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Xbox Live Indie Game Imagines A World Where DLC Goes Too Far

With the legions of me-too Minecraft clones and boring match-three titles choking Xbox Live Indie Games, it's easy to overlook the games that are actually worth playing on the service. Here's one you shouldn't miss: DLC Quest.

DLC Quest is a satire on the growing dependence of publishers on nickel-and-diming consumers with charged downloadable content instead of putting features in games to begin with. Luckily, you aren't paying real money for the "DLC" in this game -- you only have to collect and spend in-game coins.

What kind of core gameplay elements will you be paying to unlock? Well, virtually everything. You'll need to purchase the DLC for animations, the ability to jump, the pause screen, a weapon -- heck, even the option to move left is locked until you pay up. It's obviously an extreme vision of what could go wrong with DLC, but the DLC Quest also takes time to mock some current classics such as Zombie DLC, map packs, and, oh yes, horse armor.

The core gameplay of DLC Quest is an extremely simple 2D sidescroller. The game exists much more for the jokes than compelling gameplay, and it doesn't last very long. But for 80 Microsoft points ($1), I definitely had an enjoyable hour or so and got to giggle at the absurdity of one of our industry's strangest new trends. Check it out!

Email the author Phil Kollar, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.

Comments
  • There's a lot of quirky little treasures buried in the XBLA Indie games, nice to see one showcased here. Hope to see more coverage of them in the future!
  • Sounds pretty cool, unfortunately I don't have a 360...
  • Wait, if you have to buy the ability to move, how do you earn the money to buy it?
  • Meh, I thought the book was better.
  • I got this a while ago and LOVED it. It was short though. Hopefully they get some DLC for it.
  • Sounds neat. The only indie game I've ever paid for was I Made A Game With Zombies In It. Is that what it's called? I dunno. But this one looks interesting.
  • A dollar? Checking it out as soon as I can.
  • How come PSN never gets cool titles like this?
  • Sold! Great idea

  • Did that just say "the option to move left is locked until you pay up"?

    That's it--I must buy this game. Now.

  • that is awesome!

  • I vaguely remember a flash game that was similar to this a few years ago, it was a Top-Down shooty-type game where you had to pay money for everything From powering up your ship To increasing the graphics Unlocking Audio Unlocking High-Score board Left AND Right, literally everything, I'll go see if I can find this game.
  • Dev here! You can queue up a free trial here: http://marketplace.xbox.com/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802585509c7
  • "A world where DLC goes to far" You mean this world?

  • Isn't there a game on Kongregate VERY similar to this?
  • im so glad you misspelled one in the title for this little gem of a newsfeed. I love misspelled words unlike other bungholes on this website. I think they add flare to anything. I seriously am not trying to be a spelling nazi here. I really hate perfect grammer. It makes us all look like robots. Smart robots on top of that
  • I love this game!

  • Innovative and hilarious, I love it.

  • UPGRADE COMPLETE!!! Has come to Xbox live...

    Must buy. Now.

  • Might have to buy this just out of principle.

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