Tue, Jul 10, 2012 | 10:30 BST

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Harada reiterates stance on charging for DLC

Tekken producer, Katsuhiro Harada, has reiterated his position on charging money for downloadable content that constitutes key game elements; to wit: he won’t, so long as the decision remains in his hands.

Tekken series producer, Katsuhiro Harada, has long maintained that Tekken will not follow Capcom’s lead of allowing key game elements to become paid-for DLC.

“When you look at DLC, whether paid or free, a lot of titles have it on the disc, it’s not that unusual,” Harada told Eurogamer. “I’ve been saying that, at least for Tekken, regarding techniques, characters and stages, these three things won’t be charged for, even if they are DLC.”

However, Harada revealed that the conversation regarding premium DLC has been going on with his employers at Namco Bandai for some time.

“Actually this is something my bosses have been asking me for quite a while now – what are our plans for DLC? How much money can we make? They are a company, obviously, in it to make money,” he said. “So it’s something I’m continually asked even now. But I haven’t changed my stance. If you’re making a fighting game, all of the elements necessary to enjoy it should be on the disc, or should at least be available for free.”

The sentiment echoes comments Harada made back in April at Namco Bandai’s Global Gamers Day in Las Vegas.

“The character locks were like that – we never took money for it but the concept itself was there,” he said. “I think really the players’ opinions and the heated discussion is whether you charge for it or not.”

At the time, Harada was commenting on the backlash Capcom had experienced from gamers angered by the revelation that 12 additional characters for Street Fighter X Tekken that the company announced plans to charge for, were already on the disc. That content launches on July 31.

Harada has not ruled-out the notion of some form of novelty paid-for DLC for Tekken Tag Tournament 2, but suggested that it would more likely consist of “cosmetic, fan-requested items or balance-breaking combat sets.”

Tekken Tag Tournament launches in September for 360 and PS3, a Wii U version has also been confirmed.

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