Sinclair Solutions Test Pack is the first of many Downloadable Contents (DLC) for the BioShock 2 Multiplayer. It launched Thursday, March 11, 2010 across all platforms for $4.99 (400 Microsoft Points), £3.19.[1][2][3] This DLC is not available over Xbox Live in Japan.[4]
Content
- Rank cap is raised from 40 to 50.
- Twenty new Multiplayer Trials. *
- New playable characters: Louie McGraff ("The Jailbird") and Oscar Calraca ("The Playboy").
- Third weapon upgrade for all weapons.
- Five new masks. *
*Some items are only available after the player achieves a rank of 41 or higher.
Controversy
When the Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack first launched in March there was some controversy among fans when it was discovered that the DLC was actually just a key code to unlock content already included in the game files. The total size of the DLC file for Xbox was 108kb, and just 24kb for PC; far smaller than the size of the actual content being unlocked.[5] Some allegations were made that it was dishonest for the developers to charge extra for content that was already in the game.[6][7]
In a post on the 2K BioShock Forums, the Community Manager for 2K Games, Elizabeth Tobey, explained that it was necessary to have the unlockable content in the game files for everyone. The engine and game structure required that players have the exact same content to play together. Making the DLC unlockable content was a tactic to prevent splitting the player base.[8]
Gallery
Behind the Scenes
- All the third weapon upgrades and the new playable characters are illustrated in Deco Devolution, BioShock 2 Deco Devolution Artbook present in Rapture and Special Editions.
- On Xbox Live, content has its own logo headers over the description. For Sinclair Solutions Tester Pack, it features the BioShock 2 logo on the left, and a color version of Sinclair Solutions logo on the right with "Tester Pack" written in deco font under it. In the color version of the logo, the normally black box is a dim blue.
References
- ↑ 2K Games announces BioShock 2's DLC Plans.
- ↑ 'BioShock 2' (ALL) Reveals Extensive DLC Plans
- ↑ See JeuxVideo for more screenshots.
- ↑ Major Nelson's page on the DLC.
- ↑ "Bioshock DLC on the disk?" article by Liam Hunn on Gamedot.co.uk
- ↑ ""BioShock 2’s Disc-Free DLC Has Gamers Peeved" article by Jared Newman on PCWorld.com
- ↑ "BioShock 3 found on BioShock 2 disc" article by Nicholas Deleon on CrunchGear.com
- ↑ Post by 2K Elizabeth on 2K Forum thread "2K: Why is the DLC 24kb only?"