Love it or hate it, DLC is the new normal in the world of video games. You pay $50-$60 for your boxed game disc, and then the publisher expects you to shell out around $10 (or more) extra to download additional multiplayer maps or entire episodes of solo play.

But is it fair?

The idea behind a DLC subscription model is to let gamers plunk down one lump sum with their game purchase that will cover planned content pack downloads that will be released in the future. So instead of paying $30 total for 3 content packs at $10 a pop, you might pay $20 for all 3 by buying them at one time. It sounds like a good deal, but is it? I mean, no matter how you slice it, you’re paying anywhere from $20 to $40 extra on a game you’ve (probably) already spent $60 on.

Most publishers come up with a marketing-friendly name for their subscriptions, like “Season Pass.” Just a few recent franchises to implement DLC subscriptions include L.A. Noire, Mortal Kombat, Gears of War 3, Call of Duty, and the entire library of EA Sports. But there are many more. The latest to jump on the “Season Pass” bandwagon? Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

Sony and Naughty Dog have given Uncharted‘s DLC subscription service a fun-sounding name: the “Fortune Hunters’ Club.” It entitles you to the first four multiplayer map packs, the first three multiplayer skin packs, and a Fortune Hunters’ Club PS3 theme, for $24.99 — a value that ordinarily would cost you upwards of $45.

Does this make anybody else nostalgic for the good old days when every component of a game came in the box, and “extra” features weren’t doled out piecemeal? It reminds me of a nickel-and-dime program from a cellular carrier.

DC Universe Online: "Fight for the Light"

Sony Online Entertainment has been updating DC Universe Online with character-based and seasonal missions since it was first launched in January. (See our extensive review here.) These updates have been fun but left very little impact on the game’s online world. That’s set to change this Summer with the release of “Fight for the Light,” a $10 DLC pack that answers many a fan’s desperate desire: to play as a Green Lantern.

Green Lantern Hal Jordan has always been part of DCUO, but players have never had access to his power set, having to settle for battling alongside this NPC in a few level-grinding missions. “Fight for the Light” is the first downloadable content pack that adds a brand new power set to the game: Light. In this way, using and maxing out Light powers, as well as customizing costumes, will allow players to (more or less) join up with the Green Lantern Corps.

DC Universe Online: "Fight for the Light"

“Fight for the Light” also introduces three brand new locations to the game along with major new story-driven missions to go with them.

• Deep inside S.T.A.R. Labs, overall game villain Brainiac is trying to get his hands on technology that will let him control Green Lantern power rings. A devastating attack forces the Corps to forge a tentative truce with the Sinestro Corps in order to stop Brainiac.
• In Hal Jordan’s hometown of Coast City, DCUO players will face off against the Red Lantern Corps, while battling their way across the city all the way to a final showdown at Ferris Aircraft.
• Lastly, players will travel to the distant planet Oa, home base to the Green Lantern Corps, and join up with Guy Gardner to stop a prison break in-progress. Sinestro’s to blame, as he continues his never-ending campaign to destroy the Lanterns; while setting free the Corps’ most dangerous enemies, he hopes to find the evil Lyssa Drak and release her.

Sound like fun? The Green Lantern download pack will sell for $9.99, and be available for PlayStation 3 and PC.

DC Universe Online: "Fight for the Light"

DC Universe Online: "Fight for the Light"

DC Universe Online: "Fight for the Light"

But despite being up to my eyeballs in Rock Band DLCs I’m already earmarking money for next week’s purchase because it’s gonna be an awesome bunch of songs. Harmonix and MTV Games has announced that Jane’s Addiction will be the featured artist for next week’s DLC release. Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking album will be finally released after so much delay. Actually, the first announcement of this release was made way back in August last year but unforeseen delays has resulted in the album only being released next week. Players can download almost all of the songs from the seminal album — I say almost because Mountain Song will not be available since it is already included in the Rock Band 2 game. The ten songs will be sold for $1.99 or 160 MS points or 200 Wii points. It can also be bought as a bundle for $15.99 or 1280 points.

Guerrilla Games anounced that two new downloadable map packs will be made available on the Playstation Network on April 30. The new maps will be called Steel and Titanium. The first map is located on board the ISA tech cruiser New Sun. Gameplay on this map will focus on vertically oriented fights held on multiple decks and walkways. The second map will be placed on two high speed Helghast freight trains, an added element that gamers will have to manage is navigating the hard routes in between the two speeding trains.

There are still no pricing announced for any of the DLCs. Hopefully, it won’t be the kind of rip-off price we’ve been getting from some companies — yes, I’m referring to you Capcom.

The intrinsic plot around See The Future is in trying to life a curse on three items that have been obtained by Murgo The Trader — the mysterious vendor seen during the opening childhood sequence in Fable II. Players who complete this quest will be rewarded a vision of Albion’s future and what is in store for those who were born into the “heroic bloodline.”

See The Future, much like Knothole Island, will feature new characters, creatures, items and quests. Some of the quests are “The Ghosts of The Snowglobe” and “The Cursed Knight”.