87 réponses à ce sujet

[Master of Smash]

It's an old trend, one that's been around for years: Developers cut content out of a game, or intentionally leave space for it, so they can charge purchasers of the base game more money in the future, or persuade them to meet additional requirements if they want access to everything in the games they pay for.

Well, now I say it's gone too far. Case in point: Bioware's recent games, Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins. My argument is not aimed at DLC released for purchase after a game's initial release; I'm not even complaining about Bioware's new tactic to discourage used game sales, by including free DLC only with new copies of their games.

What I have a big problem with is companies like EA and Bioware partnering with game retailers and other companies to release promotional DLC that may only be obtained by fulfilling requirements such as pre-ordering from a certain store, buying game-related merchandise, or signing up for websites within a specified time.

In the case of Mass Effect 2 - which is the less extreme example of how far this has been taken by EA and Bioware - There are five different promotions to go through just to get in-game content that should be accessible to anyone who pays full price for the game! To specify, there's...

The Terminus Gear content, which may only be obtained by pre-ordering Mass Effect 2 from GameStop.

The Inferno Armor, which may only be obtained by pre-ordering Mass Effect 2 from certain other retailers, like Best Buy, Target, and amazon.com.

The Incisor Sniper Rifle, which may only be obtained by pre-ordering and purchasing the Digital Deluxe PC version of Mass Effect 2 from Steam.

The Collector's Armor and Assault Rifle, which may only be obtained by buying the Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 2.

The Recon Hood, the Sentry Interface, and the Umbra Visor, which may only be obtained via a Dr. Pepper promotion.

I did not include the Blood Dragon Armor or the Cerberus Network content (additional character Zaeed and side mission Normandy Crash) since they are incentives for gamers to buy Bioware's games new instead of used, and do not require one to meet any requirements other than purchasing the game. That's a separate, though related issue...

At any rate, if you think Mass Effect 2's promotional content is hard to get, Dragon Age: Origins is the game that really pushes the limits of extra content at the cost of meeting many different requirements. There are thirteen promotional items which may only be obtained by putting forth extra effort after paying for the game - you can see them all here:

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/DLC

Ridiculous, right? Well, back to Mass Effect 2. Personally, I've obtained all but one of the promotional items for this game, and I believe that the last one - the Incisor Sniper Rifle - is wrongly being denied to those of us who bought the Xbox 360 versions of the game. Only those who purchased the Digital Deluxe PC version from Steam got the code for it, so those of us who do not have gaming-capable PCs had no way to obtain it without wasting $50.00 on a game we cannot run. Dragon Age: Origins had the same problem, in the form of the Band of Fire and the Wicked Oath content (and perhaps the Dalish Promise Ring, I'm unsure), which only came with PC versions of the game from EA and Steam.

I contacted EA Support via chat, and asked if they would manually activate these PC-only items for my Xbox 360 versions of the two games, since there is no other way for me to get them. The agent I spoke with said there was nothing he could do. I was told, "It would not be justice to those who met the eligibility criteria just for the items." He then suggested I post my thoughts in the forums, which I have done, in hopes that many of you will agree with me.

In conclusion, I say that we should speak up, and let companies like EA and Bioware know that we're tired of "jumping through hoops" just to get extra content in the games we buy. I think that, at the very least, if such content is made available via promotional means only, then that content should be put up for sale within six months of the promotion's beginning. Of course, even if content like the Incisor Sniper Rifle or the Band of Fire is put up for sale on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, I believe that those of us without gaming-capable PCs are still being discriminated against. It might be different if such items were incompatible with the 360 version, or if they were released on PC much later... But this is not an instance of a game being re-released on PC long after its console counterpart.

All versions of Mass Effect 2 and Dragon Age: Origins were released on the same day (or a few days apart, for Dragon Age: Origins), yet there is content in both games that Xbox 360 owners can only access if they buy the PC versions of these games. There is no content that is available exclusively on the 360, while it's relatively easy to obtain all of the DLC on PC.

Xbox 360 owners are clearly not being treated fairly by EA and Bioware, and this growing trend of offering promotional content for meeting inconvenient and expensive requirements should stop, or at least be tamed somewhat by offering the content for purchase after a set amount of time. Collector's Edition content is debatable, but I personally believe that ALL content for any game should be available for purchase within a reasonable time.

Now, what do you think, fellow gamers and purchasers of Mass Effect 2 and/or Dragon Age: Origins? I've posed this question to the GameFAQs Mass Effect 2 boards already, and I received mixed responses - many said that I am over-reacting over one piece of DLC (when it's really the principle of it all I'm against), while others supported my argument, agreeing that we should not have to pre-order a game from three or more different places just to get the most possible enjoyment out of the game we purchased. Whether it's one piece of promotional content or thirteen pieces, it is game content that not everyone will be able to enjoy.

There are many people who only got one pre-order bonus, if any, and while many dismiss such promotional content as trifles, plenty of others hold the opposite opinion: This promotional DLC is worth something - even if only to "hardcore" fans or  completionists - and it should not be denied to us just because we were not able to meet certain requirements in addition to  paying full price for the game.

Modifié par Master of Smash, 07 février 2010 - 09:54 .

[Fives]

They are going to release all of the promotional DLC at a later date. And when the DLC leaked a few days before the game's release, I managed to snag the Incisor rifle for the Xbox.

[JigPig]

[Makoto SFG]

Boo hoo.



Fortunately for us, most of that promo DLC stuff is garbage.

[kevlarcardhouse]

Don't care. If it was something like a huge 3 hour mission or something, then I'ld be pissed because there are certain retailers I wouldn't want to feel forced to support.



But things like a ring or an assault rifle or whatever, I couldn't care less about it. All it does is unbalance your own single-player game for a short while until you inevitably find a better item. If I want things to be easier, I'll just drop the difficulty level.



Besides, it's not you don't get the complete game without all that junk. For the most part, it's all made afterwards when the promo deals are made.

[AtreiyaN7]

*facepalm* I consider these things little bonuses for pre-ordering, not items necessary for my enjoyment of the game. I don't need every set of armor, every special weapon or every helmet/visor/whatsit available. I chose something I liked, and I was happy with it. I don't give a flaming fig over the rest of it. Either this stuff will get released as DLC later, or you can buy codes on ebay/trade/whatever if you're really THAT obsessed with having a bunch of stuff...

Modifié par AtreiyaN7, 07 février 2010 - 10:03 .

[diskoh]

Makoto SFG wrote...

Boo hoo. .

Good grief the people here are mean.

[JigPig]

The.... WALL... of QQ

HURTS MY EYES.

[DeepGray]

Funny, you're crying over 1 piece of DLC while the entire PC version is one big console port. Boo hoo.

[Bustercube]

How long are we going to have to hear this same old complaint?

[Daestar]

Well my promo code for the Cerberus Network is broke. I input it into the promo code area seeing how I can't get into the network to check for DLC and it doesn't show me as part of the network. I log into the game with the same login and I See myself as part of the network.

[wikkedjoker]

The sad thing is, companies pay for this DLC to be made, so we as users will buy form them. They want us to pick which DLC means the most to us, and pay for it. Its a little petty if you ask me.

[B-licious]

Maybe you should be angry at the developers of Spiderman 3 and Batman Arkham Asylum; the PS3 versions of each game contain exclusive campaigns. Also the PS3 version of Just Cause comes with a feature that allows you to send your last 30 seconds of gameplay straight to the youtubes. Now THOSE are screwed up promotions You can buy the Spider man 3 one off the game market place, but I don't know about Batman: AA.

[fanman72]

hahah no one cares about your ****ty PS3

[B10Reaper]

... you obviously don't have any of the armor or anything or you wouldn't complain. I've used the DLC armor for one mission in the game for each suit. It's terrible, really, and you can easily get better benefits from the N7 armor. There are better assault rifles in the game than the collector rifle, you're not missing anything from either of those weapons, so try and enjoy the game.



Also, us Xbox 360 users, CANADIAN users, are used to getting screwed when it comes to DLC on the pc not coming to the 360, or overpricing of content, it's nothing new. Not that it's right, just that it's nothing new. But this time we're not missing out on anything but a crappy rifle.

[Raygereio]

About the Terminus Gear; the exclusive thing was only in the US, I think. Over here in the Netherlands you get it if you preordered it, together with the Inferno armour.



To the OP; are you honestly being this indignant about a couple of items that add nothing to the gameplay? I can honestly say you won't miss it, hell, I've played the game twice now and I haven't even used any of them.

[B-licious]

fanman72 wrote...

hahah no one cares about your ****ty PS3

Huh?

[Barbeil]

Master of Smash is right their should be no way that their should be 5 different promos for this game. Nobody understands why they just can't release the DLC to the public and on top of that more than likely make us pay for it.
I have a regular copy so it came with the Cerberus Network Card which fails cause i was only able to get Zaeed and the the Normandy mission when it states,

• Download Zaeed, a lethal gun for hire,for your squad!
• Access new and devastating weaponry
• Receive updates and news via direct feed in-game
• Take on perilous new missions and assignments

I have Zaeed, the news feed which i find useless, and the Normandy mission.

Sorry if i went off topic of this Forum post.

[peterflam]

complete agree with you. all promo content shoulder be included in the game to be found during planet exploration. holding off to sell them via dlc or promotional pre orders is a disturbing trend indeed. seems every damn game is doing it now.



they are not short on cash. mass effect 2 sold 2 million copies the first week. and they're able to hire famous and professional actors to do the voices. the only reason they want us to go through these damn hoops is because of partnerships they have with certain retailers and companies. it's ridiculous.



and there are people who condone or try to excuse this kind of practice. consumerist stupidity boggles the mind. it doesn't matter if the promo stuff and dlc is all junk in your point of view, it's the principle behind it. i'm not surprised alot of the people defending this crap aren't able to see that.

[Moorpheusl9]

You forgot to put Mass Effect: Galaxy!



Whilst this is only a small reward (a little quest and some extra dialogue) it still only rewards those with an iPod Touch/iPhone.



I agree that games these days are getting ridiculous with promotions. My main gripe isn't the number of them as such, it's their localizations - I'm in the UK and stuff like the Dr Pepper stuff isn't available to me.



Now, in all honesty, I couldn't care less - the item is just that...an item. It's not changing the game but it would be nice to at least have the chance to access the promo.

[Fulcrum90]

God, I think I saw the exact same topic on GFAQs.



Do you want some whine with that cheese OP?

[delta_blade]

it's unfair the promo content becuase many of us don't live in U.S.A and is impossible to get the content if we are from other country