- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The matchmaking system would have to be made redundant for each "category" of player on XBL. Those with new ingame assets like weapons or vehicles would be in one group, then those with new maps would be in another, while those without any of the downloads would be in yet another.
The most likely case would be one similar to how H2 is handled. Matchmaking will probably be largely limited to those with all extra content, while those without will be stuck doing customs. This would lead me to believe that either the additional content will be free when released, or it will not be incorportated into matchmaking until it is....which is how things went with the Map Pack, wasn't it?
That's the way that makes the most sense to me.
And I wouldn't bet on any weapons or vehicles being in the additional content. Bungie would have to work to rebalance all the weapon sets and spawn points to make sure additional weapons weren't over- or under-powered. I'm sure we'll see all the new weapons and vehicles there will be with the retail release.
Maps are the most likely thing we'll see as far as DLC goes.
~Ma1