Ben-DutkaSo many critics tried to tell you, including me: Despite its flaws, The Darkness II was a blast and a half to play.
But it just didn't sell well enough to warrant extra content, apparently. According to The Nexus News , developer Digital Extremes said that sadly, publisher 2K Games "decided against the DLC option" for the overlooked title.
The sales statistics show The Darkness II moving a little over a half-million copies, but it was expected to sell double that number. While on the flip side, one of 2K's most recent games ( Borderlands 2 ) sold several million copies and as such, we've already seen multiple DLC expansions. It's just unfortunate that so many people missed out on the quad-wielding good time that was The Darkness II . These days, support for games post-launch is important, but such support must be warranted…so next time, buy a good game when it shows up!
Related Game(s): The Darkness II
Ben, I understand your point when you say "but such support must be warranted…so next time, buy a good game when it shows up". However it's something of a chicken and egg situation isn't it? Games that are not well supported by publishers ultimately do not sell well, and publishers that fail to support games fall under suspicion of not supporting future games leaving buyers wondering whether to buy a game or not because they question whether it will be supported.
So, buyers will buy a game if they think it will be supported but not if they think otherwise, but a publisher will only do LDC if they think it's warranted. Even a publisher saying that casts doubt on the future support and DLC for a title, which will deter buyers of the game – leading to lack luster sales and poor support as promised.
Publishers should either deliver the entire game upfront, or commit to DLC before launch so buyers know what they will get.
Yes, but it's usually a lot more straightforward than that. Most publishers are willing to support a game that has sold well, and that's that. Gamers shouldn't expect no support for a popular title because that doesn't happen too often.
For instance, The Darkness II is a 2K game. So is Borderlands 2. One sold basically eight times what the other sold…so one gets a lot of DLC and the other gets none. And that's pretty standard. 🙂
^^^ AMEN!
And make sure you keep your word when you do so too, because I'm still miffed that Heavy Rain's 3 DLC packs were cancelled & thrown into the cold wet gutters of NowhereVille.
It's a bummer for Darkness 2 as I really enjoyed D1 & I wanted this one too, but I no longer have the funds for new, or even semi-current, games.
Last edited by BikerSaint on 12/4/2012 12:42:42 PM
Well don't make your otherwise normal games cel-shaded when it doesn't fit.
The cell shading was fine, I just think the focus of this one was more generalized, and it didn't remain as unique as the first title.
Other than how it looks it is a very good game. I dont really care for DLC but this game really deserves more recognition than it has recieved by gamers.
If they release a dual pack of both The Darkness games at an agreeable price, I'll pick it up. You all know my spiel about shooters by now, even though these game are more than the norm and actually do interest me, I've just never really been interested enough to pay for them…
Now that just doesn't make a lick of sense, but I'm sticking to that broken reasoning. 😀
I just had a strange moment, i thought this article was about darksiders 2. I was like "Thats BS that the people who paid for the seasonal pass are getting screwed over" Then i realized 2K made it and it was DARKNESS 2.
I read it as "Darksiders 2" as well, thinking "wasn't there just announced a new DLC for this?"!
Last edited by Beamboom on 12/4/2012 4:52:21 PM
lol I was taken by this craziness as well…
This exact same thing happened to me with Agent/The Agency.
Good. Now I can buy it knowing I get the whole game.
I hate dlc. Makes me want to not buy games (so I can get the full game later)
No dlc! So it seems like I won't lose a ounce of sleep tonight. Just put your best foot forward on darkness 3 guys, kay?
sorry 2K, but dont blame your lazy a$$ on the fans!
the darkness 2 sold poorly because of 2 simple reasons.
1 it was not anywhere near even HALF as good as the original!
the original was just such a better game in every way, especially how creepy it was.
2 was allot like those ultra violent cartoons.
cartoony graphics, but decapitations and enough blood to fill a slasher film!
always said the cell shaded graphics just did not suit.
not to mention it was pretty boring and repetitive, especially the finishing moves they were so similar.
tomato, or tomato with salt on it whats the difference?
2 it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO different!
just like every sequel this year, sadly.
sigh, why do developers bother making sequels if there going to be so different?
why not just make new IPs?
because they know they wont sell half as well, thats why!
should be sued for false advertisement!
Great game but far too easy
platinum came after 4 days of not trying to get it.
I think these companies need to do more research before they greenlight projects. The Darkness as a property is not big enough to warrant their sales expectations. The comic is not well known and not a huge seller to translate to another medium. I played the first one and did not think it was anything spectacular. It had some cool features from the standard FPS but not enough to make it stand out. This is a saturated market with games with more mass market appeal and more marketing behind them.