darkSpyro

In Giants, Heroics were unlocked with the skylander figure. Has there been any video or written confirmation from either Activision / Vicarious indicating that there is no character specific ULC (unlockable content) in Swap Force? We know Heroics aren't back, but I haven't seen any ULC confirmation yet for the figures.

We of course know ULC is unlocked with the Adventure / Battle Packs.

Thanks to anyone with the answer and link with this information.

Crickets here...nothing? We release in < 11 days and no one knows this....hmmmm.....

I thought the characters unlocked the Bonus Missions?

I thought doing the elemental challenges did that.

Well I went back and watched the Skylander Dad Q & A and bonus missions were linked to Portal Master Rank. He said you could unlock new bonus missions....hmmm. I'm honestly hoping that is not the only way to unlock the bonus missions....Damn I'm honestly not sure what the actual figures unlock now. Which is weird since one of the perks to getting all the figures was to unlock content.

^Right and I do want to do everything in the game, and I'm going to need to adjust spending based on the answer.

It makes sense that the rank can help unlock content...and we DO KNOW that part of the rank has to do with registration of new characters (As in Giants, the only characters that counted were the new ones. I expect the same in Swap Force.)--so therein may be the indirect association with registering new characters to increase rank which in turn unlocks bonus missions.

It makes sense that there are also multiple criteria that goes into the rank which may include completion of dual elemental challenges, 100% completion of levels, etc.

So maybe that is the simple answer. Just wish I knew more.

Misleading thread name

Quote: Windumup

Misleading thread name

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

Clarification would be nice as to WHAT you get from a figure in game. It stands to reason that your Portal Master Rank would increase as your collection increases but it would be nice if I got something for each Skylander not just collection bench marks...if that's indeed how it works. Time will tell though...with less than two weeks now at least is won't be a long wait.

Quote: Tigorus

Clarification would be nice as to WHAT you get from a figure in game. It stands to reason that your Portal Master Rank would increase as your collection increases but it would be nice if I got something for each Skylander not just collection bench marks...if that's indeed how it works. Time will tell though...with less than two weeks now at least is won't be a long wait.

Yeah, I'd like to know before I scratch off any reposes off my to buy list.

Quote: darkrai848

Quote: Windumup

Misleading thread name

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

It could also mean Dark Light Cript

So it is somewhat misleading

Quote: Windumup

Quote: darkrai848

Quote: Windumup

Misleading thread name

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

It could also mean Dark Light Cript

So it is somewhat misleading

You, sir, are the sole user of that version of abbreviation, compared to the widespread DLC=Down Loaded Content.

Quote: Windumup

Quote: darkrai848

Quote: Windumup

Misleading thread name

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

It could also mean Dark Light Cript

So it is somewhat misleading

It could also mean Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport...context means everything. In actuality, Downloadable content doesn't TECHNICALLY apply here...perhaps UNLOCKABLE CONTENT?

In any event, I hope you've caught up to the rest of us.

Quote: Punk Bomb

Quote: Windumup

Quote: darkrai848

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

It could also mean Dark Light Cript

So it is somewhat misleading

You, sir, are the sole user of that version of abbreviation, compared to the widespread DLC=Down Loaded Content.

I seen others o.o

^ Sorry!

Quote: darkrai848

Quote: Windumup

Misleading thread name

How is it misleading? DLC means Download Content.

Because nothing is Skylanders is ever downloaded, it's all on the original disk.

Your all wrong, it's downloadable content!
On topic, I really hope the bonus missions aren't exclusive to series 2/3, I hope they are unlockable through elemental gates, movement gates, ect

Quote: Datminecraftguy

Your all wrong, it's downloadable content!
On topic, I really hope the bonus missions aren't exclusive to series 2/3, I hope they are unlockable through elemental gates, movement gates, ect

Elemental Gates work the same based on the gameplay that I saw, majority of them being to get Hats unlocked. Bonus Missions come from Swap Force Challenges and Rank based on how many figures you have total aka Accolades like from SA and SG.

Quote: Datminecraftguy

Your all wrong, it's downloadable content!
On topic, I really hope the bonus missions aren't exclusive to series 2/3, I hope they are unlockable through elemental gates, movement gates, ect

Everyone was wrong including me.

DLC does in fact mean downloadable content. The inference to which I am eluding to is the fact that most DLC requires a purchase to receive it. In our case, I'm referring to buying a physical figure to unlock content. In reality the content is already on the disk, not downloaded...but that's the context.

I think moving forward we should refer this as ULC (unlockable content). Cool? Modified thread/OP accordingly.

Now, we still need an answer...unless it's simply your portal rank.

For anyone who uses the Darkspyro forums DLC means Darklight Crypt, try do a search on it.

As for an answer, the crickets are a result of nobody knowing the answer, it just has not been posted yet.

We should know in a couple of weeks though.

DLC as defined by the video game industry though means downloadable content. I'm not changing common use terminology because a few lazy folks here don't want to type Darklight Crypt.

So, if I decide to start my own moniker system you'll follow it right? Doesn't work that way.

I wasn't referring to common usage, I was speaking on behalf of you're target audience and personally I was was very confused.

As for downloadable content (or DLC if you will), I did think of that but then I realised my Skylander games have never downloaded anything (wish they would).

Anyway, the actual question is a good one and I'd appreciate any answers people can give . . .

P.S. having work in Intel for a number of years I distain alphabet soup - half of what people said in there were acronyms (:shudders

Quote: GhostRoaster

In Giants, Heroics were unlocked with the skylander figure. Has there been any video or written confirmation from either Activision / Vicarious indicating that there is no character specific ULC (unlockable content) in Swap Force? We know Heroics aren't back, but I haven't seen any ULC confirmation yet for the figures.

We of course know ULC is unlocked with the Adventure / Battle Packs.

Thanks to anyone with the answer and link with this information.

I (Skylander Dad) did ask VV, but when I read them your question about DLC, they were a bit confused, that one letter makes a huge difference. Sorry, I could of probably gotten an answer if I told them ULC.

Quote: skylanderkids

Quote: GhostRoaster

In Giants, Heroics were unlocked with the skylander figure. Has there been any video or written confirmation from either Activision / Vicarious indicating that there is no character specific ULC (unlockable content) in Swap Force? We know Heroics aren't back, but I haven't seen any ULC confirmation yet for the figures.

We of course know ULC is unlocked with the Adventure / Battle Packs.

Thanks to anyone with the answer and link with this information.

I (Skylander Dad) did ask VV, but when I read them your question about DLC, they were a bit confused, that one letter makes a huge difference. Sorry, I could of probably gotten an answer if I told them ULC.

No problem. Maybe I should've removed the jargon altogether. I guess I should've asked "Heroics was a type of content that was unlocked in the first two games for each unique character. Is there any content that will be unlocked for each character in Swap Force even though Heroics is not coming back?"

Do you have Guha's e-mail address? I'm sure we can get an answer.

ULC is my own stupid terminology.

Quote: skylanderkids

Quote: GhostRoaster

In Giants, Heroics were unlocked with the skylander figure. Has there been any video or written confirmation from either Activision / Vicarious indicating that there is no character specific ULC (unlockable content) in Swap Force? We know Heroics aren't back, but I haven't seen any ULC confirmation yet for the figures.

We of course know ULC is unlocked with the Adventure / Battle Packs.

Thanks to anyone with the answer and link with this information.

I (Skylander Dad) did ask VV, but when I read them your question about DLC, they were a bit confused, that one letter makes a huge difference. Sorry, I could of probably gotten an answer if I told them ULC.

Hi Skylander Dad. I was at the back table towards the end with you and Irate Gamer as we ambushed poor Brent with questions.

As to the question at hand, I did ask VV (specifically Dan Wallace, Senior Producer) during the hands on time and he indicated that heroic challenges are replaced by bonus missions. The bonus missions are unlocked through the game itself. While not specific, I got the impression that he meant that they were bought with in game currency through vendors. I specifically contrasted this to the heroic challenges that were unlocked by purchasing (or repurchasing) characters. While obtained in a much more consumer friendly way (my words), he indicated that their purpose was still the same in that they would allow more stars to be collected and stars would be (the only?) way to increase portal master rank and portal master rank directly effects the stats of all Skylanders. I may be wrong, but I got the impression that it was like trying to 'three star' Angry Birds levels and more levels (bonus levels) means more maximum stars to collect.

That said, he did say some bonus levels were unlocked via purchase. I assume he meant things like adventure packs. Also, at the time I didn't specifically think about the possibility that just having a number of Skylanders probably unlocks titles as before and the titles might lead to bonus mission unlocks. This would be a less direct way of unlocking via purchase. That said, I really didn't get the feeling that such a thing was going on though. He definitely left me with the impression that bonus levels will be a lot like collecting Skystones or Hats in Giants (with the exception of a "few" via special packs).

Hope this helps.

It sounds like a lot of the content is unlocked in-game, which is quite disappointing. The figure intergration is easily the best thing about Skylanders, and between so little benefits for having more of them, and Heroics gone, and the toys feeling like keys to a skin in the mobile games, and even (though it's really a good thing) the 3DS version removing the need to use figures each time you want to swap out, it sounds like they are really, really dumbing down ULC.

Quote: Arc of Archives

It sounds like a lot of the content is unlocked in-game, which is quite disappointing. The figure intergration is easily the best thing about Skylanders, and between so little benefits for having more of them, and Heroics gone, and the toys feeling like keys to a skin in the mobile games, and even (though it's really a good thing) the 3DS version removing the need to use figures each time you want to swap out, it sounds like they are really, really dumbing down ULC.

Well. I guess that is another way to look at it.

Personally I think it is an outstanding move as I really don't want to be held hostage to rebuying every S2,3,4,5,6... in every set just to unlock the same missions in the new set. In this case we have new missions, that appear to have more content per mission, and we are freed up to purchase what we want (in this set or any set). I find it a very refreshing move and it has directly caused me to flesh out (read: buy more) our household's collection with the ones that we missed from previous sets now that I knew I was not going to be "punished" for it; this is something I was hesitant to do with worries about old Skylanders no longer unlocking anything.

There are several consumer groups drawn to the Skylander brand. Children, households with children, and collectors are probably the most represented. While the disappointment might dishearten the collector group, they were not going to buy more figures anyway (since, by definition, this group buys everything already). The other two groups though are more likely to buy out of all sets regardless of the current release if all sets have equal value in game. The heroic to bonus change would seem to support this kind of purchasing decision making. It has in my household as I bought some Giants in the last few weeks whereas this time last year I considered SSA figures a waste of money.

The only real bad thing I can see out of the heroic to bonus change is that it could shorten the play life of the game. Until we see the final product, we won't be able to evaluate such a worry.

Chaplin--thanks for chiming in....glad you registered to answer and glad to get another perspective for those attending VV in New York.

In regards to Giants forcing repurchase to unlock Heroics--that was a BUSINESS decision by Activision to do that--they should've allowed ANY character from ANY generation to unlock that Heroic. However, the accolade system was rigged explicitly to reward folks who buy all of the current gen characters.

In regards to the new star/rank system...this all sounds good on the surface, but what we don't know is...

1. Will S1 and S2 characters counts towards these stars/currency used to increase portal rank level and thus unlocked content?
2. Have they rigged the star system that will essentially force us to buy reposed characters to achieve portal master and/or levels to unlock all content?

Remember in Giants--they included S1 characters in the inventory, but for some of the Accolades in regards to figures they only counted the LATEST AND GREATEST (they even indicate orange bases in the text) to count towards that achievement. If they're doing something similar, then really the question is how reasonable have they set the bar?

It seems that VV and others are just answering at a superficial level (possibly to avoid some interesting discussions). Just wish I knew a bit more about the criteria that builds up the rank that unlocks content. It seems safe to assume at this time that new figure registration is used to help earn stars that indirectly affects content you can possibly access. How much credit they give you for your previous collection (if any) is up for grabs, but I'm guessing they give us no credit as they did in Giants for accolade calculations and Heroic unlocks.

Ghostroaster, I usually lurk, but felt this was a valid question that I had strong evidence to offer in answering. So I hope it is helpful.

Still, I think I am being misinterpreted. Until I have the retail game I can't say for sure, but the answer I was given was fairly clear in that the move in this game seems to be that it is a much more consumer friendly experiment. That is you find bonus missions in game at vendors and buy them with gold or other such like arena levels or skystones. Stars are just like previous stars (exploration, time completion, etc). Bonus missions just add to the total star count possible. There was some vagueness in the answer only in that he didn't spell out how levels are found in game, (gold, star tiers, hidden, etc) but they are in game (exception being the "few" tied to special packs).

The accolade tied to number of Skylanders is pure conjecture started here. While it's possible I suppose, that was not at all the felling I had in talking with Dan.

The short of it is, after my questions, I feel very strongly that Swap Force is much more consumer friendly as far as unlocked levels go. Almost a complete reversal. I just won't know FOR SURE until the near future.

Again, I hope this helps.

So bonus missions are unlocked when you buy them from a vendor in-game (Auric) yes?
or you can unlock them when you complete arena challenges and win skytones games?
If its like that, that's really good, they should give bonuses to people who bought the first skylanders, like, for every Series 1 skylander you put on the portal, you get a point, every couple of points you unlock something in-game, it works as a reward for people who have the originals.

Quote: ShaneK

I wasn't referring to common usage, I was speaking on behalf of you're target audience and personally I was was very confused.

As for downloadable content (or DLC if you will), I did think of that but then I realised my Skylander games have never downloaded anything (wish they would).

Anyway, the actual question is a good one and I'd appreciate any answers people can give . . .

P.S. having work in Intel for a number of years I distain alphabet soup - half of what people said in there were acronyms (:shudders

DLC means this "Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from aesthetic outfit changes to a new, extensive storyline, similar to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes, objects, levels, challenges or other features to a complete an already released game."

Quote: WickedRogue

Quote: ShaneK

I wasn't referring to common usage, I was speaking on behalf of you're target audience and personally I was was very confused.

As for downloadable content (or DLC if you will), I did think of that but then I realised my Skylander games have never downloaded anything (wish they would).

Anyway, the actual question is a good one and I'd appreciate any answers people can give . . .

P.S. having work in Intel for a number of years I distain alphabet soup - half of what people said in there were acronyms (:shudders

DLC means this "Downloadable content can be of several types, ranging from aesthetic outfit changes to a new, extensive storyline, similar to an expansion pack. As such, DLC may add new game modes, objects, levels, challenges or other features to a complete an already released game."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downloadable_content

Since you forgot to reference . . .

"Downloadable content (DLC) is additional content for a video game distributed through the Internet"

And you forgot the first line.

So, what have you downloaded in Skylanders from the internet?

Also, why continue the debate? surely this is off topic?

I hope that figures still unlock something, otherwise their price should go down about 2-3 dollars.

Quote: Chaplin

Ghostroaster, I usually lurk, but felt this was a valid question that I had strong evidence to offer in answering. So I hope it is helpful.

Still, I think I am being misinterpreted. Until I have the retail game I can't say for sure, but the answer I was given was fairly clear in that the move in this game seems to be that it is a much more consumer friendly experiment. That is you find bonus missions in game at vendors and buy them with gold or other such like arena levels or skystones. Stars are just like previous stars (exploration, time completion, etc). Bonus missions just add to the total star count possible. There was some vagueness in the answer only in that he didn't spell out how levels are found in game, (gold, star tiers, hidden, etc) but they are in game (exception being the "few" tied to special packs).

The accolade tied to number of Skylanders is pure conjecture started here. While it's possible I suppose, that was not at all the felling I had in talking with Dan.

The short of it is, after my questions, I feel very strongly that Swap Force is much more consumer friendly as far as unlocked levels go. Almost a complete reversal. I just won't know FOR SURE until the near future.

Again, I hope this helps.

No this helps...so it's a combination of vendors (what makes them appear--story progression?) and stars on levels. Yes I'm filling in holes using their last game entry---and you're right--it's pure speculation.

We'll see soon enough. If everything you do is tied to in game activities, then really they have (as you stated) done a reversal on being consumer friendly--but at the same time--moving away from anything really mattering being stored on the character except hat, level and whatever stats they do decide to store locally as opposed to the legendary treasure mod in Woodburrows.

Quote: weebbby

I hope that figures still unlock something, otherwise their price should go down about 2-3 dollars.

If they allow ANY character to help fulfill content in the game, and don't tie it to any of the Swap Force stock--then I'm fine with the price being the same---it's then UP TO ME what I buy. If however they are tying my portal rank with Swap Force inventory then I consider Chaplin's statements essentially FALSE and they're doing what they did last time-the only difference being I can unlock MOST of the characters abilities with in game activities (as opposed to ALL).

To be honest, this subject really does nothing but worry me.
I stopped playing Disney Infinity because the figures just felt like keys and although it was a great game it was too expensive to justify for me. The toys did not add a unique experience and felt tacked on.

It looks like Skylanders figures are starting to turn the same in a way- I mean, you still have upgrades, but they can do just that without the toys and with just a game disc without a really different feel, if they don't add more customisation than that and hats. I loved the extra content figures had like Heroics because it made them feel more personal, and fully upgrading your entire collection was a lot of fun. Because you went on those romps with them, then they became stronger from it, it really did make them feel more alive with real brains. Like they learned from playing them. Being able to tear through everything was also really fun at the end. Heroics were a good reward for having a large collection(okay, it sucked how they botched that in Giants though).

Without them, the figures just have upgrades and hats(and Quests, but those just unlock some hats that are outclassed by Knight Helm anyway and some are even more of a grind than Heroics). So they'll end up down one of two paths with an optional stat boost. That just doesn't feel as magical, adventurous and rewarding as going through dungeons with them to toughen them up.

And if they lean even more content towards in-game unlocking, and basing more and more of the customisation in the game, I honestly think it ruins the franchise for me. It does make it more consumer-friendly, but it also makes the game feel more like a game with figures that act as memory cards. Remember, the big thing about Skylanders was toys coming to life, but surely there has to be a line where stat customisation based in the game is cutting into each figure's own customisation at some point?

And I have a huge collection and would like more for that than a stupid "new rank"(this is like the same thing as them making Heroics orange base only to me- they're just taking a large amount of the content I enjoyed off... Sigh... Which is what happened with Universe as well, come to think of it). I feel like I am paying more for my collection and getting less content with it, which I absolutely hate.
You must look at this from a hardcore collector's viewpoint as well. I'm not saying that every single figure has to unlock something new because this would just turn off many of the less serious players for good reasons, but they should reward you beyond Portal Master Rank and Elemental Power if you have more than just the things you need to 100% complete the game. They need to stop not-rewarding older customers who have complete collections and quit "replacing" them with a new- 100% superior- series every year. It's an absolute turn-off.

If they don't adjust these issues in Sky4, I will probably not buy it because these are all bad signs for me. I even started getting a bit worried in Giants when I saw that arenas, charms and Auric's shop items and such were basically in-game only and that they would exaggerate that in the sequel, and SWAP Force seems to be confirming these fears.

When the only thing on the figures are upgrades and hats, that's the point it doesn't really have much excitement. I do think buying reposes just to unlock the heroics was infuriating, but they could provide alternatives as to what would be unlocked and how, etc.
It's a difficult balance to strike, but to be honest I prefer how crappy and greedily it was set out in Giants rather than completely removing the feature. It was at least 50% of my play time. I guess that's human mentality for ya- if it's broke, don't fix it, toss it out. >.>

^ I'm completely with you on this. I've thought they would be moving toward having MORE stored on each figure. They need to have it that taking your character into the mobile games, doing something there, and then bringing them back into the console game actually changes/improves something with the figure. Doing things like that would increase a players "bond" with that character and reinforces the "Toys to Life" concept, but maybe they see that as losing potential sales because if you have a favorite physical character you might not buy the S2, S3, S4 etc... version of it.

Arc, totally agree. Although tedious as all get out, making me take EVERY skylander through trials helps connect an association with the character and forces me through a series of move/techniques...frankly it was the only way I learned most of the figure's moves--and it also helped me justify the $10 price.

Without something like that tied to a figure (forget about content unlock for a moment) it does cheapen the experience if it becomes a game play file only mechanic that also reduces my total play time. I do however think the bonus missions have to be completed by every skylander, but that hasn't been confirmed yet either.

This is what I was complaining about all these months ago. Add in the fact that if I still need to buy all blue base figures to get the appropriate rank to get 100% completion and I will 1. will buy figures that I didnt want to buy again and 2. this will be my last game.

I'm sure Activision cares not for us zealots-but are intending their efforts on the the "bell curve" of skylander fans, but I can still vote with my dollars.

Quote: Zylek

Doing things like that would increase a players "bond" with that character and reinforces the "Toys to Life" concept, but maybe they see that as losing potential sales because if you have a favorite physical character you might not buy the S2, S3, S4 etc... version of it.

They should care that you have "a" spyro, not a specific release of spyro in terms of unlocking the game. The problem you see is that they clearly don't have confidence in THEIR CONTENT to provide this option. IF they simply provided the value in the content, people who wouldn't otherwise buy a new one would. Strong-arming purchases is a sure fire long term disaster. I'm sure however most people playing the game don't even see what they're doing.

after reading this, kinda surprised no one mentioned DLC being "Disc Locked Content" as it has been something some companies have been doing lately. anyway I am quite sad that there will be no heroics this time around

Ehhhh, honestly, I think I just convinced myself not to buy this game. >.>
Even if you factored in all the time done on Heroics, completing the games, upgrading and so on, you only got a fraction of what you paid for in playtime-hours-numbers. But I think it made up for it a huge amount with the magic, which started fading a bit even in Giants.

I just can't find a good reason to add SWAP Force to my collection.
Swapping is a cool mechanic, but it isn't really selling it for me as it's basically just more Skylander gameplay combos with less figures.
Jumping would be a great mechanic but seems poorly encorporated from all the gameplay videos: it does streamline things a bit, but it honestly feels like most of the puzzles are in certain spots just for showing it off. It feels like a lot of those puzzles would be no less in-the-way without jumping, and feel exactly the same (if not better, with how awkward the jump physics seem) with just the ol' jump pads instead. They didn't add exciting or impressive platforming segments, at least not that they've shown off- it all seems excessively basic.
I was also hoping you would be able to attack while jumping because this would change the fighting style(see: 3DSSA, felt really different with frantic jumping everywhere during combat), but attacks are totally disabled during a jump. Every single attack. SSA and Giants didn't even have free jumping, but you could attack while jumping in those. Is there a reason why not here?
The graphics look great but that does not justify $300+ in purchases.

With the combination of Heroics being removed and less on-figure customisation, this is honestly seeming worse than Giants to me. It has a lot of new bells and whistles, but ultimately that's it, they're bells and whistles, not an orchestra. And they took away those Heroics I loved, woe is me. Without Heroics I would probably have sold Giants off within the year, and would have absolutely no interest in it now.

I know I sound cynical and I could just buy whatever tickles my fancy, but when it comes to Skylanders I have a compulsion where all of my collections must be perfectly symmetrical: completed or bust! This post is purely from my own point of view and makes absolutely no attempt at being objective. I just felt like whineging. >.>