SKATE will have no downloadable content

by Ross Miller { Oct 30th 2007 at 4:04PM }

One of the major trends of this console generation is the prominence of downloadable content, released sometimes simultaneously with the title itself. That's why it's so surprising to us that Electronic Arts, one of the pureyors of the DLC for consoles, will not be offering any downloadable content for SKATE.

In an interview with EGM, executive producer Scott Blackwood said that they are "not planning any new content for Skate 1 ... We didn't want to go back and ask [people] for more money to get more shoes and shirts." Blackwood added,"that's not how we wanted to enter this market."

Blackwood also lamented on the dearth of female characters in the game, noting that "we are going to make it up to [the players]. When we do it -- and we will -- it's going to be done very well." Given that DLC is reportedly not an option for the first title, look for female skaters -- and the possibility of paying a premium for more in-game shoes and shirts -- in the inevitable sequel, SKATE 2.

Tags: dlc, ea, electronic-arts, skate

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Christopher7xii @ Oct 30th 2007 4:16PM

Strangely enough, this was one game I was really looking forward to DLC in the form of new decks, shirts and shoes. Was hoping for more band shirts and decks specifically. Ah well.

bm @ Oct 30th 2007 4:31PM

You're exactly the kind of person that's turning the games industry to shit. Thanks a lot.

jimy @ Oct 30th 2007 5:06PM

ya chris how dare you want to have more stuff to add on to a great game

/sarcasm

Christopher7xii @ Oct 30th 2007 11:22PM

How am I turning the game industry into shit? By supporting it? I don't buy used games from Gamestop, only buy them on eBay when they're out of print. I don't pirate my games, and purchase additional content when it adds to the experience of the game. Exactly how am I turning the industry into shit by supporting it? Here I thought I had freedom to choose, as do you. If you want to buy additional Guitar Hero 2 tracks for $2 a pop, it's your choice. It's no different from buying add-ons like the sims, or buying rehashes of the same game (Mario 3, Mario World, Mario Sunshine? Mario Party 2-8? Metroid Prime 2 and 3?) I mean, unless you do nothing but support the indie scene, you're buying into a corporation. The sooner you admit to that and get your damn game on, the better off you are.

And yes, I would love to pay $5 for a pack that included shoes I'd wear (some Airwalk, Vans, more Circa), or band shirts / Hoodies I listen to (Pennywise, Bad Religion, Billy Talent). It would add to the experience for me. In what way, shape, or form is it a bad thing?

bm @ Oct 31st 2007 2:25PM

It's a bad thing simply because if there's a demand, which you are creating, then companies are gonna churn out unfinished games and sell you the rest of the game later.

You cannot deny this if you know the nature of business at all.

Christopher7xii @ Oct 31st 2007 8:03PM

"It's a bad thing simply because if there's a demand, which you are creating, then companies are gonna churn out unfinished games and sell you the rest of the game later."

Well, that's if you're truly negative and think the world is black and can't admit that yes, it is a business. You're of the belief that EVERYTHING that has DLC is unfinished, you're an idiot. They can always add content later and the game is still considered finished. Hell, by that logic, you'd probably say Halo 3 was a rip-off because it was just a continuation of Halo 2, that they didn't finish the story... Or didn't see fit to pay for Two Towers and Return of the King because its all just one story. It's called companies have a budget and a timeline, just like any business. It's not rushing it out, it's making the deadline by the people funding the game. Gotta remember that developers and producers are two different companies. The developers come up with more content, the publishers give the money and the deadline to do so.

Personally, I think Skate was a completely finished game. I have no issues with it, and I don't see them adding new shirts / boards / shoes as 'finishing the game'. I see it as adding new content. Now if they didn't include the X-games portion and patched that in for a fee, then that'd be an unfinished game.

So yes, I'm giving in to the market and supporting the business method of add more DLC and possibly ship the game unfinished, but that's my choice and I think it's a great service. I much rather live in a gaming generation where they can add content post-release (even for a fee) then back in the SNES days where if a game was broken (or even like bubble bobble for DS, or SNK Card Fighters) and you're just stuck with a broken game. If you think that DLC is going away, you're really naive. The numbers are easily in their favor as far as downloads go, so get used to it.

jimy @ Oct 30th 2007 4:21PM

pretty weak. still a kick ass game.

Sean @ Oct 30th 2007 4:22PM

I can't wait until .skate./SKATE/SkAtE/sk8 goes down in price. I will snatch it up promptly.

Buckshot @ Oct 30th 2007 4:24PM

This game is such a turdball, I doubt there will be a skate 2.

Odog4ever @ Oct 30th 2007 5:31PM

There will be a skate 2. This is the best skating game out and one of the best sport games of the year.

All the critical acclaim is actually justified , even if the devil (EA) did make this game. If you personally don't like the game your entitled to you opinion but that won't change reality.

arrrgh @ Oct 30th 2007 5:10PM

sarcasm, or sad assed n00b

YOU decide

arrrgh @ Oct 30th 2007 5:48PM

my post was @ buckshot btw

odog how teh fuck did you post ABOVE my reply AFTER i replied? WTF?

bm @ Oct 30th 2007 4:30PM

"We didn't want to go back and ask [people] for more money to get more shoes and shirts."

No fucking horse armour you have to pay extra for? Sounds awesome to me.

Means when I buy the game, I get ALL of the game and not get sold parts of it separately, later.

Bloo @ Oct 30th 2007 5:06PM

You don't "have" to pay for anything. In the meantime, you are obviously enjoying your Wii more than I am enjoying mine (until SMG comes out anyways)

bm @ Oct 30th 2007 5:28PM

Wait, what the fuck has the Wii got to do with it all of a sudden? Talk about pathetic fanboys. Jesus christ.

And stop repeating the same old "yeah you don't have to buy it" kind of crap. You damn well know what this is about. Developers rushing out half assed games going "yeah we can always finish up the game later and sell em the extra stuff". And if you don't think this happens, you clearly don't even have the most basic understanding of how corporations work.

Bloo @ Oct 30th 2007 7:07PM

A fanboy? LOL. I own and enjoy all of the systems. The "Wii stuff" comes from 90% of the comments you make on this site.

PS: You are smart

bm @ Oct 31st 2007 2:30PM

Well either I'm smart, or you're just fucking dumb as hell, because nothing you've said so far really indicates what the hell the Wii has to do with this at all. I think it's because you don't have any real arguments, so you resort to that. Never mind.

EihBeir @ Oct 30th 2007 4:32PM

Now, now...Calm down everyone.

I'm sure EA will be selling "Hint Videos" for 100 points eventually. Oh, and cheat codes. They'll sell you the cheat codes that are available for free in the other versions.

Brucie B @ Oct 30th 2007 4:39PM

EA = JUNK! Yea I said it... What...

Jack @ Oct 30th 2007 4:52PM

You act as if your opinion of EA is unorthodox.

XanthouS @ Oct 30th 2007 4:40PM

This is news?

Blast Processing Megadrive @ Oct 30th 2007 4:51PM

This is a blog. Whether or not something is news is not important. When will you people get that?

However, THIS is news. As pointed out, EA just LOVES microtransactions. For them deciding to NOT do such for this is somewhat odd.

"We didn't want to go back and ask [people] for more money to get more shoes and shirts."
But giving extra clothing for free is okay, right?

J.R. @ Oct 30th 2007 4:53PM

I definitely think so. Not only is EA arguably the biggest pusher of downloadable content, but Skate was also the #2 selling game on the 360 for September; certainly surprising and newsworthy.

Washawasha @ Oct 30th 2007 5:23PM

Skate is the best skate-game ever and definitely the best EA-game ever. I hope the reason for the lack of DLC is that they are too busy working on skate 2 or maybe working on a snowboard/bmx game that features the same innovative concepts.

iCanDigThat @ Oct 30th 2007 5:27PM

Skate was EA's big gun against the Tony Hawk monolith. They're trying to draw people away and i think they've succeeded. Downloadable content might have been a turn off for people like BM who want to pay once for the "whole game." They weren't taking any chances. They're like crack dealers; First one's free. Wait til Skate.2.

Norm @ Oct 30th 2007 6:23PM

Hell yeah. I was in the car reading that shit where he said "skate 1". I was like HELL YEAH! I'm also glad to hear about the ability to walk.

On another note, I've played this game to hell and back, and I sucked it up and rented the new Tony Hawk game. The demo made me hate the hell out of the game, especially after Skate, but the game does get fun after an hour or two playing it. I still hate the dialogue and fictional characters though. That game makes pro skateboarders seem like complete idiots.