Expansion pack

:For the Nintendo 64 add-on, see Expansion Pak

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An expansion pack is an addition to an existing game. These add-ons mostly add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete an already released game. The original developer may contract out development of the expansion pack to third-party company, or it may choose to develop the expansion itself (see Hellfire for Diablo and Lords of Destruction for Diablo II).

Related Topics:
Game - Developer - Hellfire - Diablo - Lords of Destruction

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The price of an expansion pack is usually much less than that of the original game. As additions, most expansion packs require the original game in order to play. If a game has had older expansions, new expansion packs often feature all or some of the game's previous expansions. Games with many expansions sometimes begin selling the original game with the oldest expansions, such as The Sims Mega Deluxe (The Sims with ', ', and '). These collections make the game more accessible to new players, but publishers are careful to not make them compete with their own expansions that are still selling.

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Some expansion packs do not require the original game in order to use the new content, as is the case with ' for Half-Life or ' for Rainbow Six. This type of expansion pack is often termed a "stand-alone expansion pack".

Related Topics:
Half-Life - Rainbow Six

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Expansion packs are most commonly released for computer games, but are becoming increasingly prevelant for video game consoles, especially with the popularity of online console services such as Xbox Live. More often than not, however, gaming companies choose to release new material for console games with updated re-releases that contain the complete original game with the new added features, such as ' and '.

Related Topics:
Computer games - Video game consoles - Xbox Live

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The term "expansion pack sequel" is sometimes used to describe a full game, most commonly a sequel that continues the storyline of the previous game, has completely new levels and characters, and adds a few new features, but has gameplay and graphics that are essentially identical (i.e., Doom II). The term is also sometimes used to describe a new game that's released after the original but before the official sequel (for example, Armored Core was followed by Armored Core: Project Phantasma and Armored Core: Master of Arena before Armored Core 2 was released). A good example of a "stand-alone expansion pack sequel" is GTAIIIs successors, ' and '. Since Vice City (and San Andreas) only used enhanced versions of the GTAIII engine, modification of game content (which had become popular with GTAIII) exploded to a frenzy of mods after each PC release.

Related Topics:
Sequel - Doom II - Armored Core - GTAIII

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