Bioware didn't think this through.

[thingymuwatsit]

I, as many other fans, am looking forward to the release of Mass Effect 3 on November the 3rd, but there is one issue that I am struggling over: DLC.
The original Mass Effect had its fair share of DLC, with implications of both being prevalent in the sequel, and Mass Effect 2 has even more bonus characters and plotlines being added as DLC. This is all well and good for the people who had access to them, but I am forced to wonder what Bioware is going to do about the (presumably) many players that, for any reason, could not gain access to the bonus content. Will Bioware add the DLC's to the Mass Effect 3 bundle (a fair solution), will they make the content irrelevant (unfair on those who had access to it), or will they just leave it be (unfair to those without access to the content).
Because I am one of the fans that could not purchase any Mass Effect DLC, I wonder how Bioware will treat me in regards to the overarching plot. Do any of the readers here have opinions on the topic?

 

[Vault101]

oh Im sure they thourght it through, its jsut that gamers like you and me...well theres probably not enough of us to justify not doing important plot essential DLC, which yeah is kind of annoying and unfair

it would be awosme if mabye they release some kind of DLC pack retail, I would so pay for that (I really really want lair of the shadow broker

I mean they did that here with fallout...the pitt and operaction anchorige...but that was years ago

 

[Vault101]

Yeah I raised the same point in a different thread like yesterday.
I think the non-DLC players (like us) are left to fend in the dirt, to put it bluntly. We didn't buy, we lose.

Seems like a dickish move yeah?
Either that or they'll do a quick recap. I hear they did something similar for the PS3 ME2 version, since they didn't get the first.

somone should write a strongly worded e-mail to Bioware....whats the adress if I want to complain?

 

[GothmogII]

You mean people as in 'children or teens' who don't have access to their parent's credit cards? Or indeed, one of their own.

Don't worry, I was much the same. I -still- don't have a proper credit card at 23, but I found a work around in the form of a temporary VISA card. Mine's 3V and, basically you just take it down to a store that can top them up and they'll put cash on it for you. For 3V you can put ?20 on it at no charge, but ?30 + comes with surcharge. Then, a VISA number is generated and you're emailed a CVV2 code, after which you can spend the money like a regular VISA. Works on Steam, the Blizzard store, Paypal, and really anywhere that takes VISA.

It's a damn useful thing. Now of course, I don't know if you have such a similar thing in Australia, but you should have a look.

 

[thingymuwatsit]

Yeah I raised the same point in a different thread like yesterday.
I think the non-DLC players (like us) are left to fend in the dirt, to put it bluntly. We didn't buy, we lose.

Seems like a dickish move yeah?
Either that or they'll do a quick recap. I hear they did something similar for the PS3 ME2 version, since they didn't get the first.

somone should write a strongly worded e-mail to Bioware....whats the adress if I want to complain?

http://www.bioware.com/contact

 

[Jandau]

I miss the days of good old fashioned expansions packs. You know, those addons where the cost/content ratio wasn't so atrociously bad and you didn't feel like someone pulled your liver out of your arse when you paid for them. Bioware used to do those, some were pretty good.

As for the current-day DLC, I have my own policy regading it, but last time I talked about it a moderator issued me a warning, so I guess I'd better not do that again...

 

[Vault101]

You mean people as in 'children or teens' who don't have access to their parent's credit cards? Or indeed, one of their own.

Don't worry, I was much the same. I -still- don't have a proper credit card at 23, but I found a work around in the form of a temporary VISA card. Mine's 3V and, basically you just take it down to a store that can top them up and they'll put cash on it for you. For 3V you can put ?20 on it at no charge, but ?30 + comes with surcharge. Then, a VISA number is generated and you're emailed a CVV2 code, after which you can spend the money like a regular VISA. Works on Steam, the Blizzard store, Paypal, and really anywhere that takes VISA.

It's a damn useful thing. Now of course, I don't know if you have such a similar thing in Australia, but you should have a look.

it not just that internet can also be an issue

Yeah I raised the same point in a different thread like yesterday.
I think the non-DLC players (like us) are left to fend in the dirt, to put it bluntly. We didn't buy, we lose.

Seems like a dickish move yeah?
Either that or they'll do a quick recap. I hear they did something similar for the PS3 ME2 version, since they didn't get the first.

somone should write a strongly worded e-mail to Bioware....whats the adress if I want to complain?

http://www.bioware.com/contact

hey thanks!.....now Im too scared to do it though

 

[thingymuwatsit]

hey thanks!.....now Im too scared to do it though

Just send a kind Email, if enough of us do they might even listen.

 

[Kermi]

I don't think the DLC will be important to the main plot, with the exception of maybe Shadow Broker and Arrival - which they can really just recap at the beginning. I mean it sucks if you didn't have Arrival and have no idea why Shepard starts ME3 standian trial on Earth, but I'm sure they've got it covered.

They plan to open the game with a recap of all the major stuff (and your choices) from ME1 and 2 if you've imported a character all the way through. If you don't import a character, you will play the prologue as a "choose your own adventure", enabling you to shape your game even if you didn't have ME1/2. I imagine if there's anything important in the DLC, they'll recap that, too.

 

[Not-here-anymore]

Well, it's already been mentioned that the events of arrival lead directly into ME3, so if you don't have that, you're screwed?

It wouldn't surprise me if the events of Lair of the Shadow Broker play a part as well. Characters etc... are largely ignorable, seeing as how they didn't exactly have a huge part in ME2 as it was. Probably just something where you run into them briefly

 

[Vault101]

Well, it's already been mentioned that the events of arrival lead directly into ME3, so if you don't have that, you're screwed?

It wouldn't surprise me if the events of Lair of the Shadow Broker play a part as well. Characters etc... are largely ignorable, seeing as how they didn't exactly have a huge part in ME2 as it was. Probably just something where you run into them briefly

I just hope they dont automatically set your choices (to the renegade options) whcih I think they did with PC and xbox version if you didnt import a save (I think)

I don't think the DLC will be important to the main plot, with the exception of maybe Shadow Broker and Arrival - which they can really just recap at the beginning. I mean it sucks if you didn't have Arrival and have no idea why Shepard starts ME3 standian trial on Earth, but I'm sure they've got it covered.

They plan to open the game with a recap of all the major stuff (and your choices) from ME1 and 2 if you've imported a character all the way through. If you don't import a character, you will play the prologue as a "choose your own adventure", enabling you to shape your game even if you didn't have ME1/2. I imagine if there's anything important in the DLC, they'll recap that, too.

damn...spoilers... (sorry thats just me, prefer to know as little as possible) anyway yeah I hope so but tis annoyign that such important had to be DLC, I supose its not liek they had to time to add it to the main game

 

[VanQ]

Really? Bioware actually sells plot related DLC? That's just bad. I'm glad I avoid all of their titles. I don't think the games are bad mind you, I just never could get into them. But this is just icing on the cake for me. I'd honestly be very peeved that I had to pay for DLC and then wait for it to download on my very limited internet if I want to see all of the story.
I agree with Vault101 that it wouldn't be a problem if they sold the content on a shelf, not because I don't have access to online DLC, I just prefer not to waste my internet on it.

 

[Ranorak]

Without spoiling too much.
At the end of Arrival Shepard did some ....sacrificing.
(S)He is put on trial for this.
I assume that the start of ME-3 would fill in non-DLC players about the events regardless.

 

[GiantRaven]

Seeing as you can play Mass Effect 2 without playing the original Mass Effect (and make sense out of it), I'm sure that if you haven't played the DLC, you won't be screwed over.

 

[FoolKiller]

I have been and always will be a fan of things like Fallout 3: GOTYE or Dragon Age: Ultimate Edition. I don't need the DLC day 1 that it is available but I would like to have access to it without having to pay for 600 dollars a year for the opportunity.

 

[Vault101]

Really? Bioware actually sells plot related DLC? That's just bad. I'm glad I avoid all of their titles. I don't think the games are bad mind you, I just never could get into them. But this is just icing on the cake for me. I'd honestly be very peeved that I had to pay for DLC and then wait for it to download on my very limited internet if I want to see all of the story.
I agree with Vault101 that it wouldn't be a problem if they sold the content on a shelf, not because I don't have access to online DLC, I just prefer not to waste my internet on it.

I guess because publishing must be expansive, whats might be why DLC exists as it does today, the obsticle isnt there

also I guess its not worth it if most of your customers can just download it anyway

I mean Its not like I wont be able to play ME2 but I would really like to experience thease hthings, theres no reason the events of the latest DLC cant be in ME3

 

[Jonesy911]

the side quests/ characters that would have been there wont be /thread

 

[Ranorak]

the side quests/ characters that would have been there wont be /thread

It's not that, ME-3 beginning will follow after the event of the Arrival DLC.

Or maybe, if you haven't played the DLC, the beginning will be different?

 

[Loop Stricken]

None of the 'bridging' DLC has any sort of multiple-choice ending. So you fire up ME3 and this is what happened regardless.