Speaking with Eurogamer, Valve's VP of marketing Doug Lombardi mentioned that their development team is hard at work on new TF2 multiplayer maps for the 360 version and that their plan is to offer the content for free. Lombardi tells Eurogamer that "free is the way to go. The gamers play the game, they want to keep playing the game, so we've collected their fifty bucks at the start, and once they're in the park, they can ride any ride they want in the park. So, for us that's been the philosophy." And a DLC philosophy we whole-heartily agree with. But nothing is set in stone just yet as Microsoft has certain rules pertaining to free content and we all know how much Orange Box publisher EA loves to make a quick buck off of DLC. In a perfect world we would see TF2 DLC for free, but we have a feeling we're in for another Hidden Fronts disagreement either between Valve and Microsoft or between Valve and EA.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-04-2008 @ 10:49AM
HazyCloud said...
If MS wouldn't allow Epic, I don't see them allowing Valve.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:03AM
Larry said...
Microsoft is not the publisher of this game EA is. It is an EA vs Valve decision.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:13AM
Mike said...
Larry - MS has rules regarding content on the marketplace - so no matter who the publisher is, MS could be a problem.
On the topic of MS's policies regarding DLC, if I'm not mistaken, one of those policies is that no content that is free on other platforms shall be charged for on XBLM. Therefore, I suspect the answer to pricing in this case depends very heavily on whether or not the new maps for the 360 are already available on the PC free of charge.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:43AM
FordGTGuy said...
@HazyCloud
It wasn't Epic's choice Microsoft published GOW and as the publisher could charge whatever they wanted for the DLC. Microsoft suggests prices and doesn't force publishers to make DLC cost anything. Its all up to the publisher if it costs for DLC/ how much it will cost so stop whining about Microsoft already.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:48AM
Misinformed DNA said...
Larry is correct. The pricing decision ultimately comes from the publisher of the game.
Mike may be correct in that MS has a rule that if it's free on another platform then in must be free on the 360, that sounds familiar.
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3-04-2008 @ 11:52AM
Mike said...
FordGTGuy,
Do you really think MS has no say in the cost of DLC? They host the files, and run the marketplace - and that stuff costs money. Do you think they aren't going to push for content that exceeds a certain size limit, or quality limit to have a larger pricetag?
Let me put it another way - Gamestop sells video games put out by any given publisher. MS sells DLC put out by any given publisher. Gamestop earns money on every game sold. Microsoft.... what? hands out DLC on behalf of the publishers out of the goodness of their hearts? They'll do everything they can to ensure the maps cost money so they can get a cut. Publisher or not, I'm quite certain that MS gets a cut on every microtransaction, and I'm also sure they are out to squeeze every dollar they can out of the gamers. That's not an insult on MS, just good business on their part. It's the way of the world.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:09PM
Tony said...
If it requires money, I don't see why EA/Valve can't front that if they feel it needs to be free. There have been other free releases by a variety of companies... the fact simply remains that most would like to make additional money off of them.
Furthermore, Valve has been extremely clear their content will be free. That includes the PC. By MS's very rules that keep being bought up, that means the 360 version of the content has to be free as well. There has been zero indication that the DLC will be different between the two platforms.
Furthermore, MS really hasn't just given out some cheat sheet of XBLM marketplace rules. Beyond the "if someone else has it free we have to too" rule, there's been very little said one way or another. All we have to go by are things MS wanted to charge for that THEY published. MS clearly has more of a say in Gears of War DLC than they would in Orange Box, simply by virtue of them funding the game's development.
Practically everything else is just making conclusions based on previous events... And sure, they might be informed conclusions, but they're not necessary complete fact either.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:12PM
jabbertrack said...
I love me some 360 but this game is so great on PC and Steam that if you can run even the lowest res you should be playing it on PC... which by the way has frequent and free updates.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:16PM
James said...
I don't even own the 360 version -- I saw this coming a year ago, frankly, so it's PC for me -- but if MS forces Valve to charge for this, I'm going to fax them a picture of my ass. Seriously, fuck them right in the ear for making needless walled gardens.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:20PM
thatguy said...
Mike said
Do you really think MS has no say in the cost of DLC? They host the files, and run the marketplace - and that stuff costs money. Do you think they aren't going to push for content that exceeds a certain size limit, or quality limit to have a larger pricetag?
WTF am i paying 50 odd euros a year for then shitty P2P swimming in lag gaming relying on the next guy for a good connection otherwise i'm fucked. If Microsoft started putting out press releases about how poor them needs that DLC micro-transaction to keep the content on their servers i'd pull my live account on the spot. But the good thing about cross platform gaming is this - if the PS3 gets the same content for free it will probably force Microsoft's hand into allowing the same content for the handsomely sum of nothing.
One can only dream zzzz
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3-04-2008 @ 12:32PM
Doug said...
You guys sound like a bunch of entertainment lawyers. Pleeeeaaaassseeee. Can we go back to talking about Halo 3 vs COD4??????
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3-04-2008 @ 12:34PM
HazyCloud said...
@ FordGTGuy
Was never whining about Microsoft. I was just stating I don't think MS will allow it. It has nothing to do with who published it. MS has the say in how much content is charged for. Especially on their Marketplace. Hopefully we'll see EA or Valve foot the bill so we can see this DLC for free.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:38PM
Doug said...
Look, Forza 2 has free DLC, so the idea that Microsoft doesn't "let" companies do it is false.
Everything else is just rampant speculation, which is just not kosher on the internet.
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3-04-2008 @ 12:50PM
ccc said...
First of all tf2 looks and runs great on the 360 with my only real grip technically being a lack of kb and mouse.
I would like to know what the update is doing map wise and character wise. I heard everyone was being restructered but have no real details or conformation on that.
And please more Intellegence maps!
TF2 is one of the best live games. Awl hell, the Orange Box FTW!
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3-04-2008 @ 12:53PM
webster1990 said...
@Larry, i thought EA only did the PS3 version because valve doesn't like ps3
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3-04-2008 @ 1:53PM
Keith McDuffee said...
This is really geekily anal of me, but that image in the post is totally inaccurate -- that sentry would be filling both the engineer and the spy full of holes in that scenario.
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3-04-2008 @ 2:35PM
Larry said...
webster1990
EA published the game for Valve for the PC, Xbox 360 and the PS3. EA did the port for the PS3 which is probably what your thinking about.
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3-04-2008 @ 5:26PM
Andrew K said...
I remember downloading Lost Planet, RS: Vegas and Ghost Recon maps for free.
I love how people just assume MS will charge. If Valve says it free it will be free.
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3-04-2008 @ 9:32PM
stewie said...
Larry said...
webster1990
EA published the game for Valve for the PC, Xbox 360 and the PS3. EA did the port for the PS3 which is probably what your thinking about.
no they just published for the 360 and ps3
valve published the pc version them selves
lets hope its free cause if it then im gonna have to keep playing it on the pc mutch rather play it on the 360 with my friends though ......................(sigh)
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3-05-2008 @ 10:12AM
OwnedByAMedic.com said...
Keith McDuffee said...
This is really geekily anal of me, but that image in the post is totally inaccurate -- that sentry would be filling both the engineer and the spy full of holes in that scenario.
ACTUALLY...I as a spy can backstab an engineer and then apply the sapper before it kills me. I may get a few bullets sometimes, but I'm usually pretty safe. However, sometimes for the LOL's, I like to just become undisguised in between the engineer and the gun just to have his gun kill him.
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