ME3 Prothean DLC on disc after all

[Thoric485]

As reported by Forbes [http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/03/11/new-video-shows-mass-effect-3-day-one-dlc-already-on-disc/]

This video shows it can be partially unlocked with a simple edit:


And an exchange from BioWare's forums indicates that, in EA's eyes, accessing content included on the disc of a game you legally bought makes you, no joke, a pirate [http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/2214/1331503101076.png].

Let the frivolous throwing around of the word entitlement begin.

 

[Casual Shinji]

How is the DLC, anyway?

I've heard all the day-one DLC commotion, but is it actually any good?

 

[DustyDrB]

How is the DLC, anyway?

I've heard all the day-one DLC commotion, but is it actually any good?

It's decent. As far as level design goes, it's one of the least interesting locations in the game. Though I do think they stepped it up on level design in general in ME3. Tuchanka and the Ardat-Yakshi monastery being my favorites.

The character himself is a bit of an ass, but that's kind of the point. Liara's reaction to him is interesting.

 

[Nfritzappa]

well the characters in the disc, but not the mission

 

[isometry]

Forbes publishes a lot of articles on Mass Effect, considering that they are a business magazine.

The CEO of EA, John Riccitiello, had his previous job as founder and managing director of elevation partners, the equity firm that owns the majority of Forbes.

On Topic: I'm not suprised at all that EA withholds content so they can sell it as DLC, it's extremely obvious that they do that. The only part I can't figure out is why they bother lying when it's so obvious.

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

All day one DLC.. EVER is at least partially if not entirely on the disk. Pretty much if it comes out in the first month you can be certain that it as at least partially there (In the case with Gears of War 3 where the FIRST TWO were on disk). What this comes down to is: "When you buy a game what are you actually buying" It's a strange thing because you're not actually "buying the game" you don't OWN the game, not really. You own a disk with the game on it.

But unlike when buying a CD or DVD, a game is still controlled by the developer/publisher. They can cut and change the game from it's original form anyway they please, hell they can even reset your stats or ban you YES THEY CAN STOP YOU PLAYING THE GAME YOU PAID FOR. If they so desire (and EA do desire) they can shut down all the servers for this game 2 months after release so you lose half the experience.

You do not own the game, you did not buy the game, you bought the right to play the game in the capacity the developers intended it to be played. Sorry, that's just me looking at this from a different standpoint, more from the legal (rather than moral) side of things. That being said (paid) Day 1 DLC is bad, having this already on the disk and forcing people to pay extra for it is worse and finally EA can go fuck themselves.

 

[Fr]anc[is]

This shouldn't really come as a surprise to anyone.

 

[SajuukKhar]

Funny that the video fails the mention that
1. voice acting
2. charater models/animations
Are both done in a early pre-production stage as they are insanely easy to do and require little time.

It is actually kinda pathetic how badly the video trys to manipulate the dev process to make it look like bioware lied when they didn't.

 

[ThriKreen]

What SajuukKhar said.

Often it's cut content and rather than completely ripping it out and break something else, other existing prothean models or shared animations, the resources are kept on the data files and the DLC module just merely references them.

From reports from other people, there's a 500mb download for "From Ashes". Is it just empty data to fake the DLC that's already on the disc? Can you still activate the DLC using that line change in the video? I'm going to bet "No", and as mentioned, that just unlocks the character as a squad mate.

 

[Aircross]

Deus Ex: Gaming Revolution

If you want to make enemies... try to change something.

The year, is [2012]. It is a time of digital distribution... and technological [and artistic] stagnation. It's also a time of chaos... and [on disk] DLC.

These publishers are like ghosts, Adam... Always in the shadows. Always hiding behind marketing and community managers...

I never had a choice but to buy the DLC...

[Game] corporations have more power than the [average player].

I never asked for this.

The sad part is we gamers allowed this to happen by not taking action.

GameStop's motto of "Power to the Players" is a lie.

Implying that changing parameters in files you legally purchased is piracy. I doubt that they have an end user agreement that you can't edit files that you purchased a licensed to use.

I have officially lost all faith in Bioware. Now I only believe in Valve and Bethesda.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I doubt that they have an end user agreement that you can't edit files that you purchased a licensed to use.

This - although if I'm wrong about that, that would be interesting, too. I can't think of any game that has a EULA that literally bans modding.

 

[ThriKreen]

Stop it already, you lost, at least keep your dignity, you know your picture has been debunked and you're grasping at straws, also this whole thing is getting more and more ridiculous.

Uh... debunked by who? Everyone who's worked at a game studio that I've talked to has verified that picture, not to mention my own personal experience. The only people that claim it is false are not dev types and refuse to believe evidence and fact to the contrary, and have yet to offer any collaborating evidence other than "I SAID SO!"

I couldn't find a picture to describe the level of facepalm appropriate after seeing that picture...

And can we verify that's a legit pic and not edited like the Jennifer Hepler fiasco with faked quotes?

It's funny, a company says something and it's "NOPE, we don't believe you, we need evidence!" then some one posts a dubious screenshot of a forum or chat window and people all swallow it up without being a skeptic.

 

[Coldie]

well the characters in the disc, but not the mission

All day one DLC.. EVER is at least partially if not entirely on the disk.

The entirety of the From Ashes DLC is on the PC disc. No download is required at any point, all you need is account authorization to play it. Or, apparently, a mod.

I think it's still a download for console versions, though.

How is the DLC, anyway?

I've heard all the day-one DLC commotion, but is it actually any good?

The mission is nothing special, but the character is worth it. He's a walking lore and snark dispensary, and has a lot of interactions with other characters.

This - although if I'm wrong about that, that would be interesting, too. I can't think of any game that has a EULA that literally bans modding.

MMOs normally explicitly forbid any modding that does not go through the game's modding API, if there is one.

 

[SajuukKhar]

Stop it already, you lost, at least keep your dignity, you know your picture has been debunked and you're grasping at straws, also this whole thing is getting more and more ridiculous. I couldn't find a picture to describe the level of facepalm appropriate after seeing that picture...

He's saying that INI-tweaks (and by relation also modding as a whole as it needs at least a few configuration file tweaks etc. and on top might prevent sales of their crappy DLC, it's obvious that they try to prevent it lately e.g. Dragon Age and Battlefield 3 but that they outright say it) is "piracy", it's beyond ridiculous. Oh my, even I didn't expect them to sink this low so soon...

Except it hasn't.

Your sycophantic hatred of bioware =/= debunking the picture

Also it is piracy because you are gaining access to content you didn't pay for.

When you bought the game you paied for a lsience, and that lisence only covers what Bioware says it doesn, the fact that those limited animation and voice files are on the disk is irellevent to the fact the liscence you bought only covers the base game.

-You dont own the disk
-You dont own the box
-You dont own the information on the disk

Stop acting like you do.

 

[Aircross]

Also it is piracy because you are gaining access to content you didn't pay for.

But the ability to use the Prothean as a squad member was already on the disc aka content that you already payed for.

So modding a file on content that you payed in order to allow you to access more content that you payed for is piracy?

 

[SajuukKhar]

But the ability to use the Prothean as a squad member was already on the disc aka content that you already payed for.

So modding a file on content that you payed in order to allow you to access more content that you payed for is piracy?

As I said before in my previous post, contrary to what you believe you didn't buy the disk, and you dont own the disk or the data on it.

you bought a license, and that license only covers the base game.

the disk technically isn't your property neither is the data on it.

 

[Aircross]

But the ability to use the Prothean as a squad member was already on the disc aka content that you already payed for.

So modding a file on content that you payed in order to allow you to access more content that you payed for is piracy?

As I said before in my previous post, contrary to what you believe you didn't buy the disk, and you dont own the disk or the data on it.

you bought a license, and that license only covers the base game.

the disk technically isn't your property neither is the data on it.

I know that buying the disc doesn't mean that I own the disc itself or the software that's on it.

So this means that if I paid for a disc and a license that stated that I may only use 50% of the software on a certain disc then using the other 50% is piracy even though there's nothing stopping me from accessing it, right?

Oh boy, Bioware (EA) getting real technical here. I'd love to see the end user agreement stating that only certain parts of the data on a basic ME3 disc can be accessed. Actually, it might be easier to state what parts of the data in the disc you CAN'T use.

The bottom line is if Bioware (EA) says that you are licensed to use all data on the basic disc then the ability to select the Prothean as a squad member is not piracy because it is included on the basic disc.

If I am wrong, and there is a some chance that I am, just point me to the end user terms for licensed use of the basic disc.

 

[Kahunaburger]

you bought a license, and that license only covers the base game.

[citation needed]

OT: If anyone has the relevant part of the EULA, that would be very interesting to see. Of course, I'm not convinced that a EULA could conceivably be used to restrict access to purchased content for the same reason it's legal to jailbreak an iPhone.

 

[T_ConX]

This is really sad...

I haven't bought ME3 yet. I'm in my first year of Engineering, and I have no time for video games, especially 20+ hour RPGs. I had planned on swinging by a Best Buy immediately after my last Final Exam to pick up ME3, and play it until 4AM.

But after all this... I think I'll have to force myself wait a little longer for 'Mass Effect 3: The Entire Game Edition'. What better way to express my disgust with the situation than by letting my wallet do the talking...

As for my Dusk-til-Dawn Exams-are-over Game-a-thon... With Mass Effect 3 effectively disqualified, that honor now belongs to Xenoblade. Bioware can trash-talk on JRPGs all they want, but at least they have the dignity to sell me a finished product.