For those of you that didn’t play or do not remember, in Halo 2 DLC map packs would come out and players could buy them for $10. About 6 months later the maps would become a free download, and a requirement to play matchmaking.
IMO this process was win-win-win. The gm developer would make $$$, die-hard players would get new maps for a reasonable cost, and those who didn’t want to pay $$$ would eventually get them for free.
I have the Halo 4 maps, but rarely play them since I play BTB and its unlikely all 16 ppl have them in any given gm. I feel the only ppl being hurt by 343 not giving the maps away as a free download are the ppl that paid for them, and now rarely get to play them.
The Heroic Map Pack was free because it wasn’t tied to any achievements. It’s Microsoft’s policy that DLCs cannot be free if they are tied to an achievement.
> It’s Microsoft’s policy that DLCs cannot be free if they are tied to an achievement.
Wait really? That’s kinda weird/stupid…
OT: I think they should gradually make them free, but while I would like them to do it now, it’s probably a little soon after their release for this to be feasible and I can understand them wanting to hold back.
The arguments for giving away Halo 4 DLC are two-fold:
Halo 4’s population has plummeted and free DLC would bring in more players.
Because Halo 4’s population has plummeted, Microsoft would not lose that much money with free DLC. And they might make more money in Xbox Live Gold memberships and future Halo 5 sales.
The arguments agaisnt giving away Halo 4 DLC are also two-fold:
Microsoft has not given away Halo DLC since the Heroic map pack in 2008.
People who paid for DLC do not want the value of their purchases diminished. It doesn’t matter that they cannot find games with Crimson, Majestic, or Castle maps. And get off their lawn.
People complain they can’t play the maps so this should appeal to them. People that don’t have the maps have a much wider choice to hopefully pick from so I can’t think of why this would hurt.
> Rereleasing paid DLC as free DLC would set the precedent that DLC may (or will) eventually become free. Knowing that, much fewer people would buy it.
>
> <mark>It’s $25 for 9 maps. One shift at Pizza Hut will more than pay for that.</mark>
>
> Honestly, the some of the DLC maps weren’t that good anyway–especially the Castle Map Pack.
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A good (and good looking) waitress can make that an HOUR on weekend nights… and that was back in the dark ages.
> It’s not going to happen.
>
> The Heroic Map Pack was free because it wasn’t tied to any achievements. <mark>It’s Microsoft’s policy that DLCs cannot be free if they are tied to an achievement.</mark>
False. There are games out that have free DLC that have achievements tied to them. The map packs for Gears of War 1 is an example, so is the Outlaws to the End mission pack from Red Dead Redemption.
> > It’s not going to happen.
> >
> > The Heroic Map Pack was free because it wasn’t tied to any achievements. <mark>It’s Microsoft’s policy that DLCs cannot be free if they are tied to an achievement.</mark>
>
> False. There are games out that have free DLC that have achievements tied to them. The map packs for Gears of War 1 is an example, so is the Outlaws to the End mission pack from Red Dead Redemption.
There are always exceptions to the rule.
None of Halo 3’s, Wars’, or Reach’s map packs tied to achievements are free.
Unfortunately, I don’t think they will ever release the map packs for free. Like Sitri said, DLC rules prohibit it, and I wouldn’t expect Microsoft to do a 180 on that policy.
> The arguments agaisnt giving away Halo 4 DLC are also two-fold:
>
> 2) People who paid for DLC do not want the value of their purchases diminished. It doesn’t matter that they cannot find games with Crimson, Majestic, or Castle maps. And get off their lawn.
I have all the DLC Map Packs through the Season Pass and I wouldn’t mind one bit if they gave it away. It would be greater value for money if they gave it away as otherwise they would never get played by those of us with the DLC.
> Rereleasing paid DLC as free DLC would set the precedent that DLC may (or will) eventually become free. Knowing that, much fewer people would buy it.
This is the reason they won’t. Release paid DLC for free now and less people will buy Halo 5 DLC because they’ll be hoping for the same again.
> It’s not going to happen.
>
> The Heroic Map Pack was free because it wasn’t tied to any achievements. It’s Microsoft’s policy that DLCs cannot be free if they are tied to an achievement.
I always though that policy was limited (if you’re wondering why it says “limited” that’s because 343i doesn’t like the R word… seriously). I wonder… maybe they could make all of the Halo 4 DLC part of that “Free With Gold” promotion that they just started. You know, when they make one game a free download for half a month. Who’s to say they can’t do the same for DLC?
That’s a very complicated issue, since it’d make DLC owners who paid for them very angry.
I for one, would hate to know that something that I have paid for was made free for others.
I bought the map pass, but I would’ve waited if I knew it would be free someday.
The way 343i handled DLC in this game is absolute BS. They got our money and they won’t let us play on the new maps. Make maps free, make them mandatory, make “DLC owners only” search option, whatever, I don’t give a -Yoink-. Just let us play on DLC maps already.
I guess I’ll never ever buy another DLC by 343i. I’m not making the same mistake again.
Thanks OP, I have made the exact same point many times, give the maps away so I can at least get to play them once in a while (NOTE: I own all the map packs).
However, I can see the reasons MS don’t want to do this.
It may p*ss off some of the people that have paid for the maps, even though it’s in their interest.
If they do it this time, people will expect it to happen next time. So next map pack release (either for H4 or H5) would see a huge drop in potential sales IMO, as a lot of people would just wait for them to be free.