It seems when
Namco Bandai told us Darth Vader and Yoda would remain trapped in their respective console domains, it was only true ... from a certain point of view. The company has
shockingly confirmed that, due to "overwhelming fan response," those suspiciously blank character portraits in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of
Soulcalibur IV will soon be filled in by a downloadable Darth Vader or Yoda. Good job, fans, we're sure Namco would never have figured out how to make money like this on its own.
The proper Star Wars showdown will begin on October 23rd, provided you're willing to pay 400
and $5 for a hyperventilating throat crusher and his little green friend, respectively. And just so we can work in another tedious reference, we'll add: We pray Namco doesn't alter the deal any further. Good one, us!
[Via press release]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
WRE @ Oct 17th 2008 2:32PM
Why isn't this filed under "DUR"?
Desert Eagle @ Oct 17th 2008 4:56PM
Ludwig does it again!
Ah, you gotta love Joystiq's article tags! ^_^
A Pissed-off English Gamer @ Oct 18th 2008 12:00PM
I do love Ludwig's tone; never too over the top, and always great clarity.
chimpzila @ Oct 17th 2008 2:38PM
will ludwig now sell one of his copies of sc4 and if so, which one?
anonim1979 @ Oct 17th 2008 6:58PM
Hmmm, lets check
X360:
1365x960 and full efects
PS3:
1280x720 and 1280x576(when software scalling to 1080i/p - thing blur...)
and some lightning effect cut out (check Eurogamer comparison)
http://d.hatena.ne.jp/yoda-dip-jp/20080802
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1198797&postcount=729
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=246129
B3astofthe3ast @ Oct 17th 2008 2:39PM
$5 for 1 character? That's already made and they have to do NO work to get them to us? No thanks.
In A World (XBL) @ Oct 17th 2008 3:15PM
C'mon, it's not like they FORCE you to download this to make the game FULLY OPERATIONAL, it's optional. If you want it then LEIA down five bucks, if not then save your money.
Noshino @ Oct 17th 2008 3:27PM
Why do you think Namco is commonly called Scamco?...
Osiris @ Oct 17th 2008 3:44PM
And what you fail to mention is that you are paying for content to be UNLOCKED when it is already on the disc you paid for.
What an utterly shamful scam.
Vcize @ Oct 17th 2008 4:09PM
"Why do you think Namco is commonly called Scamco?..."
Because people think that their lame nicknames are more clever and witty than they actually are?
Haggard @ Oct 17th 2008 8:13PM
Did nobody else see what In a World did there?
You should take another Luke.
j.howlett @ Oct 17th 2008 8:38PM
i saw punches, maybe for others they didn't lando
JZBluford @ Oct 17th 2008 2:40PM
I was wondering if this was ever going to happen. I actually started to lose faith in the ABSOLUTE WORST KEPT SECRET IN GAMING HISTORY. This was like trying to hide that Fernando Rocker was a nintendo fanboy!! SHEESH!! I'll be purchasing Vader though. I hate incomplete games and SCIV has so much value in it already for fighting game fans (like myself) that an extra fiver aint quite a deal breaker.
dwhite @ Oct 17th 2008 2:42PM
And now the recent South Park episode starring George Lucas becomes even more relevant. Combined with the obvious over priced greed of the developer for content of questionable value. The dark side of the force indeed...
Bigfoot @ Oct 17th 2008 2:43PM
No thanks.
Mike @ Oct 17th 2008 2:44PM
$5? Really?? For work that's already done?? Nope. Not for me.
AoE @ Oct 17th 2008 3:10PM
okay I'll admit i can understand being pissed about the $5 thing, it is out of hand for a single character...
But your justification doesn't make any sense... Don't you pay $60 for work that is already done when you buy a new game? $5 for completed work seems like a steal by comparison ;) Also, I don't know about you, but there is no way in hell I would pay for a game that wasn't finished.
Mike @ Oct 17th 2008 3:16PM
let me try and clarify my position here - I was brief 'cause I was multitasking when I made the original comment.
A game is a new piece of work unto itself - both vader and yoda appeared in the completed work that was SC4. The work was done as part of the finished product that was SC4. Now they're trying to sort of "double dip" and charge for content that MAAAAAYYYYY already be on the disc. If it's not already on the disc, it definitely could have been, as the work on this "dlc" was done when the game itself was completed. In short, it's content that was deliberately held back to sell at a later date for a profit - not cool. Let me further clarify using terminology not specific to SC
You make a game. Six months later, due to popular demand, you release an expansion that adds a couple of levels and some new items - AWESOME - you just added value to your game. Woooooooooo
You make a game. You then saw off parts of that game going "muahaha, I can charge the internets for this later! They'll pay it because they're ignorant of how things work!!" Not cool. Now you're being a greedy dick.
MC Double Def DP @ Oct 17th 2008 3:50PM
some tricky 360 hackers have already proved that Darth Vader is definately on the 360 disc.
they are definately charging $5 for the simple process of unlocking the character.
Metal Geario 360 @ Oct 17th 2008 2:45PM
The X-NintenStation 720.4 is so close i can smell it.
Cant wait to join that communist regime where we all get the same thing and love it!Mmm Mmm!*Shovels grool into mouth while reading* mGood Sphtuff!
All jokes aside, this is good for those who wanted the the "unavailable" character.
umm....hello??? @ Oct 17th 2008 2:45PM
fuck that. I'll wait until next year's "platinum edition" when it's included in the game like it should've been from day one.
dark_inchworm @ Oct 17th 2008 2:47PM
Let me guess... in the vein of Beautiful Katamari, the download is 108 kilobytes.
If so, fuck you!
If not, then I offer a much tamer "screw you!"
Cole @ Oct 17th 2008 2:47PM
$5 for one character??? really? I mean, reeeaaally? Namco how many copies do you really plan to sell at 5 bucks?
tmmoore_nc @ Oct 17th 2008 2:48PM
Budget priced versions never include DLC (although games that are still full price after a while should get all DLC in order to make their value worth more, then when it becomes budget priced, it drops the DLC).
Duh. We knew it was coming. No one should be shocked.
FSK405K @ Oct 17th 2008 3:51PM
Ya! The Game of the Year edition of Call of Duty 4 doesn't include any extra maps or anything! Oh, nope, it does.
Jakka @ Oct 17th 2008 2:49PM
What!?
Clinker @ Oct 17th 2008 2:54PM
Joystiq, I think you missed an opportunity to take a stand and say what most gamers are already thinking, that this DLC is a total RIP OFF:
http://www.ps3informer.com/playstation-3/games/is-soul-calibur-iv-dlc-a-rip-off-009391.php
Ludwig Kietzmann @ Oct 17th 2008 3:30PM
Why would we need to say it if everybody is already thinking it? I'd say our opinion on this goes without saying.
Josh @ Oct 17th 2008 2:56PM
SoulCalibur 4 DLC pricing is getting completely out of hand! Whats next new achievoz for $10! I already have all the achievements for this game so unless the come out with some new ones that require you to have Vader thanx but no thanx! $5 come on!
Josh @ Oct 17th 2008 3:00PM
Actually some Platinum Ed. games do get dlc look and Marvel Ultimate Alliance.
Drakee @ Oct 17th 2008 3:03PM
Is this even DLC? I thought someone discovered Darth Vader on the X360 disc and such.
xFenixKnightx @ Oct 17th 2008 3:09PM
Should have done this earlier. Way earlier! lmao!
Psalm Bowser @ Oct 18th 2008 8:59AM
Shut up.
BIGFAT @ Oct 17th 2008 3:09PM
Didnt they deny this was the case a few months backs?
CJLopez @ Oct 17th 2008 3:09PM
Man, bandai going the nintendo way, xDDDDDDD
On the other hand, i don't want yoda, still, thanks
CJLopez @ Oct 17th 2008 3:10PM
I'd rather haver those schoolgirls outfits that only deluxe version has.
For that, i'd pay right this momment
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Oct 17th 2008 3:17PM
I don't get how this is the Nintendo way... I don't think any of Nintendo's own games have paid DLC... Third parties do, though. Square-Enix (FF:CC:MLaaK), Capcom (Megaman 9), Activision (Guitar Hero), Sega (Samba de Amigo), MTV Games (Rock Band), and maybe more...
CJLopez @ Oct 17th 2008 3:18PM
I meant, adding something to what they released sometime ago which had be to on it since day 1 (MotionPlus, does it rings????)
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Oct 17th 2008 4:32PM
I don't quite see DLC as being the same thing as a hardware accessory.
CJLopez @ Oct 17th 2008 4:34PM
I never made a reference that it only applied to DLC or hardware accesory, motion plus was just to give an example on my point, but never tried to state my comentray to a certain object
Victor @ Oct 17th 2008 3:12PM
oh cool I love paying $5 for a single character thats ALREADY ON THE DISC
spoonani @ Oct 17th 2008 3:16PM
How about $5 for TEAM BATTLE MODE - something i actually care about.
Pureshooter @ Oct 17th 2008 3:17PM
I've got the 360 version, but I'll only buy it if it includes a "Dark Helmet" outfit for Yoda with special moves to utilize the Schwartz.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Oct 17th 2008 3:18PM
EA and Namco-Bandai are the worst when it comes to exploiting the DLC system.
I mean, honestly. Would I want to have Vader battle Yoda? Of course. Do I think it's worth $5? No way.
Vcize @ Oct 17th 2008 4:14PM
Exploiting? If DLC didn't exist these characters wouldn't have been available in the other games at all, a la SC2.
It's either having the option to pay $5 for them or having no option to get them at all (like in the past). If you don't want it, you're no worse off than before when DLC didn't exist. If you do want it, now you have an option.
Don't pretend that if DLC didn't exist Vader/Yoda would have been in both version of the game from the get-go, you're not that naive.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Oct 17th 2008 4:31PM
Considering there was a video of Vader and Yoda fighting on the 360 version long before this DLC was announced, that would lead one to believe that both characters were already available on the disc, and that NBGI is merely selling an unlock code.
And unlike SC2's exclusives, there's no licensing issues preventing the characters to appear on both versions (for obvious reasons, Link would only be on the GameCube version... I guess Heihachi and Spawn don't have excuses, but whatever).
Again, the main issue is the cost. I firmly believe that $5 is too much FOR ONE CHARACTER.
baby sea tuna @ Oct 17th 2008 3:25PM
Laaaaame.
MadMup @ Oct 17th 2008 3:28PM
Hey, nice timing - I returned this game for store credit weeks ago.
Rollins @ Oct 17th 2008 3:54PM
Funny, I did the same thing to put the money towards Fable 2.
JoeTheBlow @ Oct 17th 2008 3:51PM
Pffffft, fuck Yoda!