BioWare Defends Mass Effect 3 Launch-Day DLC

[Omnific One]

ME3 better be freaking amazing for me to ever buy anything from EA or Bioware again.

 

[RoBi3.0]

no it was not on the disk, it is something that was made after the full game was sent off for all the other things like burning to disc and packaging, so basically several months ago when the Developers are just sitting around with the game finished, they went about making EXTRA content.

But if it's all ready to go and is shipping with the game anyway, why not include it as a free piece of content?

It's ready when the game comes out, if they have the power to ship it with the CE's, they should be able to include it with the normals.

While it should be obvious I am going to point out that, video games don't come into exist through magic. It took quite a few people countless hours to work up the DLC, and those people don't work for free. They like every other human being need to eat and therefore need to get paid. Money doesn't appear out of nowhere via magic either so in order to pay the developers for the few extra months of work they put into the DLC after the game was finished EA is charging 10 dollar for said DLC.

CE purchasers are also not getting it for free last I check CE copies of ME3 cost quit a bit more then a standard copy so basically CE purchasers paid in advance for said DLC plus a bunch of other shit.

 

[Gunner 51]

I'm getting rather annoyed at the publishers continuously over-charging for their games. I love games for being an art, but as a business - it stinks.

If this is the new face of Day 1 DLC, this will set a very unscrupulous and extortionate precident of charging full whack for half a game. The gamers should be voting with their wallets and if it so offends them - not buying it.

However social pressure and a heavy marketing campaign on EA's part make this a very difficult thing to do.

Having said all this, people shouldn't be angry at Bioware itself, they just make the game. But it's the publishers who chop it up and sell it on and put the squeeze on everyone else.

Either way I'll have a good think about cancelling my pre-order for Mass Effect 3. I'm tired of being ripped off every time I buy a game.

 

[Kroxile]

People mad, People mad everywhere.

Shoulda got the CE. I know I did.

In all seriousness, chill the fuck out. Whine, *****, piss, and moan all you want but at the end of the day you're wrong and your sense of entitlement won't make you right.

 

[The Human Torch]

Wasn't planning on buying Mass Effect 3 at launch (let alone the collector's edition), but I just might do it anyway, simply to piss off all these frothing haters.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

My issues with this are: Bioware rewarding "true fans" by punishing other people's common sense. (Aren't "true" Mass Effect fans the ones that didn't like the sequel, anyway?)

Day 1 DLC that's included with some copies of the game and not others, despite being brand new. If this was a Project Ten Dollar sort of deal it'd be sound, but instead it offers limited chances to get it when you buy it.

And, the siphoning of resources of what could be in the game into "optional extra content". I understand that once a game is finished you have so much to do beyond QA, and you'll have, say, an art department sitting around twiddling their thumbs. But if they use their time to make DLC that's available day and date with the release of the game itself, I see no reason they couldn't ship that with the game itself. If it was a substantial amount of work, it wouldn't be ready for Day 1 and people would feel okay with paying $10 for it. But it's not, it's one character; it's being neglected from people who buy the game new and then charging them for it.

Indeed, people who are arguing "it's optional content" aren't getting the fucking point. That kind of content is the kind of stuff you should include on the disc, then. If it didn't take that many resources, time, development costs or manpower, then isn't charging for it a bit of a swindle? Likewise, wouldn't a mission pack released, say, a month after release, for a similar price, be absolutely fine? Go the BF3 route - promise DLC to CE buyers after release.

I'm not pleased with EA defending their choice like this; I feel they're digging themselves a deeper hole. And I'm not surprised people are outraged. I'm similarly surprised people are defending EA. But, at the same time, it doesn't bother me so much that I'll go up in arms about it. I'll just not buy the game like I was planning to and move on to better products. The perpetual argument needs to stop; if you think this DLC is worth the money, you'll buy it. ...but don't say that EA did the right thing. They just did a thing. By defending their decision as "for the fans," then yes, I feel those fans who are left out are entitled to something.

People need to stop saying everything is Ea's fault when this is for the most part bioware's

Nah, I very much doubt Bioware has any control over their release schedules, or when they issue a press statement like this. Bioware may be developing the game, but this is a really important product for EA and they'll be pulling the strings of this as much as they possibly can... when it comes to releases, DLC, the particular limited and special editions and announcements, and marketing, it's all on EA. It's sort of their job as publisher.

Bioware is just making the best damn game they can as contracted by EA. They don't make the decisions as to what releases when, where, or how.

 

[Kroxile]

People mad, People mad everywhere.

Shoulda got the CE. I know I did.

In all seriousness, chill the fuck out. Whine, *****, piss, and moan all you want but at the end of the day you're wrong and your sense of entitlement won't make you right.

Sense of entitlement. Do you want to elaborate or is this just a hit and run tactic?

The fact that you seem to believe you are entitled to content developed AFTER the game went gold and has NOTHING to do with the storyline is all I need point out.. as I'm sure several others throughout this millionth incarnation of this thread have already done before me.

Seriously, be more butthurt bro. Its actually pretty funny.

 

[The Human Torch]

I'd just like to add this:

That pretty much sums up what I think of this situation.

Even though I find that picture amusing, it's very naieve to think like that. What if (in 1999) they already developed the first expansion pack alongside the original game? What if (the last "now" picture), the game is bigger than the 1999 game, including it's two expansions? What if a $15 expansion pack has the same amount of content as the $30 expansion pack?

Do you think that developers are less consumer friendly and profit driven than in 1999? Of course not, but thanks to the internet, these kind of business practices are made public more often than not. We were always walking wallets to them. A developer may have 'love' for developing games, but in the end that that love needs to be translated into money at the bank.

 

[Kroxile]

People mad, People mad everywhere.

Shoulda got the CE. I know I did.

In all seriousness, chill the fuck out. Whine, *****, piss, and moan all you want but at the end of the day you're wrong and your sense of entitlement won't make you right.

Sense of entitlement. Do you want to elaborate or is this just a hit and run tactic?

The fact that you seem to believe you are entitled to content developed AFTER the game went gold and has NOTHING to do with the storyline is all I need point out.. as I'm sure several others throughout this millionth incarnation of this thread have already done before me.

Seriously, be more butthurt bro. Its actually pretty funny.

Okay, see. Lets discuss this. The game went gold Feburary 13th. The dlc was revealed feburary 8th.

So am I "entitled" to yet? Cause the game didn't go gold yet.

Ok, since I don't give a shit enough to do all the research on what date what happened and when, you probably have me there, but my point still remains: The DLC was developed AFTER the original game was completed therefore you don't deserve the DLC for "free" because you didn't buy the CE. Pony up, or shut up.

Its really that simple, now go be butthurt and quote someone else now, kthxbai.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Actually considering that the people who make complaints like this have already made up their mind about the issue and won't be swayed either way I don't know why BioWare is attempting this salvage operation. They mind as well save their breath. I suppose its an attempt at good PR for the rest of us.

 

[Kroxile]

Ok, since I don't give a shit enough to do all the research on what date what happened and when, you probably have me there, but my point still remains: The DLC was developed AFTER the original game was completed therefore you don't deserve the DLC for "free" because you didn't buy the CE. Pony up, or shut up.

Its really that simple, now go be butthurt and quote someone else now, kthxbai.

You are just the worst type of person. You are the guy going around being condescending to people you don't agree with and dragging down the tone of the whole thread. I don't know why certain people are so obsessed with whether or not someone has a sore butt.

I'm being condescending because its a language idiots with their heads up their asses can understand. The tone of the thread was more or less low to begin with... as were the 300 thousand other incarnations of this thread before it. As for the last part.... lol guy, u so crazee.

 

[baconbaby299]

While I wasn't considering getting this anyway, I just want to point out that THIS is why piracy exists.

 

[Cobbs]

At the risk of similar logic already being posted, either way things wouldn't have full gone in biowares favor. Option a) Bioware delays and allows for DLC to be packaged with release = consumer rage. Option b) Bioware releases game early, packages DLC for people who brought special ed, allows first day sale so everyone has the chance to play the same thing as everyone else = consumer rage. Would it be better if they delayed the DLC release for a few weeks/months? Probably not because people would get pissy having to wait so long.
From Bioware's perspective they may well have taken the best option because they're giving people the option to pay for extra content that bioware put alot of effort into making. In all honesty if you can afford to pay for the game ($100ish for us Aussies, $60ish for you silly 'Mericans) I'm sure another $10 wont put you out to far.
As for the bundleing of DLC with collectors edition, they did pay the extra $10-20 for the game, so it's only fair that they get the content with it.

 

[jollybarracuda]

It still doesn't make sense. If they began making ALL THAT after the game went into certification (which i find it hard to believe they had all that free time. I mean, a whole new character with their own story, world, and everything? Yah...not quite buying that) then fine, but unless the CE is coming out at a different time than the regular edition, it still makes no difference. So they finish the game, send it into certification, start working on a ridiculous amount of DLC content, and it finished just in time to get it into the CE edition? It just doesnt add up. Costumes, im fine without, but really? Taking out this character is like 343 Studios only letting you have Cortona in your game if you bought the Ultra Delux $100 Edition...actually, that'd be nice. Sign me up for the standard edition.

But truthfully it's sad, because I don't blame Bioware for this, it never seems to be the developers that do such crap, it's publishers, in this case, EA. EA knows that as the final game in the trilogy, everybody who has played the first two will be getting this one, so it's just good business to make as much money as possible with that leverage. Which is fine from a business standpoint, but from a consumer standpoint, im not a fan. And I loved the last two games and was hoping to see the games become one of those legendary game series, but, I think it will most notably be remembered for it's awful shenanigans it pulled on its final game. I mean Jessica Chobot? Really?

 

[Frylock72]

While I wasn't considering getting this anyway, I just want to point out that THIS is why piracy exists.

For every one person who has some righteous indignation about paying for extra content, there's nine who do it just to say 'fuck you' to the system. It's childish of you to defend piracy like it's some kind of noble venture instead of stealing.

Do you know why companies keep getting away with stuff like this? It's because people spend their money. They don't vote with their wallets, they vote with their mouths, which is about the dumbest damn thing you can do. Complain all you like but if you still hand over your money while being 'outraged', congratulations: you're an idiot.

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day, talking about how Notch wants to fund Psychonauts 2 and be a part of the design process. I think that's a terrible idea, considering his track record with meeting deadlines and in general just keeping up with work. He said that he would take what he could get.

Settling for shit you don't like, even PAYING FOR IT while not liking it, is stupid. Vote with your wallets and really tell the companies (any company, not just gaming) what you think of them. They don't give a shit and a half if they already have your money.

 

[scotth266]

Gotta love how the Mona Lisa picture has been posted like three times already despite it being complete bull crap.

I mean seriously fellas, we've been over this before. How many times am I going to have to repost this before people realize that DLC IS NOT STUFF FROM YOUR "FULL GAME" BEING SOLD TO YOU PIECEMEAL. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.154083-Dragon-Age-Designer-Says-DLC-Not-Meant-to-Rip-Off-Players#3719305]

Also amusing is how people are totally flipping out over something that hasn't even been explained yet. I will laugh furiously if the current rumors (that the Prothean is still in the main game, you just can't have him as a squadie without the DLC) are true.

While I wasn't considering getting this anyway, I just want to point out that THIS is why piracy exists.

No, piracy exists because people are cheap.

If people really cared about the games industry, they wouldn't pirate as a measure of protest. After all, there's no way for a developer to tell the difference between "protest pirates" and the average d-bag that pirates because he enjoys freebies.

 

[OniaPL]

If you are not bothered by this day-one DLC, YOU ARE A HORRIBLE BIODRONE, BRAINWASHED, MINDLESS SHEEP!!!11!!1

If you feel completely indifferent, YOU ARE AN APATHETIC SLOB WHO IS THE REASON WHY WE CAN'T GET ANY CHANGE DONE IN OUR SOCIETY NOWADAYS!!!1!!!!!!1

If you oppose this, YOU ARE A SELF-ENTITLED TWAT WHO JUST WANTS MORE FREE STUFF FOR FREE!!1!!!1!1

Seems like you really can't win when it comes to this subject.
I personally oppose DLC. Whatever the reasoning behind the decision may be, it still gives me the feeling that it's a trick to squeeze a few extra euros out of me. Also, more often than not they make the DLC feel like it is something you MUST have to get the full experience, in this case, a prothean.

 

[INF1NIT3 D00M]

Wait a minute, what's all this nonsense about not being able to buy the Collector's Edition? It's still at least ten days before launch, are you people telling me that EA Doesn't Want my money anymore? I could give a damn about the Prothean, he's just blatant fan wank that EA figured they could sell you for ten dollars. What I care about is this news that I may not be able to buy whatever edition I want.

I have a preorder on the standard edition at gamestop, I'm willing to pay the extra money for a Collector's Edition, why am I being told now that people don't have enough copies of the Collector's Edition for everyone to preorder?

Screw it, I'm going down to Gamestop tomorrow, and if I can't switch my preorder to a preorder of the Collector's Edition right then, I'm canceling my preorder. EA can suck my balls. I've taken the shaft from EA thus far solely on the merit of Bioware's world building proficiency. If EA says I'm not a loyal enough fan to get the "privelege" of the Collector's Edition solely because I wasn't frothing at the mouth to give them 70-something dollars a few weeks ago, I won't give them a damn penny.

I'm not surprised by EA's policies or practices anymore. It's complete bullshit that they'd nickel and dime players like this. I don't have a problem with DLC in theory, but EA asks for so much money for so little content in so many installments that I find it ridiculous. I'll buy the Collector's Edition, if I can, because I care about Mass Effect. However, make no mistake: I'm done. Mass Effect 3 is the end. End of Mass Effect, End of my business with EA. I have no interest in any of their projects past this game; if I can't get my Collector's Edition because I'm too late or whatever, I'll go back and kill everyone off in Mass Effect 2 and pronounce the series dead.

 

[Setch Dreskar]

Firstly it seems I need to bring up that I already pre-bought the N7 CE since people apparently mistake me for someone who wasn't going to get the character.

The sad part is Bioware is trying to defend its creation when most of the CE people, or well the ones on the forums mind you including myself, are not upset that its Day 1 DLC, we are upset that its a Prothean. Argueably the most important race in the entire Mass Effect universe, and the only reason that the game even exists in the first place, will have no impact on the storyline or so the devs have told us. If it had been any other race it wouldn't have gone down near as bad as it is, but eh whatever.

The argument goes into alot more detail but if there is an option to make sure the Prothean isn't activated in my playthrough then I will take it, but you know I like my lore when it doesn't combust on itself and toss out random pieces for fan service only.

Oh and yes that was their only reason they gave for why its a prothean, so it will make fans happy, guess who are the ones hating it the most?

 

[beniki]

It just feels kind of crappy. You get all excited about buying a game on release day, and then when you pick it up at the shop, you find out there's more you have to buy. You don't have to buy it, of course, but still, it's not exactly a nice feeling. And leaving the customer with a bad feeling on purchase just isn't good business sense.

I don't think DLC packs work as they do now. At least they don't work for me. Okay, you can pay for extra missions, or extra items, but unless they come out on release day, you've probably finished the game. It works for MMOs, because you never really finish those things, just stop playing. But story focused RPGs in particular aren't really suited to going back just for that one inconsequential mission. If you've written the story right, all plot lines should be tied up, maybe a week or two after you get it home, depending on how fast you play.

But I'm from the old expansion pack generation. My values are different when it comes to RPG games. And I'm a little sad to think we'll never have something like Hordes of the Underdark again, where the expansion was bigger than the original.