Hey Bioware, what's up with all the free DLC?

[Sean Hollyman]

So Mass Effect 3 so far has had a bunch of DLCs so far, the bulk of which have been multiplayer expansions.

Not that I'm complaining, but jut curious, as to why Bioware has realeased all of the Multiplayer DLC, and the Extended Cut, free of charge?

 

[Sp3ratus]

So Mass Effect 3 so far has had a bunch of DLCs so far, the bulk of which have been multiplayer expansions.

Not that I'm complaining, but jut curious, as to why Bioware has realeased all of the Multiplayer DLC, and the Extended Cut, free of charge?

Maybe to make it up to the fans, who didn't like the ending(note, I liked it, both pre and post-EC)? Or maybe they've seen other games, where the multiplayer DLC is only played by a small minority of the userbase, meaning there are almost no servers with DLC maps at all? I know that was the case with Killzone 2 DLC maps, I bought one of the packs, but I could almost never find servers and if I found one, it was almost completely empty. It might not be the same with Killzone 3, because of the multiplayer-only section sold on PSN, with all DLC included. I wouldn't be surprised if the latter is the primary reason for it.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Edit because I don't care anymore

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money. And if they had charged for the EC it would have been the same disaster all over again, but without day one purchasers to fall back on.

This. The multiplayer DLC just allows you the possibility to unlock the new content. To unlock it you still need to grind multiplayer or whip out your credit card. It is quite crafty, I'll give them that. It looks as if they are being very generous with all the new free content, when it is in fact just an attempt to milk the playerbase for as much as is humanely possible.

 

[DustyDrB]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money.

Yeah, I was going to say this.

Though I have to wonder how many people are actually still playing the multiplayer. I know it has only been out a bit over four months, but it does get reeaally boring quickly.

 

[Zhukov]

Because can you imagine the venomous rage that would have flowed forth if they had tried to charge for the EC?

As for the MP stuff, that already been covered above.

When they make some single player DLC they'll charge for it.

 

[Terminal Blue]

Though I have to wonder how many people are actually still playing the multiplayer. I know it has only been out a bit over four months, but it does get reeaally boring quickly.

I still play it quite regularly. It's good if you've got 20 minutes free and just want to unwind, and the different character builds are diverse enough that there's still the odd bit of fun to be had in trying out weird or unorthodox playstyles and seeing if you can make them work.

I'm not a fan of modern military shooters, "straight" FPS games in general or competitive multiplayer with anyone but my friends, so for me it just ticks all the right boxes for being a good brain-cleaning experience.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

Technically it is free, it is just a freemium model of LoL and so many other free to play games.

In the end we have more power as a customer than even before. We dont have to pay anything to enjoy the product, but we can pay money to get served product at a faster rate.

Kind of defeats the purpose when the product you get served is completely random. I'd be a lot less critical of it if they let you buy exactly what you want piecemeal.

 

[Aircross]

It's damage control after the internet backlash due to the disappointing endings that pretty much say, "your decisions don't matter."

 

[Mysterious Username]

They're desperately trying to keep multiplayer alive.

 

[SpectacularWebHead]

It's a collosal apology for their collosal fuck up.
All these would have costed money, but after retake ME3, Charging for dlc would have REALLY pissed those people off.

 

[Fappy]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money.

Yeah, I was going to say this.

Though I have to wonder how many people are actually still playing the multiplayer. I know it has only been out a bit over four months, but it does get reeaally boring quickly.

I think I have one person on my friend's list that still plays it. Multiplayer was fun, but ultimately felt like a tacked on cash grab. A fully fleshed out multiplayer with multiple modes/options/etc. would have kept people interested much longer. If your strategy to retain players is a grind-lotteryfest then you have a problem.

 

[Joseph Harrison]

Maybe they're just being nice to their fans, I know that its impossible to think of Bioware or EA in a positive light nowadays.

 

[hazabaza1]

Damage control, I'm guessing.
Just wait until Leviathan comes out, then we'll see if it's all free.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money. And if they had charged for the EC it would have been the same disaster all over again, but without day one purchasers to fall back on.

This. The multiplayer DLC just allows you the possibility to unlock the new content. To unlock it you still need to grind multiplayer or whip out your credit card. It is quite crafty, I'll give them that. It looks as if they are being very generous with all the new free content, when it is in fact just an attempt to milk the playerbase for as much as is humanely possible.

Technically it is free, it is just a freemium model of LoL and so many other free to play games.

In the end we have more power as a customer than even before. We dont have to pay anything to enjoy the product, but we can pay money to get served product at a faster rate.

As Fr]anc[is said it is unfair to compare to LoL (which I used to play extensively), because in LoL you have complete control over what content you get whereas I can't control it at all in ME3 because it is entirely random. In LoL I can buy exactly the champion/skin I want, so if I want Alkali I'll get her and not Cho'Gath or a Blitzcrank skin, but in Mass Effect 3 I am forced to buy random "boosters" and hope that it will unlock the Geth Infiltrator and not another "level" of the Krogan Vanguard or a shotgun which I'll never use.

It is milking at the highest level and it becomes even more so with every DLC they release, because the chance that I'll get the rare unlock I want in any given booster keeps diminishing whereas I am not getting more chances for rare unlocks.

 

[Weaver]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money. And if they had charged for the EC it would have been the same disaster all over again, but without day one purchasers to fall back on.

This. The multiplayer DLC just allows you the possibility to unlock the new content. To unlock it you still need to grind multiplayer or whip out your credit card. It is quite crafty, I'll give them that. It looks as if they are being very generous with all the new free content, when it is in fact just an attempt to milk the playerbase for as much as is humanely possible.

Technically it is free, it is just a freemium model of LoL and so many other free to play games.

In the end we have more power as a customer than even before. We dont have to pay anything to enjoy the product, but we can pay money to get served product at a faster rate.

As Fr]anc[is said it is unfair to compare to LoL (which I used to play extensively), because in LoL you have complete control over what content you get whereas I can't control it at all in ME3 because it is entirely random. In LoL I can buy exactly the champion/skin I want, so if I want Alkali I'll get her and not Cho'Gath or a Blitzcrank skin, but in Mass Effect 3 I am forced to buy random "boosters" and hope that it will unlock the Geth Infiltrator and not another "level" of the Krogan Vanguard or a shotgun which I'll never use.

It is milking at the highest level and it becomes even more so with every DLC they release, because the chance that I'll get the rare unlock I want in any given booster keeps diminishing whereas I am not getting more chances for rare unlocks.

Also I can download LoL and play it entirely free. ME3 had that initial $60 price tag.

 

[Terminate421]

anc[is]The multiplayer stuff isn't free, it's specifically designed to push people towards gambling with real money.

Yeah, I was going to say this.

Though I have to wonder how many people are actually still playing the multiplayer. I know it has only been out a bit over four months, but it does get reeaally boring quickly.

I still find it relatively entertaining. Besides, there is something about trying to get the best stuff that makes it great.....

 

[ThriKreen]

It is milking at the highest level and it becomes even more so with every DLC they release, because the chance that I'll get the rare unlock I want in any given booster keeps diminishing whereas I am not getting more chances for rare unlocks.

"Milking at the highest level"? Seriously? For free to play, free to download content?

Not to mention the LoL skins don't have added benefits, the weapons and characters do in ME3. You run a slippery slope if you allowed people to directly buy more powerful items, at least with a random system it is somewhat balanced based on time played.

 

[thedevildancer]

ever notice that if its a good thing like free dlc its "bioware" but if its bad like the ending or on disk dlc its ea lets hate ea ea sucks.
not attacking the guy that started the thread just pointing something i noticed