14 DAY TRIAL // One of the main reasons given for the wave of downloadable content which is assaulting the videogaming industry is that publishers are trying to make sure that gamers hang on to their releases and do not re-sell them to specialized retailers like GameStop. There are some voices saying that there's a regular “war” between resellers and publishers. Well, rumors of a war might be greatly exaggerated.
It appears that GameStop will be able to sell the expansion pack for Grand Theft Auto IV, called The Lost & Damned. This seems impossible, considering that fact that the new content will be only for the Xbox 360 gaming console from Microsoft and that the delivery will be made via Xbox Live. Still, it looks like the retail chain has entered into a deal with Microsoft which allows them to sell a “token card”. You can pick it up from the store, go home and then log into Xbox Live Marketplace and use the code you were given to get the expansion. The shop is set to offer the token card on February 17, the exact date on which the additional content will be released.
The token card system is probably a way for Microsoft to make sure that as many gamers as possible get the expansion pack. Also, selling The Lost & Damned at retail means that some people who have not picked up GTA IV will be inclined to go into a store and get both the original and the DLC at the same time.
Initially, Microsoft promised that the DLC would arrive in 2008 but it was pushed back to 2009 as Rockstar struggled to put together the new adventure. Initial rumors also said that cities might be offered but it seems that players will be getting a new single player adventure, complete with fresh missions, weapons and additional music stations. Rockstar is also set to create a second exclusive DLC pack for the Xbox 360 version of GTA IV.