This game got so much more hype than I thought. Yes, I knew that people liked KI back in it's glory days, before my generation came along. Yes, I did play KI on the N64 a few times. But- I never knew this game was so popular. It got some blood pumping in the old-school fans. It really looks like a game I want. It almost makes me want an X-Box One.
Almost.

8 characters at launch? Only 8? No worth getting the XB1 for. It would seem I'll forever be left in the dark.

Not even. They are launching with 6. The other 2 are post launch DLC. But buying one of the bundles lets you get early access to them. So yeah... Even less than you thought.

From what I read they plan to do yearly expansions like Street Fighter 4. So conceivable some time next year they will release some kind of "ULTRA" pack that has an additional 8 characters and balancing.

I think it kind of sucks that there are only going to be 6-8 characters in the initial release, but anyone familiar with the series also realizes that both previous games had a limited roster as it is. I don't think its a bad deal to pay $10 for a port of KI1 (so long as it has hd support and online) and then $30 for KI3.

Ken Lobb breaks down KI pricing options

Surprised no one posted it earlier. Anyway video confirms emulated KI WILL NOT have online support at launch. But it will sometime down the road. Basically, they are saying they want to add to the game over time. Which is terrible because you can never have the full game. You'll be waiting a year in between Season passes.

You'll notice when Ken says "I hope you like it!" he doesn't sound very confident in what he's pitching. Maybe he can already tell it's a terrible marketing plan...

That sucks. While I can kind of understand about online for the KI1 port, as a number of XBL Arcade games ship with out certain modes that are later patched in like online (Capcom has done this with tournament mode). I think a lot of us are getting to the point where we wish MS & DH would push the release date back 6-8 months to get everything together and put out a proper retail release of the game.

I'll still buy it and support them because the game does look like it will play well. Quality over substance, but i think the game is really borderline as far as what should be standard for substance in any game.

$20 bucks for all 8 characters. 40 for the extra models, accessories and an arcade perfect version of KI 1 all for season1.

I mean, if the game feels good and plays well online, I would certainly be willing to drop the money for at least the 20 dollar version. With a roster of 8 characters, that's $2.50, which isn't bad. The one thing I do wish they'd add for the 40 dollar package is some kind of download code for a Killer Kuts 3. So then you get 2 games, all the costumes and accessories, and a download code for the KK3 album.

Like I said, keeping in mind that the game has really only been actively worked on for a little less than a year at this point. and seeing what's being offered, I personally don't have a problem with spending the 20 or 40 dollars as long as it's a good game.

Podcast Unlocked concerned about KI

They are all pretty much agreeing that it's a terrible business plan. Launching with 6 characters is pretty bogus. PS All-Stars caught hell for launching with 20, and this game launches with 6. I know they don't have 20 but they could've at least launched with 10.

Kabal said something about pushing back release about 6-8 months, I say push it back about a year. They need to make damn sure it's a complete game. They are so desperate to get this game out at launch they are making huge mistakes. Possibly costing this game a chance at success. Nobody wants to pay for an incomplete game. And I know people buy DLC, but what they're offering isn't DLC. It's the other half of the fucking game.

So yeah I think they need to delay launch and continue work on this game until it's actually finished.

I would imagine that there is a good amount of pressure from Microsoft to get this game out by launch. Microsoft has had a track record of rushing titles out, with the most egregious one in recent memory being Halo 4. As of right now, Halo 4 is a very good game, but that's due to all of the patches and updates since its release 9 months ago. When it was released, it was an incomplete game from a multiplayer standpoint.

With that in mind, it would be best to delay KI at least 6 months, if not longer. I can't see it being worthwhile if it's a day one title.

What qualifies a "complete fucking game" when you are paying 20 bucks for it to begin with?

How about not selling an incomplete game in the first place? How about letting consumers get the rest of the product?

So once again, what is a complete product when the asking price for an 8 character fighting game is 20 bucks and not a full 60?

How about a physical retail release w/ a reasonable roster (at least 12 characters), online running on the KI1 port on Day 1 and a pre-order bonus of Killer Kuts 3 soundtrack?

I'm not saying it's a bad value, I just think gamers where expecting more content and at a higher price point.
I guess we'll have to wait and see how this kind of model actually works out. I think most of us who are complaining sees this an almost sure way to kill any possible sequels or follow ups in the series. Even if KI is being developed as a platform, where new games in the series aren't required, but add-ons are. If the game does poorly, there may not be those additional 8 characters next year.

Who said it's 20 bucks? There's going to be another season pass. And it may run you another 20 bucks. Then maybe even another season pass containing something else. So more money to spend.

Then there's the possibility they pull a Capcom and release a complete edition with all content. Ripping off consumers even more.

They couldn't even have a Story Mode for the 20$ version. And don't say 8 character fighting game when it's clear they'll be more than 8. And they're not even launching with 8, it's 6 remember?

Wouldn't a physical copy be more justifiable once they are further down the line and have more stuff in the game?

So first off, let's assume there would be 3 seasons DLC each at 20 bucks spread over a 2 year period. Each one has 8 characters. Well then there you go, you spent 60 dollars, the normal asking price for a fighting game these days with a sizeable roster of 24. You just dropped 60 bucks on a KI fighting game, and it would run you the same exact amount if it was any other fighter like MK, SF, Tekken, Smash Bros (if you're into that sort of thing) not counting DLC.

And second, because this game is being built as a platform, like say, League of Legends and not a traditional platform, a physical release wouldn't really make sense if the game is being constantly updated.

It's just some people prefer physical copies to digital. And what if the game doesn't sell well? What if the first season bombs? What reason would MS have to continue support for the game?

That's an unnecessary risk to take. Why jeopardize a series' success just because they need it to release by launch? When it comes to content, you should NEVER cut corners.

Well, I've decided I'm not getting an X-Box One.

That was the point of my earlier post. They should have pushed the game's release back 6 months, so they can have time to get 11-12 characters in the roster and actually release a retail copy of the game.

I'm not saying I don't like MS or DH's current strategy by releasing a discounted fighting game with a limited roster. Its just risky and it makes a lot of us who where looking forward to the game, kind of question how successful it actually will be and if it will pay of for the series long term.

I'd hate to have DH put this out, it does poorly and MS decided to pull the plug on the series like they did with Perfect Dark Zero. We won't get any additional characters. It just seems like MS is hesitant about giving KI a chance. I sees this current strategy as a way for MS to test the waters and see if its successful. If not, they will most likely pull the plug on the series.

8 characters is fine.... IF THIS WAS 1993 NOT 20 freakin 13. This is an AWFUL way to distribute a fighting game. Like kunglao said, if the first season bombs then there is no incentive to complete the game if they just keep on losing money. Whoever came up with this idea in a boardroom meeting should have been pistol-whipped immediately, but the fact that someone else agreed with it is baffling. The game is going to be dead by the time it is complete. How fun is it going to be for months when you play the same and against the same 6-8 characters over and over. Most people are probably going to wait until the full retail disc edition comes out anyways so I don't see how this could possibly be successful.

I partly agree. I agree 8 characters seems like a joke in todays age of gaming, but considering how limited the series roster is between only two games, I don't think anyone was expecting an MK9, Injustice or SF4 size roster with this game. 11-15 seemed reasonable, even if they wanted to cut some characters out of the series.

The two seasons with only 8 characters each thing is dumb, yes.

But let's step back and look at this with a little perspective for a moment: The reason they did it isn't to nickel and dime us, really. I mean, that IS going to happen. And I'm sure Microsoft is happy to do it. But that's not why we're only getting 6/8 at launch.

The obvious truth of the matter is the characters we haven't seen yet, the reason we haven't seen them is they just plain aren't fucking done yet because they started dev on this game way too late to be ready at console launch, because EVERYTHING XBone related has been a rush-job, but this HAS to be a launch title because they're counting on it to be one of the draws of their stupid console, so they can't delay it until a fuller roster is ready like they should.

The thing is that the final two character of the 8 character roster, aren't even going to show up until Feb./March 2014.

Also according to this article Killer Instict Launch details, the game ins't shipping with a story mode. Only online, practice and training modes.

It also goes on to state that the new characters (beyond the initial 8) and stages are going to be added in Killer Instinct: Round 2. There will be a Season pass 2, but it won't include new characters or stages..

This is actually starting to confuse the fuck out of me. Maybe I'll just wait until the game actually settles and DH is more forthcoming with info on everything.

If round 2 is going to be the equivalent of Super Street Fighter 4 and not be compatible with KI: Round 1, I see no point in even buying this game now.

This felt appropriate.

Well some users over on the DH forum have just told me that, I guess Ken said during the Gamecom interview that Killer Instinct: Round 2 will actually be compatible with Killer Instinct: Round 1. I haven't seen the whole interview myself, but if its true, it puts me more at easy. I'm just concerned on exactly what this Season Pass 2 content is though?

KI2 and maybe a Story Mode?