1) increased costs of development lead to increasing the need to make more money outside of direct sales, through microtransactions, subscriptions, advertisements, etc. (if you want more expensive gaming, this is just something you'll have to live with).
2) At some point, no matter how many features you have in your game, you need to stop adding them and start working the last ones in fluidly, making sure they are balanced, working well, working efficiently, etc.
Adding cruft to games is not always a good thing; if it adds to the game, makes it more fun, etc. then I agree, it should probably be added before release (if they have time, money, etc). But for added bonuses, extra gameplay modes, etc., the added time to develop allows them to take their time and get it perfect. Additionally, aas in the case of burnout's latest DLC, huge new swaths of content can be added at no cost to the consumer, bringing people back into the game and making them more likely to purchase the sequel.
Please, PLEASE do NOT feed the trolls.
fksumot tag: "Sheik had to become a man to be useful. Or less useful. Might depend if you're bi."
--Predictions--
1) WiiFit will outsell the pokemans.
Current Status: 2009.01.10 70k till PKMN Yellow (Passed: Emerald, Crystal, FR/LG)
