When Metroid: Samus Returns arrives for the Nintendo 3DS on September 15, certain content for the game will not be available without also purchasing one of the amiibo figures releasing alongside it. Understandably, fans are upset.  This is what’s known as “on-disc downloadable content (DLC)” – content that is included in a game’s data but only accessible with an additional purchase – and is considered by many as an insult to consumers. How can game developers have the audacity to charge full price for a game when you aren’t getting the full content? The reasoning isn’t as simple as it may seem, and the “problem” has been going on a lot longer than you may realize. Continue reading →