Subscription for DLC?

[BiffMan]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I didn't find anything on a cursory search... Has any thought been given to the possibility of a Rock Band DLC subscription? Some monthly fee that will make sense for both HMX and the customer to let them get every song available seems like a pretty workable idea. WoW manages to make a small mountain of money and they also have the benefit of a predictable revenue stream so if HMX could similarly get their hooks into people and have them forking over a guaranteed $10-20 per month for DLC then that might really open up some other possibilities for them.

Just a thought, but if it was a decent enough deal I'd certainly sign up.

-BiffMan

[HollywoodBound]

it's a good idea as long as there are at least one or more albums available per month. I wouldn't want to pay a monthly fee to them if they only release a bunch at the beginning to get things going and then after a while it becomes 1 a month then 1 every other month etc. That's the only downside to the subscription thing.

[LZ_Reborn]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but I didn't find anything on a cursory search... Has any thought been given to the possibility of a Rock Band DLC subscription? Some monthly fee that will make sense for both HMX and the customer to let them get every song available seems like a pretty workable idea. WoW manages to make a small mountain of money and they also have the benefit of a predictable revenue stream so if HMX could similarly get their hooks into people and have them forking over a guaranteed $10-20 per month for DLC then that might really open up some other possibilities for them.

Just a thought, but if it was a decent enough deal I'd certainly sign up.

-BiffMan

I think they way that DLC is marketed and handled will ultimately be responsibility of Sony and MS not Harmonix....

[Bakkster]

it's a good idea as long as there are at least one or more albums available per month. I wouldn't want to pay a monthly fee to them if they only release a bunch at the beginning to get things going and then after a while it becomes 1 a month then 1 every other month etc. That's the only downside to the subscription thing.

Unless the subscription was significantly less than buying all the songs, I wouldn't do it. I'm planning on being choosy anyway. My biggest concern would be that a subscription forces HMX to release the same amount of DLC every time, meaning they'd probably err on the side of less.


I think they way that DLC is marketed and handled will ultimately be responsibility of Sony and MS not Harmonix....

Exactly. If we're talking MSP, we're probably going to have a fixed amount. I just hope we don't have to use the marketplace blade to buy stuff. WAY too many things to look through.

[thorn_9]

Yea, I don't plan on getting all the songs either, but a subscription that gave you a number of tracks for a reasonable price, less than buying one track at a time, would make sence.

so if they are $1 each song, and I buy 10, it's $10

but if its subscription for 10 songs a month for $8-9 if you guarentee to subscribe or 2 or more months, than I would do it.

There has to be a benefit, or there is no point.

[cmg4894]

I kind of like this idea. I would like to see what happens first before I start paying. I'm already loading up my Live account with points (6600) to get DLC for this and GH. Maybe not all the DLC with a subscription but instead of paying $15 you pay $10 every month and get to choose what you want for a total of $15 dollars. Like a discount if you have a special membership.

Edit: I read this thread earlier and just added to it. It seems the two above me had the same idea. Sorry.

[Bakkster]

I'm already loading up my Live account with points (6600) to get DLC for this and GH.

Why wouldn't you just keep your money in a savings account letting it get interest, instead of giving it to MS so they can get interest on it. Sure, it might not be much, but at least you're in control of your money. Besides, what if you end up not wanting 6600MSP worth of stuff?

[Sons_of_Kyuss]

I just wish there was some actual way of actually getting the songs in .mp3 format if I am going to blow $2 a pop on them, as you know that's what it's going to cost. I just can't see myself downloading much of anything except my favorite bands. And, I don't see much from my favorite bands being added, either.

Hmm...am I in a bad mood today...being a tad gloomy, aren't I?:confused:

[milkman4591]

sorry to say this, but HMX would never (or should never) implement a system like that. It defeats the entire purpose of being able to choose exactly which songs you want to download. Its exactly what they messed up with in the GH packs, putting together one or two good songs in a pack, but forcing you to pay for three. I'm certain they would want to avoid this mistake at all costs, and sell everything so that you have a choice in the whole album, a single song, or maybe even a pack from a specific band. Just my opinion, but I'm sure they want to keep choice for the player, in every aspect of the game.

[BiffMan]

I'm not suggesting that it's an either/or situation, just that a subscription is another option if folks choose to go that way. So say they put out $20 worth of DLC each month (no clues what their plans are or what the future would hold) and I'm probably going to buy $10-12 worth of it unless I happen to like all of it. Now say that for $15 per month I could get all the songs/albums, I'd probably go for that. It's more than I was planning on spending, but not by a lot and I get to have some songs I'd not have tried otherwise.

So I benefit because I'm getting more songs per month at a slight discount and HMX/EA/MTV/Whoever benefit because they can plan that they're going to get my $15 next month and will know in advance what some of their revenue will be. Steady revenue = more $$ available to develop further content or the next game.

-BiffMan

[Brad_Lee]

I think the subscription fee is a great idea.

$15 a month for unlimited downloads.... so long as they don't skimp.

[dlisapussy]

It is a good idea indeed, but I hate to break it to you, $10-$20 a month is cheap. Considering there's going to be an album or a block of songs available every week. Average CD's have 10 or 11 songs... times 4 is like $40 a month. I highly doubt that it would be less than that. Whoever is 'handling' the money, handles the money for a reason, and they want as much money as they can get.

But, its a great idea and I would certainly sign up, also.

[cmg4894]

Why wouldn't you just keep your money in a savings account letting it get interest, instead of giving it to MS so they can get interest on it. Sure, it might not be much, but at least you're in control of your money. Besides, what if you end up not wanting 6600MSP worth of stuff?

Here why. First interest would be a buck or two a year. It has only been a couple of months so we are talking 50 or 60 cents. Second, I know I will use the points on something. Even if it's not DLC for RB or GH. Third, I work 65 hours a week. When I get home and realize there is something I want on the marketplace, I don't want to run out and get a points card. I don't like using my credit card because I would spend way too much.

[Bakkster]

Here why. First interest would be a buck or two a year. It has only been a couple of months so we are talking 50 or 60 cents. Second, I know I will use the points on something. Even if it's not DLC for RB or GH. Third, I work 65 hours a week. When I get home and realize there is something I want on the marketplace, I don't want to run out and get a points card. I don't like using my credit card because I would spend way too much.

Sounds fair enough.

[kaiserkreb]

I think they way that DLC is marketed and handled will ultimately be responsibility of Sony and MS not Harmonix....

If this was even remotely the case, you would have to pay for xbox dlc and the few of us that own ps3s would get free content.

[BiffMan]

It is a good idea indeed, but I hate to break it to you, $10-$20 a month is cheap. Considering there's going to be an album or a block of songs available every week. Average CD's have 10 or 11 songs... times 4 is like $40 a month. I highly doubt that it would be less than that. Whoever is 'handling' the money, handles the money for a reason, and they want as much money as they can get.

But, its a great idea and I would certainly sign up, also.

I was just taking a rough guess, but the actual amount is irrelevant. If there's going to be $X in total songs/albums per month and I can get a flat-rate subscription for 80% of $X, then it's something I'm going to seriously consider.

Big sticking point is that they may not be able to have a very consistent song stream and it'd have to be totally even each month to make a subscription viable.

[ductyl]

I think the subscription fee is a great idea.

$15 a month for unlimited downloads.... so long as they don't skimp.

The only way they could do a subscription with "unlimited" song choice would be to only allow you to play your (subscription)downloaded songs while signed into an Xbox Live(or Sony equivelant) account that has an active subscription. Otherwise I'll wait 6 months, pick up a subscription for one month, and download the last 6 months worth of songs.

Being signed into Xbox Live(or Sony equivelant) wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing since most people will be playing online a lot... except that you're stuck if you go play somewhere without a connection. Also, when you cancel your subscription you then have *nothing* to show for the money you spent. Although that's usually the tradeoff you have with virtual subcriptions.

- ductyl

[Young_Nastyman]

If this was even remotely the case, you would have to pay for xbox dlc and the few of us that own ps3s would get free content.

why would ps3 get free content?

[Bakkster]

PSN tends to give more downloads for free. But this would just be a case of cheaper. Unless Sony was so benevolent that they chose to buy licences then give them to people (they're not).

[Terranova]

If this was even remotely the case, you would have to pay for xbox dlc and the few of us that own ps3s would get free content.

DLC isn't always free all the map packs for Resistance, Motorstorm etc you have to pay for same goes for most games that has added content.. the only games that i know off that had free downloads were Ridge racer 7 although even for that you had to pay for the music track updates.. and Genji had free costume updates but that's not really adding much.. rock band DLC wont be free for any system in terms of the music side of things they may however offer free DLC for clothing or guitars etc for use in tour mode.

[Pandacon]

No, I don't need anoher bill, thank you very much.

[steelcurtain187]

I like the idea as long as it was a reasonable price and they actually deliver as promised on all the DLC

[Bobble]

If Sony and MS are handling it, that can be good and bad. Good would be that Sony seems to offer add-on content for extremely cheap. 3 bucks on average for an add-on pack. MS however does not. The other thing would be if everyone was dling the addons, PSN usually suffers in speed, Live usually doesn't have that issue as much though. I just don't want my bum reamed so I can play songs that I like. I would've loved if they could've put more song choice in before release so you could really pick your set list and feel like it's your own, right now, there's not much genre choice.

[Bobble]

DLC isn't always free all the map packs for Resistance, Motorstorm etc you have to pay for same goes for most games that has added content.. the only games that i know off that had free downloads were Ridge racer 7 although even for that you had to pay for the music track updates.. and Genji had free costume updates but that's not really adding much.. rock band DLC wont be free for any system in terms of the music side of things they may however offer free DLC for clothing or guitars etc for use in tour mode.

You're right, it wasn't free but it was CHEAP as all hell. The entire Motorstorm pack was like 6 bucks if you got the whole thing and had all the cars and crap, and the Time Attack mode was free, and you could buy the individual parts separately if you wanted to save money. That'd be awesome for the song/album ideas. But you're right, won't be free, just cheaper.

[kaiserkreb]

DLC isn't always free all the map packs for Resistance, Motorstorm etc you have to pay for same goes for most games that has added content.. the only games that i know off that had free downloads were Ridge racer 7 although even for that you had to pay for the music track updates.. and Genji had free costume updates but that's not really adding much.. rock band DLC wont be free for any system in terms of the music side of things they may however offer free DLC for clothing or guitars etc for use in tour mode.

The logic I was basing my sarcastic (and perhaps stereotyped) remark on was that someone had stated that it would be down to Sony and Microsoft themselves handling the marketing of the DLC. Half of my comment was based on the PSN network being free VS Xbox live (whatever that costs), the other half of it was that Sony and Microsoft would never handle the DLC personally, I'm sure they simply host the data, and if the provider wishes to charge, then they pass that fee along and take a small portion for bandwidth or "service fees" or whatever.

[diazj18]

The logic I was basing my sarcastic (and perhaps stereotyped) remark on was that someone had stated that it would be down to Sony and Microsoft themselves handling the marketing of the DLC. Half of my comment was based on the PSN network being free VS Xbox live (whatever that costs), the other half of it was that Sony and Microsoft would never handle the DLC personally, I'm sure they simply host the data, and if the provider wishes to charge, then they pass that fee along and take a small portion for bandwidth or "service fees" or whatever.
Your right, Sony nor MS will be handiling the money from the DLC, but regardless of the price that Harmonix wishes to charge, MS will make them set a minimum price. If Harmonix does not price it at the minimum, then MS will charge that price and keep the extra for themselves.
Sony however, lets the developer choose the price of DLC and that is why Sony has cheaper DLC.