The Maw dev on the 'negative stigma' of DLC
Speaking to Gamasutra, Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford spoke about the company's recent release The Maw. Specifically, Wilford addresses the game's DLC, two episodes of which are now available. Wilford stated that Microsoft requires Xbox Live Arcade developers to disclose plans for DLC up front and Twisted Pixel decided that extra levels would make sense. He noted further that the company didn't even start development on DLC until the main game had been finished.
This point is of particular importance, as the DLC's "Deleted Scene" label has caused some confusion and ire among gamers. Wilford stated that the deleted scene idea made sense to the team, saying, "We thought it would be cool, but I think some people took it to mean that we intentionally stripped out levels that were 100 percent complete only to sell them as DLC, which is not the case."
When asked about the risks of creating DLC, Wilford said, "The biggest risk that caught us off guard is the public perception that you're trying to rip them off." He went on to say it's arguable that the concept of DLC has enough "negative stigma" that "it's not even worth attempting." There are examples of successful DLC, according to Wilford, but they are relatively few.
[Update: Two episodes -- not just one -- of Maw DLC are currently available.]
