Day one DLC?

[Wuvlycuddles]

It convinced me to buy the collector's edition. So yea .

EDIT: I don't like day 1 DLC where they cut something out of the game and charge you at launch but this is different. They made the DLC after the game was complete, so no problem right? Well you seem to have a problem with them charging you money for something they made. Thats just damn right crazy! Acting like a business and such...

Made after the game was complete but still finished it BEFORE release date. Would you pay for a games first patch? Also, you could argue that if they didn't piss around with the multiplayer and kinect options they'd have had the time to put it in game before classification. Not to mention all the other bonus crap from buying figurines and art books and whatnot, so if Bioware actually tried to put this DLC in the game before classification they could have.

And then there is the cost.... Honestly, if the DLC only set me back a couple of pounds I probably wouldn't have given even half a shit but as it stands it will cost almost as much as the awesome Rockstar games DLC packs such as Lost and Damned and Undead Nightmare which are all fully fledged expansion packs and not some shitty bonus character that the developers themselves have admitted to not being particularly important to the plot.

There is a fine line between good business and exploiting idiot consumers.

 

[Windcaler]

All this ME3 (keep reading....i have a point to make) outrage over day one dlc is dumb. Mostly because the character was meant to be Collectors Edition only and Bioware could have made it so. An if that was the case then people would be pissed that they wouldnt get the prothean unless they bought a £70 game.

Now, my argument is. What if they waited 3 months before releasing the DLC? Would that really matter? Personally, I would rather have the character now as I doubt I will be playing ME3 after 3 weeks so waiting 3 months is pointless. Do i really want to play the game again, (i plan 3 playthroughs) just with a new character that wont add much at all? Wouldn't you rather have him to play for your first or second playthrough?

So is releasing the Prothean character for £10 3 months later really worth it? Wouldn't you rather play as the Prothean day one than wait 3 months for the honour?

I agree with the money aspect and that releasing it on day one can seem money grabbing. But really, do you think waiting 3 months makes a difference? An wouldnt you rather have him sooner than later? When you think about it, if you are that annoyed, just buy the DLC in 3 months time.

When I put $60 into a game Im paying for all the development that was done prior to the games release. If content was developed during release but not finished it should be released later as free DLC (see Shale from Dragon age origins).

I dont think it makes a bit of difference when the DLC comes out. If that DLC was funded by the initial development cost (what we pay for in our initial $60 investment) then consumers have a right to it. By not providing that content (content that was paid for by the development fund) Bioware has ensured that their game is incomplete. Anyone can claim that this was done after the game was complete but the cost of development for this DLC is still coming from the original development fund. Its what our initial investment pays for and what gamers are entitled to.

Any DLC that is made after release and not paid for by the initial development fund is free game for extra costs.

 

[Blazing Steel]

It convinced me to buy the collector's edition. So yea .

EDIT: I don't like day 1 DLC where they cut something out of the game and charge you at launch but this is different. They made the DLC after the game was complete, so no problem right? Well you seem to have a problem with them charging you money for something they made. Thats just damn right crazy! Acting like a business and such...

Made after the game was complete but still finished it BEFORE release date. Would you pay for a games first patch? Also, you could argue that if they didn't piss around with the multiplayer and kinect options they'd have had the time to put it in game before classification. Not to mention all the other bonus crap from buying figurines and art books and whatnot, so if Bioware actually tried to put this DLC in the game before classification they could have.

And then there is the cost.... Honestly, if the DLC only set me back a couple of pounds I probably wouldn't have given even half a shit but as it stands it will cost almost as much as the awesome Rockstar games DLC packs such as Lost and Damned and Undead Nightmare which are all fully fledged expansion packs and not some shitty bonus character that the developers themselves have admitted to not being particularly important to the plot.

There is a fine line between good business and exploiting idiot consumers.

As oposed to all the other developers who make a game and while the game is classified sit on their arse. They could have easy not made it. Also all the DLC really does is allow you to recruit the dude and do a loyalty type mission, which was the same as every other DLC character so it's in keeping with their business plan. £10 for it? Yea sounds about right for the Mass Effect fan. These are people like me who will play through the game 3-4 times if not more which will add up to aroud a days play time. So for me anyway (the mass effect fan it's aimed at) it's a decent price.

Also untill it comes out we won't know if it's worth £10, so stop getting your panties in a twist untill it's out. If it has HUGE plot significance then we can talk about Bioware being evil.

 

[idarkphoenixi]

It's a pretty big message being sent out to players: "Ha, we can cut out chunks of what should be in the original game but oh well, pay us even more money."

Wanna call me an "entitled whiner"? Go ahead but this should by all principles be free. It's not like getting a cool weapon camo or some armour skin. It's a prothean! In Mass Effect that's a huge deal and while I'm not buying ME3 and am not a massive fan of Mass Effect by any means, I can sure as hell see why people are getting worked up over this. I'd feel ripped off too if I had any intention to buy the game.

Okay, so they couldn't get it onto the disk because of whatever inconveniences got in the way? Then make it a free downloadable item. They've done it before with Dragon-Age so why not this?

 

[Blazing Steel]

"Ha, we can cut out chunks of what should be in the original game but oh well, pay us even more money."

The content was made after the game was considered 'finished' in an aim in make it better. It was never 'cut out'. Also it is being made free... for collectors edition.

 

[Aris Khandr]

OT: It's what this guy was saying, they could (should) have easily included the character into the game, and they should have, because it was ready by the game's release date, or they could have at least held the DLC for a later release so it's clear what significance the character holds within the game's story.

Why? The character is for the Collector's Edition of the game first. It's offered as DLC for those who didn't buy it if they decided they wanted it. Why hold it back, and thus take away value from the CE just so the people who didn't buy it will complain less?

 

[Mikeyfell]

Everyone should know something that I don't think a whole lot of you know.
There was a point in time when Bioware wasn't even going to give you the new squad mate.
I switched my Pre-order over to the collectors edition back in the day when the new character was going to be exclusive to that version I can only assume that they flipped and decided to sell it to everyone else when places started running out of collector's edition pre-orders.

So there was a point in time when you would never have been able to play with a prothean if you didn't spring for the expensive edition. Yeah it's a heartless marketing gimmick but shut up about it already.

 

[Elamdri]

The problem is not "I have to pay extra for a character", I don't have problem if they are good character. The problem is that day one DLC passes a massage and that massage is "We could have included that in the game but we decided to make a few extra bucks instead so suck it up, you worthless worm, we know you buy it anyway"

That sad thing is we will buy it anyway...

It was my understanding that they didn't start working on From Ashes until after ME3 was already finished.

 

[spartandude]

When I put $60 into a game Im paying for all the development that was done prior to the games release. If content was developed during release but not finished it should be released later as free DLC (see Shale from Dragon age origins).

I dont think it makes a bit of difference when the DLC comes out. If that DLC was funded by the initial development cost (what we pay for in our initial $60 investment) then consumers have a right to it. By not providing that content (content that was paid for by the development fund) Bioware has ensured that their game is incomplete. Anyone can claim that this was done after the game was complete but the cost of development for this DLC is still coming from the original development fund. Its what our initial investment pays for and what gamers are entitled to.

Any DLC that is made after release and not paid for by the initial development fund is free game for extra costs.

This guy knows what hes talking about and its strange how the people in favour of day one dlc have ignored him

 

[idarkphoenixi]

"Ha, we can cut out chunks of what should be in the original game but oh well, pay us even more money."

The content was made after the game was considered 'finished' in an aim in make it better. It was never 'cut out'. Also it is being made free... for collectors edition.

It's not free then is it? Unless collectors edition is the same price as regular one.
If you actually want to believe this was made later go ahead but this is far from the first EA/Bioware game that just 'happens' to have day 1 DLC. This was planned from the very start and they just made up that whole story in an attempt to calm players down.

Even if it is true, so what? The game isnt even out yet! Meaning that what they made should still come as one package. As I said before, if it's not game changing (skins, weapon camos, soundtracks, artwork ect.. Then fine, that's more understandable but a prothean is a huge deal for ME fans and this is abusing their loyalty to the lore.

 

[Wuvlycuddles]

As oposed to all the other developers who make a game and while the game is classified sit on their arse. They could have easy not made it. Also all the DLC really does is allow you to recruit the dude and do a loyalty type mission, which was the same as every other DLC character so it's in keeping with their business plan. £10 for it? Yea sounds about right for the Mass Effect fan. These are people like me who will play through the game 3-4 times if not more which will add up to aroud a days play time. So for me anyway (the mass effect fan it's aimed at) it's a decent price.

Also untill it comes out we won't know if it's worth £10, so stop getting your panties in a twist untill it's out. If it has HUGE plot significance then we can talk about Bioware being evil.

Wow, I'm sure all those hardworking devs who bring us patches and bug fixes on launch day will love to hear you say that!

Also, I hate the implication I am not a Mass Effect fan. I am btw and I did buy all the dlc I could for the previous games and I have even pre-ordered ME3. But I recognize when I am being jerked around. Consider the Cerberus Network thingy which included Zaeed, which we all got free for supporting Bioware and buying ME2 new. Consider the Stolen Memories DLC which was half the price of this launch day DLC.

 

[spartandude]

also to the people who say "its ok because it was made after the game was finished", well the fact its released at the same time as the game meant it could have been included in the game anyway or if its too late to put it on the disc have it as a free download (ok people with bad internet connections would be screwed over but atleast less would be). and quite frankly what if they made and rpg and made the main quest and then said it was finished, lets release all side quests (which arnt needed as they're side quests) were to be released as day 1 dlc you had to pay for. yes i know thats much more extreme than whats happening with ME3 but if we allow this thats where it may end up

 

[Blazing Steel]

"Ha, we can cut out chunks of what should be in the original game but oh well, pay us even more money."

The content was made after the game was considered 'finished' in an aim in make it better. It was never 'cut out'. Also it is being made free... for collectors edition.

It's not free then is it? Unless collectors edition is the same price as regular one.
If you actually want to believe this was made later go ahead but this is far from the first EA/Bioware game that just 'happens' to have day 1 DLC. This was planned from the very start and they just made up that whole story in an attempt to calm players down.

Even if it is true, so what? The game isnt even out yet! Meaning that what they made should still come as one package. As I said before, if it's not game changing (skins, weapon camos, soundtracks, artwork ect.. Then fine, that's more understandable but a prothean is a huge deal for ME fans and this is abusing their loyalty to the lore.

So they lied to us them because they said that they produced it after. The prothean is still in the game, but in the normal edition he declines to offer to join your squad. So you loose nothing that's important to lore.

 

[shado_temple]

I finally found something that describes my feelings about this whole situation:

 

[Aris Khandr]

When I put $60 into a game Im paying for all the development that was done prior to the games release. If content was developed during release but not finished it should be released later as free DLC (see Shale from Dragon age origins).

I dont think it makes a bit of difference when the DLC comes out. If that DLC was funded by the initial development cost (what we pay for in our initial $60 investment) then consumers have a right to it. By not providing that content (content that was paid for by the development fund) Bioware has ensured that their game is incomplete. Anyone can claim that this was done after the game was complete but the cost of development for this DLC is still coming from the original development fund. Its what our initial investment pays for and what gamers are entitled to.

Any DLC that is made after release and not paid for by the initial development fund is free game for extra costs.

This guy knows what hes talking about and its strange how the people in favour of day one dlc have ignored him

Because he does not, in fact, know what he is talking about. When you buy a game, you are paying for whatever the people who made the game decide to offer to you. You have a right to whatever is in the package you bought. If you don't buy the Collector's Edition, then you don't get what comes in the Collector's Edition, no matter when it was developed. If you don't like that, then don't buy the game. But acting like they owe you any more than that is deluding yourself.

 

[zachusaman]

day 1 dlc = day 1 pirate. you cut content for the sake of reselling it later is such a blatant middle finger to your fans that you dont deserve any kind of money for it at all.

 

[Blazing Steel]

As oposed to all the other developers who make a game and while the game is classified sit on their arse. They could have easy not made it. Also all the DLC really does is allow you to recruit the dude and do a loyalty type mission, which was the same as every other DLC character so it's in keeping with their business plan. £10 for it? Yea sounds about right for the Mass Effect fan. These are people like me who will play through the game 3-4 times if not more which will add up to aroud a days play time. So for me anyway (the mass effect fan it's aimed at) it's a decent price.

Also untill it comes out we won't know if it's worth £10, so stop getting your panties in a twist untill it's out. If it has HUGE plot significance then we can talk about Bioware being evil.

Wow, I'm sure all those hardworking devs who bring us patches and bug fixes on launch day will love to hear you say that!

Also, I hate the implication I am not a Mass Effect fan. I am btw and I did buy all the dlc I could for the previous games and I have even pre-ordered ME3. But I recognize when I am being jerked around. Consider the Cerberus Network thingy which included Zaeed, which we all got free for supporting Bioware and buying ME2 new. Consider the Stolen Memories DLC which was half the price of this launch day DLC.

Well I got the PS3 edition so all the DLC but one came with it, but thats not the point. All developers charge for DLC now, and it's rare if they give it to us for free. All the DLC does it let you recruit the new character. It's not going to change the lore and it's not going to alter your experence that much so I don't see whats the problem charging for something optional. It would be nice if it was free but in their goals it goes money first then fans and thats just a fact of business. Also wasn't trying to imply you weren't a fan just trying to fraze a Bioware video.

 

[Aris Khandr]

OT: It's what this guy was saying, they could (should) have easily included the character into the game, and they should have, because it was ready by the game's release date, or they could have at least held the DLC for a later release so it's clear what significance the character holds within the game's story.

Why? The character is for the Collector's Edition of the game first. It's offered as DLC for those who didn't buy it if they decided they wanted it. Why hold it back, and thus take away value from the CE just so the people who didn't buy it will complain less?

Because i'm pretty sure that the amount of people buying the CE is a lot less than the amount of people buying ME3.

And no one said that they can't give it to people who bought the CE for free...

No, you're just saying that they should delay the release of one of the most unique parts of the CE until after most of us have gone through the game at least once, and thus lose the impact of having it for our most enjoyable playthrough. In counterpoint, I say that they should have left the character CE only and not sold it to those who didn't buy it at all. Then we'd see some real complaining, wouldn't we?

 

[wintercoat]

OT: It's what this guy was saying, they could (should) have easily included the character into the game, and they should have, because it was ready by the game's release date, or they could have at least held the DLC for a later release so it's clear what significance the character holds within the game's story.

Why? The character is for the Collector's Edition of the game first. It's offered as DLC for those who didn't buy it if they decided they wanted it. Why hold it back, and thus take away value from the CE just so the people who didn't buy it will complain less?

Because i'm pretty sure that the amount of people buying the CE is a lot less than the amount of people buying ME3.

And no one said that they can't give it to people who bought the CE for free...

No, you're just saying that they should delay the release of one of the most unique parts of the CE until after most of us have gone through the game at least once, and thus lose the impact of having it for our most enjoyable playthrough. In counterpoint, I say that they should have left the character CE only and not sold it to those who didn't buy it at all. Then we'd see some real complaining, wouldn't we?

Shit, I was just going to make a post pointing that out. If the Prothean was only on the Collecter's Edition and there was no other way to get him, there would have been a huge fucking shitstorm. Much, much larger than the current one. I mean, it's a fucking Prothean!! You all know it, I know it, they know it. The backlash it would have caused, especially with how late it was announced, would have been catastrophic. People saying that we're lucky that they even decided to release it as DLC are naive if they think there was ever a chance it wouldn't have been released.

 

[boag]

The Prothean was part of the original game? Yes

Was he planned to be DLC? Not until halfway into the development cycle apparently.

Was he going to be a main part of the story? Original Leaks say yes, new leaks dont have him even be a part of the main plot.

Is it wrong that they changed the plot midway through development? uncertain, this is an opinion based question and your opinion is just as valid as the next persons, as long as it isnt based around assumptions and generalizations.

Could Bioware just have kept the DLC to Collectors Edition Buyers? Yes

Would it have caused outrage? people have been angry because an NPC wore a low neckline dress, Im pretty sure it would have.

Is this DLC something I need to fulfill my gaming experience? Not really

Are people entitled to their opinion on not buying the Game because of the DLC? Yeah they are.

Should Bioware have made the DLC for free? I dont think so, from the looks of it the multiplayer was the freebie this time around.

Will people keep making threads about ME3? Yep, all the way through march im expecting.