Downloadable expansions are big business in the video game industry these days, so it's only natural that publishers would find new ways to monetize various forms of content.  The big new trend in DLC involves prepaying for new content in bulk ahead of its release.  The industry calls it a Season Pass.  This week on Power Button, Joey Davidson, Brad Hilderbrand, and I discuss the Season Pass phenomenon and how it works to the advantage of players in some situations and against their best interests in others.  L.A. Noire, Mortal Kombat, and Gears of War 3 are all held up as various examples.  Flowing organically from that conversation, Joey takes us into episodic gaming territory and wonders when we'll see big budget franchises such as Assassin's Creed split into regular installments that are purchased under a Season Pass system.  Did someone mention weekly episodes of Uncharted?  Oh, and we even find the time to shame Capcom for its $3 color packs for Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition.  Download this week's episode directly from PTB, listen with the player below, or subscribe via iTunes, and be sure to catch up on past episodes if you're joining us late. Remember that you can reach all three of us via  and you can even follow all of us on Twitter at @PressTheButtons, @aubradley84, and @JoeyDavidson or for just podcast updates, @ThePowerButton.

Power Button - Episode 61: To Everything There Is A Season Pass