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Sometimes we look forward to games, and they don't turn out to be quite what we wanted. I had high hopes for Infinite Undiscovery, for instance, but critical consensus points to it being a disposable mediocrity. Ah, well. It's not the first game that let me down, and won't be the last.

Now, Tales of Vesperia didn't seem like a game where a let-down was coming. It sold so well in Japan that, seriously, the entire nation sold out of Xbox 360's during its launch week, as Vesperia merited a special SKU where it was the pack-in. Even over here, there's a ridiculous collector's edition available as a Gamestop exclusive and a massive Tales fan base waiting to buy it.

So& why are noted game critics, like Chris Kohler from Wired, writing nasty stuff like this about Tales of Vesperia?

Thank you for helping to ruin the videogame industry.

You see, Tales of Vesperia does some very unusual, and terribly controversial, things with its DLC...

Real Money for Fake Items

Tales of Vesperia has taken an extremely unusual approach to its DLC. Where most RPG DLC is extra content, new characters, or maybe goofy costumes, Tales of Vesperia's is designed essentially as a sanctioned cheat system. You can choose to spend your own cash in order to acquire money, items, and experience levels in-game. You can do this at any point in the game you want, too.

Vesperia's documentation is very quick to assure players that nothing is available through DLC that isn't available in game, although certainly acquiring some items through gameplay may take longer. Some unlock features that are available at default in other games, such as the ability to change which character you're playing as during combat. Here's a full list of Vesperia's DLC, as it currently appears on the partner.net debug service. There is no information about how quickly or when this DLC will be announced for all North American gamers on Xbox Live, and no pricing information yet listed for any item not specified as free in the description.

Lv. UP + 5: All members: Lv. + 5 (Max 200) * This can only be purchased once.

Lv. UP + 10: All members: Lv. + 10 (Max 200) * This can only be purchased once.

Note that for the partner.net listings, there are four different copies of Lv. UP +5 and Lv. UP +10 available. This would allow players to purchase 60 of the game's 200 possible experience levels if Namco Bandai were to make all four copies publicly available. Japanese DLC released for Vesperia thus far only allows up to 20 levels of experience to be purchased.

300,000 Gald: Obtain 300,000 Gald * This can only be purchased once

Note that four copies of 300,000 Gald are available to be "purchased once" on the partner.net list. That would be 1.2 million gald in-game that could be paid for if all four packs became purchasable DLC. I believe the Japanese version of this particular DLC makes only one pack publicly available.

Gel Set: A set of every kind of Gel. (Apple Gel, Lemon Gel) x 15 (Orange Gel, Pineapple Gel, Melange Gel) x 10 (Miracle Gel, Specific, Treat, Special Gel, Lottery Gel) x 5 * This can only be purchased once.

Herb Set: A set of every kind of Herb. (Sage, Savory, Lavender, Verbena, Chamomile, Basil, Saffron) x 10 (Red Sage, Red Savory, Red Lavender, Red Verbena, Red Chamomile, Red Basil, Red Saffron) x 5 * This can only be purchased once.

Trial Synthesis Set: A pack with synthesis materials. This is a trial package. (Medical Herb, Soul Grass, Gel Base, Magic Resin) x 10 * This can only be purchased once.

Synthesis Kit Lv. 1: A pack with synthesis material. 10 each of 22 kinds of synthesis material. ( Naevimetal, Sharp Blade, Grimoire Page, Broke Dagger, Solid Thorn, Demon Bone, Filfolia Leaf, Red Lens, Mystic Cloth, Hoof, Rhino Horn, Tough Leather, Crab Shell, Strong Vine, Ape Man Coat, Acorn Helmet, Spirit Fragment, Aphid, Tolbyccian Water, Tolbyccian Fish, Tortoise Shell) x 10 * This can only be purchased once.

Synthesis Kit Lv. 2: A pack with synthesis materials. 5 each of 30 kinds of rare synthesis material. (Silver Ore, Knight Water, Knight Holy Water, Tortoise Shell, Tortoise Tail, Solid Thorn, Roper Tentacle, Spider Web, Bat Wing, Grimoire Page, Broken Dagger, Bird Feather (Medium), Hoof, Wolf Fang, Bearskin, Flare Stone, Frost Stone, Air Stone, Geo Stone, Desier Iron Sand, Desier Gold Dust, Hypionian Tree Bark, Hypionian Coral, Weccea Ore, Weccean Lizard Fossil, Cockatrice Claw, Cockatrice Beak, Hunting Potion, Aer Agaric, Waterproof Cloak) x 5 * This can only be purchased once.

Synthesis Kit Lv. 3: A pack with synthesis materials. 3 each of 39 kinds of rare synthesis material. (Scaly Dragon Skin, Ape Man Coat, Bat Wing, Boar Fur, Blastium Ore, Stinky Bag, Cheagle Fur, Bucket Beak, Hippo Breath, Jaggy Fur, Yurzo Fruit, Yurzo Crystal, Rhino Horn, Broken Dagger, Red Lens, Mystic Cloth, Crystal, Desier Iron Sand, Desier Gold Dust, Naevimetal, Iron Leg, Mandrake Eye, Leo Fang, Great Leo Fang, Mystic Orb, Golden Horn, Red Star Gem, Blue Star Gem, Green Star Gem, Orange Star Gem, Dark Star Gem, Light Star Gem, Fonstone, Gentleman's Tie, Fragment of Hyper-Resonance, Blastium Ore, Bunny Ear Wing) x 3 (Spring of Wisdom, Strange Stone) x 1 * This can only be purchased once.

Trial Skill Pack: Yuri: Skills for Yuri. Will learn: Strength, Vitality, Recover, Item Thrower, Backstep and EXP Share

Trial Skill Pack: Estelle: Skills for Estelle. Will learn: Defend, Resist, Recover, Item Thrower, Backstep and EXP Share.

Trial Skill Pack: Karol: Skills for Karol. Will learn: Strength, Recover, Item Thrower, Backstep, Critical and EXP Share.

Trial Skill Pack: Rita: Skills for Rita. Will learn: Defend, Recover, Item Thrower, Backstep, Critical Guard and EXP Share.

Trial Skill Pack: Raven: Skills for Raven. Will learn: Spirits, Evade, Item Thrower, Roll, Taunt, and EXP Share.

Trial Skill Pack: Judith: Skills for Judith. Will learn: Resist, Spirits, Taunt 2, Item Thrower, Spear Master and EXP Share.

Trial Skill Pack: Repede: Skills for Repede. Will learn: Defend, Evade, Recover, Item Thrower, Backstep and EXP Share.

Customize Pack: Yuri: Costume changing titles and attachments for Yuri. (Title: Certified Soldier, Tank Top Lover, True Knight) (Attachment: Black Hat, Sunglasses, Large Pipe)

Customize Pack: Estelle: Costume changing titles and attachments for Estelle. (Title: Gracious Waitress, Dedicated Paramedic, Massage Therapist) (Attachments: Tiara, Glasses, Angel Outfit)

Customize Pack: Karol: Costume changing titles and attachments for Karol (Title: Lunch Lady, Towel Fanatic, Golden Soldier) (Attachment: Cure Plaster, Small Pipe, Child's Sunglasses)

Customize Pack: Rita: Costume changing titles and attachments for Rita (Title: Kitty Cat Waitress, Seeker, Fashionista) (Attachment: Mystic Gem, Sacred Rope, Devil Outfit)

Customize Pack: Raven: Costume changing titles and attachments for Raven. (Title: Shining Star, Gentleman, Spa Manager) (Attachment: Straw Mask, Calabash Potion, Blindfold)

Customize Pack: Judith: Costume changing titles and attachments for Judith. (Title: Into The Sky, Glamorous Waitress, Enchanting Beauty) (Attachment: Hairpins, Visor, Antenna Guard)

Customize Pack: Repede: Costume changing titles and attachments for Repede. (Attachment: Pork Chop, Overdrive Warrior, Overdrive Princess, Overdrive Researcher, Overdrive Kid, Overdrive Old Man, Overdrive Lady, Doggy Jerky.)

Recipe Set: HP Recovery: Recipes for nutritious good food. These recipes will restore your HP! They come with ingredients too. (Sandwich, Rice Ball, Beef Bowl, Omelet, Rice Curry, Meat Sauce, Cream Stew, Udon Noodles, Hot Pot)

10,000 Chips: 10,000 chips that can be used at a certain place. *This can only be purchased once.

Free Gel Set: An introductory free download. A set of Gels that will come in handy during early stages of the game. *This can only be purchased once.

Camping Kit: A pack of camping items. It doesn't only recover your health but...?!

Pack o' Useful Stuff: A set of items that come in handy during your journey. (Special Flag, Moon Selector, Winged Boots, Kitchen Knife, Salvage Crane, Collector's Book)

Battle Support Item Pack: Items that can support you in battle. You'll never regret taking these to a battle. (Magic Lens, Life Bottle, Cure Bottle, Syrup Bottle, Nectar Bottle, Limit Bottle) x 10 (All-Divide, Hourglass) x 3 *This can only be purchased once.

Recipe Set: Parameter Boost: If you need to boost your parameters, why don't you try these dishes? They come with ingredients too. (Salisbury Steak, Pork Stew, Kebab Sandwich, Sukiyaki, Fish with Miso Sauce, Sashimi, Seafood Bowl, Sushi, Fried Chicken and Fries, Scottish Egg, Croquette, Okonomiyaki, Tempura, Minestrone Soup, Miso Soup, Clam Chowder, Vichyssoise, Pork Miso Soup, Salad, Japanese Stew, Vegetable Stir Fry, Soup Noodles)

Recipe Set: TP Recovery: Refresh your mind! These recipes will restore your TP. They come with the ingredients too. (Sorbet, Pudding, Cake, Crepe, Fruit Parfait)

The Critics' Outcry

While most of Vesperia's early reviews have generally been positive, there's been a massive outcry against the DLC from a variety of the most influential online news and review sources. Here are some quotes to complement the esteemed Mr. Kohler's:

This, my friends, is what happens when ancient game design meets modern nickel-and-diming. I'm not sure what part of this story baffles me most: that Namco is selling the privilege of not having to play their game, that they've made a game that actually compels people to want to pay not to play it, or that there are people who inevitably will. If you are one such person, here's a suggestion: Save yourself a lot of money, and don't buy the damn thing in the first place. - Kris Pigna, 1up

Call me crazy, but doesn't this defeat the point of the console RPG? At the end of the day these games only give two types of satisfaction to the player, completing a narrative and watching numbers go up. Most RPGs are not difficult but the reason to play them is engaging in a basic routine of rock, paper, scissor, and feeling an admittedly shallow sense of accomplishment as statistics associated with your characters rise. Paying money for increased stats might shorten the game, giving more access to the narrative, but why play an RPG for just that? It's like you're getting ripped off by yourself and Namco simultaneously. - John Constantine, 61 Frames Per Second

Thankfully for us, Namco Bandai is reminding us of another life lesson. They are teaching that there are two ways to get ahead in life, you can either work hard and earn your spoils, or you can just buy them. That's right, in the 360 game Tales of Vesperia, if you don't feel like leveling up in the game, you can use real money and buy experience and in-game currency, guld. For this I say thank you, Namco Bandai for reminding us that life isn't fair and that the wealthy will always be able undercut the working class by buying their way to the top. - Wombat, UGO.com

Your eyes don't deceive you. You are seriously seeing a rogue's gallery of game journalists are asking you, more or less, you not to buy a game based on the sheer principle that Vesperia's DLC is offensive, destructive, and dangerous to the future of the industry.

Could Namco Bandai have anticipated an outcry like this from the North American fanbase?

East vs. West

Or is this another case of culture gap? Consider what a lot of people call the Korean MMO model, where content is free to play but some content must eventually be purchased. Sometimes it's the right to go in particular dungeons, in other games it's certain special armor and weapon items. Sometimes it's stuff you absolutely need to play the game past a certain point. NCSoft's Dungeon Runners uses a similar model, where it's free to play but five bucks a month if you want to use a lot of the equipment drops you're getting, but overall the free-to-play, content-to-purchase model is more popular in Southeast Asia than in other regions.

Nobody really bats an eye at this in MMO design, although most people would probably agree that the nickel and dime MMO model results in cheaper-looking games than the more expansive subscription model used by Western MMO heavyweights like World of Warcraft and Age of Conan. Many Western games that use this subscription model have explicit rules against spending real-world cash on acquisition of in-game items, characters, and money. While that doesn't really stop anyone from doing it, it at least lets players know this kind of thing is looked down upon. It's presented as cheating, essentially.

Vesperia doesn't present its DLC as cheating. In fact, you can spent all the money you want on DLC bonuses and still get all the same Achievement points that a player who earns things purely in-game does. Vesperia also has settings let you put all characters under AI control. Vesperia also has combat settings that let you set every character to AI control in battle, and it is perfectly possible to beat the game without ever actually controlling what your characters do in most fights. Early reports peg the mage AI as terrible, like it is in most other Tales games, so bosses are best handled by taking control of casters yourself - hey, which is one of the things you can purchase with DLC!

The Tales series has always been, to me, really more like an anime series you could play than a hardcore RPG. Some entries in the series were fun, but what the games really excelled at was gentle humor and appealing characters. You played Tales to see all of the in-game content, not so much because the experience of doing so was particularly pleasurable. Tales is a destination, not a journey, but one made a much higher level of quality than most actual anime these days. To Japan, this kind of game design is clearly okay, and offering cheats to people who are bad at games or impatient is not a big deal. To America, well... a lot of people have decided Namco Bandai is not just condoning cheating, but trying to make a buck off of it and also admitting their game is bad.

For my part, I plan on skipping Tales of Vesperia, though not over the DLC. I'd rather play Disgaea 3, more or less, which is far less pretty but also lets me throw exploding penguins at people. That said, a friend of mine actually worked on the manual for Vesperia, and was so confused by the DLC segments that we ended up talking about them - and this general issue - about a month or so ago. My first reaction when I heard about it then was a blinding, cursing fury that in retrospect is a little surprising to me. Tales fans out there, what do you think of this? Hell, even general RPG fans? Is DLC that gives you in-game items in a single-player game harmless, or completely unforgivable?

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