What Game Had the First DLC?
When it comes to digital games, there’s been an increasing trend of downloadable content (DLC) releasing alongside main games or months later. But did you know that the concept of DLC started much earlier?
In this article, we’ll delve into the fascinating history of DLC and find out which game can be considered the first one to offer DLC. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and see how this phenomenon evolved.
What is DLC, Anyway?
Before diving into the history, it’s essential to understand what DLC is. DLC, short for downloadable content, refers to additional content added to a game after its initial release. This content can be new levels, quests, characters, weapons, or even entire campaigns.
DLC can be accessed online through a game’s digital storefront or physical version through a code provided on the game’s packaging or within a collector’s edition. This additional content helps to extend the gameplay experience and often enrich the story, providing an engaging and immersive experience.
Early Beginnings
While we can’t pinpoint an exact date for when DLC began, it is widely acknowledged that text-based adventures and interactive fiction were among the earliest forms of DLC. Yes, you read that correctly – interactive fiction! Let’s explore this concept:
• Infocom: A pioneer in the early days of interactive fiction, Infocom released numerous interactive adventure games such as Zork, Witchboy, and Planetfall in the 1980s. These games used floppy disks to deliver expansion packs containing new quests and stories, effectively being the first DLC packages.
• IF databases: Infocom also implemented online databases with updated storylines and games. Users could access the new content by entering their floppy disk ID to link with the database. Ah, nostalgia!
Paving the Way for Later Successes
Infocom’s innovation paved the way for the development of computer games. As tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons emerged, games like Ultima and The Bard’s Tale offered additional content in various forms. This expansion also laid the groundwork for:
• Expansion packs: CD-ROMs, game patches, and expansion CDs began releasing with additional missions, quests, or character designs, gradually becoming more integral to game development.
By the mid-1990s, game studios started adopting DLC strategies, taking advantage of CD-ROM storage to deliver additional content. We’ll discuss that further below.
Mid-1990s and 2000s: Mainstream Acceptance
Enter the dawn of full-motion video (FMV) games, play-by-mail (PbM) games, and the early days of MMORPGs. Let’s fast-forward to significant events in the 90s and 2000s:
• Digital distribution: Online game distributors like Electronic Arts, CD-ROM-based game publishers like MicroProse, and even companies like IBM allowed streamlined delivery and installation of DLC for the first time.
• Network-based content release: This period saw networks and ISPs providing a space for users to access expansion packs and additional content with a growing number of CD-ROM and DVD-based content delivery platforms.
Now, the Moment You’ve Been Waiting For…
Finally, which game had the first DLC? Take a step back, look at your game library or memories, and imagine your answer to this question would change gaming history!
Enter Total Annihilation (1997), developed by Cavedog Entertainment and distributed by Atari. Released to positive reviews, Total Annihilation, a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, revolutionized the RTS genre and paved the way for strategic depth and replayability.
Total Annihilation: A Game-Changing RTS
This game introduced monthly free DLC and an in-game marketplace offering downloadable expansion packs, essentially reinventing the concept of content delivery. Total Annihilation also boasted an:
• Active mod community: This allowed fans and modders to create content and release it to others, essentially turning users into content creators, and even led to discussions on content ownership.
• Community-driven design: By integrating user feedback into development, Cavedog created an immersive and competitive game world, making its impact last for years and earning the title of best-selling PC game of all time!
What Has Been Achieved So Far?
From humble beginnings with interactive fiction and RPGs, we’ve watched the gaming industry transform dramatically over the years. Modern-day gamers have become increasingly familiar with DLC and consider it a staple in contemporary game development.
Total Annihilation set the stage, breaking new ground by using online connectivity to release regularly, showcasing the importance of:
• Ongoing content delivery: Total Annihilation and its predecessors effectively shifted focus from the pre-launch excitement to ongoing releases and constant updates.
• Interactive storytelling: It became evident that users demand fresh stories, quests, and game mechanics, enriching their overall experience. Games could now respond quickly to feedback and criticism to meet the needs and wants of their audiences.
As we reflect on this evolution, looking forward, we see no signs of slowing down. With the rise of multiplayer online battles, game jam festivals, and mod-making, DLC has become synonymous with:
• Agile development: A commitment to continuously updating and growing a game, as observed in successful titles like Borderlands and The Elder Scrolls series.
In the words of Cavedog’s creator, Chris Wyatt:
"The more interactive you can make it, the better. You give players what they want… they give you what they want in return… They want the game to come to life."
There you have it! The quest to discover the first game to offer DLC, revealing how Total Annihilation laid the groundwork for ongoing content delivery, community interaction, and game evolution, all shaping our gaming experience today!
This historical journey should prove an essential reminder that behind the curtains of every fascinating story, there’s innovative work from developers who aim to enhance our gaming enjoyment.
Happy gaming, and may the next great game always be on the horizon, awaiting our discovery!