544 réponses à ce sujet

[Shallowain]

I012345 wrote...

But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released.  So yeah maybe it doesn't make much sense to purchase an appearance pack or a couple of headsets.  But I do it because of how much I love Bioware and it's games.  And I don't believe that makes me stupid.  And yes I would definitely prefer full expansion packs but Bioware has already pretty much made a commitment to doing that.  They've done it with Awakening which I thoroughly enjoyed and they've already hinted at a similar announcement for ME2.  Thusfar as far as I'm concerned Bioware has done right by me.  And this is from somebody who purchased a second copy of the game just so I could have the inferno armor.  So I'm definitely not particular pleased that not only did it suck but it's being packaged into another DLC pack.  But that doesn't change how I feel about supporting Bioware.

I am also one of those people who bought the DLC to support the company, but the way their policies develope I start too feel annoyed, ripped off and insulted.

Seriously, It gets ridiculous. I already have the Inferno armor and the Terminus gear. I have the Collectors editions of both ME2 and DA:O. I don't have a problem if they start to sell the pre-order Items or even give them away for free (I actually prefer the idea of giving them away for free, despite me paying for them), BUT, selling them in a package with other stuff to essentially cheat people who already have them to pay again for them is totaly asinine and insulting on so many levels.

I would never have thought Bioware could sink that low. even after their craptastic epic fail of a "not-so-much community event".

As it stands, I can't see myself supporting this company much further. I am willing to wait some time to pass a final judgement on this, but so far its not looking good.

[mosor]

I012345 wrote...



But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released. 

Bioware didn't release any free DLC. That is a lie. We paid an extra 10 dollars for cerberus network and they gave what they judged 10 dollars worth of content. Once they felt they gave us enough content to justify getting cerberus network, they started nickle and diming for other frivolous content.  You're not supporting bioware by buying friviolity. As someone else said, you're supporting their marketing strategy. They take away or cut resources in making quality DLC and put them in making trash because its a quick lucrative buck and they know a sucker is born every minuite.

[Krigwin]

I012345 wrote...
But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released.  So yeah maybe it doesn't make much sense to purchase an appearance pack or a couple of headsets.  But I do it because of how much I love Bioware and it's games.  And I don't believe that makes me stupid.  And yes I would definitely prefer full expansion packs but Bioware has already pretty much made a commitment to doing that.  They've done it with Awakening which I thoroughly enjoyed and they've already hinted at a similar announcement for ME2.  Thusfar as far as I'm concerned Bioware has done right by me.  And this is from somebody who purchased a second copy of the game just so I could have the inferno armor.  So I'm definitely not particular pleased that not only did it suck but it's being packaged into another DLC pack.  But that doesn't change how I feel about supporting Bioware.

Wow, the way you talk about this "supporting the business" deal, it's almost like it's a new-age concept. How did people support Bioware before they started shoveling out this useless DLC, I wonder?

Oh wait, I remember; they bought Bioware's games. That's how you support a business, by purchasing their products. If you buy just the games and ignore the overpriced DLC, the message you're sending to Bioware is loud and clear: "Bioware, I love your games, but I hate your stupid DLC. I will pay money out the nose for your games, but you won't make a dime off me with the DLC. If you want more money from me, make more games, and less DLC."

The big irony here, is that it's in the long-term best interests of both the consumers and Bioware to focus on the quality, full-length content instead of the overpriced window dressing. We, as the consumers, get more games, and Bioware, as the business, gets more loyal customers and a better reputation as a company with integrity that produces quality products. Shoveling out this overpriced DLC by the wheelbarrow is strictly only good in the short-term - yes, Bioware makes more money now from the DLC, but they end up losing the support of their customers in the process, which will damage their profit margins in the future.

Unfortunately though, Bioware/EA, like all people, fall under the allure of the short-term and seem to lack the foresight to consider the long-term ramifications of this disgusting practice. That's why it's up to us, the consumers, to prove them wrong by being smart with our spending and sending the right message. Capitalism is a two-way street people, it takes both businesses AND consumers for an industry to exist.

[GothamLord]

cruc1al wrote...


So you agree that they should be in separate packs, but you think people shouldn't complain about them being in the same pack?

Right.

I think they should have charged for the Inferno Armor seperate and given the others two items away as free in the CN.  They didnt do that though.  They chose to bundle them together and put a price tag on it.  If you want the other items that bad and already own the Inferno armor then stop complaining, the armor was free in the first place. So yes you're not getting *screwed* buy paying for it twice as is the main argument from alot of people.

Sure its a better value to someone that doesnt own the Inferno already. Seeing as its very likely they are going to do the same with the Incisor Rifle and the Terminus pack  items, the majority will be back on even footing for the pre-order crowd. 

[TJSolo]

GothamLord wrote...

cruc1al wrote...

So you agree that they should be in separate packs, but you think people shouldn't complain about them being in the same pack?

Right.

I think they should have charged for the Inferno Armor seperate and given the others two items away as free in the CN.  They didnt do that though.  They chose to bundle them together and put a price tag on it.  If you want the other items that bad and already own the Inferno armor then stop complaining, the armor was free in the first place. So yes you're not getting *screwed* buy paying for it twice as is the main argument from alot of people.

Sure its a better value to someone that doesnt own the Inferno already. Seeing as its very likely they are going to do the same with the Incisor Rifle and the Terminus pack  items, the majority will be back on even footing for the pre-order crowd. 

I am not going to mince words on this.
It is a simple situation.
Having the customer pay twice for something is the definition of double dipping.
It screws the customer.
There is no other way to explain it.

Shove all the what ifs and maybes out the goddamned window. Deal with what is right in front of you face.

[GothamLord]

TJSolo wrote...

I am not going to mince words on this.
It is a simple situation.
Having the customer pay twice for something is the definition of double dipping.
It screws the customer.
There is no other way to explain it.

Shove all the what ifs and maybes out the goddamned window. Deal with what is right in front of you face.

What the hell are you paying twice for???   You didnt pay extra for the pre-order item at purchase.  

[omnitremere]

The RPGenius wrote...

I012345 wrote...
But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released.  So yeah maybe it doesn't make much sense to purchase an appearance pack or a couple of headsets.  But I do it because of how much I love Bioware and it's games.

Buddy, Bioware is not a starving company here.  They will not go bankrupt if you don't purchase most of their DLC packages.  In fact, they won't go bankrupt if NO ONE does, because they put out wildly successful games.  Buying a DLC like this is not so much supporting the company as it is supporting the company's marketing decision to rip off gamers who supported the company through pre-orders, and hype up a pointless add-on of meaningless trinkets rather than try selling an add-on with something of substance, like new missions and such.  They will not go broke either way, but they probably WILL go where the money is.  So if you WANT them to keep putting out inconsequential DLCs that negate previous support gamers gave the company with no apology, then yes, DO buy this.  Because THAT is what buying this supports.

And understand, I am a gamer who ALSO wants to support Bioware.  I love this series to death, Dragon Age Origins is very good, and KotOR1 was great.  I like Bioware and I want them to succeed.  But I like Bioware for the GOOD decisions they make and the WORTHWHILE content they provide, whether free or for a cost.  If I buy this DLC, which, again, offers me nothing substantial, just a hat, laser glasses, and armor that I may or may not already have, I am encouraging the company to take steps toward being one that I WON'T want to support.  I largely refuse to buy SquareEnix games nowadays because they've proven to have little to no artistic integrity, few ideas or writers left with worthwhile ideas, and are fully content with ripping off their audience in any way possible rather than provide a quality product (see: Final Fantasy 10-2, Grandia 3, the endless Final Fantasy 7 spin-offs, endless remakes priced as new games would be, and above all else, their outright stated refusal to make another Chrono Trigger sequel unless the CT remake sells better, even though at the time that they said that it had already outsold several successful recent ORIGINAL games, including some of their own).  If Bioware becomes a company that screws the audience in favor of profitable exploitation, I won't support them.  And in the end, they probably want my future business of buying multiple new games than my current business of buying $2 of nothing.

But then doesn't that become an issue of trust? It seems like the theory a lot of people are presenting is that if we buy headset gear and amour the company will in turn decide not to release full quality expansion packs.  But to some degree that 's an issue of the integrity of the company right? So if you feel like Bioware has turned a leaf and doesn't give a damn about it's consumers than yeah you would expect them to flood the market with a couple of headsets once a month, rake in the cash, and not release any real quality DLC regarding this product.  I don't believe that's going to be the case.  They've promised to release large quality DLC for this game and I still believe they're going to deliver.  And while I certainly agree with you that Bioware isn't financially strapped I also believe that if people don't buy DLC companies would stop making it.  And if you gave me a choice between alternate appearance packs/headgear and nothing then I'd rather just take what's being offered.  Especially when the price ranges from completely free to $2.  

Which brings up my other point that it seems like people can't be satisfied.  How much free **** were you people expecting to get? I hear guys raving "The CN is completely useless" and "We didn't get anything for having the CN".  There's been 3 or 4 DLC packages released now that were completely free because of CN.  And we don't even know if that's the end of free stuff.  But people want to complain about TWO DOLLARS worth of DLC that's being charged.  And I agree with the poster who made the comment about small dollars being used to trick a consumer into thinking he's getting a good deal.  But I don't think that applies when several free items were being offered beforehand.  Like at what point can a company say "okay we've released five free things so we're going to charge for this."  I don't think that's unfair.  

[omnitremere]

mosor wrote...

I012345 wrote...



But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released. 

Bioware didn't release any free DLC. That is a lie. We paid an extra 10 dollars for cerberus network and they gave what they judged 10 dollars worth of content. Once they felt they gave us enough content to justify getting cerberus network, they started nickle and diming for other frivolous content.  You're not supporting bioware by buying friviolity. As someone else said, you're supporting their marketing strategy. They take away or cut resources in making quality DLC and put them in making trash because its a quick lucrative buck and they know a sucker is born every minuite.

Huh? What extra 10 dollars? What are you talking about? You do realize the CN was in both the collector's edition and the standard edition right? All you had to do was buy the game new and you're good.  There was no extra charge.  And I'd appreciate it if you didn't label any of my other statements as lies.  Really not necessary.

[TJSolo]

GothamLord wrote...

TJSolo wrote...

I am not going to mince words on this.
It is a simple situation.
Having the customer pay twice for something is the definition of double dipping.
It screws the customer.
There is no other way to explain it.

Shove all the what ifs and maybes out the goddamned window. Deal with what is right in front of you face.

What the hell are you paying twice for???   You didnt pay extra for the pre-order item at purchase.  

5 bucks to pay for the preorder that granted access to the armor. It was a limited time offer up until the time of release. That 5 dollars was then deducted from the overall price of the game. Thus paid for.

Seems all business have to do is slap Free* or Bonus* on something and some consumers think it is free.
Now they want to flip another profit off of the same paid for goods. Double dipping.

[Shallowain]

I012345 wrote...


Huh? What extra 10 dollars? What are you talking about? You do realize the CN was in both the collector's edition and the standard edition right? All you had to do was buy the game new and you're good.  There was no extra charge.  And I'd appreciate it if you didn't label any of my other statements as lies.  Really not necessary.

You are naive. The CN was most certainly not free, It was part of the price calculation all along. The only reason to sell it seperately is that they want to cash in on the second hand market.

[omnitremere]

Krigwin wrote...

I012345 wrote...
But what about people like me who purchase the DLC to support the company? I've played ME2 at least 20 times at this point.  I've gotten WAYYYYY more value out of it than the 60 bucks I put down.  Not to mention the free DLC that Bioware has already released.  So yeah maybe it doesn't make much sense to purchase an appearance pack or a couple of headsets.  But I do it because of how much I love Bioware and it's games.  And I don't believe that makes me stupid.  And yes I would definitely prefer full expansion packs but Bioware has already pretty much made a commitment to doing that.  They've done it with Awakening which I thoroughly enjoyed and they've already hinted at a similar announcement for ME2.  Thusfar as far as I'm concerned Bioware has done right by me.  And this is from somebody who purchased a second copy of the game just so I could have the inferno armor.  So I'm definitely not particular pleased that not only did it suck but it's being packaged into another DLC pack.  But that doesn't change how I feel about supporting Bioware.

Wow, the way you talk about this "supporting the business" deal, it's almost like it's a new-age concept. How did people support Bioware before they started shoveling out this useless DLC, I wonder?

Oh wait, I remember; they bought Bioware's games. That's how you support a business, by purchasing their products. If you buy just the games and ignore the overpriced DLC, the message you're sending to Bioware is loud and clear: "Bioware, I love your games, but I hate your stupid DLC. I will pay money out the nose for your games, but you won't make a dime off me with the DLC. If you want more money from me, make more games, and less DLC."

The big irony here, is that it's in the long-term best interests of both the consumers and Bioware to focus on the quality, full-length content instead of the overpriced window dressing. We, as the consumers, get more games, and Bioware, as the business, gets more loyal customers and a better reputation as a company with integrity that produces quality products. Shoveling out this overpriced DLC by the wheelbarrow is strictly only good in the short-term - yes, Bioware makes more money now from the DLC, but they end up losing the support of their customers in the process, which will damage their profit margins in the future.

Unfortunately though, Bioware/EA, like all people, fall under the allure of the short-term and seem to lack the foresight to consider the long-term ramifications of this disgusting practice. That's why it's up to us, the consumers, to prove them wrong by being smart with our spending and sending the right message. Capitalism is a two-way street people, it takes both businesses AND consumers for an industry to exist.

First of all the practice really isn't short-sighted.  The stimulus package should've cured anybody's illusions about that.  While well-informed gamers that want to improve the consumer market as much as possible won't support crappy overpriced DLC the overall general population(that isn't nearly as rabid) will buy just about anything.  What started with Oblivion's horse armor is still most definitely happening now.  And it still works now.

But even besides that we have different perspectives on what's best for the consumer.  Personally I love DLC.  Because when done properly it expands and/or improves on a game that I had come to enjoy.  Take Jade Empire for example.  If Bioware had been big into DLC at the time then PERHAPS I would've gotten new costumes, powers, and an expansion for that game.  As it stands none of the above happened and it's questionable if they're even going to do a sequel.  I have to take the original product that they made and just enjoy it as is.  Yes if Bioware wasn't doing DLC they'd do more games but they might also be different games not sequels to the original games that I loved.  As much as I liked Jade Empire I would've much rather they had done KOTOR 2.  DLC allows them to expand original games while at the same time developing new ones.  Win-win as far as Im' concerned.

[omnitremere]

Shallowain wrote...

I012345 wrote...


Huh? What extra 10 dollars? What are you talking about? You do realize the CN was in both the collector's edition and the standard edition right? All you had to do was buy the game new and you're good.  There was no extra charge.  And I'd appreciate it if you didn't label any of my other statements as lies.  Really not necessary.

You are naive. The CN was most certainly not free, It was part of the price calculation all along. The only reason to sell it seperately is that they want to cash in on the second hand market.

I don't understand what I'm naive about.  The price of the game wasn't raised beyond the standard.  Are you both trying to make the argument that the DLC was already in the game but was cut out to give us the illusion of free DLC? And that, that's really what we're paying for with CN? If so that still doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day you payed $60.  If there was no CN you still would've payed $60.  So perhaps I am naive because I don't understand what argument is being made here.

[GothamLord]

TJSolo wrote...

GothamLord wrote...

TJSolo wrote...

I am not going to mince words on this.
It is a simple situation.
Having the customer pay twice for something is the definition of double dipping.
It screws the customer.
There is no other way to explain it.

Shove all the what ifs and maybes out the goddamned window. Deal with what is right in front of you face.

What the hell are you paying twice for???   You didnt pay extra for the pre-order item at purchase.  

5 bucks to pay for the preorder that granted access to the armor. It was a limited time offer up until the time of release. That 5 dollars was then deducted from the overall price of the game. Thus paid for.

Seems all business have to do is slap Free* or Bonus* on something and some consumers think it is free.
Now they want to flip another profit off of the same paid for goods. Double dipping.

So you do admit you didnt pay anything extra for the price of the game correct? You put down 5 bucks to reserve the game and in turn were given a item at no additional cost because you got it on release day.    The total game cost $60 still on release day with out without the reserve.  

How is getting a item at  no additional cost on release day and now offering it in a pack with other items at cost double dipping.  IT DIDNT COST ANYTHING THE FIRST TIME. 

If you want to argue the game cost more than it was worth thats a different topic altogether. 

Modifié par GothamLord, 04 mai 2010 - 09:00 .

[droid105]

HI All: Is Bioware going reduce the price for this dlc if any player has the inferno armor? I have the Inferno armor already and I really like to get the 2 helmet tho.

[Shallowain]

I012345 wrote...

I don't understand what I'm naive about.  The price of the game wasn't raised beyond the standard.  Are you both trying to make the argument that the DLC was already in the game but was cut out to give us the illusion of free DLC? And that, that's really what we're paying for with CN? If so that still doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day you payed $60.  If there was no CN you still would've payed $60.  So perhaps I am naive because I don't understand what argument is being made here.

The CN card was part of the package you bought, so you paid for the game AS WELL as the CN. If the CN was available for free for anyone you would have a point, But it is not, so they can make a buck on the second hand market as well.

[Shallowain]

droid105 wrote...

HI All: Is Bioware going reduce the price for this dlc if any player has the inferno armor? I have the Inferno armor already and I really like to get the 2 helmet tho.

earlier in this thread someone cited a support mail from EA about this and the answer was a definite "no, buy it again".

Modifié par Shallowain, 04 mai 2010 - 09:03 .

[omnitremere]

Shallowain wrote...

I012345 wrote...

I don't understand what I'm naive about.  The price of the game wasn't raised beyond the standard.  Are you both trying to make the argument that the DLC was already in the game but was cut out to give us the illusion of free DLC? And that, that's really what we're paying for with CN? If so that still doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day you payed $60.  If there was no CN you still would've payed $60.  So perhaps I am naive because I don't understand what argument is being made here.

The CN card was part of the package you bought, so you paid for the game AS WELL as the CN. If the CN was available for free for anyone you would have a point, But it is not, so they can make a buck on the second hand market as well.

It's available for free if you buy the game new.  I don't understand how that amounts to people trying to say you purchase it separately.  ME2 cost exactly the same amount as Fallout 3.  I paid for the game which the CN card came with.  I didn't pay extra for the CN card.  Maybe I'm just dense but this logic doesn't make sense to me.

[cruc1al]

I012345 wrote...

Shallowain wrote...

I012345 wrote...

I don't understand what I'm naive about.  The price of the game wasn't raised beyond the standard.  Are you both trying to make the argument that the DLC was already in the game but was cut out to give us the illusion of free DLC? And that, that's really what we're paying for with CN? If so that still doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day you payed $60.  If there was no CN you still would've payed $60.  So perhaps I am naive because I don't understand what argument is being made here.

The CN card was part of the package you bought, so you paid for the game AS WELL as the CN. If the CN was available for free for anyone you would have a point, But it is not, so they can make a buck on the second hand market as well.

It's available for free if you buy the game new.  I don't understand how that amounts to people trying to say you purchase it separately.  ME2 cost exactly the same amount as Fallout 3.  I paid for the game which the CN card came with.  I didn't pay extra for the CN card.  Maybe I'm just dense but this logic doesn't make sense to me.

Dude, you don't get it.

If you don't buy the game new, you don't get the CN card. If you buy the game second hand, you have to pay extra for the CN card. The money they make from the second-hand buyers is what offsets the price of producing "free" DLC distributed through CN. Hence, Bioware hasn't released free DLC, they've released DLC that second-hand buyers, and those who bought new instead of second hand in order to get CN access, have paid for.

Modifié par cruc1al, 04 mai 2010 - 09:18 .

[Shallowain]

I012345 wrote...

It's available for free if you buy the game new.  I don't understand how that amounts to people trying to say you purchase it separately.  ME2 cost exactly the same amount as Fallout 3.  I paid for the game which the CN card came with.  I didn't pay extra for the CN card.  Maybe I'm just dense but this logic doesn't make sense to me.

No it is not, it is part of the ENTIRE PACKAGE you buy. What you buy is not just the game, you buy game + CN card. The claim it is free is just a marketing ploy.

Start to get it, nothing on CN is actually free, it is already paid for, one way or another. The same with preorder Items, they are also paid for, paid out of the marketing budget or from the shops selling the games with them to have exclusives for their marketing effort. They didn't label something as free out of the kindness of their heart, they did it for marketing purposes.

[omnitremere]

cruc1al wrote...

I012345 wrote...

Shallowain wrote...

I012345 wrote...

I don't understand what I'm naive about.  The price of the game wasn't raised beyond the standard.  Are you both trying to make the argument that the DLC was already in the game but was cut out to give us the illusion of free DLC? And that, that's really what we're paying for with CN? If so that still doesn't make any sense because at the end of the day you payed $60.  If there was no CN you still would've payed $60.  So perhaps I am naive because I don't understand what argument is being made here.

The CN card was part of the package you bought, so you paid for the game AS WELL as the CN. If the CN was available for free for anyone you would have a point, But it is not, so they can make a buck on the second hand market as well.

It's available for free if you buy the game new.  I don't understand how that amounts to people trying to say you purchase it separately.  ME2 cost exactly the same amount as Fallout 3.  I paid for the game which the CN card came with.  I didn't pay extra for the CN card.  Maybe I'm just dense but this logic doesn't make sense to me.

Dude, you don't get it.

If you don't buy the game new, you don't get the CN card. If you buy the game second hand, you have to pay extra for the CN card. The money they make from the second-hand buyers is what offsets the price of producing "free" DLC distributed through CN. Hence, CN isn't about free stuff, it's about stuff that those who buy the game second hand pay for. 

Oh! That's what's supposed to offset it? I didn't catch that because I didn't think that would be a huge market.  If I get the game second hand either I'm borrowing it from a friend because I'm not that interested in it or I'm too broke to buy the full game so I get it used right? So why would I in turn chuck up extra dough to get DLC? And can't you buy ME2 DLC directly through the XBOX Live interface even if you don't have the CN? So that would be yet another reason not to buy it if you got the game secondhand.  Or is that an uninformed way to look at it?

[The RPGenius]

I012345 wrote...
But then doesn't that become an issue of trust? It seems like the theory a lot of people are presenting is that if we buy headset gear and amour the company will in turn decide not to release full quality expansion packs.  But to some degree that 's an issue of the integrity of the company right? So if you feel like Bioware has turned a leaf and doesn't give a damn about it's consumers than yeah you would expect them to flood the market with a couple of headsets once a month, rake in the cash, and not release any real quality DLC regarding this product.  I don't believe that's going to be the case.  They've promised to release large quality DLC for this game and I still believe they're going to deliver. 

Unless I'm wholly mistaken, THIS is the special DLC they were saying was coming soon last week.  So I trusted them on that issue, got excited, and found out that all it was was a hate, laser glasses, and armor I might already have.  Even putting aside that we've got evidence right here in the fact that certain customers are getting ripped off that implicit trust is not rewarded, I've ALREADY been shown that trusting them to deliver a quality add-on when they said they would is not necessarily well-placed.  And anyway, whether or not you trust the company to do the right thing, you're still encouraging them NOT to by purchasing a DLC without any concern about its merit or its integrity in regards to the customer.  Maybe you're trying to do one of those Bible things and expecting them to make the right decision while offering them the temptation and incentive not to, but if not, then you best hope your trust pays off, because you're giving them no reason not to betray it if they get paid either way.

I trust Bioware enough that I'm not going to be stupid and decide here and now over this one ME2 DLC mistake that I'm done with the company and boycotting their goods.  I don't trust them enough that I'm going to pretend that they aren't capable of bad decisions again when they've just made one.

And while I certainly agree with you that Bioware isn't financially strapped I also believe that if people don't buy DLC companies would stop making it.  And if you gave me a choice between alternate appearance packs/headgear and nothing then I'd rather just take what's being offered.  Especially when the price ranges from completely free to $2. 

The issue isn't not buying any DLC.  The issue is buying DLC that has substance, and DLC that doesn't actively screw over customers.  I've bought Kasumi's DLC.  I haven't bought this one, or the Alternate Appearances pack.  If Bioware were to base their entire marketing strategy on me, which would be awesome but unlikely, they wouldn't STOP making DLC.  They would just stop making the DLC that they can't sell--the pointless ones that don't significantly influence the game at all.  My not buying bad decisions does not mean that the good ones will never come about as a result; it actually encourages them.

But while they won't base everything on just me, they WILL be looking at the sales figures and reactions of the people at large.  Which is why people blindly buying, as you're advocating, is a bad idea regardless of how little it costs--because it tells them "Do this again!"  If a lot of people refuse to buy the stuff that's just not worth it and/or rips off customers, however, the message they get isn't "Don't do anything ever again."  It's "Bad idea; try a different one."

Which brings up my other point that it seems like people can't be satisfied.  How much free **** were you people expecting to get? I hear guys raving "The CN is completely useless" and "We didn't get anything for having the CN".  There's been 3 or 4 DLC packages released now that were completely free because of CN.  And we don't even know if that's the end of free stuff.  But people want to complain about TWO DOLLARS worth of DLC that's being charged.  And I agree with the poster who made the comment about small dollars being used to trick a consumer into thinking he's getting a good deal.  But I don't think that applies when several free items were being offered beforehand.  Like at what point can a company say "okay we've released five free things so we're going to charge for this."  I don't think that's unfair.  

This much I can agree with you on.  I was surprised, after Dragon Age's history of rip-off add-ons, that ME was offering such significant DLC for free.  People shouldn't be complaining about having to pay at this point for anything, and those that do are unreasonable.  But most people aren't--most are complaining about WHAT they're paying for, and once again, they're right to do so.

EDIT: Oh, didn't know that the game's price was increased to reflect the Cerberus Network.  Well...still, I'd say Zaeed and the Firewalker combined could reasonably have covered that extra.  Paying for more content's still fair to me, in theory.

Modifié par The RPGenius, 04 mai 2010 - 09:26 .

[omnitremere]

Shallowain wrote...

I012345 wrote...

It's available for free if you buy the game new.  I don't understand how that amounts to people trying to say you purchase it separately.  ME2 cost exactly the same amount as Fallout 3.  I paid for the game which the CN card came with.  I didn't pay extra for the CN card.  Maybe I'm just dense but this logic doesn't make sense to me.

No it is not, it is part of the ENTIRE PACKAGE you buy. What you buy is not just the game, you buy game + CN card. The claim it is free is just a marketing ploy.

Start to get it, nothing on CN is actually free, it is already paid for, one way or another. The same with preorder Items, they are also paid for, paid out of the marketing budget or from the shops selling the games with them to have exclusives for their marketing effort. They didn't label something as free out of the kindness of their heart, they did it for marketing purposes.

I definitely agree with you in terms of the preorder items but I don't understand how that logic holds water with the items release after launch.  Like the Cerberus armor and shotgun, hammerhead, and to a lesser extent the Zaeed download.  Those are free items UNLESS you think they were already in the game and Bioware purposefully held them back to then release them later under the guise of "free".

[GothamLord]

I012345 wrote...


Oh! That's what's supposed to offset it? I didn't catch that because I didn't think that would be a huge market.  If I get the game second hand either I'm borrowing it from a friend because I'm not that interested in it or I'm too broke to buy the full game so I get it used right? So why would I in turn chuck up extra dough to get DLC? And can't you buy ME2 DLC directly through the XBOX Live interface even if you don't have the CN? So that would be yet another reason not to buy it if you got the game secondhand.  Or is that an uninformed way to look at it?

Any Mass Effect 2 DLC that has a price tag on it you can get without the CN card.  Anything that is free such as Zaeed, the Arc Projector, or the Hammerhead requires the purchase of the CN. 

[Mako Zalos]

Okay guys let's stop the arguments and get on topic or the moderators are going to shut this down. Oh yeah the cerberus network card was free because if you buy the game new you get the card. the only time it costs extra money is if you bought the game used in which you either have to buy the card or download the network, and let me inform you that this is a good deal in a way and my friend has the inferno armor and he got a discount screw the EA support crew they're full of it anyways and chris priestley sayed in a previous thread that more free conent is coming so don't call bioware swindlers.