11. Downloadable Content
I know, I know, I listed downloadable content as a reason to hate modern gaming, but thats only because publishers ruined the practice by cutting parts out of games and labeling it as DLC. However, legitimate DLC is without a doubt a positive aspect of modern gaming. When done the right way, it can extend the life of a game by giving players a reason to come back. It also allows developers to create content that they may have had an idea for during the development process, but simply didnt have the time to make it. Bethesda Softworks, the company behind greats like the
Fallout and
Elder Scrolls series, is one of the few companies left that still know how to create DLC the right way. The best example is
The Elder Scrolls V: Dawngaurd, an add-on that allows the player to choose between aligning with a clan of vampires or vampire hunters. It adds hours of content to the already content-packed original game, including new quests, skill trees, and abilities.
Dawnguard is how DLC should be. It was released months after the original release, actualizes ideas that the developers originally didnt have time for, and gives players very good reasons to come back to a game they may have left collecting dust for a while. DLC can be a fantastic way of expanding the world and honing certain gameplay elements. It allows developers to continue their creative prospects and make money from it without pandering to their consumers. And if
Dawnguard has demonstrated anything, it has shown that this practice works. Downloadable content, when done right, is definitely something to love about modern gaming.