BioWare Defends Mass Effect 3 Launch-Day DLC

[zinho73]

Bioware stopped being credible or supportable the moment they were bought by EA. They didn't pull any of this bullshit before EA.

And your damn right we're entitled, we're entitled to the same content developed for a full priced game regardless of the version we buy. Since when did "Loyal customers" who've come to expect a certain quality become "Entitled gamers" because we don't accept more and more chunks of a game developed before release being wetheld and sold back to us to exploit a purchase of a more expensive version, especially when it's essential story aspects?

This is genius. But I have to disagree a little; we are not entitled to the content. EA has the right to sell the game in how many pieces they want to.

However, we are entitled to get angry with the practice and to find it insulting.

Picture this: you buy at a supermarket that provides you plastic bags to carry your groceries (Zaeed), and, for 10 bucks more, they deliver the groceries to your house (CE). You are really not losing anything, it is clearly optional, although more practical and convenient.

Now, the supermarket says that you have to pay for the plastic bags (the prothean, the exiled prince). Sure, the groceries are still there (the game), but it just feels like terrible service and a cheap trick to get more money from you.

If you have money to spare or if you really like that supermarket (or if you already payed to get your groceries delivered)you might think people are overreacting. But what is happening is that the decision does not affect you and you lack vision or sympathy to understand the position of the ones who were planning to use the plastic bags (as they have always).

The outrage is fair. Regardless of the actual content, payed day1 DLC should be cosmetic only - specially if you plan to build a nice relashionship with your costumer base.

Of course, there are some people overreacting. We don't know how essential the content really is. Probably it is not much, but I found this business practice horrendous. Playing Dragon Age 2 without an archer specialist really felt like the game was missing something. I really can't blame people to feel like EA is not only charging for the plastic bags, but also confiscating some of the groceries themselves.

 

[SajuukKhar]

this is the new project 10 dollar soon every game that comes from EA even bought new will have a 10 dollar DLC and if we let it slide it will just start to get more and more ridiculous because EA's mission is to take as much money from people as possible

That would be true if this was EAs doing, which it isn't.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

I am against the day 1 dlc practice, but I do find it a lot harder to argue given the points they made. I'm going to reserve my opinion until after I have the game, play through it, and then play through it with the dlc installed. If it really does add just a couple of skins, and a minimalism character who was there before, I'd be ok with it. If it's that this prothean doesn't appear at all before dlc, and is a pretty important character to the plot (like garrus and tali have always been) then that is pretty despicable. Here's hoping he's just a zaeed.

But if it is just as you feared then they just suckered you out of either money or the gaming experience. The whole point is to stamp it out so the next game doesn't have it worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri0vrJ-y2zM

Also who has watched this?

As true as your point is, I am willing to take the risk on it for this game. If it was a game I was on the fence about buying, like dragon age, I'd definitely refuse to buy it, at least for a good half a year, or buy it second hand, but I have always loved mass effect, got a number of the novels too, I simply can't do it for this one. I'm just going to have my fingers crossed

 

[CoL0sS]

The Paranoid inside will strangle me in sleep if I believe any explanation offered by company PR department.

[whisper]
I have no problem with them giving lil' something to people who pay extra. Yeah, It would be nice for everyone to get it, but unfortunately that's not how business works. Also, we won't know how crucial this character is to a story until we actually get the game. So if it turns out that he really is cut from the game, by the time you realize it it will be too late.

Spoiler

Although, why someone wouldn't include a Prothean as an integral character is beyond me. PROTHEAN!!!

[/whisper]

I guess, what I'm trying to say is...OH MY GOD HE'S AWAKEEEE! GAAAAH *urk*

 

[Akexi]

I have to say that I'm against Bioware's idea of what is proper content for DLC here. In past, they have given out characters in both Dragon Age games and the second Mass Effect with their own content, which was fine because they didn't have a massive impact on the story. However the difference in Mass Effect 3 is that the downloadable character is the last known survivor of an alien species that has been talked about since the very first hours of the first Mass Effect. This character is not a simple addition like Shale, Zaeed, Kasumi, Sebastian, or Tallis (who was a bit of a ripoff considering that that all the other characters you could get for most if not the entire story whereas she is only available for her story). None of those listed characters impacted the story and if you decided to not get the content, they might as well not have existed. This prothean DLC however is very relevant to the story. An equivalent would be if Morrigan was a DLC character for DA:O or one/both of your siblings survivng for the second installment. Now this rage from the MA fans might all be for nothing for the end of the day. I personally don't see an issue if said prothean was in the game, gave the lines that really mattered while admission as a squadmate and their personal mission was limited to the DLC. Impact like that allows the story to be told to it's fullest and let the people who want to shell out more get some quality with their purchase of the CE/DLC.

TL;DR: Prothean as sqadmate shouldn't matter much as long as he is still in game sans DLC to say important lines.

 

[mxfox408]

Hey Bioware?

What about your loyal fans, or anyone else who wanted to wait for the demo of ME3 or previews and therefore can't get a CE? What about them? Now they have to pay for content and get shafted out of other content too.

You also failed to mention those who pre-ordered thier CE copy a long time ago, they had to run out eventually, CE isn't meant to be printed in unlimited quantities like the standard edition. If you didn't pre order before they sold out, tough shit. Bioware even stated quantities where limited, you snooze you lose.

 

[cieply]

I know what you are. A pirate. This is not "I fight against ACTA" thing, this is theft. Thanks for reinforcing the pole = thief stereotype, I'm sure everyone appreciates your input.

I bought almost every game I play, believing that hard good work should be rewarded. I'm not even going to get into explaining how piracy is not theft. This time it's their own actions that is losing them a customer, not piracy. They lost my money because of screwing up DLC so it's not theft but poor marketing.

Have to admit, your reply confounds me a fair bit. 'Good riddance'? Wasn't aware buying the game was a fatal decision. And thanks for permission to part with my money. Really appreciated.

I'll politely avoid fighting over the fact that you evidently have decided your 'zeal' means you get to steal the game. I mean, screw all the people who worked to make the game, this decision on their part as to what they can or cannot offer for their game means the moral right to theft is in your corner. Points to you, sir.

Allow me to clarify. If people wouldn't buy DLC, the content would be included on the disc. This I can guarantee. To paraphrase Andrew Rayan, It's a great chain of capitalism, we all pull it and are all pulled by it. Devs will take from you as much money as you are willing to give them. And as a responsible consumer you should try to give them as little as possible.

"Screwing" the people who worked so hard on making the game is the only way for the industry to improve. Otherwise this will become another standard, under diffren bullshit excuses. I'm really sorry you don't understand this, but then again, I don't really have to save this sinking ship. There is another vessel nearby. One with black sails and skull on them.

 

[James Raynor]

As true as your point is, I am willing to take the risk on it for this game. If it was a game I was on the fence about buying, like dragon age, I'd definitely refuse to buy it, at least for a good half a year, or buy it second hand, but I have always loved mass effect, got a number of the novels too, I simply can't do it for this one. I'm just going to have my fingers crossed[/quote]

So if it does end up being as bad as previous will you buy it again if they do it again or make even 20-30$ worth of DLC on the launch?

This is genius. But I have to disagree a little; we are not entitled to the content. EA has the right to sell the game in how many pieces they want to.

We're entitled to the game because we pay money. Yes, they have the 'right' but it's incredibly exploitative at best.

 

[SajuukKhar]

I have to say that I'm against Bioware's idea of what is proper content for DLC here. In past, they have given out characters in both Dragon Age games and the second Mass Effect with their own content, which was fine because they didn't have a massive impact on the story. However the difference in Mass Effect 3 is that the downloadable character is the last known survivor of an alien species that has been talked about since the very first hours of the first Mass Effect. This character is not a simple addition like Shale, Zaeed, Kasumi, Sebastian, or Tallis (who was a bit of a ripoff considering that that all the other characters you could get for most if not the entire story whereas she is only available for her story). None of those listed characters impacted the story and if you decided to not get the content, they might as well not have existed. This prothean DLC however is very relevant to the story. An equivalent would be if Morrigan was a DLC character for DA:O or your surviving sibling for the second installment. Now this rage from the MA fans might all be for nothing for the end of the day. I personally don't see an issue if said prothean was in the game, gave the lines that really mattered while admission as a squadmate and their personal mission was limited to the DLC. Impact like that allows the story to be told to it's fullest.

TL;DR: Prothean as sqadmate shouldn't matter much as long as he is still in game sans DLC to say important lines.

According to Jessica Merizan the Prothean character only gives his own viewpoint on things already happening in the base game.

He isn't some scientist who knows all this stuff, he was just a porthean solider.

 

[Blade_125]

One more reason to wait 6-12 months for the price to drop or for te game and all DLC to be bundled together.

 

[Steampunk Viking]

*snip*

But yet when it was just a Collector's Edition add on, it was a-ok? That's the bit that makes me laugh about this arguement, people forgot all about it until it was available to buy for everyone.

Who cares how people figured it out. I find it ironic that in EA games attempt to milk more cash, they've threatened their own revenue. Good for them. stop this bullshit EA games. there is no reason on disc content should be denied to me.

Really? Are you still beating this drum? Your point has been made a billion times, I'm quite aware of how you feel about this, I'm merely pointing out the irony in this arguement.

Look, as I've said before, I do see your point, but this is a moot arguement. All I see is 100 people saying "It was developed after the game was finished!" and another 100 saying "Don't be an idiot, it was cut out!" and then both sides demanding proof from the other.

I have yet to see this proof anywhere.

I personally think that times are tough, people need to put in more effort purely to keep their jobs, this includes the gaming industry, I'm all up for the development team doing this and putting out optional content for money for this very reason. I also respect a lot of people don't want to pay for it and will boycot the game for it. That's fine, it's your money and your choice.

What I do object to however is people calling us idiots because we're doing what we like with our money, that's not right. Capcom and Activision make AAA titles and do this shit all the time, but you have yet to see me (or anyone else for that matter) make a million threads slagging them off. I personally won't buy them if I don't believe they're worth it, simple as that.

I've mentioned before, the DLC was slated as Collector's Edition only originally, the Protheans probably won't mean much to someone who's playing Mass Effect for the first time, and anyone else is likely to have played since the first game, be really big fans and tried landing themselves a copy of the big, juicy edition with all the lovely extra bits in it. I think the Prothean is a good squad mate to add baring this in mind.

Unfortunately I see people far too opinionated to accept other people have different opinions that, shock horror, aren't the same as theirs. This happens so much in the gaming community lately it's not even funny. It's getting to the point where it's elitest and, in more extreme cases, bullying. Yet (and I'm not saying everyone who disagrees with Bioware/EA are like this, but there are alot) these are the same people who slam game companies for trying to push their consumers in a direction they want?

Sad times.

 

[Loethlin]

I'm not even going to get into explaining how piracy is not theft.

Hah... Haaahhah.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAH....
ooh...

Oh wow.

 

[Gather]

Don't really give a damn what Bioware says my mind day-one DLC like this has a different purpose if it's combined with the collectors edition. Before I expand on it I'll lead off with a paraphrased quote I think Buckley from CAD did on Collectors Edition of games:

What's that? A collectors edition. I wonder what's in it that will effect my gameplay (Or the story)? Oh... A weapon. Pass

With adding actual content to the story on the Collectors edition people will feel more inclined to buy it because there is actually something that will have an effect on their story in more ways than an "extra weapon".

Selling the DLC to regular edition buyers is just for availability so that everyone can be on the same footing and won't tap their feet waiting for it to be released 1-2 months later for them (This did happen with Dues Ex: HR with the EXPLOSIVE WEAPON packs).

 

[Tony2077]

and uuuh... did you PLAN for work on it to start only once the main game was finished bioware?

What relevance does that have? Unless you're suggesting that by merely planning DLC, it should be included in the game at release (or available for free or whatever). You can't be suggesting that though, because that's utterly ridiculous.

They intended the prothean to be apart of the ORIGINAL GAME and NOT A DLC. Seeing as its in the freaking leaks. Then some suit over at ea game was like "oh no lets make this a dlc because the fans will go ape shit for it"
Thats what wrong with it.

They are right about one thing. They got our attention

THE

PROTHEAN

IS

STILL

IN

THE

GAME!

THE

DLC

MAKES

HIM

A

SQUADMATE!

Has there been official confirmation of this? Cause all i've heard are scripts. Which to me is stupid, because of course the lines of a day one dlc will be in the script

The lines of the DLC couldn't be in the script because production on the DLC hadn't begun until after ME3 was completed.

So basically you have no idea how the prothean interacts in the game. The only thing we know (and not absolutely) is that The prothean squadmate was an idea from early november. That was removed because they wanted to squeeze more money out of guillable fans.

I've asked time and time again for confirmation on relevant dialogue and no one has given me evidence. If you are willing to shout "OMG PROTHEAN STILL IN DA GAME" I WANT TO SEE PROOF OF THAT.
Or shall I put it like this


SHOW
ME
THE
EVIDENCE

Haven't got any. Unfortunately all I've got is speculation until I've got the game. Call it a knee-jerk reaction if you will.

Do you have any evidence that the Prothean HAS in fact been removed from the main game?

Hell, maybe we're both wrong and there's more than one Prothean....which wouldn't surprise me to be honest.

Maybe. the Description suggests the character is something you have to buy. Plus, EA games has done this before.

Either way, if you don't have evidence about your claim please stop saying it. You're adding dishonesty to the argument.

Very well. My apologies.

............
............
............
............So?

Where's your evidence?

Specify. Which claims do you want evidence of.

That they've removed the Prothean from the main game only to include it as DLC in order to milk more money out of people.

Leaks suggest it was part of the original game.

DLC says = Get "additional" character and squadmate.

seems pretty damn conclusive to me. Not to mention the whole pattern and trend argument. EA games has been doing this for awhile and they do stand to make a huge profit from it. an additional 20 bucks.

there is more proof that i could show you that says it was worked on after the game done the leaks may say that there is one in the game but what if he wasn't recruitable till they made the dlc how can you be sure your on the right side

 

[Loop Stricken]

this is the new project 10 dollar soon every game that comes from EA even bought new will have a 10 dollar DLC and if we let it slide it will just start to get more and more ridiculous because EA's mission is to take as much money from people as possible

That's not even what Project Ten Dollar is. The point was that people who buy USED copies would have to pay extra to get something that new copies got automatically. And I'm fine with that.
if the Prothean DLC was like that, then that would be fine.

 

[Loop Stricken]

I'm not even going to get into explaining how piracy is not theft.

Hah... Haaahhah.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAH....
ooh...

Oh wow.

To be fair, he's right. Piracy isn't theft. Theft necessitates deprivation. Piracy implies duplication.

 

[Akexi]

According to Jessica Merizan the Prothean character only gives his own viewpoint on things already happening in the base game.

He isn't some scientist who knows all this stuff, he was just a porthean solider.

Which is nice that he is not incredibly story pivotal in his dialogue, but the issue exists is that his very existence is important. The only known living, uncorrupted, unindoctrinated prothean is extremely important to ME fans. I mean the species is just talked about so much in the entire series and to have the prothean not even seen in the standard edition is just dumb.