BioWare Defends Mass Effect 3 Launch-Day DLC

[Andrewtheeviscerator]

Might as well join this thread to give my two cents?
OK well I?m boycotting Mass Effect 3 not because I believe it?s the DLC is unfair but because EA is basically trying to use its position to strong arm consumers into buying more products and abusing its position.
BioWare wouldn?t make this DLC if they weren?t owned by EA. (That is an assumption going off that the most developers... in fact all aren?t this abusive of customers.) The argument that they shouldn?t release DLC first day is because they spent time instead of developing this game but instead on the DLC. Now even if they say they finished the game then worked on the DLC... Well why isn?t the game out before the DLC was finished? why is the programming team working on the DLC when they could be fixing bugs on the ?finished product?. Well it?s not finished if they didn?t release it yet now is it? Why haven?t they released the ?finished product? when it?s in their interest to get the most money quickly to reinvest into their company (EA). It is because they want to get more money out of the consumer. Which isn?t bad but its damn unethical when they release a finished product with extra content separate that could easily influence the story.
Next main point and here is the big one ORIGEN. Now you must have ORIGEN to play ME3 on PC, essentially they are forced more software down consumer?s throats. That is annoying and obvious they want more people to use a horrible online retailer so they can try to get you to by more of their non discounted games that they don?t have to share in the retail price as with other competitors aka steam. So they block steam for selling ME3 so they don?t have to share sales, when they could of easily let steam sell it for 60 bucks and used an ethical way to get people to try Origen like I don?t know charge 55 bucks on Origen. I would totally take that incentive and buy the game, but no its just EA in the end trying to strong arm the market and get as much money out of the consumer as possible and I?m not having any of that. So go ahead and by the game, its your money, but remember when you buy this game EA will get the picture that they can keep pushing its consumers more and more little by little, and I?m not even going to try to guess what?s next.

Sorry about spelling or grammar, truly sorry, that is why I?m an Economy major and not English

Well the reason the game doesn't come out before the dlc is finished is because it takes a while for the game to get tested and fixed, then they have a certain time period set out so they can do a marketing campaign for the game to get more people interested and during this time the developers can work on any dlc they have planned for the game, now dlc doesn't take very long to make because most of the time spent in game development is spent creating the engine and the environments and since this is already made it shouldn't take very long for the dlc to be made.

And the origin thing is just downright childish, people just ***** about it because they can't use their precious Steam, we'll guess what Mass Effect 3 is published by EA so I'm pretty sure EA is going to want to have their products sold through their service. Notice how you can only play Counter strike or Left 4 dead 2 (which is published by EA by the way) on Steam, that's because they're made by Valve and they only want their games on their service. Think about this; would you be able to buy a hollister shirt at an abercrombie store, no, you know why, because why should they let abercrombie get a part of their profit from their product when they can sell it through their own store and make full profit. That's just basic business practice, you should know that if your studying economics

 

[The Human Torch]

Almost, but not quite right. I would say that a squad mate, its dialogue options (even if few ones) and a mission are not just cosmetic. Cosmetic is a new suit of armor or skins for weapons. Even exclusive weapons are not just cosmetic, but most people seems to be OK with that.

Good, bad, important to the main plot or not, we are talking about gameplay here and not just the dog that follows you around or the pets in WOW.

I agree that EA is giving us a choice here - for ten bucks more you can have all gameplay content we produced for the game up to this date. Compared with what was on offer in the past (free Zaheed) and what's on offer from the competition (free update for the expanded edition for the Witcher 2) this is a terrible option.

From a consumer point of view, day 1 DLC is one of the worst ways to launch your game.
1. For some the game will feel incomplete (and that's subjective so you cannot say that that person is completely wrong),
2. for some it will look like a tentative to milk the fans' cash...
3. and to others it will feel like an opportunity.

The success of this initiative will be measured by how many people will identify with number 3.

I said cosmetic, but I am not sure it covers the load of the point I was conveying. Let's go with 'unnecessary luxury' and an apology from me for not using the right term.
The Prothean has been confirmed to NOT be a part of the story, and by downloading the DLC you get him as a team-member, plus a special mission in which I am sure his whole reason for being on the team will (probably) be explained. It's not part of the original story, so by not having the DLC, you won't miss out on anything.

If you do choose to use this DLC, you will get some extra luxury with your game. Unnecessary, but nice nonetheless, since it's added padding.

Although I agree with you as far as day 1 DLC, in this case I think EA is in the right (relatively).

This Prothean DLC is already included (as in, free to download) with the collector's edition of Mass Effect 3. Imagine how pissed off the people who purchased the normal edition are going to be when they find out that they can't play with such an iconic character, they would go absolutely nuts.
So EA is giving them the option of buying it, for 10 bucks extra, instead of shelving out a lot more money for a collector's edition (what a lot of people don't even care about) and probably will be sold out.

Should it have been included on the game's disc from the get-go? I don't know, it's not vital to the story and a secondary team has been responsible for it's development, so yeah, what would you have lost if they never even made it at all. Nothing really.

 

[The Human Torch]

You know what? That's fair. To be entirely honest, this is (in my case, anyway) an excuse for me to be extremely angry for a pretty silly reason. Also, it's a great time to make pony analogies (I've heard the mods just love pony posts). Besides, I already know I'm going to buy this game, collector's edition if possible, so any and all anger I express about the DLC is pretty much a moot point.
Normally I wouldn't risk a low content post, but I think in a thread this drenched in gasoline, it would be nice to have at least a couple posts where people explain their points of view rationally (or with pony analogies, as it were), and see things from another person's perspective. You make a good point, and better, you did so without attacking me, belittling my opinion, or calling me a troll (even if I was a bit aggressive with my choice of words).
A tip of my hat to you.

I figured that with Zeel going strong, some of us had to stop this train of internet-rage before it derails, destroys a small railroad station, ruins a boy's film project and releases a bloodthirsty alien (10 internetz if you get the reference).

A friend of mine runs a toystore and he always has collector's editions laying around of everything (heck, I am sure I could score you a CE of WoW: the Burning Crusade), so I will probably go to him for the Mass Effect 3 CE.

It's funny, I wasn't that hyped for Mass Effect 3, but ever since this whole Prothean DLC thingy, I just want the game MORE. Are you getting it for console or PC? I am not sure which one would give the better experience.

 

[johnnnny guitar]

Well Im getting the N7 edition and this still pisses me off if the content wasn't ready for launch why did the N7 edition trailer(Which was released in November) show that there was going to be a exclusive mission and character boxed with the game.

 

[Darth_Dude]

I really hope that all this bullshit going around is a result of EA's meddling and whatnot, and not because Bioware just feel like being jerks.

 

[Appleshampoo]

Woooah, this thread is big D:

I'd prefer they did what they did with ME2 and give NEW copies of the game the character for free. Not everyone in the world wakes up to a bathtub full of money to throw at collectors editions whenever they feel like it.

I've got a small gaming budget and it was going to be used for ME3, now I have to convince the Mrs to let me spend more money just to get this character because I love the series so much.

But then, I'm a typical example of the kind of people EA are hoping for anyway.

More fan idiots like me = More money!

 

[INF1NIT3 D00M]

*Snip, mostly because I started typing in the wrong place and totally screwed up the formatting and order of your original post. This is now a message from me, INF1NIT3 D00M, letting you know that I fail at forums.

I caught that Super 8 reference (Oh yeah, if you're just tuning in, he made a Super 8 reference)
I actually forgot to go to gamestop to check for the Collector's Edition today. Who cares, if they don't want 20 more dollars from me, they don't want 20 more dollars from me. It's kind of hard to believe EA would refuse to take my money to bump me up to Collector's Edition. It's also kind of hard to believe that Gamestop wouldn't stock up on at least 3 times the number of Collector's Editions as they have listed for preorders. Bottom line is, I'll do it tomorrow for sure.
I plan on playing the 360 version, since waaaaaay back when I played original Mass Effect, I did not have the magical space computer I own now. I'd make the switch and buy the games through Steam, but here are some reasons not to:
-I'm pretty sure ME3 isn't coming to Steam
-the games aren't on sale any more on Steam (never have been, for Origin)
-EA hates gamers, but reserves their own hellish nightmare hatred for PC gamers
-Even if I had the games, not to mention the DLC I would have to re-buy, I really don't want to play through ~40 hours of the games leading up to ME3.

I've only done one playthrough, roleplaying as me, taking whatever the game throws at me. If I tried to do it over again, I'd just end up "fixing" every mistake I made on my first playthrough. I think that would diminish the experience somewhat.

Anyhow, I think I'm done here.
-Expressed my rage
-Made my first pony post
-Found a new community friend
-Took a chill pill and resolved to buy the Collector's Edition and be done with EA.

 

[The Human Torch]

I caught that Super 8 reference (Oh yeah, if you're just tuning in, he made a Super 8 reference)
I actually forgot to go to gamestop to check for the Collector's Edition today. Who cares, if they don't want 20 more dollars from me, they don't want 20 more dollars from me. It's kind of hard to believe EA would refuse to take my money to bump me up to Collector's Edition. It's also kind of hard to believe that Gamestop wouldn't stock up on at least 3 times the number of Collector's Editions as they have listed for preorders. Bottom line is, I'll do it tomorrow for sure.
I plan on playing the 360 version, since waaaaaay back when I played original Mass Effect, I did not have the magical space computer I own now. I'd make the switch and buy the games through Steam, but here are some reasons not to:
-I'm pretty sure ME3 isn't coming to Steam
-the games aren't on sale any more on Steam (never have been, for Origin)
-EA hates gamers, but reserves their own hellish nightmare hatred for PC gamers
-Even if I had the games, not to mention the DLC I would have to re-buy, I really don't want to play through ~40 hours of the games leading up to ME3.

I've only done one playthrough, roleplaying as me, taking whatever the game throws at me. If I tried to do it over again, I'd just end up "fixing" every mistake I made on my first playthrough. I think that would diminish the experience somewhat.

Anyhow, I think I'm done here.
-Expressed my rage
-Made my first pony post
-Found a new community friend
-Took a chill pill and resolved to buy the Collector's Edition and be done with EA.

Pro-tip: Avoid the major game store chains and retailwebsites like Amazon. Go for the smaller toy stores/CD and DVD stores that have a small gaming customer base. They are always left with collector's editions of anything. Simply because barely anyone bothers to pay them a visit.

And I forgot about the whole Origin thing on PC. Looks like my decision has been made, I will get it for X-Box 360.

We should start another thread on how bad Origin is for the gaming industry. Maybe Zeel will grace us with another visit. See ya around Brony.

 

[Batman]

Well Im getting the N7 edition and this still pisses me off if the content wasn't ready for launch why did the N7 edition trailer(Which was released in November) show that there was going to be a exclusive mission and character boxed with the game.

It's because the dlc gets green lighted for pre-production during the production of the actual game. This means that they put together a bunch of ideas (which they couldn't feasibly implement in game in time for launch for some reason or other) and decided on which ones they should work on first as launch dlc. This was why "an extra squadmate and mission" was advertised in the collectors edition. They already knew what it was but were unwilling to part with the information till launch day. I doubt it's all that difficult to set aside a little room for extra content considering the multi threaded narratives bioware usually craft.

Woooah, this thread is big D:

I'd prefer they did what they did with ME2 and give NEW copies of the game the character for free. Not everyone in the world wakes up to a bathtub full of money to throw at collectors editions whenever they feel like it.

I've got a small gaming budget and it was going to be used for ME3, now I have to convince the Mrs to let me spend more money just to get this character because I love the series so much.

But then, I'm a typical example of the kind of people EA are hoping for anyway.

More fan idiots like me = More money!

The new copies of ME3 get the online pass for multiplayer. I think this was why they made the multiplayer completely optional? as it is nothing more than an incentive to get people to buy a new game. You don't need an online pass to play the actual game by the way in case someone is still confused on this matter.

 

[PatrickXD]

If they'd started burning discs prior to developing this content, then fine, put it up as DLC.
But wait a few weeks first so nobody complains about it, is that so hard?

 

[Cobbs]

-snip-

-snip snip-

You make a good point but at the end of the day there ain't shit any of us can do about it. I'm still going to pick up my copy launch day and play the absolute shit out of it, with or without the DLC. It's like a cheeseburger, delicious on it's own but even better with added bacon. You don't have to have bacon with your burger to enjoy if you don't want to.
All we can really do is shut up and eat our delicious burger. Whether it has bacon or not in the end.

 

[The.Bard]

Understanding this insanity would require reading through the Omega 29-page relay. No soul has ever returned from doing so.

 

[Radoh]

If they'd started burning discs prior to developing this content, then fine, put it up as DLC.
But wait a few weeks first so nobody complains about it, is that so hard?

So wait two weeks before releasing DLC when it's ready now?
How on Earth does that make any kind of sense at all?
This way they can couple it with the Collector's Edition and make it a single purchase event, and they don't sit on something that's at the ready.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

I'm against Day-1 DLC period. Doesn't matter which company. Maybe this is better or worse than some cases, but I'm still against it regardless.

 

[Mycroft Holmes]

The fact that in Mass Effect 3 she is a pre established character that is already within the story. We have been with her through 1 and 2, and she should therefore return in 3 as well, or an explanation be given as to why she did not.

Kewl, so you would have no problems if they charged you 10$ for her in ME1 because it had no preexisting expectations built up. That's good to know, be sure to let bioware know your opinions for when they make their next new IP they can charge you for every character you unlock.

 

[The.Bard]

As I said up the thread; too many paid marketing whores here.

Hiding behind an fascist meme that amounts to 'buyer beware' is not an opinion, it's paid propaganda.

This site might as well just have a picture of the staff sucking ea off...

Dude, I get paid BY THE POST. In the last two days alone, I've earned a whopping $14.65 from EA for blindly defending them. Pretty awesome, amiright??

Also, this thread has been going for 28 pages. After all the brilliantly hilarious things other people have been doing here, the funniest thing you can come up with is a fellatio joke?!? C'monnnnnn, man, that didn't even give me a mild chuckle. I'm not even smiling.

Let's try this again. I'll even throw you a nice pitch.

Me: "Man, EA is so grate. I love to pays them monesy for there greedy things. Things they tere out of the original game nad tack on. I still buys it tho. They are so greet."

Ok, now you come up with a good zinger!

 

[smokeyninjas]

.

 

[Joccaren]

The fact that in Mass Effect 3 she is a pre established character that is already within the story. We have been with her through 1 and 2, and she should therefore return in 3 as well, or an explanation be given as to why she did not.

Kewl, so you would have no problems if they charged you 10$ for her in ME1 because it had no preexisting expectations built up. That's good to know, be sure to let bioware know your opinions for when they make their next new IP they can charge you for every character you unlock.

You know what? Both you and I did pay $10 for her. Probably $60 actually. Planned squadmate that they made essential to the story - so she came with the game. Give her a role like Zaeed, where she had nothing to do with the story except 1 mission dedicated to herself, and I'd have been fine with her not being in 1 except as DLC. Her part would have been replaced by other lore, or another character, and she really would have been just a tacked on extra - like the Prothean.It is a fan service, not something essential for the game. The story WILL make sense without it, you WILL be able to complete the game without it. All that it will do is add in a mission and a squadmate.

 

[GamerAddict7796]

The most annoying thing is that they said it couldn't be released in the disc as they started work later, yet are able to have it ready for release?

 

[James Raynor]

Wasn't the Proethean already in the game files of the november leak? If that's true than bioware's lying to us.