'DLC' (downloadable content) tends to evoke images of avaricious game publishers sitting in their skyscrapers, rubbing their hands together in greedy glee as they think up ways of monetising their games with minimal effort. Finally, one of them says "I got it. Let's not make new content for the game, but lock players out of existing content then make them pay to unlock it later and pretend we're adding it to the game". All the execs around the table agree it's a brilliant idea, then start laughing demonically as a storm suddenly erupts outside and lightning strikes the radio mast on top of a nearby skyscraper. But DLC isn't allbad, and it's certainly come a long way since Bethesda's infamous Horse Armour for Oblivion - which offered players a couple of hideous bits of horse armour for several bucks (best of all, certain players reported that soon after purchasing the DLC, their horse ran away with the new duds anyway, never to be seen again). While there are still plenty of disastrous downloadable content packs being made today, many devs have stepped up and offered awesome new angles to their associated games, allowing us to experience backstories of other characters, unlock vast new lands to explore, or just throwing in unexpected elements to give us a whole new perspective on the game world. This is a celebration of those DLC that have done well by the consumer, offering the player great value for money and genuinely enriching the game experience for many more hours. May all other DLC bow before these and tremble... and learn a thing or two about how it should be done.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
