1807 réponses à ce sujet

[Malanek]

If its a marketing plan it is exceedingly frustrating, it is the only piece of information I want before the game launches. I don't understand why they reveal so much detail and spoilers about the story, companions etc but are not prepared to reveal whether there is a multiplayer component or not. I'm still assuming something is in development but it's still not ready to show.

 

I could be completely wrong, it does seem amazingly late for players to not know, but the devs would know by now if there was not any MPer and I don't see any explanation as to why they simply wouldn't tell us.

[SofaJockey]

I could be completely wrong, it does seem amazingly late for players to not know, but the devs would know by now if there was not any MPer and I don't see any explanation as to why they simply wouldn't tell us.

 

• There could be some kind of companion app inbound that would have some limited 'multiplayer' that prevents an outright denial but isn't usual multiplayer.
• There could be sensitivity to needing to be close enough to launch to avoid months of 'ME3 war assets - pre-order cancelled' hurt, like there was for ME3 MP.

[Kidd]

If its a marketing plan it is exceedingly frustrating, it is the only piece of information I want before the game launches. I don't understand why they reveal so much detail and spoilers about the story, companions etc but are not prepared to reveal whether there is a multiplayer component or not. I'm still assuming something is in development but it's still not ready to show.
 
I could be completely wrong, it does seem amazingly late for players to not know, but the devs would know by now if there was not any MPer and I don't see any explanation as to why they simply wouldn't tell us.

If there is multiplayer, I'm sure they want to make sure everybody knows the single player is up to snuff first. The moment a potential MP is announced, tons of people may sadly start using the MP's existence as an excuse to say BioWare were lazy or didn't care about the single player.

[Iakus]

 

• There could be sensitivity to needing to be close enough to launch to avoid months of 'ME3 war assets - pre-order cancelled' hurt, like there was for ME3 MP.

That smacks not so much as "announcing" MP as "sneaking it in" which seems counterintuitive.

[Vandicus]

That smacks not so much as "announcing" MP as "sneaking it in" which seems counterintuitive.

 

The less time there is to debate it the more likely people are to try it without having first been prejudiced for or against it by debate/news/rhetoric. There is a certain logic behind that, although I'd prefer that Bioware take the time to justify and communicate decisions to the community rather than simply hope the community react favorably after the fact.

[Iakus]

The less time there is to debate it the more likely people are to try it without having first been prejudiced for or against it by debate/news/rhetoric. There is a certain logic behind that, although I'd prefer that Bioware take the time to justify and communicate decisions to the community rather than simply hope the community react favorably after the fact.

 There is already debate and rhetoric.  Exhibit A being this thread.

 

Waiting until the last minute just makes it look like Bioware has something to hide.

[DragonKingReborn]

The less time there is to debate it the more likely people are to try it without having first been prejudiced for or against it by debate/news/rhetoric. There is a certain logic behind that, although I'd prefer that Bioware take the time to justify and communicate decisions to the community rather than simply hope the community react favorably after the fact.

 

All of that is certainly true. 

 

It makes a certain kind of logic.  While in general I'm relatively relaxed about any companies marketing plan for any of their products that I may choose to take an interest in, marketing does not exist in a moral/ethical vacuum.  If there is information that the company knows will affect some consumers purchase decision (positively or negatively - but particularly negatively) then not revealing that information in a timely manner (i.e. prior to the product becoming available) is a highly deceptive practice.

 

I absolutely get that, if MP is included, Bioware might want people to have the opportunity to experience it's quality without exposure to prejudice, but if withholding the information causes people to purchase their product that otherwise (given more complete information) would not have purchased (or in my case, not have pre-ordered and waited to see) then I think we're tip-toeing into a very shaky legal area.

 

With regards to the second part of your post, I too, would strongly prefer they just say one way or the other.  For the last few weeks, we've been told by various posters to the forums that, if it's in, Gamescom is the place we'll hear about it.  We haven't heard about it, yet, but it still won't die (the conversation about it, I mean).

 

Surely it would be more beneficial to the 'hype train' for people to only be talking about what is confirmed and leave what is confirmed to be out alone.  Because what is confirmed to be in is absolutely fantastic.  Yet a casual visitor to these forums might be forgiven for thinking that DA:I will rise or fall based on something that not only isn't confirmed, it hasn't even been spoken about by the developers.

[Killdren88]

Yes, it will be short lived.

Why aren't you funny.

[AppealToReason]

I'd assume that marketing probably has a careful plan for revealing it.

 

Confirming it now would spoil that after the delay. The devs have to prepare some sort of highlight reel or sizzle trailer. As well as mechanics trailers and stuff.

 

Their PR team will have organised interviews with games "journalists" and different outlets, maybe even exclusivity. Also you'll likely see a set news date so that at a the time X-Days to reveal then most gaming websites will carry the news at once.

 

Retailers have to create advertising based around the MP, and things like bonus packs for preorders.

 

The plan might have been to reveal it at Gamescom, but with the delay they probably want to push it back a bit to keep with the schedule relative to release date. 

 

Holding it until closer to the date can create a lot more buzz heading into release season versus it picking up steam and dying off 3-4 weeks out.

[SofaJockey]

Actually, just had a thought.

 

I wonder if the Gamescom demos are 'supervised' or 'led'?

If there was a multiplayer component it would show up in the load screens surely... ?

A person trying a demo could just look at the main menu.

Problem solved.

 

(Unless they are under NDA by participating in a demo.)

[Killdren88]

All EA wants is an Online connection. And DA keep satisfies that requirement. So the DA team need not brother with it. No Pro mage pro Chantry Team death match. No mindless horde mode. Dragon Age doesn't need it.

[AppealToReason]

Actually, just had a thought.

 

I wonder if the Gamescom demos are 'supervised' or 'led'?

If there was a multiplayer component it would show up in the load screens surely... ?

A person trying a demo could just look at the main menu.

Problem solved.

 

(Unless they are under NDA by participating in a demo.)

 

The demos usually have pretty restricted features. Usually only what they want you to see is available to be seen

[Deflagratio]

Actually, just had a thought.

 

I wonder if the Gamescom demos are 'supervised' or 'led'?

If there was a multiplayer component it would show up in the load screens surely... ?

A person trying a demo could just look at the main menu.

Problem solved.

 

(Unless they are under NDA by participating in a demo.)

 

They would be if it was exposed in the menu-Loading screens.

 

Skyrim did a similar thing, the Loading Screens for Werewolves were in the game as early as E32011, people who were allowed to play the demo were under strict orders to say nothing.

[Maria Caliban]

I absolutely get that, if MP is included, Bioware might want people to have the opportunity to experience it's quality without exposure to prejudice, but if withholding the information causes people to purchase their product that otherwise (given more complete information) would not have purchased (or in my case, not have pre-ordered and waited to see) then I think we're tip-toeing into a very shaky legal area.

Lolwat?

No, it's not shaky legal ground at all. There are hundreds of things that could affect your willingness to purchase an item or service, marketing is in no way obliged to tell you about all of them. Unless BioWare is mandated by law to tell you about the existence of MP, then they don't have to talk about it. Legally, the consumer is the one obliged to inform themselves about whether MP exist -- even if that means waiting until after the game comes out to verify it's lack of existence.

Consumer responsibility is not a shocking or new concept.

Please go ahead and talk about BioWare ought to give us this information. I agree they should tell us before the game ships. But stop bringing up the law; it just weakens your argument.

[Adhin]

So to add to the speculation : http://www.destructo...ii-279148.phtml

 

It's a good read and generally says the campaign seems to be super duper and great and all that. But at the end of the article he says there is a new announcement for this month, that he obviously knows about and im assuming other journalist know about but are under NDA about it. So.. there apparently is something else this month.

 

Now, may not be MP, might be MP, who knows. But I can't see that guy being super excited about a mobile app for a single player game. Just sayin'...

[SofaJockey]

So to add to the speculation : http://www.destructo...ii-279148.phtml

 

It's a good read and generally says the campaign seems to be super duper and great and all that. But at the end of the article he says there is a new announcement for this month, that he obviously knows about and im assuming other journalist know about but are under NDA about it. So.. there apparently is something else this month.

 

Now, may not be MP, might be MP, who knows. But I can't see that guy being super excited about a mobile app for a single player game. Just sayin'...

 

Hmmm...

 

"There's more Inquisition coverage on the way later this month, including a big announcement that I can't wait to share."

 

There's a 'Nug Simulator' mini-game on Android and iOS to be announced 

 

Seriously though, that tease ties in well with the 'bonus content' reveal timeline.

[Adhin]

Yup it is definitely a tease of some sort that will eventually lead to some information of some kind or another I am 100% sure of that. Hoping it's a sexeh co-op mode.

[Wirbelwind]

So to add to the speculation : http://www.destructo...ii-279148.phtml

 

It's a good read and generally says the campaign seems to be super duper and great and all that. But at the end of the article he says there is a new announcement for this month, that he obviously knows about and im assuming other journalist know about but are under NDA about it. So.. there apparently is something else this month.

 

Now, may not be MP, might be MP, who knows. But I can't see that guy being super excited about a mobile app for a single player game. Just sayin'...

 

Thanks for sharing this

 

I have a friend who loved DA:O and was disappointed in DA II whom I have been trying to convince to give DA:I its chance, and this article is another argument I'll send his way.

[DragonKingReborn]

Lolwat?

No, it's not shaky legal ground at all. There are hundreds of things that could affect your willingness to purchase an item or service, marketing is in no way obliged to tell you about all of them. Unless BioWare is mandated by law to tell you about the existence of MP, then they don't have to talk about it. Legally, the consumer is the one obliged to inform themselves about whether MP exist -- even if that means waiting until after the game comes out to verify it's lack of existence.

Consumer responsibility is not a shocking or new concept.

Please go ahead and talk about BioWare ought to give us this information. I agree they should tell us before the game ships. But stop bringing up the law; it just weakens your argument.

 

"Failure to disclose - False advertising can come from both misstatements and partially correct statements that are misleading because they do not disclose something the consumer should know"

 

Now, clearly Bioware has plenty of time to reveal any MP component to the game.  Clearly they are not obliged to be affected by my - or anyone elses - desire to have complete information right now.  I was also not threatening legal action or suggesting that they would be subject to such.  It is a game, hardly the end of the world one way or another.

 

What is also clear is that just because something is neither here nor there to some people, does not mean it will not affect the purchase decision of others.  And that was the sum total of the point I was trying to make.  If something will affect the purchase decision of a number of consumers, then it is something that the entire potential consumer base should have full information on.

 

Also, bringing up "the law" once, doesn't strike me as much of a tendency that needs to be stopped, even if it weren't pertinent.

 

At this point, I am somewhat past caring whether it is there or not.  Certain people have taken the high road - Sofajockey has encouraged polite discussion while respecting different points of view.  Others (on both sides of the discussion) have not.  The only reason I want an announcement now is to end the debate because it actually makes coming here a tiring exercise, rather than an enjoyable conversation about a product I'm looking forward to.
 

[Heimdall]

If they haven't announced it yet, I would begin to seriously doubt it's existence.

But I've reached a state of total indifference on the topic.

[Adhin]

@DragonKingReborn: That would really only ever be an issue if they outright lied about it and didn't put the information on the box or when ordering the game past release. Pre-release it's all subject to change and isn't quite the same. Watch Dogs blantantly lied a few times (and im not talking about the PC graphics). I bought it based off a few interviews stating things you could do and how things worked and none of that was in the game, I was extremely bummed.

 

The only time BioWare has done that was with ME3. And all of that was early/mid development, they obviously re-shuffled things near the tail end of development and took away a lot of the choice and outcomes for the ending. But none of that has to do with, withholding information - it was a direct statement that turned out to be the opposite. Which sucks, really, really sucks when that happens. But in the end 'subject to change', work in progress all kinda covers that up legally till the games released.

 

After it's released if they sold us a first person shooter puzzle game with a floating goblin insulting us the whole time then... that would be pretty darn misleading and grounds for legal action for sure.

[DragonKingReborn]

Is it wrong that I now want the insulting floating goblin game?

[Maria Caliban]

"Failure to disclose - False advertising can come from both misstatements and partially correct statements that are misleading because they do not disclose something the consumer should know"

Doubling down on a stupid statement does not make it less stupid.

If BioWare doesn't talk about the MP, that's not false advertising. It's not a misstatement or a partially correct/misleading statement. Multiplayer is not something the consumer 'should know.'

[DragonKingReborn]

In retrospect I probably should have dropped the 'very' that was before 'shaky'.  It is the sort of thing that causes me to make my Kermit the Frog annoyed face, but not actually illegal.  If I gave the impression that that was what I was suggesting then I apologise as it wasn't my intention.

 

As long as people who have preordered and then - if MP is announced - have the ability to cancel their preorder and not suffer any financial penalties at all, then they are absolutely fine from a legal point of view I'm sure.

 

On the 'marketing strategy' side of things; I guess there are the two schools of thought - leave it late, so that people can get excited about the other stuff and not have too long to get angry about the 'thing they didn't want'.  OR - announce early, let any grief and trauma subside and then - hopefully - get brought back in by everything else, which, as I mentioned before, is ALL amazing.  Seems they are going with the former (if there is MP in the game).

[SofaJockey]

... announce early, let any grief and trauma subside  ...

 

hmmm

 

honestly the BioWare forum is not a place that lets grief and trauma subside very quickly... 

 

Aside of Rule 34, as any thread increases in length the chances that it will continue without reference to the ME3 A,B,C endings approaches zero...