000+ good… which base game + DLC WILL end up costing.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 15, 2015 at 15:15

      Everything was good and well till they announced the price it seems.

      Reply

      • PsyChoPanthis

        January 15, 2015 at 15:20

        At the end of the day, It’s not the DLC people are moaning about. It’s the investment they are going to have to fork out to get that extra content.
        Dont get me wrong, I have NO issues spending R1000 on a game, but ONLY if that game holds me for 100+ hours of play.
        Destiny, as average as it is, cost me R800 for the limited edition with season pass, I have more than a few hundred hours out of that game, so it was worth the investment. especially seeing as I still have an expansion to come.
        Like i said, I’m gonna wait this one out for a combo pack with all the DLC as well as a few reviews, etc. No point spending all that money if the hype dies out after a month and it becomes another Titanfall

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 15, 2015 at 15:22

          It also depends on the amount of people that plays this. I know @jonahcash:disqus is grabbing this and if the rest of my Destiny raid team is getting this then I will have to as well. Can’t raid on my own anyways.

          Reply

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:23

            Nor can you make new friends it seems. 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            January 15, 2015 at 15:23

            Especially girl friends XD

          • PsyChoPanthis

            January 15, 2015 at 15:23

            Thats where I am lucky. Most of the guys I run with feel the same as I do. We’ve been screwed too hard in the past by pre orders and hype. We all waiting this one out.

  7. Admiral Chief

    January 15, 2015 at 15:18

    Pretty scumbag move tbh

    Reply

  8. Ghost In The Rift

    January 15, 2015 at 15:18

    Its like waiting for the new Mortal Kombat game,only to find out that skorpion and sub-zero are in the game and you have to purchase the rest and pay the full amount of the game,nah not for me.

    Reply

  9. Hammersteyn

    January 15, 2015 at 15:18

    “If we thought we could have finished all those monsters and hunters for ship we would have put them in the box” It sounds like he is saying that they ran out of time so now they have to charge extra for content they would have liked to given for free with the $60 game which sounds a bit contradictory

    Reply

  10. Sageville

    January 15, 2015 at 15:20

    All I read (Between those lines) = “Pay to Win”.

    Reply

  11. Tarisma

    January 15, 2015 at 15:22

    I feel this game is over hyped and will under deliver. Everyones going to be playing it then 3 months later no one will be playing it.

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      January 15, 2015 at 15:24

      Don’t you dare say that, theres fanboys lurking about. Ryanzza already knows them.

      Reply

    • PsyChoPanthis

      January 15, 2015 at 15:26

      We are talking about Titanfall… right?

      oh wait, we talking about Evolve… 😉

      Reply

  12. Raptor Rants A Lot

    January 15, 2015 at 15:24

    Ok, let’s start by asking this:
    Is the base content without this DLC worth it? People, before this DLC stuff, unanimously said YES.

    So, new content should then be paid for yes? People spent time creating the stuff. They must be paid, it costs to host the data to distribute the DLC. Secondly they have servers to maintain. They need money from SOMEWHERE.

    The base money they make from selling the game will cover dev costs and all that. But once that money dries up? Then what? Servers shut down and people moan that they aren’t doing enough to keep them playing? Yet they won’t help contribute to a game to keep it running?

    Look, DLC is kak. It’s a terrible business. But when the DLC actually ads value and isn’t just cut content that left a game half finished then what is the issue?

    You don’t HAVE to buy the DLC to enjoy Evolve in its fullness. It’s not like they left out critical data and forced you to unlock on-disc content.

    Seriously people relax a bit. DLC and microtransactions are bad yes. But for a game that needs monthly maintenance costs and upkeep money must come from somewhere. This isn’t a LAN game where you host the game locally on your machine with a bunch of friends in a garage.

    Sheesh
    /rant

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      January 15, 2015 at 15:25

      7 paragraphs……

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants A Lot

        January 15, 2015 at 15:25

        you have GOT to be kidding me?!

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          January 15, 2015 at 15:25

          Hahaha, you really did it didn’t you

          Reply

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:29

            I’m almost starting to feel sorry for him now, that’s twice in 2 articles he’s brought it entirely upon himself.

            Almost. And then I just lol and enjoy the moment. 😀

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 15, 2015 at 15:29

            I am going to start getting paranoid about everything I write. Double check everything for 7 anywhere near it

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:30

            At this rate you might just have to. That won’t stop people from bringing it up, but at least you’re not adding to it.

          • HairyEwok

            January 15, 2015 at 15:31

            He’s not adding anything to it until random.org does.

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:32

            random.org is responsible for his misery. I don’t mind teasing, but torture is taking to too far XD

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:32

            random.org has a secret script:

            if Llew = true
            then Llew = 7th

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:34

            I’ll actually piss myself laughing if the next random.org comp results put him in 7th.

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 15, 2015 at 15:45

            I will rage. Yoh

          • HairyEwok

            January 15, 2015 at 15:34

            I swear if the next comp places him 7th i would run naked down joburg central and place it on youtube. XD

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:35

            [Bookmarked comment]

            Now, to see if you are a man of your word

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:36

            Screenshot – delete button is real.

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:37

            (refresh)

          • Aries

            January 15, 2015 at 16:14

            Share to twitter facebook

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 16:18

            I’m not on the social thingies

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 15, 2015 at 15:46

            lol

          • Lord Chaos

            January 15, 2015 at 15:35

            Until he only comments on an article 7 times.

        • Hammersteyn

          January 15, 2015 at 15:30

          No, it’s seven I counted too.

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 15, 2015 at 15:45

            :'(

    • Admiral Chief

      January 15, 2015 at 15:26

      Then they SHOULD make it LAN. This is not a game for 64 players, it is a game for 5 players

      Reply

      • PsyChoPanthis

        January 15, 2015 at 15:27

        If there is confirmed LAN support. That will sway me to the PC version for sure

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          January 15, 2015 at 15:27

          Dude, I will NEVER stop playing this. LAN with mates will NEVER get old. I mean, frikken monster and hunters, SO AWESOME

          Reply

          • PsyChoPanthis

            January 15, 2015 at 15:29

            I was at a Lan last weekend and we talked about it. Most agreed that they didnt really care much for the online bit. If there was lan most would buy it purely for one of our lans.

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:30

            Yeah man, there is endless fun to be had. BUT, and this is the scumbag move, they want to KEEP making money off it.

            I hate the industry.

            That is why I buy games on Steam sales and play offline, only online fun for me is PS2

          • PsyChoPanthis

            January 15, 2015 at 15:33

            There are some pretty cool titles for online. Im still head over heels for DayZ and its arma 3 clone, Breaking Point. But I get what you saying dude

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:33

            I’d dig playing DayZ, with local server, minus cheaters/hackers

          • Allykhat

            January 15, 2015 at 15:38

            Some of the Euro servers work very well hey. It’s not a twitch game like CoD so you can get away with a 200ms ping and still play like a pro

          • Admiral Chief

            January 16, 2015 at 07:21

            Are you playing the ARMA 2 mod or the standalone?

          • Allykhat

            January 19, 2015 at 07:50

            Normally I play the mod, but ive been playing Breaking Point on Arma 3

          • HairyEwok

            January 15, 2015 at 15:33

            I miss my school days where you would rock up at a LAN with your pc and a backpack full of your keyboard mouse and drinks. Link up, Boot up and let the fun begin WITHOUT INTERNET!

          • Werner Snyman

            January 15, 2015 at 15:36

            I suppose that is why we have a hard time letting go and just buying the damned DLC malarkey! It’s the memories man.. the memories.. *Lights a blunt*

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:36

            Heh, malarkey

          • Werner Snyman

            January 15, 2015 at 15:37

            Ha, a recent add to my vocabulary. A good word.

      • HairyEwok

        January 15, 2015 at 15:27

        I fully agree with you this is a LAN game, plain and simple.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      January 15, 2015 at 15:26

      It used to be a type of game we could LAN. But the industry decided it was bad and we should pay them to host the game in Europe.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        January 15, 2015 at 15:27

        Exactly, they want me to PAY for lag

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 15, 2015 at 15:30

          Also who needed internet when we could effing LAN

          Reply

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:31

            Now we need internet in order to LAN.

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:32

            IKR wtf is up with that???

          • ToshZA

            January 15, 2015 at 15:33

            It’s the reason we stopped LANing. Makes me sad to this day.

          • Admiral Chief

            January 15, 2015 at 15:31

            Yeah, you just needed a mate with epic unmetered unmonitored interwebz to download all the things and then you leech at the LAN

          • Aries

            January 15, 2015 at 16:12

            telkom conspiracy

      • Raptor Rants A Lot

        January 15, 2015 at 15:32

        But this game isn’t that. Before the DLC no one had an issue about this. So saying it should be LAN is now a moot argument as it wasn’t an issue before this DLC.

        In the old days we used to pay for expansions. That was a form of DLC, just without the downloading part. We never moaned.

        Yes expansions were far more beefy than current DLC but it was still small compared to the base game and we used to pay close on full price for said expansion packs.

        In the case of Evolve, the base game is a fully fledged game that everyone was excited about. Now there’s mention of DLC (Expansions of sort) and now it’s an issue? That’s not cool.

        Yes there are those that do DLC wrong. But in this case I don’t see it. Heck here you can even play with people who own the DLC without you needing to

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          January 15, 2015 at 15:34

          Still think they never should have excluded LAN like they did. Who’d want a console then?

          Reply

          • Raptor Rants A Lot

            January 15, 2015 at 15:44

            Yeah look I miss LAN options too. Don’t get me wrong. But I don’t think it’s fair being miffed about Evolve’s crrent DLC plans

    • Wraith

      January 15, 2015 at 16:41

      Your rant is badly formed! No opening tag XD

      Reply

      • Raptor Rants A Lot

        January 15, 2015 at 18:06

        Darn

        Reply

  13. Werner Snyman

    January 15, 2015 at 15:25

    I think it’s because (for some of us) we grew up in the time when you have to put away every single penny you got from doing chores and from birthdays, sometimes even cashing in your Christmas present early so you could buy that R 300 game. For a 13 year old that is a sh#4 load of money, back then. Yet you got the game, installed it, played it and had fun. “DLC” back then was an expansion. “If we thought we could have finished all those monsters and hunters for ship we would have put them in the box…. ” So, to me it sounds like the game technically isn’t finished?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      January 15, 2015 at 16:04

      Also those days you picked up a copy of PCFormat and grabs a glorious patch for a game (FOR FREE) that added new maps and textures and MINOR gameplay fixes!

      Reply

  14. Jac7

    January 15, 2015 at 15:28

    *Sigh* It remains so simple – If you don’t want it then for the love of the Pope don’t buy it. Jeeeeeeeez just stop bitching. I’ve got this suspicion that there are actual problems out there.

    Reply

    • HairyEwok

      January 15, 2015 at 15:41

      Its not about the gameplay itself, it’s all about them giving out a game that’s half complete and to have a fully completed game you have to buy the dlc’s, THATS what grinding our gears.

      Reply

      • Jac7

        January 15, 2015 at 16:01

        I understand that part, yes I do. But that’s why I also never buy a game at launch. I wait for the user reviews. Also, what separates them from some of the other developers is the fact that they disclosed from the beginning that they will have DLC. Yes, DLC probably is shady business. I’ve only ever bought DLC for The Last of Us and Mass Effect 3, which were 100% spectacular without it, but I wanted moar.

        Reply

      • Majik

        January 17, 2015 at 08:38

        Of course it’s incomplete why do you think it’s called Evolve 😛

        Reply

  15. Galbedir

    January 15, 2015 at 18:27

    I hate dlc, so much so that I very very rarely buy it. However they way they are doing it, doesn’t make me want to rip my face off. I’m sure there will be some monsters and hunters I don’t nessessary like as much as the others, and now I don’t have to buy them, but will still be able to play with anyone who actually does own them. And maps being free is genius, they give you the option of buying any monsters/hunters you want to play with, while not locking you out of any content, like Battlefield does. Still a Pre Order purchase for me.

    Reply

  16. Ceyber, The Metal Rabbit

    January 15, 2015 at 18:50

    Surely that means the monsters that aren’t done yet (because they weren’t in the game I bought), can’t and should not feature in my game? How can I still play against a DLC monster if I didn’t buy it? Don’t all the DLC game assets have to be installed and fully-functional for me to witness that kind of wallet-raping majesty?

    Will I have to download a 40gig-patch that secretly includes a new monster? I’m still paying for the added content then, even if it’s just in extra bandwidth. That seems a bit greedy, even if I can understand their choices and motives.

    Reply

  17. Ceyber, The Metal Rabbit

    January 15, 2015 at 18:59

    Are expansions a thing of the past? I must have missed when ‘expansions’ just dropped off the face of the planet.

    Reply

    • Brady miaau

      January 16, 2015 at 08:41

      But, expansion = big DLC with rule changes?

      Reply

      • Ceyber, The Metal Rabbit

        January 16, 2015 at 09:48

        lol yeah that was the joke. Bad one I know.

        Sorry -_-

        Reply

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