Far Cry 2 changes the pre-order paradigm with extra missions
Far Cry 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed first-person shooter that came out back in 2004. Far Cry 2 sets to raise the bar higher with an unparalleled open world and a new marketing ploy. As part of the marketing ploy, various video game retailers are offering additional missions if consumers pre-order the game.
No other game has done what Far Cry 2 attempts to do, entice consumers with DLC before the launch of the actual game. The extra missions will add hours of additional gameplay on top of the full game. It is unknown if consumers will be able to purchase these bonus missions at a later time.
ConsoleMonster lists four of the missions along with the objects:
• The Georgian
The Georgian informant has gone into hiding at the Fuel Depot in UFLL territory, find him and discover what your predecessor learned from him about the Jackal’s location.
• The Bolivian
The Bolivian informant is on the run, trying to escape the country by stealing a plane from a small airfield in APR territory. Try to get to him before your predecessor does.
• Special Delivery
Your employers have more information for you about your predecessor – learn the location of his new dead drop and raid it to find information about his secret meetings.
• Le Francais
A French smuggler and arms dealer who may have been providing arms to the Jackal has been tipped off, and your predecessor is trying to stop him from crossing the border. Find out what Frenchman’s price is.
It is curious to see if this will be a new trend with developers offering up more gameplay content to spur interest and pre-orders. Studios have in the past offered digital downloads such as a costume or character, but nothing substantial that adds to the gameplay time.
Downloadable content (DLC) may be something many studios and publishers are looking at as a marketing tool. Xbox 360 exclusive DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is another example of using DLC as a marketing tool. Microsoft signed an exclusive deal with Take Two for an Xbox 360 exclusive DLC to help spur more sales towards its platform.
As in our previous story, our analysis indicates that platform exclusive DLC does not really affect the consumer’s decision in regards to buying a game for one platform versus another. However, pre-orders are another story, since the DLC would not influence the consumers to buy the game for a specific platform, but is geared towards enticing gamers to purchase the game as early as possible, rather then months later.
We will take a look at the sales for Far Cry 2 to see how much of an impact pre-sales have on initial figures.
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12 Responses to “Far Cry 2 changes the pre-order paradigm with extra missions”
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October 20th, 2008
As long as its GOOD added content.
Farcry is an open world I believe. So if they’re just adding ‘goto point X, then X, grab key goto X’ then it sucks.
If they’ve done the voice work for it, and made it a PROPER mission then great!
October 20th, 2008
“platform exclusive DLC does not really affect the consumer’s decision in regards to buying a game”
Too true.
October 20th, 2008
I loved FC 1 on the PC and not on the consoles.
The best part is the multi player.
4 or 5 guys sniping each other over a lan… Good times… Good Times.
October 20th, 2008
“platform exclusive DLC does not really affect the consumer’s decision in regards to buying a game”
I’m going to guess it’s because that not that many people know about it.
I have pissed that Tomb Raider sold out to MS though.
October 20th, 2008
you loved FC 1???
do you have to take some pills or something Norm…
Now I liked the graphics… thats it… which other part did you like??? Did you like the conspiracy theory of a mad scientist making mutant armies in a tropical paradise and now an ex-marine / travel guide must KILL EM ALL!!!
sigh…
I will buy Far Cry 2 though… on the PC (torrent) and on the consoles if they have exclusive DLC…
October 20th, 2008
I hope far cry isn’t another COD4, i got tired of it easily.
October 20th, 2008
really Bourne?
Even after the 6 hour single player is over you had countless hours in MP upgrading your shit. Really enjoyed that aspect of it.
October 20th, 2008
The campaign was the problem. It was just an excuse to fire guns and throw grenades. I think the story was really really weak. It just seemed like Ghost recon 2 tbh but in FPS. Multiplayer was alright, nothing special, again just an excuse for a few guns and go around blowing the hell out of each other (thats using guns, not the other kind of blowing each other). And i had gripes with the weapons, what’s the MP44 doing in a “Modern warfare” game. It just seemed a bit too mundane.
October 20th, 2008
The only problem I had with the campaign was its length. A lot of the fights seemed epic and the environments were so varied that it didn’t get boring.
The MP44 was in there as a throw back to COD2. Why not put the most powerful gun in COD2 as an unlockable?
October 20th, 2008
Phratocast, i’ve never played other COD games, i guess that explains it, but still, at least the assault rifles on COD4 weren’t exactly groundbreaking, could’ve included the SA80, FAMAS etc.I dont see why the MP44 was unlockable at a high level. I just think it was totally overhyped. I was very disappointed when i got online and playing the campaign. I was expecting something epic.
October 20th, 2008
I hated the CoD4 SP. I hate enemy respawners and thats all it seems to be, over and over… I swear I killed the worlds population in that TV station…
I love CoD4 MP, I wish the maps were a bit better tho. I don’t really like how spawns rotate etc. Prefer the round based combat. Oh and the UAV & Jammer needs to go.
October 20th, 2008
I wouldn’t be getting this game anyway. I’m not a big FPS fan.
If I was, I wouldn’t get it just to avoid DLC.
This isn’t even just an afterthough, its pre-meditated gimping the game in order to get people to buy early.
My guess, people are going to figure out how to get these for free, anyway. I’m not sure how they’re offering the extra content, but virtually anything short of taking your console in and having the store put it on has high potential for being used to get the missions by many more people.
Either way, the future is scary if this works to sell more games.