The asymmetrical MOBA Evolve has received a lot of criticism after revealing the DLC plans yesterday. One of the co-founders of the Evolve studio Turtle Rock Studio addresses the criticism from fans. Times have changed.
Ouch, Turtle Rock probably didn’t expect that. The excitement of players for the new “Evolve” noticeably cooled yesterday, after a jungle of DLCs, different versions, and paid additional content was revealed.
Much criticism of the plans and prices
After all, the base game costs nearly 50 euros. When players then have to reach for their wallets again after months to spend 7.49€ for another hunter or even 14.99€ for a monster, it meets with incomprehension.
Especially in a market where players are currently learning to wait a half or full year until the “ultimate edition” or “game of the year” edition eventually goes over the virtual counter during a special promotion for a fraction of the original price – including all DLCs and expansions.
“No one has to buy the DLC”
In a long post in the official forum, one of the co-founders of Turtle Rock Studios, Phil Robb, now responds to the fans’ criticism. The response can probably be summarized as “We are subject to the laws of the market.”
Robb explained that no one should feel compelled to buy the DLC. It is not mandatory. They still had many ideas for additional hunters and monsters that they could no longer implement in the game. Instead of throwing them away, they decided to develop them later. However, that costs money. It has to come in somehow.
As we got closer to finishing Evolve we ended up with designs for a bunch of monster and hunters that we just didn’t have the time and money to make. Instead of throw them all out, why not put together a budget to make them as DLC?
No one is forced to buy this DLC. They will pay attention to the balance. New monsters and hunters should not be stronger than the old ones. Furthermore, they enrich the game for “non-buyers” as they can play against the monsters and hunters.
The market has changed
Robb subtly pointed out that at Turtle Rock they are not responsible for such decisions. They developed the game, and publisher 2K Games is now taking care of how the game enters the market.
Ultimately, TRS makes the games, we don’t sell them…and as the developers we’ve done our best to make a game that people want to play.
Back in the old “Left4Dead” days, Turtle Rock Studio had a team of 13 people and was under the warm blanket of Valve, who didn’t care much about profit. Today they are seven times larger, had to grow, but are still relatively small and swimming with the sharks. The industry has changed, so has the starting position. However, they still see themselves in the same role as before and are trying to establish themselves in this very tough business and develop great games.
I like to think we’re still the same down to earth guys we were then, trying to make great games in a very tough industry.
With all the bundles, they give players options. And options are never a bad thing.
