The problem is your cynicism makes you think they do this even when 90% of the time they do not.

Sure there are heinous DLC examples, like the salesman in Dragon Age or the locked Orrey in Oblivion, but it's mostly handled okay and "day zero" does not mean it was "cut from the game." It's an ignorant point of view.

Damn, I always forget this. DA:O I bought as a GOTY (because I thought I won't like it, not because of the DLC)

But yeah, that was awful.

99% is probably quite exagerrated because then there would be only 1% left for all the DLC included versions. This seems to be a too low number and underestimating the significance of DLC.

The concept is not so different from expansions. Except for the content size and number and maybe way of delivery it's the same thing or have I missed something. So why should it be better or worse? What has become wrong lately with saying that one favors large DLCs and GOTY editions? I think this is perfectly okay, but maybe it is not.

And I think you misunderstood me. I have nothing against those DLCs which are okay and I never said so. I just don't find it exciting to buy numerous pieces, I only want one. There should be nothing wrong with it and if reality is like this - the better. :)

And there is no difference in saying that the whole is cut into little pieces or that the little pieces are combined to make the whole. The difference is philosophical and both views are equally valid and can be applied at any given time, because it's not the point. The only point is what is more fun and buying DLCs is not much fun for me unless they come in bundles and if they do so, fine.

Logistics. It is easier to sell something over the internet than lose 50% of the revenue due to retail costs.

The solution to the problem is easy, it's called the Pirate Bay. Or better, don't_buy_that_game....

They aren't? But I like my world black-and-white. ^^

But b2t:
Normally I am not one of these ... "in the past was everything better"-type of persons, but aren't those low-content DLCs the equivalent of the content-patches that the developers usually released for free to reward their fans/customers?

It is a good thing that they use their time to develop some little extras during the time between going gold and the release. But do they have to charge something for every tiny bit?

And it is not like they work for free - releasing content-patches further increases the attractivity of ones product.

One example where DLC are used wrongly in my eyes: Civilization V with 12 DLCs so far including additional maps, additional civs and additional wonders.

Of course somebody might like to choose the civs to play individually. But not everybody. For those you need bigger pieces or GOTY versions and there are several different GOTY versions (Ultimate, Platinum ...) including different numbers of DLCs. In the end every DLC influences game balance and contributes significantly to the game content and for MP anyway everybody involved needs the DLCs if they want to play it. A lot of hassle for not much effect. Buying a bundle is the easiest option and now like 2 years after release also everybody can afford to buy them. For me it's just more convenient to buy them all together. I don't need DLCs single which means they surely can come single but I am not interested much in them single.

I'm really tempted to post that "DLC THE GAME" video link from Mega64 now...

Konami do it for free (Winning Eleven, Pro Evo but mostly in-form of mild DLC) as well with CD Projekt. It's about maximize the technology. Unfortunately for customer, profit comes first. However, that's sensible in business and and financial stand point for people that work in gaming industry.

1 - it is still free in Japan as you can still pre-purchase the game. So placing it up for sale 17 days early and at twice the US price is just plain silly.

2 - I'd buy pretty much an BL DLC too, but not from a service that is attempting to rip me off. Thank goodness for GG/GMG and them charging normal US prices even here.

That may be so, but someone should have had the brain cell to issue instructions not to actually release it here until the day the game released. Other companies manage that all the time.

Someone got there first for the most part. http://www.desura.com/games/dlc-quest

Also regarding excessive DLC for games, all it has done is made me say "Will wait for the GOTY edition." far more. When a company announces DLC before a game is even out that pushes the total cost of the game to $80-$100 or even more, I'll wait it out for the complete one for $20.