Expansion pack

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For other uses, see Expansion pack (disambiguation).

An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion is an addition to an

existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game or collectible card game. These add-ons
usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, characters, or an extended storyline to an already-
released game.

While board game expansions are typically designed by the original creator, video game
developers sometimes contract out development of the expansion pack to a third-party company,
it may choose to develop the expansion itself, or it may do both.

Board games and tabletop RPGs may have been marketing expansions since the 1970s, and
video games have been releasing expansion packs since the 1980s, early examples being the
Dragon Slayer games Xanadu Scenario II[1] and Sorcerian.[2] Other terms for the concept are
module and, in certain games' marketing, adventure.[citation needed]

Contents
 1 Characteristics
 2 Stand-alone expansion packs
 3 Console game expansion packs
 4 Collectible card game expansions
 5 See also
 6 References

Characteristics
The price of an expansion pack is usually much less than that of the original game. As expansion
packs consist solely of additional content, most require the original game in order to play. Games
with many expansions often begin selling the original game with prior expansions, such as The
Sims Deluxe Edition (The Sims with The Sims: Livin' Large). These bundles make the game more
accessible to new players. When games reach the end of their lifespan, the publisher often
releases a 'complete' or 'gold' collection, which includes the game and all its subsequent
expansions.

Stand-alone expansion packs

Some expansion packs do not require the original game in order to use the new content, as is the
case with Half-Life: Blue Shift, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy or Sonic & Knuckles. Some art,
sound, and code are reused from the original game. In some cases, a stand-alone expansion such
as Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Shadow of Death, or Dungeon Siege: Legends of Aranna
includes the original game.

Console game expansion packs

Expansion packs are most commonly released for PC games, but are becoming increasingly
prevalent for video game consoles, particularly due to the popularity of downloadable content.
The increasing number of multi-platform games has also led to the release of more expansion
packs on consoles, especially stand-alone expansion packs (as described above). Command &
Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath, for example, requires the original Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium
Wars to play on the PC, but Xbox 360 versions of both the original Tiberium Wars and Kane's
Wrath are available, neither of which require one another.

Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 was the first expansion pack released for the PlayStation.[3] The
game required the player to insert the London disc, remove it, insert the original Grand Theft
Auto disc, remove it, then insert the London media again in order to play.

Sonic & Knuckles for the Mega Drive/Genesis was unusual in that it functioned as both a stand-
alone cartridge and as an expansion pack for both Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog
3.

Collectible card game expansions

Collectible card games, or CCGs for short, are typically released as expansion sets, composed of
booster packs.[4] CCGs may be referred to as "living" or "dead", and living CCGs are routinely
published with supplementary expansions.[4][5] CCGs generally don't have a core set that is
reprinted indefinitely, instead, they are retired and replaced with new expansions on a quarterly
or bi-annual basis. Expansions usually introduce new rules, or game mechanics, expanding the
games library of cards and rules set.[4]

See also
 Episodic video game
 Special edition
 Mod (video games)
 Downloadable Content

References
1.
 Kurt Kalata. "Xanadu". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  Sorcerian (PC), GameCola.net, 30 October 2010
  Kennedy, Sam (27 April 2000). "Take-Two Ships GTA: London 1969". GameSpot.
Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  Brown, Timothy (1999), Official Price Guide to Collectible Card Games, p. 505

5.  Miller, John Jackson (2003), Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide,
Second Edition, p.  688.

Categories:

 Video game expansion packs

 Video game development
 Video game distribution
 Video game terminology

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