Dissecting what people are saying about the DLC:
1. The content is essential to the plot!
Nobody knows for sure, but it is likely not essential to understand the plot or finish the game properly. That said, a Prothean character is something much more close to the central plot of the series than other DLC characters in the past.
2. Day 1 DLC is not new. Why people are surprised?
Because every case is different. Companies are trying to push DLC in several forms, trying to gauge our limits. In the case of Mass Effect series, this is the first time that gameplay content is not ready available to everyone for free at launch.
3. I bought the CE. Why you should have for free what I have paid for?
We shouldn?t. But you also cannot blame people for being upset. This kind of content does not belong to a Collector?s edition simply because it is not a collectible ? it is gameplay content. EA is trying to add value to the CE and at the same time make easy cash at launch. It is a terrible strategy to build good will and some people will undoubtedly be pissed about it.
4. If EA waited a few months nobody would say a thing.
This would be true if the content wasn?t in the CE. Since it is, not making it available would be worse, much worse.
5. Boycotting doesn?t change a thing.
Boycotting is not about change, it is about principles. And, sometimes, it does change and it is awesome.
6. If you do not want the content, just don?t buy it. What´s the big deal?
People WANT the content. They just do not agree with the way it was made available (either because of price or other motives).
7. People should be grateful because Bioware made the content available.
This is just crazy talk. Consumers should never be grateful because a company is trying to sell something to them. EA is not being kind, they are trying to make more money at launch.
8. I have the extra money and/or already bought the CE so I don?t care.
If you do not care, you shouldn?t be reading this post and you shouldn?t post yourself. Discussing things in the forums is for people that care about the issue, one way or the other.
9. EA is evil.
They are not, but they sure are greedy and they are very bad at balancing the whole making money thing with consumer satisfaction. This day1 DLC looks even worse if you compare what other companies like Bethesda and CD project are offering (and they are still making money in the process).
10. The multiplayer thing is the new Zaeed (a device to reduce piracy and used games sales).
It might be, but it is another terrible idea ? a multiplayer component in a single player series. It might be cool and all, but it does not have the same appeal as a story element in a game about story. Again, this is not a reward; this is a tentative to appeal to a broader audience.
Man, if you want to reward consumers, just give them something without any ulterior motives (other than to please your fanbase), otherwise it is a scam.
11. Making the DLC costs money, so it shouldn?t be given for free.
EA does not need the DLC to recoup any money. DLCs (specially day1) will give them more money and are built simply to milk the cow. In any case, if they needed to sell it (or wanted to), they could have removed it from the CE and sold it a few months later.
12. But if it?s ready why wait?
Well, this is marketing 101 and it?s called overflow. Selling things at the right time builds trust and can even give you more money. Put it simply ? people are more willing to pay 60 now and 10 later, than paying 70 now (it is way more complex than that and yes, it is not completely logical, but people rarely are).
13. Call me when companies charge me to get the end of the game.
It is already happening; Final Fantasy XIII-2 is doing exactly that. I guess we are way passed the hour to complain if we think some DLC is abusive - mostly because it almost always is, but also because the line that separates what is reasonable from what is not is subjective and will affect each one differently.
To sum up: I guess the ?Biowhiners? can be dramatic at times (CONTENT HELD AT HANSOM!), but they have the right to be as long it doesn?t evolve to personal attacks. On the ?Biodrones? side I applaud the ones that are trying to discuss things and I?m really sad for the ones that just want people to ?shut up?. Consumers should not shut up ever and we should fight fiercely for our money ? that?s exactly what the companies are doing after all.
