Poll: EA, Bioware, ME3 and DLC abuse

[VoidWanderer]

For me, it is a very sad day.

This is NOT about the ending. That would make a less depressing topic. I have just seen that some 'genius' at either EA or Bioware (my guess is EA) who is over-saturating us gamers with ME3 multiplayer DLC. And I hate it.

I will make my position clear. I am not a fan of Multiplayer. I will never play Modern Warfare or Battlefield games in online multiplayer. I am not a fan of running around trying to be top dog. It is stupid and most people you play with online, you end up WANTING to shoot, as people have actually done in the past.

But... I did play the ME3 multiplayer when I downloaded the demo, and LOVED it. It was a great co-op experience and I wanted to keep playing. Then I noticed the retarded number of ways you can get multiplayer DLC for it. Armour casing for your console, Action figures, and now books! The game that would've set me on the path of multiplayer fun has poisoned it.

While I would LOVE to boycott which ever company came up with this draconian marketing methods, I thought about it for a moment...

Who is at fault? Is it Bioware, the people who get funded by EA? EA, a company who have brought about questionable marketing practices lately? What about the multiplayer fans who did get involved with the DLC debaucle of MW and BF, could we blame them?

Or, is it us. Do we gamers take responsibility for getting so fanatical about games that we will buy anything with that games name on it? WoW has it's trading card game, where you can actually get items for your character, and I am sure there are other examples out there.

To me, after thinking about it... EA. I would like to say Bioware, but I think EA is more at fault with the situation we have here. They would have the power to get Bioware to jump through their fiery of hoop of "Do it or else".

What do you guys think? And what should we do about it?

Me, My ME3 Collectors Edition will most likely collect dust.

 

[Elamdri]

I am confused as to what the problem is here...

 

[VoidWanderer]

Just with the over-flooding of DLC from purchasing other products, is there action that as gamers we can take to make EA notice that this is not appreciated. To me this is a bigger problem than the endings people keep complaining about.

 

[Jitters Caffeine]

The amount of merchandising for Mass Effect 3 right now is pretty crazy. With all the Action Figures, stupidly expensive Razer Products and Cell Phone cases that ALL come with multiplayer codes. Luckily they all come with the SAME weapon, so it's not like you're buying a Spectre Pack with your purchase of the action figure of your Waifu. Best news I've heard in a while is that the "The Truth" DLC coming out between April and May with be free and fix the ending AND add Batarians, Geth, and add a new Krogan and Asari class to multiplayer as well as New Maps and Enemy types.

 

[goose4291]

I'd say EA, purely because Bioware did churn out DLC before this point, but most of it was free incentive to make you buy an original copy (which though a bit callous, I can understand)

Charging for DLC released on day one (that was intended to be in the basic game from the get-go) is just atrocious.

 

[Dandark]

I would say EA since I get the idea they are behind the recent push of DLC in pretty much all of their products.
That said gamers are also at fault for always buying it no matter the price but I can hardly blame people for buying something if they think it's worth the price to them. Which is why im going to say EA but people buying their crap are not helping, however if they don't want to be helping then fine, im not going to try and force them to boycott DLC, I just hope they return the favour and don't try to force me to not complain about some DLC.

 

[Shavon513]

Before EA's involvement in Bioware, Bioware used to release toolsets and allow players to create their own content. Now, those files are increasingly harder to modify, and mods are more difficult to make. EA would rather have the control, in order to make more money. It's really sad =/

 

[skywolfblue]

Don't like the DLC? Don't buy it. Period. But 40% of the people who bought ME3 also bought the DLC, so that should say something about the number of people who actually LIKE DLC.

The DLC "abuse" is happening because people are willingly buying it.

 

[Elamdri]

Just with the over-flooding of DLC from purchasing other products, is there action that as gamers we can take to make EA notice that this is not appreciated. To me this is a bigger problem than the endings people keep complaining about.

I'm not sure why getting DLC from purchasing a product is a bad thing in and of itself. I mean, the other option is that you buy the product and DON'T get something else for free.

I could see an issue where the DLC is somehow integral to the story and so you have to buy a new product to get the story. But DLC promotions through products have always been things like new skins or special items, nothing integral to the story.

 

[boag]

Cant really blame anyone for trying to make money, its a symbiotic relationship of give and take.

If Producers didnt make DLC then Consumers would not buy it, if Consumers didnt buy DLC then Producers wouldnt make it.

 

[VonKlaw]

For the people blaming EA, remember that alot of publishers take the piss with DLC now - just look at the Capcom Street Fighter X Tekken DLC fiasco and Ubisoft ripping two chapters out of the middle of Assassin's Creed 2.

For me, the issue is more gamers putting up with this crap, buying DLC that is pointless/overpriced/crap out of some weird compulsion to just buy everything.

 

[Zen Toombs]

At least with regards to Mass Effect and so forth, EA hands down.

Bioware as it was no longer exists - it is now merely an arm of the many-limbed monstrosity that is Electronic Arts.

 

[Aircross]

Gamers buying DLC only reinforces publishing companies and developers to further put them out.

Therefore, the fault lies with gamers who allow the game companies to get away with it.

 

[Mayhemski]

Internet and digital distribution - would be my answer but that' dull and all so go EA

 

[Iwata]

I am confused as to what the problem is here...

Likewise. I think this is more an issue of your own personal preferences than a general problem with the industry.

Also, some of the options in your poll are baffling, to say the least.

 

[Esotera]

Demand for it, and the infrastructure that is there to supply it. I've never met a gamer who likes DLC, and over half of these people have either bought or downloaded some themselves.

Expansion packs were much better, as they were relatively good value, added a lot of playtime to a game, and were just generally better than DLC. It's harder to find these days but is still there.

 

[Iwata]

I am confused as to what the problem is here...

Likewise. I think this is more an issue of your own personal preferences than a general problem with the industry.

Also, some of the options in your poll are baffling, to say the least.

Customers getting gouged for money isn't a "personal preference" it's an industry problem that needs to be routed out.

You're not being "gouged for money". Don't want it? Don't buy it! Speak with your wallet. If OTHER people are buying it, then they're fine with it, and it is indeed a matter of personnal preference.

Seriously, this whole discussion about how "unfairly" gamers are being treated only shows the overall ignorance of the community when it comes to a game's development process.

 

[Kingme18]

They don't give a shit about their fans anymore you are insignificant to them.

Saving this quote for when they listen to us and change things for us.

I couldn't care less about the day one DLC. I got the CE, so why should I care?