BioWare Defends Mass Effect 3 Launch-Day DLC

[Radoh]

Too many paid ea marketing whores here.

No point in bothering.

Jesus Christ seriously?
People who have been here at The Escapist for years are secretly EA marketers whose sole reason for getting paid is to defend them on an internet forum.
I love you crazy conspiracy nuts so much, I want to shake your hand.

well when Im presenting a good argument and your only defence is: CONSPIRACY. Then yes, you come off as someone on their payroll. I see you took the time to reply to him, wanna give me the same courtesy. Or do you have nothing to contribute and you're just wasting everyones time?

That post had nothing to do with you.
Like, at all.
In any way.
Whatsoever.

EA might have quite a bit of money lying around, but you know what isn't going to fly with the shareholders?
Paying people to defend the company on internet gaming forums.

But since you felt it necessary to respond to someone having a conversation tangentially related to you, perhaps you could confirm whether or not you gave this:

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.

and only that to Anthony87.
Was there more to it than that or not?

 

[The.Bard]

Seriously guys? 500 posts? This is because of the flamewars isn't it?

Nooo, we're calmly discussing the socio-economic requirements of game production, and it's challenges in the frame work of the modern information age.

Bravo, sir.

But as I was saying to Chelsea just last night, in a pre-industrial age society, such as the ones the collectors surely must hail from, there is simply no way for the dlc to be anything but second day. Even Darwin would surely conclude the evolutionary processes mandate a three to five day mutation on such genetically cross bred traits.

Now, then, Lucy, pass me a biscuit, would you?

 

[SajuukKhar]

1. Leaked info confirmed to be old and outdated
2. Prothean's status as important is unknown.
3. DLC suggests ONLY that it makes his recruitable + possible loyalty mission.
4. Economically justified tactic used by Bioware, DLC made AFTER main game is done not part of base games budget
5. Extra content not important to the story is meaingless and shouldnt be a redflag.

 

[Tony2077]

And again the Prothean AS A CHARACTER was in development in Nov/Dec, the Prothean AS A SQUADMATE was not until after the game was done. Fact.

The Porhtean isn't important to the story, he only provides his own viewpoint on things already happening. Fact.

The Porthean is not needed to get the full story. Fact

see I can do it to.

Excuse me?
In the god damn leaks the Prothean is important. Are you telling me its not important anymore? If so, what lead you to that conclusions.


Second: How important it is is somewhat irrelevant. This is content that builds lore and helps further the story. To remove it from the game and charge more for it is taking advantage of the customers. Everyone plays the mass effect series for the story and characters. To remove a CHARACTER that adds a story is a dick move. Why do you support it.?

No no no, he's telling you that the Prothean, as a squadmate isn't important. The actual character, the one you get anyway from the un-DLC'd game, IS in fact important. The fact that he is a squadmate is only a little extra.

And if you are wondering why I'm quoting you so much lately, it's because it's kinda fun seeing you explode in rage every time someone tries to tell you something outside of your preconcived ideias. Such a disgrace for such a smart man (see if you can get that reference).

Do you know if he's still in the game or not. Stop claiming this if you have NO EVIDENCE.

You have no evidence of anything. Pot meet kettle.

Bullshit.
Prothean in leaks, evidence of this
prothean in development nov/dece, evidence of this
prothean important to plot, evidence of this

What are you claiming I don't have evidence of?

you may be miss reading something or trying to see a fire where there isn't one

 

[Zydrate]

Starting to think all 405 of his posts are in here.

I'm enjoying this. Both sides have merit, but I'm going to enjoy the game anyway.

 

[The.Bard]

1. "logic trumping conspiracy" you must have a very funny way of viewing logic. It wasn't just mentioned, it was PLA.N.N.E.D. OUT by Nov/Dec. They were mentioning it in the special collectors edition for a while now. people are just starting to clue in. If the fact that it was in the leaks, confirmed by the "collectors editions description" is not "proof" enough for you. Then nothng short of Zeus himself coming down and decreeing it will be enough for you. Evidence is still evidence, regardless of how you want to spin it.

2. Too bad it was already being developed early november not After "content-complete" mode. Sorry, I know you think you have a point here but if it was being planned out from early november. Thats when the development began. Sorry to burst your Bioware loving bubble. So its actually illogicall to assume otherwise when all info points the opposite direction. but please use "logical" one more time.

3. I am saying one of two things-
A. It was part of the original game: good support for this, mentioned in leaks, highly relevant to main plot points and very essential to lore.
B. They PLANNNED to develop it as a DLC instead of as an original game: mentioned in leaks, but they keep saying they only did it during the "gold period"

Both are bad in my humble opinion. A- because its wrong to remove content just to sell more money
and B- because planning out DLC content when the game isn't even finished is higlhy suspect. If they aren't going to work 100% on the original game, i dont see why they deserver 100% of the game price, or 110% like they are claiming.

4. Your "situation" is not very feasible. the brainstorming period is not in nov/dec. That period is the "content=lockdown period. Where nothing gets added. If the prothean was in there by then, it was in there. period. Especially, I mean, its not just a squadmate man, it has alot of relevant plotlines and pretty intergal to th eplot. If they are iffy about adding it, they arent going to slap a bunch of plot points on it.
5. Don't care if you spend money. I care if you defend it.

6. You are going have to read my post and debunk all these points before you can call it "logical" because it doesn't seem logical to me. Plus going out of your way to concuct a 'sitauatin' where they aren't screwing us over doesn't seem very logical to me. What seems more likely? A game company would screw us for profit and lie about it, or a game company will work their bones to dust for a meagre 10 dollar profit?

Here is where I have to demand proof. I've been following this game religiously. NOWHERE have I heard mention of this DLC prior to it being listed at Gamestop less than a month ago. Unless you can provide me with one single shred of evidence to support your claim, everything you said above is conspiracy theory.

Do you have any proof to back yourself up? One link? If you can provide me with proof, then I may stop viewing you like my crazy uncle Larry. (He claimed sheep were trying to break into his house and steal all his whiskey.)

 

[Ukomba]

*snip*

1. Anyone can make it so ANYTHING IS IRRELEVANT. This is my standard: Does it add to the story, lore and depth of the game? Yes.
It's relevant for that matter. If you disagree, you need to debunk how relevant it is to the story and lore. You can't go "well can you finish the game without it??!?@?!@?" That's changing the issue and then arguing it. Is it Relevant to the story. Answer the god damn question. If you disagree with the entire premise, that lore and story arnt relevant to the game. you need to debunk that. If you do agree its relevant, stop trying these bullshit tactcs about "CAN U FINISH IT". You can finish the game without all the side missions and lore and story. Does that mean everything else is unnecessary and not essential?

-A. False equivalence. Zaeed and Kasumi were some random human characters with little to add to the story. They weren't fucking protheans; with a plethora of knowledge about the reapers, the protheans and their extinction. The difference here is how important the characters are. Do you acknowledge that protheans are important to the overarching story? if So, you can not equate some merc and otaku ***** to the character.
-B. No one would care if the prothean character came free with the purchase of the game, like those two characters. It's almost insulting that EA game removes such lore essential content but if they put it back with a purchase, I wouldn't '*****'.. Not much atleast.

-C. You do realize Shadow Broker and Arrival were essential canon for the series right? Its not necessary to play them, but you kind of need to have played or read something about it to understand what the fuck is happening in Me3. You do not make a point in support of your side by bringing essential DLC's.

Especially since they weren't developed DAY OF but like a fucking year later.


2. This is a ridiculous argument: It's an oppurtunity lost? Are you kidding me, developing content for a game is just PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE. Sure I bet they could be doing anything else, but if they are developing a game, trying to make them developing three other things, isn't fucking plausible. Plus not my faucking problem.

3. Where do I begin with this "Coach" and "Basic" is a bad analogy here. those preorder bonuses are like getting a free headset. The quality of the software isn't improved, in except they got an extra headset. With the prothean dlc. Important lore is being taken away from the basic edition. It's like charging someone a planeticket only to be taken half the way and then asked for more midflight. If Bioware is in the rpg gaming business. Lore and story are just part of the things RPG games need. Trying to play on that by taking it out and charging more is sleeazy. These aren't random useless cosemetics that take a week to make. THese are like 1months of character development filled with content necessary to enjoy the story in its fullest. Things like that should not be up for "Bonuses". It's wrong.
b. Nothing wrong with charging more for new content, when the game is released and they develop more content. Charge more for it, it cost them more, so they need a way to pay for it.
When content is developed during the original cycle it doesn't cost them 'more' now does it.

4. The option to charge more for new content is still there. but doing it before the game is released is sleezy. They are playing on your need for "full enjoyment". Shouldn't you get "full enjoyment" from the "full game". Instead of saying "nope, only partial enjoyment, pay more". We have to be reasonable here. There is no reason why you should have to pay more than the full price ON RELEASE day for the full game. Absolutely none.

5. Becoming integral? Aren't we there already? The Prothean DLC is already "necessary" for full enjoyment. Who cares if you can buy more crap without it. If you have to buy it just to enjoy the game fully. We've already been compromised.

1.
- "Does that mean everything else is unnecessary and not essential?" Yes, yes it does. I've played ME1 several times, once skipping all the side missions and it made no difference in ME2 when I imported the game. Much the same will hold true for ME3 simply because it would be far too complicated to account for.
- Zaeed and Kasumi "added to the lore" and so by your standards are relevant.
- Kasumi wasn't free, and this is free with purchase if you got the collectors edition.
- Neither Arrival nor Shadow Broker have been shown to be necessary to understanding ME3. If you have information to the contrary please provide it.
- Don't buy From Ashes for a year and pretend it was just released.

2. I can't discuss this topic with you given you're clear lack of understanding of game development and basic economics. You're casual dismissal of that Chart animehermit posted is evidence you don't care to learn either.

3. "those preorder bonuses are like getting a free headset. The quality of the software isn't improved, in except they got an extra headset." - In Mass Effects' case that is new armor / weapons for pre-order. People pay for weapon and armor packs so it's entirely relevant. If you want that gun (that has game lore behind it) you need to pre-order.

"With the prothean dlc. Important lore is being taken away from the basic edition." - Go read a wiki or a walk through, you don't need to play it. Within a week you could probably watch a lets play on youtube. As you yourself said about shadow broker and Arrival.

"It's like charging someone a planeticket only to be taken half the way and then asked for more midflight." - No, it's like charging you to watch a movie in flight. You will get where you're going either way. The ending of the game will not change.

b. Would it make you happier if they released it in June? Get over it.

4. Sorry, but you get what you pay for. You didn't pay for this, you don't get it. Unless you can find advertisement that says this was going to be in the basic edition then you SOL.

5. A copy of the ME1 and 2 with all the dlc are essential for full enjoyment of ME3 too, does Bioware need to give those out free? You need a good graphics card, monitor, and sound system for full enjoyment of the game, does Bioware have to provide that?

Your arguments essentially boil down to, "Either I get it free, or no one is allowed to have it". You need to get off your entitlement soap box.

 

[Tony2077]

prothean important to plot, evidence of this

Prove this is true. I want links, not just your word.

Just check the god damn leaks.

how about you link them instead of exploding when they ask you for them

 

[Zydrate]

I dont know if I should waste my time arguing with you. your first sentence is "that's racist". Please. spare me..

It was in a way, though. The term is very derogatory in Japan, it's shameful to be called one.

I'm just sayin'.

 

[guitarsniper]

Just check the god damn leaks.

NO. the game is a week and a half from release and I'm one of those strange people who doesn't actually want to know everything that's going to happen before i actually get to play it, so no, i will not, as you so adroitly put it, "check the god damn leaks". Moreover, I would love to get a low-stakes betting pool going as to how much of the stuff that was in the leaks gets changed in the released game. I'm gonna go with at least 35%, probably closer to 50.

 

[Loethlin]

I dont know if I should waste my time arguing with you. your first sentence is "that's racist". Please. spare me.

I dont see you presenting any feasible argument: THese characters could be relevant but they aren't! well give the girl a cookie. Thank you for that. if they aren't relevant I don't give a crap. A prothean is relevant to the story because the god damn leaks say as much, and surprise surprise, is a god damn prothean. DO WE REALLY HAVE TO GO DOWN THIS ROAD? MAIN ENEMIES OF ME2, MAIN REASON me1 GETS STARTED OFF? COME ON.

ZAEED AND KASUMI CAN NOT OR WILL EVER COMPARE. stop trying to ship it. You can try and spin this alll you want but it wont compare to a MUDDA SUCKA PROTHEAN.

If you are so for lore exploration, why are you denying the game its Prothean ancestor. Doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

So.... This whole post is... "THEY'RE NOT IMPORTANT BECAUSE I SAYS SO! AND I'M GONNA BE RACIST SO FUCK OFF!"
You're really running out of ammo, friend.

Also. I'm not denying anything to anybody. I just think you should take some valium. Or perhaps anti-prychotic drugs. Because you're... you know. Batshit crazy.

 

[The.Bard]

Ah yes, Zeel's proof. We have dismissed that claim!

 

[Radoh]

Ah yes, Zeel's proof. We have dismissed that claim!

Good God.
I'm sending you a friend request, I would very much like you to accept it.
I need this brilliance readily available.

 

[Ukomba]

2. Because it costs money to create content, might as well ask why all dlc isn't free, or why you don't get the collector edition mechanical dog in the standard edition. While you're at it, complain to airlines that your coach ticket doesn't get you first class seats. e_e

Fair enough on the first point, but it's still part of the game. Some games have more content than others but they're all around the same price. Anyway, $10 is really disproportionate in the context of the rest of the game.

I won't argue that. I guess it would depend on how much man power they had to put into it's development and I don't have that information. Most games now a days seem over priced. On top of that, the addition of Multi-player in ME3 actually forced me to buy 2 copies. Previously my wife and I could share a copy. Still, I'm clearly willing to pay for it so it couldn't be that over priced.

 

[Zydrate]

Anyone else find it ironic his name is Zeel? One letter away from Zeal, even pronounced the same.

Teehee.

 

[Tony2077]

Show me this "confirmation" from the developers.

From Jessica Merizan, Community Manager for Bioware for the Mass Effect series, quote is taken from the recent AMA she did on reddit. I know you're already gonna debunk this by saying she's lying, but it's still more proof than you have.

"I think there's a lot of misinformation out there and I wish the guy who made the initial video about it would have had an open mind before jumping to conclusions based on a leak we weren't ready to address. Since I'm a BioWare employee, I know people won't automatically trust me, but I hope people will consider that it wasn't cut content from the larger game. I was in Edmonton when we were finishing the game in November/December and I was in Edmonton again last month when they were working on the Day 1 DLC. It definitely was only possible to do because the main game was in certification (which means we had to wait for people to test it and make sure everything was good etc before we could get the greenlight to sell it). I also played the game WITHOUT the DLC in my first playthrough and honestly, it's an awesome addition but I was more than happy with what I was given in the game. It's bigger and more expansive than ever. Of course, I understand the concern but I hope we can all have an intelligent conversation about it and cover what the facts are in this situation.
Hope that helps a little bit. This is an awkward format to answer this question, but I know I could explain it if you were sitting next to me on a couch with some coffee/tea "

I asked for evidence not unrelated garbage. I already know Jessica said this, You guys are claiming theres offical confirmation that the prothean character is in the game, withut the DLC. Now i want to see that.

we can't since we like you don't have the bloody game

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Ah yes, Zeel's proof. We have dismissed that claim!

You win all the things.

I think we should petition to get this thread stickied. It's a fine example of how not to behave.

 

[Macrobstar]

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.

What about actual confirmation?

 

[MercurySteam]

You can see it any way you want. It is your money. As a consumer, you can decide if the price asked is fair or not. As I said, it is subjective.

However, a good marketing strategy will almost always convince people that they are getting a bang for their buck.

If I was the one making the decisions at EA (wishful thinking but work with me here ) I would have included the Prothean as a free bonus for new copies of the game. Yes, it consumed resources to produce, but a promotion like that generates more good will than several adds on magazines (which will probably cost more).

The problem is that something like that would be good on the long run and that's clearly not what EA wants. They want to increase revenue now, getting as much money as possible on the launch. Well, that's also an strategy, but, as we can all see, it has its consequences.

I agree, it would have been better if they had included it with all new copies of ME3, but if the new squadmate turns out to be just as deep as the others (with his own dialogue and recruitment mission) then perhaps it should be free exclusively to the N7 Edition. Depending on how much effort they put into it and depending will likely reveal how worked up people should be getting. Nobody knows exactly how much they're missing out by not having the extra DLC, so we'll have to wait and see.

Ah yes, Zeel's proof. We have dismissed that claim!

Okay, this forum need shut be shut down immediately, cause it's clear that somebody has already posted with an infinite amount of win. Honestly at this point, I reckon Zeel is just butthurt cause he's not getting the N7 Edition. (Not a very nice thing to say, but that's what it looks like)

 

[Llamazoid]

We could find out for certain if we managed to get the Space Edition out of the tree.