Tiny Diggers – An iPad Construction Truck Game for Kids Age 2-5

As part of an on-line product research group, I frequently get the chance to click through on-line surveys about products that may exist, may already exist, or may never exist. Usually these are limited to household items like cleaners, cat litter, and confections but last night I was privy to one about video games. Or, more specifically downloadable content and games. Now due to the normal NDA’s in place around any type of new product research, I can’t get into specific details. But let’s just say that there were some quite interesting things being asked. Piqued? Jump through for a slight dissemination.

First and foremost, as I alluded to, the majority of the research was about downloadable content. This is where I have a bone to pick. Downloadable content as defined throughout the questionnaire missed one very important point, that we’ve hit on more than once in our podcasts: value associated with the content. Just placing a price tag next to “Map Pack” doesn’t mean two bits unless the size or content of said pack is clearly described. If someone is going to ask me whether or not I will buy an item, I must know all that am receiving to make a well-formed decision. Simply asking would I buy some DLC at a price is meaningless without context.

Now, that’s out of the air, let’s get down to what you really want to know: what was being researched? A large portion of the study was spent classifying my DLC habits, which was probably used in discerning which ‘bucket’ my answers would go into, or if I even got asked them. This was followed by, well let’s just say that someone is looking for the sweet spot on market prices for DLC and the feasibility of certain types of DLC for specific game types. Would you buy a new soundtrack for a FPS?

The final pieces were actual ideas for new DLC methods and/or games. Littered throughout was the standard of trying to apply a monthly fee to DLC, which any one who knows my views on this subject is not the way to get me to open my purse strings. I like my online gaming sans monthly fees, end of story. One of the final product ideas was quite intriguing and definitely has me waiting to see if it ever comes to fruition. In the most vaguest terms, let’s just say something along the lines of customizable DLC. Drop a line on what you think it is, or what you’d like to see changed about DLC in general.