Dragon Age II Signature Edition Giveaway - 24 Hours to Enter!

[Grey_Focks]

Entered, fingers crossed, and good luck to everyone!

 

[Spinwhiz]

Like we've said, we always try to hold international contests. Sometimes it's just not possible. Remember, the giveaway for Mount and Blade: Warband is also international! http://www.escapistmagazine.com/contests/register/Warband

 

[Danpascooch]

What utter bullshit.

Having DLC only in new copies is understandable (if annoying) since they lose on preowned sales, but forcing us to commit to buying the game before we can see if it's good or not or pay extra!? That's too far, and frankly it's a scary-as-fuck precedent to set.

It won't be long before some company decides to release a game with a "pay for it now or pay double when it's released" deal that is on par with the quality of ET: The Game, thus basically scamming a shitload of people.

 

[Danpascooch]

Wait so they release DLC for the game on the exact same day as the game itself? For which you have to pay extra?

Ok.

There is a perfectly logical explanation for things like this.
There is a time gap between the finishing of the game itself, and it being shipped to all of the stores, and ready for sale. Packing needs to be done, among other things of the same nature.
While this is going on, the developers don't really have anything to do but sit on their hands, or, they can work on new content for the game. If the content finishes before the game ships, why shouldn't they release it on the same day as the game?

OT: Nice content. Good luck to everyone!

I think the gold date has to be three months before release. Even longer if they want to be certain they can put units on shelves on, or near, the same date the world over.

I want to know why so many people are mad about this? This is the exact same thing that has already happened. If you don't like it just don't buy it, your problem is solved. I do want it so I've pre-ordered.

No it's worse than before, before it was understandable, they did it so you wouldn't buy used.

But now you have to commit to buying it before you can see reviews telling you if it's good or not? That's not cool, it's like a "we don't trust that you'll buy our product after you see it's quality, so we're trying to trick you into buying it before you see it's quality, if you don't, we'll punish you by forcing you to pay extra money, HOW DARE YOU ASK TO SEE IF THE GAME IS GOOD BEFORE PAYING FOR IT!"

 

[Altorin]

well, the 9th is my birthday, so that would be a pretty happy little extra birthday present if I won.

If not, I'm considering a preorder on monday anyway

 

[Cpt Corallis]

INTERNATIONAL WOO! Finally. So many great competitions that I couldn't enter before and now this.

 

[Alar]

This would be nice to get, as I don't know if I'll be able to afford DA2 for quite a while.

 

[manythings]

Wait so they release DLC for the game on the exact same day as the game itself? For which you have to pay extra?

Ok.

There is a perfectly logical explanation for things like this.
There is a time gap between the finishing of the game itself, and it being shipped to all of the stores, and ready for sale. Packing needs to be done, among other things of the same nature.
While this is going on, the developers don't really have anything to do but sit on their hands, or, they can work on new content for the game. If the content finishes before the game ships, why shouldn't they release it on the same day as the game?

OT: Nice content. Good luck to everyone!

I think the gold date has to be three months before release. Even longer if they want to be certain they can put units on shelves on, or near, the same date the world over.

I want to know why so many people are mad about this? This is the exact same thing that has already happened. If you don't like it just don't buy it, your problem is solved. I do want it so I've pre-ordered.

No it's worse than before, before it was understandable, they did it so you wouldn't buy used.

But now you have to commit to buying it before you can see reviews telling you if it's good or not? That's not cool, it's like a "we don't trust that you'll buy our product after you see it's quality, so we're trying to trick you into buying it before you see it's quality, if you don't, we'll punish you by forcing you to pay extra money, HOW DARE YOU ASK TO SEE IF THE GAME IS GOOD BEFORE PAYING FOR IT!"

You let reviewers make your decisions for you? BioWare have my goodwill so I will spot them the preorder. I sure as hell wouldn't give that kind of trust to most other Devs. If it turns out this burns me then that's what happens and BioWare lose my goodwill and preorders.

 

[Boneasse]

Entered. Good luck everyone

 

[Danpascooch]

Wait so they release DLC for the game on the exact same day as the game itself? For which you have to pay extra?

Ok.

There is a perfectly logical explanation for things like this.
There is a time gap between the finishing of the game itself, and it being shipped to all of the stores, and ready for sale. Packing needs to be done, among other things of the same nature.
While this is going on, the developers don't really have anything to do but sit on their hands, or, they can work on new content for the game. If the content finishes before the game ships, why shouldn't they release it on the same day as the game?

OT: Nice content. Good luck to everyone!

I think the gold date has to be three months before release. Even longer if they want to be certain they can put units on shelves on, or near, the same date the world over.

I want to know why so many people are mad about this? This is the exact same thing that has already happened. If you don't like it just don't buy it, your problem is solved. I do want it so I've pre-ordered.

No it's worse than before, before it was understandable, they did it so you wouldn't buy used.

But now you have to commit to buying it before you can see reviews telling you if it's good or not? That's not cool, it's like a "we don't trust that you'll buy our product after you see it's quality, so we're trying to trick you into buying it before you see it's quality, if you don't, we'll punish you by forcing you to pay extra money, HOW DARE YOU ASK TO SEE IF THE GAME IS GOOD BEFORE PAYING FOR IT!"

You let reviewers make your decisions for you? BioWare have my goodwill so I will spot them the preorder. I sure as hell wouldn't give that kind of trust to most other Devs. If it turns out this burns me then that's what happens and BioWare lose my goodwill and preorders.

Bioware definitely has my good will, but I have to wonder why they would do this if they think the game will be bought off of its own merits.

I let reviewers advise my decisions, that's kind of the point, do you really think listening to reviews in addition to your own interpretation is worse than buying the game without much more information than its TITLE? I mean hell, that's crazy.

 

[manythings]

You let reviewers make your decisions for you? BioWare have my goodwill so I will spot them the preorder. I sure as hell wouldn't give that kind of trust to most other Devs. If it turns out this burns me then that's what happens and BioWare lose my goodwill and preorders.

Bioware definitely has my good will, but I have to wonder why they would do this if they think the game will be bought off of its own merits.

I let reviewers advise my decisions, that's kind of the point, do you really think listening to reviews in addition to your own interpretation is worse than buying the game without much more information than its TITLE? I mean hell, that's crazy.

I don't trust the review system. Not with the likes of exclusive hands-ons/early golds/site integrated ads. The more they are out there about a game the less I can trust what they are saying. The fact of the matter is an early/exclusive review of a game is happens because of a guaranteed high score without any sort of honesty on the part of the publisher.

I've seen the concept work, read the stuff they've put out, listened to the DA2 developer podcasts and I waited till a few days ago to pre-order. I didn't just jump at the first sign of it, I weighed my choices. Guaranteed full price with some swag or maybe cheaper but zero swag. I'll find out sometime in march if I got the amount of bang I wanted for my buck.

I was going to buy it anyway so it seemed like the logical conclusion. It still seems odd that so many people are mad about it. There isn't a single point at which anyone is forced to do anything. This character won't win the game for anyone. It's just a case of "It's right here if you want it, if not, here's everything else". This isn't Horse armour.

This would be nice to get, as I don't know if I'll be able to afford DA2 for quite a while.

Well if there is a Gamestop near you you can preorder for just $5 (or whatever) and you've got it. I doubt they'll just sell it on if you aren't waiting on launch day, any of the people working there can just put it to the side till you have the cash. Gamestop is the only one I know of for sure, there are others though so it would pay to check.

EDIT: I realise Gamestop is the Devil but you are only purchasing a new game not selling old ones to them, so morally we're good on that count.

 

[Danpascooch]

You let reviewers make your decisions for you? BioWare have my goodwill so I will spot them the preorder. I sure as hell wouldn't give that kind of trust to most other Devs. If it turns out this burns me then that's what happens and BioWare lose my goodwill and preorders.

Bioware definitely has my good will, but I have to wonder why they would do this if they think the game will be bought off of its own merits.

I let reviewers advise my decisions, that's kind of the point, do you really think listening to reviews in addition to your own interpretation is worse than buying the game without much more information than its TITLE? I mean hell, that's crazy.

I don't trust the review system. Not with the likes of exclusive hands-ons/early golds/site integrated ads. The more they are out there about a game the less I can trust what they are saying. The fact of the matter is an early/exclusive review of a game is happens because of a guaranteed high score without any sort of honesty on the part of the publisher.

I've seen the concept work, read the stuff they've put out, listened to the DA2 developer podcasts and I waited till a few days ago to pre-order. I didn't just jump at the first sign of it, I weighed my choices. Guaranteed full price with some swag or maybe cheaper but zero swag. I'll find out sometime in march if I got the amount of bang I wanted for my buck.

I was going to buy it anyway so it seemed like the logical conclusion. It still seems odd that so many people are mad about it. There isn't a single point at which anyone is forced to do anything. This character won't win the game for anyone. It's just a case of "It's right here if you want it, if not, here's everything else". This isn't Horse armour.

This would be nice to get, as I don't know if I'll be able to afford DA2 for quite a while.

Well if there is a Gamestop near you you can preorder for just $5 (or whatever) and you've got it. I doubt they'll just sell it on if you aren't waiting on launch day, any of the people working there can just put it to the side till you have the cash. Gamestop is the only one I know of for sure, there are others though so it would pay to check.

EDIT: I realise Gamestop is the Devil but you are only purchasing a new game not selling old ones to them, so morally we're good on that count.

You know what else was supposed to be incredible? Too Human.

I'd like to be able to wait to see what the game is ACTUALLY LIKE before committing to buy it, could you imagine if movies worked this way?

"Pay for your ticket months before it comes out, or pay EXTRA AS A PENALTY!"

 

[manythings]

You know what else was supposed to be incredible? Too Human.

I'd like to be able to wait to see what the game is ACTUALLY LIKE before committing to buy it, could you imagine if movies worked this way?

"Pay for your ticket months before it comes out, or pay EXTRA AS A PENALTY!"

Hey if you thought Too Human was going to be good that's your own fault. I liked the sound of it until I saw the first video way back before it came out and knew it was beyond saving at that point.

You aren't forced at any point. None of the things the signature edition is giving are necessary. Even if you wait and buy it later you won't have to buy them. I can see how it seems like bullshit, and I felt that same way about it back before DA:O came out, but I loved Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, DA:O, KotOR and Jade Empire('s story, combat was pretty wank). In the face of the pedigree I'll buy on their terms but I'm not forgetting every time I go out further on the limb for them. Eventually they might let me down and at that point they might even screw the pooch so hard I'll avoid their products for a while but until that day i'm a guaranteed sale. I'm not a guaranteed preorder, I'll wait till almost the deadline with TOR and ME3, and DA2 will seriously put weight on one side of the equation.

EDIT: Also I have bought tickets well in advance. Sometimes it's a Dark Knight, sometimes it's a Watchmen.

 

[Danpascooch]

You know what else was supposed to be incredible? Too Human.

I'd like to be able to wait to see what the game is ACTUALLY LIKE before committing to buy it, could you imagine if movies worked this way?

"Pay for your ticket months before it comes out, or pay EXTRA AS A PENALTY!"

Hey if you thought Too Human was going to be good that's your own fault. I liked the sound of it until I saw the first video way back before it came out and knew it was beyond saving at that point.

You aren't forced at any point. None of the things the signature edition is giving are necessary. Even if you wait and buy it later you won't have to buy them. I can see how it seems like bullshit, and I felt that same way about it back before DA:O came out, but I loved Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, DA:O, KotOR and Jade Empire('s story, combat was pretty wank). In the face of the pedigree I'll buy on their terms but I'm not forgetting every time I go out further on the limb for them. Eventually they might let me down and at that point they might even screw the pooch so hard I'll avoid their products for a while but until that day i'm a guaranteed sale. I'm not a guaranteed preorder, I'll wait till almost the deadline with TOR and ME3, and DA2 will seriously put weight on one side of the equation.

I didn't buy Too Human, I just know everyone was lusting after it until it came out, and was declared to be a piece of shit.

I am annoyed by only including DLC in new copies of the game, but that is understandable because it protects them from preowned sales, this is taking a step too far and charging people more for not committing to buy a game that isn't even finished yet. Yes, I believe in Bioware, which actually makes this MORE frustrating for me, because I'm forced to wonder "why do they feel the need to do this?"

And Jade Empire's combat was actually pretty sweet, as long as you aren't a complete ass who spammed Mirabelle and broke the whole system

 

[manythings]

I didn't buy Too Human, I just know everyone was lusting after it until it came out, and was declared to be a piece of shit.

I am annoyed by only including DLC in new copies of the game, but that is understandable because it protects them from preowned sales, this is taking a step too far and charging people more for not committing to buy a game that isn't even finished yet. Yes, I believe in Bioware, which actually makes this MORE frustrating for me, because I'm forced to wonder "why do they feel the need to do this?"

And Jade Empire's combat was actually pretty sweet, as long as you aren't a complete ass who spammed Mirabelle and broke the whole system

Never used Mirabelle. Paralyzing palm for grunts and the sword for guys who couldn't be killed with Harmonic Combos.

I still think there will be other packs based on the store or whatever. This is the BioWare Signature Edition pack. There was Gamestop shit for Mass Effect, Steam stuff too. Hopefully since I preoreder at a gamestop I can get any swag they have.

Is it bullshit that it happened like this? Kind of, but I was going to preorder anyway. Conversely you could also call it the "Early preordering super fans, here have some free shit" pack. We still don't know what long term is going to look like. I think a far better system would be a full content code. I buy Game X full DLC (regular price plus $25/$30) and get a code that credits my account with full DLC for that game. They already know what they are making and how much the will charge. If I could get everything sorted in one transaction with just a single prep? I would be preorder that shit the day it is announced.

 

[AssassinJoe]

YAY!!

More contests!

Seriously though, what are they actual chances of winning this?

 

[DustyDrB]

I just preordered it a few days ago. Good luck to everyone, though [footnote]Ha! I've fooled them! If I say good luck to everyone then it's really good luck to no one![/footnote]

 

[Danpascooch]

I didn't buy Too Human, I just know everyone was lusting after it until it came out, and was declared to be a piece of shit.

I am annoyed by only including DLC in new copies of the game, but that is understandable because it protects them from preowned sales, this is taking a step too far and charging people more for not committing to buy a game that isn't even finished yet. Yes, I believe in Bioware, which actually makes this MORE frustrating for me, because I'm forced to wonder "why do they feel the need to do this?"

And Jade Empire's combat was actually pretty sweet, as long as you aren't a complete ass who spammed Mirabelle and broke the whole system

Never used Mirabelle. Paralyzing palm for grunts and the sword for guys who couldn't be killed with Harmonic Combos.

I still think there will be other packs based on the store or whatever. This is the BioWare Signature Edition pack. There was Gamestop shit for Mass Effect, Steam stuff too. Hopefully since I preoreder at a gamestop I can get any swag they have.

Is it bullshit that it happened like this? Kind of, but I was going to preorder anyway. Conversely you could also call it the "Early preordering super fans, here have some free shit" pack. We still don't know what long term is going to look like. I think a far better system would be a full content code. I buy Game X full DLC (regular price plus $25/$30) and get a code that credits my account with full DLC for that game. They already know what they are making and how much the will charge. If I could get everything sorted in one transaction with just a single prep? I would be preorder that shit the day it is announced.

Sure if you were going to preorder it anyway it's fine, but it's hard to look at it as "extra free stuff" when the Day 1 DLC for DA1 was available from just buying a new copy of the game.

Because of that past precedent, it makes more sense to call this a restriction, not a bonus.

 

[SkyeNeko]

Ah, if only I had luck.

 

[manythings]

I didn't buy Too Human, I just know everyone was lusting after it until it came out, and was declared to be a piece of shit.

I am annoyed by only including DLC in new copies of the game, but that is understandable because it protects them from preowned sales, this is taking a step too far and charging people more for not committing to buy a game that isn't even finished yet. Yes, I believe in Bioware, which actually makes this MORE frustrating for me, because I'm forced to wonder "why do they feel the need to do this?"

And Jade Empire's combat was actually pretty sweet, as long as you aren't a complete ass who spammed Mirabelle and broke the whole system

Never used Mirabelle. Paralyzing palm for grunts and the sword for guys who couldn't be killed with Harmonic Combos.

I still think there will be other packs based on the store or whatever. This is the BioWare Signature Edition pack. There was Gamestop shit for Mass Effect, Steam stuff too. Hopefully since I preoreder at a gamestop I can get any swag they have.

Is it bullshit that it happened like this? Kind of, but I was going to preorder anyway. Conversely you could also call it the "Early preordering super fans, here have some free shit" pack. We still don't know what long term is going to look like. I think a far better system would be a full content code. I buy Game X full DLC (regular price plus $25/$30) and get a code that credits my account with full DLC for that game. They already know what they are making and how much the will charge. If I could get everything sorted in one transaction with just a single prep? I would be preorder that shit the day it is announced.

Sure if you were going to preorder it anyway it's fine, but it's hard to look at it as "extra free stuff" when the Day 1 DLC for DA1 was available from just buying a new copy of the game.

Because of that past precedent, it makes more sense to call this a restriction, not a bonus.

To my knowledge there hasn't been a even a hint about what IS in an off-the-shelf copy.