BioWare Moves to Allay Day-One DLC Concerns

[News Portal]

BioWare producer Michael Gamble has released a statement to address consumer concerns that the Day-1 DLC for [app=7843]Mass Effect 3[/app] in some way represents unfair or unethical business practices. The way Gamble tells it, EA and BioWare are doing gamers a favour by generously allowing them to buy this extra content the day the game goes on sale, as it is only otherwise available in the Collector's Edition, which is apparently sold out just about everywhere...

Read full article by James Cottee

[flabcab]

I can't stand the way Bioware deal with DLC, I still havent bought DA2 because I'm waiting for some kind of ultimate.

This day 1 DLC is the worst, they have obviously developed at the same time as the game and have basically cut a (small) chunk of the game and gone if you want the whole thing it will be an extra $10 thanks.

[Kashchey]

I can't stand the way Bioware deal with DLC, I still havent bought DA2 because I'm waiting for some kind of ultimate.

This day 1 DLC is the worst, they have obviously developed at the same time as the game and have basically cut a (small) chunk of the game and gone if you want the whole thing it will be an extra $10 thanks.

It says right there in the article:

- The content in “From Ashes” was developed by a separate team (after the core game was finished) and not completed until well after the main game went into certification.

[DeathMist]

It says right there in the article:

- The content in “From Ashes” was developed by a separate team (after the core game was finished) and not completed until well after the main game went into certification.

What they say and what they do are two different things.

Also note the words CORE GAME. (Core game is essentially a shell ~ not much content in it. Perhaps the first hour of gameplay is there for testing purposes.)

Then they say the DLC wasn't completed until "well after" the game was put under Certification process which is what I'm guessing they call "bug testing and QA"

Get it? Its a load of ****. You can't start adding DLC to a game that hasn't been put under QA and testing otherwise you'll end up with a buggy steaming pile of **** ~ Every programmer/developer knows this.

They split the game up into different teams tasked with creating content. They all create content for the final product. Bioware just took one part of the content which may or may have not been completed by the set date and are just making you extra for no bloody reason.

[Kashchey]

It says right there in the article:

- The content in “From Ashes” was developed by a separate team (after the core game was finished) and not completed until well after the main game went into certification.

What they say and what they do are two different things.

Also note the words CORE GAME. (Core game is essentially a shell ~ not much content in it. Perhaps the first hour of gameplay is there for testing purposes.)

Then they say the DLC wasn't completed until "well after" the game was put under Certification process which is what I'm guessing they call "bug testing and QA"

Get it?

They split the game up into different teams tasked with creating content. They all create content for the final product. Bioware just took one part of the content which may or may have not been completed by the set date and are just making you extra for no bloody reason.

Sure, they could be lying. But assuming so by default just seems like unnecessary cynicism to me.

Edit: Hang on, I don't get it. Are you saying those two statements (after core game/after certification) are inconsistent?

[DeathMist]

Sure, they could be lying. But assuming so by default just seems like unnecessary cynicism to me.

I don't think it is, when you look at EA/BioWares actions recently then see that they aren't in game developing anymore to "do what they like to do", instead its all about milking the cash cow.

[Shuth]

Haha, it's not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be.

Or am I meant to jump on the bandwagon "BIOWARE KILLS BABIES!"? You guys are so cynical...

[Wanell]

Sure, they could be lying. But assuming so by default just seems like unnecessary cynicism to me.

I don't think it is, when you look at EA/BioWares actions recently then see that they aren't in game developing anymore to "do what they like to do", instead its all about milking the cash cow.

If paying $10 for an optional peice of content that won't have any effect on you expereiencing the main story is breaking your bank balance you have other things to worry about than a day 1 DLC. They make games to make money, you aren't obligated to give them said money.

[Vencha88]

Core game means the game every version gets. This was made once they'd finished (QA and all) that and were finalising publishing and getting things ready to ship.

[FryzieDelta]

Is this DLC exactly the same thing that's in the CE? Because that's what it's sounding like to me.

Also, spoiler alert! Would have rathered the information that a Prothean will be on my team was a surprise

[Marius]

Get it? Its a load of ****. You can't start adding DLC to a game that hasn't been put under QA and testing otherwise you'll end up with a buggy steaming pile of **** ~ Every programmer/developer knows this.

That doesn't make sense.

DLC is just downloadable missions and/or gear. Obviously they need to make missions and gear before the game gets tested, to have something to test in the first place...

It's not a stretch to suppose that the DLC was made along the same lines which already successfully made content was done, after the game was finished.

[Jude]

Is this DLC exactly the same thing that's in the CE? Because that's what it's sounding like to me.

Also, spoiler alert! Would have rathered the information that a Prothean will be on my team was a surprise

OMG wish you had put a spoiler tag on your own post!!! NOOOOOOOOO

[exe3]

Yeah, revealing that you'll get a Prothean was kind of a '...' moment.

[Breno1288]

I couldn't agree more, I think the worst part about this whole uproar is the fact I have accidentally seen a story element I didn't wish to know yet. It may not be a huge deal to people who are only getting into the series now, but I have enjoyed the story of the games so far, and it is something I'd rather I didn't know.

The over-reaction and people complaining about them cutting core content from the game is a bit of a stretch. No where is it suggested that the game is only a shell and 1 hour long like people seem to think, and purchasing this DLC is required to properly enjoy the story.

The Bioware guys have said that the game is a full and great experience without it, and that it was not developed as part of the core game and then cut out. There is no reason not to believe them. None of us have the game yet, we cannot say for sure.

I have faith in them right now. Come March 8th, if I open the game and it turns out Bioware were lying through their teeth and it takes me 1 hour to complete it and I cannot experience the ending without buying the DLC - I'll eat my own hat.

[Shinanigans]

Ah, arm-chair experts and their invaluable expertise in the process of game development. And for that, developers are labelled cheap-skate liars. DLC is great, you can either buy it and enjoy it or not buy it and shut the **** up. Options are awesome!