Poll: The Effectiveness of Boycotting: EA/ME3 Edition

[Kingjackl]

Bought it and the DLC, although that came free with the Collector's Edition. I wonder how many people actually bought it? Ah well, doesn't matter. Regardless of the whole day-1 thing, it was decent DLC and Javik was fucking cool. Also, the rest of the game was great, although probably not the sort of thing you'd get into if you weren't already a fan of the series.

Also, is particularly controversial of me to say that not buying a game and then claiming you're 'boycotting' is the most pathetic form of protest in the history of anything?

 

[Tomeran]

Pre-ordered digital deluxe edition, so I had all the dlc. Although I heard all ordinary retail versions(for pc at least) was suppose to have the online pass, so I guess there's some ready dlc in the game, just not Javik.

Although even if I didnt have "From the ashes" dlc included, I'd have happily have bought it despite all the controversy over it being "on-disc", which people seems to have such a huge hatred for.
Its one thing if the dlc-content is utterly essential for a good game experience(that would suck for the consumers), but frankly, Javik is nothing but a bonus. A good bonus, granted(imo he's one of the better ME characters I've seen), but the game is -fully- playable and enjoyable without him.

As for ME3: Despite the ending, which was one of the worst letdowns I've had in a gaming experience, I think ME3 is one of the best games I've played. 99% of the game kicked ass, the multiplayer is fun and adds tons of gametime, and I do not regret for one second the money I've spent on the game, and the extra dough for the deluxe edition and dlc.


Also, last I heard, ME3 was selling like hell. As in, selling way more then ME1 and ME2 combined. There is no way a boycott against EA the "evil empire"(isnt that a -really- old phrase by now?) is going to change that.
The way this -might- change, if it grew to incredibly massive proportions, is prospect of future profit. But as someone stated earlier: I cant see most taking to a protest action that they arent sure will work rather then just play a fun game. I know I'd rather eat my own socks then do it in ME3's case.

 

[hazabaza1]

Pre-ordered Collector's Edition. As soon as I unlock a Krogan I'd say it would be worth every penny. Otherwise very good, and no problems with Origin so far.
Also I find it really funny how even here there was a massive amount of "guh, fuck EA and Mass Effect, corporate whores, etc etc" and then most of those people ended up getting the game anyway. Bwahahahah.

 

[malestrithe]

I really don't think that looking up a guide before playing ME3 is the right way to approach this kind of game (and this isn't necessarily addressed at you; for all I know, the ending is the only thing you've looked up in any detail). It gets in the way of the player's ability to perceive the world's immediacy when said player knows precisely what choice is coming up, and how s/he needs to choose in order to get result X, vs. how for result Y. The world stops being "real," to whatever extent it might have managed otherwise, and is reduced to the code behind the curtain.

I think the game very purposefully means to shock you with your inability to do certain things you would like to do. Without spoiling anything, a certain character's possible death in ME3 actually pulls up a Paragon interrupt (press L1 to take a heroic action! Fast!), but even if you hit L1, you can't save them in time. Shepard TRIES, but fails. The horror of that, as you realize what's happening, as you realize you can't do anything to stop it despite trying so hard, is what sells the scene. If you know in advance all of the triggers that go into this scene, all of the decisions that influence it, it's no longer a world, it's just a bunch of boxes that you can tick off while playing the game.

I do come off as a bit of a control freak, don't I? I can't help it. That comes from my experience with Western RPGs in general. I become God no matter what I do. If I get to level 10, no one can kill me. If I get to level 5 in some games, I tend to win more than lose. It has nothing with what a guide book told me. It is always by random choice that I become God. I go "wow, this ability sounds cool. I'll pick that. Now everybody dies around me. Great."

I guess that tends to dictate my attitude towards Western RPGs. I'm god, so I should have control over everything in it.

 

[devilofthemist]

I was excited for the game, and I bought it. I played it and I loved every second of it. Nothing more to say about it. I love the series and I loved the final installment.

this basically the ending was a little dissapointing but that was really my only problem, i don't mind dlc that adds new content like the me3 did, i only have a problem if it's for a weapon or somthing like that cus it's a bit pointless and i'm on console so origin doesn't bother me, i don't really dislike ea that much tbh

 

[Elliott Curtiss]

I bought the game without the day-one dlc. Played it twice and have not played it again, it's just collecting dust now and probably will for the rest of the time I have it. that is unless the urge to send it, a stink bomb in it, back to EA/bioware becomes too strong.

 

[Racecarlock]

I did not purchase ME3 because I refuse to support EA and their methods of ruining developers.

All you have to do is look at the change in quality between Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age 2 to see how much damage executive meddling can do.

So when Bioware goes out of business and we have one less studio out there making big budget non-generic FPS titles, you're going to say, take that EA? That's going to be a victory? I think EA will move on, the talented folks at Bioware will get screwed, and us consumers who want something other than generic FPS titles will also get screwed. I don't see how this is a good thing at all.

One company that doesn't make generic shooters will be lost? Oh no, that only leaves atlus, konami, nintendo, square enix, valve, double fine, bethesda, rockstar games, eidos, namco bandai, and thousands of indie developers. What is the world coming to?!

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Anyone that was going to buy, bought it. Anyone that never had an interest, continued to have no interest. Gamers have zero credibility and no conviction.

I was going to buy it and didn't. Just because a lot of people are spineless, doesn't mean everyone is.

 

[johnnnny guitar]

I bought the ME3 collectors edition mainly because I wanted to just see the end of the Mass effect trilogy (They fucked up bad with that bit though) I had already expected it to be the most mediocre and rushed Mass effect in the trilogy and boy was I right and as I've said time and time again this is my last bioware game unless they do a complete 180 and get out of EA's grasp and thinking
but hey it's okay I've met another developer (CD Projekt RED) and they have the types of real RPG's I'm looking for.

 

[Rednog]

I bought it, did not buy the DLC because I'm still trudging through the previous game. Wanted to hit the multiplayer before it became a ghost town.
I don't mind origin, it really isn't no worse than Steam's big brother-ing. Seriously the amount of hate to Origin just blows my mind, it really isn't horrendously worse than steam. Hell even Total Biscuit has said that Origin has flat out worked better for him then Steam. I'm honestly in the same boat, I have a good gaming PC and steam still runs like crap, Origin I get 3+mb/s, and I can still surf the net and whatnot with no hindrance. Steam on the other hand, throttles at 1 mb/s and will completely lock up any other internet usage.

EA's business practice of treating employees like crap is the only problem I really have with them. But buying or not buying Mass Effect 3 wasn't going to change that in any way.

 

[Grey Day for Elcia]

Anyone that was going to buy, bought it. Anyone that never had an interest, continued to have no interest. Gamers have zero credibility and no conviction.

I was going to buy it and didn't. Just because a lot of people are spineless, doesn't mean everyone is.

Given the general inability for gamers to take a stand for more than several seconds, combined with you not owning Mass Effect 1 or 2 on Steam despite having a collection of some 150 games through the service, I'd give it at least reasonable odds your interest in purchasing the game was minimal at best.

 

[pure.Wasted]

One company that doesn't make generic shooters will be lost? Oh no, that only leaves atlus, konami, nintendo, square enix, valve, double fine, bethesda, rockstar games, eidos, namco bandai, and thousands of indie developers. What is the world coming to?!

It was a rhetorical question. Bioware isn't going anywhere. I just wanted to illustrate how standing up to big bad EA by not buying a Bioware product isn't exactly the most well thought-out strategy, because even if it worked, you'd only be hurting Bioware. And yourself, if you happen to enjoy their games.

 

[Vrex360]

And if not, I'll always have the upcoming play arts kai figures.

ohh fuck yes....except I don't know if I could get the maleshep one...my shepard female

but Garrus? I already have a garrus one...but you can't have too much Garrus now can you?

(I remember a while ago the VA for femsehp said she hadnt been aproached...but that was ahwile ago *sigh* would it be hilarious if the extended cut fixed everything but was only for maleshep players?)

I personally want all three and the Ashley one especially, finally a piece of merchendise with my favorite LI on it.
I figure it's fair enough, if I can't have a good ending in Mass Effect 3. If Shepard and Ash are to be truly forced to be seperated by a big red explosion then I should at least get those figures.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

Anyone that was going to buy, bought it. Anyone that never had an interest, continued to have no interest. Gamers have zero credibility and no conviction.

I was going to buy it and didn't. Just because a lot of people are spineless, doesn't mean everyone is.

Given the general inability for gamers to take a stand for more than several seconds, combined with you not owning Mass Effect 1 or 2 on Steam despite having a collection of some 150 games through the service, I'd give it at least reasonable odds your interest in purchasing the game was minimal at best.

Maybe, just maybe, I own two copies of 1 on my 360 along with a copy of 2. Maybe. I have 150 games? really? I thought it was more like 50...

CURSE YOU STEAM SALES! Who can say no to 80% off a great game like company of heroes?

 

[Grey Day for Elcia]

Anyone that was going to buy, bought it. Anyone that never had an interest, continued to have no interest. Gamers have zero credibility and no conviction.

I was going to buy it and didn't. Just because a lot of people are spineless, doesn't mean everyone is.

Given the general inability for gamers to take a stand for more than several seconds, combined with you not owning Mass Effect 1 or 2 on Steam despite having a collection of some 150 games through the service, I'd give it at least reasonable odds your interest in purchasing the game was minimal at best.

Maybe, just maybe, I own two copies of 1 on my 360 along with a copy of 2. Maybe. I have 150 games? really? I thought it was more like 50...

CURSE YOU STEAM SALES! Who can say no to 80% off a great game like company of heroes?

You actually own 76. I think I got more than a hundred for counting non-Steam games too. Or I pulled it out of my ass somehow. Hopefully the former and not the latter.

On topic!: yeah, I'm just in a shit mood this week and huge generalizations make me feel better. I'll say sorry and back out slowly.

Sorry. Have a hug *hug*

 

[dimensional]

I didnt buy it mainly because of day one DLC its published by EA and the second one left me feeling a bit `meh` towards the third.

I intended to buy it in the future but it is becoming less likely as I realise I dont care enough about the characters to bother finding out what happens to them although I may be able to borrow it for free from a friend some time in the future so may give it a go then but sod the DLC that dosent exist as far as im concerned.

 

[Vuliev]

I acquired the game through other means simply to be completely vindictive. Unfortunately, the game is, for the most part, outstanding.

So you pirated it and enjoyed the product you stole from EA , but refuse to pay them what you owe?

Oh yeah, you sure are a rebel.

Look an other damn pirate that likes to rationalize away their reasons for stealing. Pathetic!

I made no attempts to rationalize this particular lost sale into something "good." I know it's wrong, and yet I felt like being a vindictive, shallow asshole. Why should I bother with a higher moral ground when my lone act isn't going to make any kind of statement because hundreds of thousands of my peers don't care about the terrible precedents EA is setting?

 

[Grey Day for Elcia]

I acquired the game through other means simply to be completely vindictive. Unfortunately, the game is, for the most part, outstanding.

So you pirated it and enjoyed the product you stole from EA , but refuse to pay them what you owe?

Oh yeah, you sure are a rebel.

Look an other damn pirate that likes to rationalize away their reasons for stealing. Pathetic!

I made no attempts to rationalize this particular lost sale into something "good." I know it's wrong, and yet I felt like being a vindictive, shallow asshole. Why should I bother with a higher moral ground when my lone act isn't going to make any kind of statement because hundreds of thousands of my peers don't care about the terrible precedents EA is setting?

"EA is terrible!" You say, while enjoying the games they are offering and that you stole, calling one of them "outstanding."

Hypocrisy, you are it.

 

[The Last Nomad]

I havn't bought it because I don't have the time or money. EA's business practices have no effect on me as I can't get any DLC anyway. SO whatever way the game is released is the only way I can play it. Anything beyond that won't affect me.