Don't worry, the Mass Effect 3 DLC isn't sliced from the game

El33tonline writes:

"After news of the first set of Mass Effect 3 DLC was leaked and subsequently confirmed yesterday, gamers did what they do best: Speculated and ruminated. What they came up with is this:

See as how the upcoming DLC, From Ashes, is due to launch alongside Mass Effect 3 on release day and is included as a collector’s edition bonus, this must mean that EA and BioWare are trying to gouge gamers by making them pay for content that was originally meant to be included in the singleplayer campaign on the disc, but will now be available as a paid extra.

Not the case, says BioWare’s Casey Hudson."

[Godmars290]

Even if its not "sliced from the game" the content in question is still obviously sliced from the overall plot.

[OliverKO]

Good point, but a lot of people are getting up in arms about how they're paying for actual *content* that has somehow been 'removed' from the campaign that will now be 'unlocked' when they download the DLC, like a Capcom/2K Games 100K DLC patch.

This isn't the case with Mass Effect 3 and From Ashes, but your point is still very valid.

[T900]

So why are DLCs then planned before the game is even released. Its obvious they want to be penny pinching the customers for everything.

All development should happen for the game before release. Anything that is to be sold as DLC should be a later production.

[maniacmayhem]

@t900

That is not how production works. Making a game this size and content heavy takes a lot of time. Not to mention deadlines and other projects not related that need attention and to be worked on.

[TheHater]

If that is the case, then why is the DLC out weeks before the game is release? Face it, the cut the content from the game and I will be buying it used months down the line. Hell, I will just wait for the Ultimate version in a year and get everything for one price.

I don't blame EA or Bioware, I blame the gamers. Just look how many of you support Capcom and other companies that been doing the same thing since the start of this generation. Instead of sounding off on the forums and bitching, why not just speak with your wallet. That what I been doing.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@OliverKO ... I am up in arms over this because the reality is that the day 1 "full" Mass Effect 3 game is not $60 as advertised but it will cost you $70+ to play the full "real" game. $60 gets you a game that is missing elements that you have to pay extra for on day 1. That is why I am upset.

[MAJ0R]

DLC announced before release = cut content

No other way of putting, nothing anyone says, especially an employee at Bioware will change this.

[MysticStrummer]

Whether it was removed or not is irrelevant. Any DLC that shows up on launch day could have been in the "final" game, and was withheld solely for the purpose of making more money.

[SilentNegotiator]

These are the same people who claimed that they 'don't have the manpower' to bring VC to the PC (but have the power to delay it SEVERAL MONTHS and to make such a large game), and that the cheap processor and voice system/tools (that Sony has a similar dev kit tool of) in Kinect is the deal-breaker keeping the PS3 from having it (despite games like SOCOM doing it back on the ps2 without sacrifices).

These aren't honest people. They'll make the most money at any cost of honesty.

"Making a game this size and content heavy takes a lot of time. Not to mention deadlines and other projects not related that need attention and to be worked on"
-
They cut plot and are selling it to us ON RELEASE DAY. The same day as the game releases. It is included with the special edition. And deadlines? Are you joking? They delayed the game for months!

Why are you guys apologizing for these people?? They're selling something that got snipped from the plot! They're making you use a pass! The delayed the game for months, on the fact that they COULD with EA's bunker full of cash, but they can't get the time or resources to make sure things like a snippet of the game is released on disc(s)? It's PURE balderdash!

Argh. The madness. Gamers take such abuse, and they apologize for it, then beg for more.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

This is why i will pirate all the DLC on PC day one.

[Solid_Snake37]

Man, Bioware really went downhill after they got purchased by EA

[zeal0us]

Since CE is getting hard to find they should at least include the dlc with the standard edition. They only ones should have to pay for this dlc is the ppl who buy the game secondhand, to me.

[EVILDEAD360]

LMAO @ the the developer CLEARLY debunking some tiny fan blogger site and the usual suspects are still pretending that Bioware is lying.

Its hilarious how Mass Effect 2 did the exact same thing with it's DLC and now the usual suspects are pretending it's some conspiracy by EA and Bioware to steal consumer money.

As usual the silly fake internet agenda against this game won't mean a thing no matter how many people claim thy are canceling their non-existing pre-order or OMG OMG pirating the game.

Salutes Bioware for addressing the B.S. head-on and can't wait to once again get lost in this amazing franchise.

Evil

[Hayabusa 117]

@Maj0r

"DLC announced before release = cut content"

Exactly. Cut content that would never make the disc release = DLC.

So, do you guys actually know how long it takes to make a decent piece of DLC? Longer then you guys give the developers. DLC always tends to be content that was originally CUT from the game. "Cut" means exactly that: gone, ka-poof, vanished, never to see the light of day ever again. Remember your favourite Mario and Zelda games from the 90s? They had cut content too. All games, throughout video game history, has cut content. You guys think those games were released "complete" because they never told you about the cut content. They never needed to, they cut because they choose to.

Gamers in this day and age have the opportunity to experience cool features and ideas left out of developement because the developers didn't have enough time to implement them. Those features get made as DLC, because the publishers want to make money from it, and the developers now have the time to go back and work on those features.

And ofcourse they know what's going to be DLC before the game is released. They have a "schedule", they know how long they have and how long it will take to implement features A and B, so they know they won't have enough time to make feature C for the final gold candidate submission. So they toss it in the DLC pile. And yes, sometimes they even develop those features while the rest of the game is still in production, even though they know it won't be finished in time for gold, and they're not going to delay the game because that has massive consequences. =DLC.

You can moan all you want about how the publishers are extorting money from you, but the fact remains that most DLC is infact cut content that would NEVER see the light of day.

This idea that developers deliberatly remove a feature from the disc release to sell as DLC is bullsh t. Maybe some developers do, but most of them don't. Think of cut content as "deleted scenes".

"DLC" that is content on the disc unlocked through a key, is a completely different matter however.

[SilentNegotiator]

@EvilDead

Let me tell you about proof. This content was leaked as part of the game in NOVEMBER.

If you want to blindly believe the people that want to sell you something....
......hey, wanna buy some snake oil? It'll cure what ails ya. I'd be willing to sell it you you for a mere $100, my friend. You can trust me. If you can't trust the seller's word, who CAN you trust?

But hey, if you want to be abused and apologize for it, that's your business. You and your buddies have been allowing yourselves to have wife beater's syndrome this entire generation for a certain hunk of plastic, anyway.

[snipes101]

@Evil...

They didnt do the exact same thing with 2. You could get the day one dlc by preordering either version of the game. It was a preorder bonus, not something that came exclusively with a limited run edition of the game.

[EVILDEAD360]

'They didnt do the exact same thing with 2. You could get the day one dlc by preordering either version of the game. It was a preorder bonus, not something that came exclusively with a limited run edition of the game.'

It WAS the exact same thing. It was DAY ONE DLC. If you didn't preorder it then what did you do to get it..ask nicely.

Just because the content of Mass Effect 2 didn't leak does not mean it wasnt day one DLC.

'But hey, if you want to be abused and apologize for it, that's your business. You and your buddies have been allowing yourselves to have wife beater's syndrome this entire generation for a certain hunk of plastic, anyway'

LMFAO @ you trying way too hard. Snake oil? Wife beaters syndrome? GFOH with that silliness. Are you people pretending that No OTHER game has DLC that releases day one or even weeks later? Are you pretending to know how the development process works in Bioware because YOU SAY SO on the internet.

Even if they wanted to cut content and offer it up as OPTIONAL DLC don't they have the right?

When the movie industry makes cuts to their movies that show up as incentives for people to buy the DVD or Blu-ray do people complain?

It's clear why 'certain' people are reeeeeaching for the stars to pretend they are in soooo much rage over this particuliar game.

But, to pretend Bioware is ripping people off when other companies have you paying upwards of 150 dollars for remote control cars, dolls,statues, NVGs, wait for it....cough..DAY ONE DLC..which is locked out by a code etc..then it's clear how hypocrisy reigns supreme in the gaming world these days.

Either way..won't stop one true ME3 fan from enjoying the game. The rest werent buying the game in the first place

Evil

[snipes101]

This DLC is exclusive to the CE, it was not in 2. You could get it via preordering either version, whereas this time you need to buy the CE edition. Its packaged in with the game, not a rpeorder bonus. Those are different things.

Number two. There is the fact that this DLC has far more impact on the ME lore than any of the DLC that you got day one with 2. SPOILERS you are meeting a prothean for christ's sake. Whether or not they started to develop that after they sent the game in for certification has nothing to do with this. This is nothing small like the Normandy crash site mission from ME2, this is meeting a prothean, a being that is part of a race purportedly responsible for putting together the technology that helped shape the universe the game is taking place in.

This really just seems like a money grubbing technique, no matter what they say.

[SilentNegotiator]

"Are you pretending to know how the development process works in Bioware because YOU SAY SO on the internet"
-
I know for a fact that many (even big name, high selling) games have gone gold a mere WEEK before launching, and that the approval time to get something on Xbox LIVE and PSN will often take several days. They chose to go gold almost two weeks ago. NOTHING prevented these guys from putting this section in the final game.

"Even if they wanted to cut content and offer it up as OPTIONAL DLC don't they have the right?"
-
Sure, it's a capitalist system. They have the "right" to rip us off. That doesn't mean that we will ALL sit back and take it.

"When the movie industry makes cuts to their movies that show up as incentives for people to buy the DVD or Blu-ray do people complain? "
-
And you say that I am reaching for the stars? That is literally the worst comparison I have ever heard. Movies make cuts from the movie because they're trying to make the best movie that they can. That content is in the DVD/Blu-ray because it makes no sense for it to be shown at any point in the theaters.

"But, to pretend Bioware is ripping people off when other companies have you paying upwards of 150 dollars for remote control cars"
-
No logic-less argument would be complete without "bu-bu-but Call of Duty did ____ wrong! So ____ isn't so bad!"

"Either way..won't stop one true ME3 fan from enjoying the game. The rest werent buying the game in the first place "
-
You keep telling yourself that. Some people have principle enough to refrain from one game to not be abused and cheated. I have avoided SEVERAL games for having online passes that restrict MY ability to play, despite buying new. So to pretend I'm pretending to be upset despite not being a fan, is absolutely garbage. I care about the industry, but more importantly, the way the industry treats us.

[LOGICWINS]

Damn, if a Bioware rep is taking time to explain this whole DLC thing, then TONS of people must be complaining about it. If more people threaten to buy the game used on Bioware/EA forums, then we MIGHT end up getting "From the Ashes" for free!

[m23]

I highly doubt that.

[Godmars290]

You're missing the main point that the damage has likely already been done. This about a production decision which was meant to generate more money effecting the development of the game's story and plot. This can't just be fixed by making this removed content free to all.

[LOGICWINS]

It can happen. EA can offer the DLC free for ONE month after the release date to everyone who buys the game new.

[jthamind]

how much does the online pass cost if i buy the game used? this is really making me want to buy it used, since they're screwing us over with day one DLC. they can provide every explanation about it in the world, but as a consumer, paying $70 day one for the full game isn't pretty.

[LOGICWINS]

^^I'm assuming that its $10 for an online pass AND $10 for the new DLC. I'm planning on buying used as well.

[v1c1ous]

THEY FORGOT TO MENTION THE PART WHERE THE CHARACTER DIALOGUE WAS LEAKED BACK IN NOVEMBER

Not cut from the game my ass.

[hulk_bash1987]

Looks like Bioware/EA made my decision for me whether to buy ME3 or Sreetfighter x Tekken March 6th. Ill just wait till they announce that at least this dlc is included or if not, wait till the price of the game goes down and then purchase the dlc. Its a pain cause this is one ive been waiting for since beating ME2 2 years ago.

[SephirothX21]

As annoying as it is to see DLC on launch day and maybe they could have made that DLC free, nobody is forced to buy it. Bioware finished production of the game in January and obviously because of the March deadline, they probably started printing the game. If they put the DLC in the final game, they might not have made the March 9th release date. Clearly they feel there is a full game worth of content already in the main game and thus whether their move was because of greed or not, one might still be satisfied with the amount of content in the primary product. However, I feel that the DLC should be free and that would solve all problems. You'd have to ask is this EA's influence.

[NYC_Gamer]

Why not give the gamer who buys ME3 brand new some free dlc packs.

[Reborn]

Would be too easy.

[banner]

Free dlc to keep customers from buying used?!

0_o that's the look they would give you if you said it in a meeting. Its much easier to charge in order to get online service if bought used and that one time key thing for PC games.

All I know is if things don't change with the way dlc is handled, I'm going to be a PC gamer. They always get great deals and free dlc, for some strange reason the games are cheaper when launched too.

[Ravenor]

Lack of royalty fee's when not releasing games on someone else's hardware. Nothing strange about it...

[Nozzle]

So thats it......people are just going to take their word on it.

BS....it's obviously cut from the game, if you know what it is...well know who the character is you can recruit, then you will know it was taken from the game. I mean they've been talking about them for the past two games, why would they have something so story focused as DLC.

[Bimkoblerutso]

Yeah, it's ridiculous. It easily would have passed as a plot twist in the main storyline.

And then they have to gall to try and convince us that a character as surprising and important as that was NOT intended to be included in the standard game?

That's total BS.

[AtomicGerbil]

If this is the case, what they failed to realise is that the contents of the DLC is a huge part of the Mass Effect lore and really doesn't belong as an afterthought as such.

With that in mind they should understand the fan's frustration, or they are just full of sh*t.

[MizTv]

i just want the damn game and if its good i get the dlc buy if it sucks then hell no

[BeaArthur]

Is that supposed to make me feel better about paying $70 for this game?

[LOGICWINS]

Not to mention all the UPCOMING DLC that will be coming later on in the year.

[kesvalk]

not to mention the fact that you will not understand the start of the game unless you played a DLC they made for ME2...

yes, the end and tie-in from mass effect 2 is not the ending of the actual game, it's the end of a DLC that happens AFTER the end of the game...

[WitWolfy]

Yeah Got that DLC "arrival" I think on PSN+ for like next to nothing to quickly see how the game really ends!!! Not TOO BAD I must say :)

[m23]

I hope the DLC character is more interactive than in the second game. You weren't able to have full conversations with those characters in ME2, hopefully that's not the case this time around.

[ironcreed]

The point is that EA went from offering extra characters and content for free as an incentive to buy new to making you either buy the collector's edition for $80.00 to get it, or pony up $10.00 to get it on day one. Secondly, if the character has no real meaning plot-wise as they say, then they have effectively cheapened a rather significant part of the lore. It is not good, any way you look at it.

[jetlian]

what I do find funny is they claim its not really that big a deal/mission if so why is it 10 dollars instead of 5. If its closer to zaheed than lair its totally a 5 dollar DL

[MrDead]

I shall wait for the GOTY edition, plenty more games to play until then.

[Megaton]

If they haven't even made a ME2 GOTY edition yet, what makes you think they'll make a ME3 GOTY edition any time in the next several years?

[MrDead]

I have ME2 on the PS3 which has all the DLC except Arrival, I hope they do something like that again.

[Megaton]

They only did that because it was debuting on the PS3. They had to do something to justify the $60 price at a point where it was $20 on 360 and PC.

[MrDead]

$60 was still a good price at the time for the main game, Cerberus Network, Kasumi - Stolen Memory, Overlord Pack, Shadow Broker, Alternate Appearance Pack 2 (Tali, Grunt, Miranda), Firepower Pack, Aegis Pack, Equalizer Pack and the Alternate Appearance Pack 1 (Garrus, Thane, Jack). Not forgetting if you pick it up now on PS3 it will cost the same as the PC and 360 versions but it has the DLC added.

[DlCK_DANGEROUSLY]

I'm not trying to start anything here. But clearly everyone on this page is either cynical or well educated. No matter which, the people don't seem to be buying what you're selling...... So to speak lol.

[Megaton]

That's simply not true. Casey Hudson and the rest of them are lying. The leaks have proven this thing was in the pipeline ages ago.

[ShinraE5]

Notice he neglected to comment on said leaks. Why? because they are full of it...

[TenkoTAiLS]

Weren't the speech and model files for the new character this DLC introduces ripped from the demo a while back? If it isn't content removed from the main game then why we're the files hidden in the demo?

[PooEgg]

Not really surprised, EA is the worst when it comes to rogue DLC strategies, and BioWare is along on EA's ride. I would be more surprised if they took things in a different direction and showed love for their fans, but that simply isn't EAs method of operation, so this is what it is.

I still plan on buying ME3, because I am a fan of BioWare. At the end of the day I know I really want to play this game, and I feel it will be worth every penny. But I would really love to see a day when game companies started thinking about the customers as deeply as they think about their profits.

[Kaos_Vll]

Why would they when they have people like you who will put up with their BS and buy the game anyway?

[CommanderWTF]

Bioware: Ah yes "DLC" disc locked content that you have to pay for to use even though it's already on the disc. We have dismissed that claim.

[rattletop]

lol it isn't like they came up with the idea of the dlc in those 3 months. they deliberately took content away from the main game to make a dlc.

[Aloren]

And you think that a DLC that is released 2 months after launch wasn't thought and planned long before the game came out ?

[rattletop]

@Aloren I never said so. also Arrival, Lair Of the Shadow broker both were story-related dlcs and both were planned only after games release. they weren't intentionally taken away from the actual game.
@GarondShooter Oh you r funny..NOT. trilogy means three separate major releases. So what's the point of having it in one game? Also that takes away the excitement of the story.

[GarandShooter]

You could be on to something, if this was a planned trilogy, then all of ME2 and 3 was cut from the first game, right?

Scoundrels!

[ninjahunter]

I really dont care what filth they spew, they showed me EA is their puppet master, and im not falling for their song and dance. Just like any self respecting human being im not going to support something that i believe is a foul and a negative for consumers. Bioware, Just like crytek you have lost my respect.

Vote with your money, thats all.

[Aloren]

They probably lost your respect long ago then, since all their games since DA1 had day one character DLC. Many other developers probably lost your respect too... with all the day one dlcs, online pass, etc.

[Ravenor]

He's a lonely guy, but dammit he's a principled lonely guy.

[sjaakiejj]

I think most of you are jumping to conclusions. Just because the character is 'major' to the cannon of the Mass Effect Universe, doesn't mean he actually is to the game. DLC is meant to add something extra to the experience for those willing to pay, and until anyone has actually tried out this DLC, I don't think it's reasonable to assume the DLC is 'cut' from the main game. In fact, it's likely to be similar to Zaeed and Kasuma from Mass Effect 2, where they have their own side mission, and not much else to add to the story (besides standing around in the spaceship, being useless)

[Aloren]

I'd prefer if it were similar to Sebastian or Shale from the Dragon Age games (which were also day one DLCs btw). Their integration in the overall story of the games were much better than with Zaeed and Kasumi.

[pandehz]

Dont like the dlc dont buy it. I never bought ME2 dlc after I played Zaeed for free and realised it was gonna be just like that.

DLC's try to imitate short films but are nowhere near the quality of the 10min creative perspectives that we see today. Most of these dlc's are just some really basic plots with the most cheesy conflicts, cheesy dialogues and the most cheesiest resolutions ever.

Dragon age dlc's were lame, same with ME2.

DA expansion was good. They need to do more expansions like Warcraft 3 : Frozen Throne or similar in scale.

[Megaton]

ME2 DLC quality varied. Kasumi and Overlord were okay. Lair of the Shadow Broker was fantastic. One of the finest pieces of downloadable content this gen. Arrival was something you'd expect to find backed up in a Krogan toilet.

[NewZealander]

thats exactly why i got the collectors edition, i knew there would be bonus content, and i wanted every little extra i could get.

so im happy that they saved this as a bonus for people buying the collectors edition, bioware are awesome, if anyone is to blame its EA, but im one happy customer and cant wait for my ce!

[majiebeast]

Lol so your happy they took away already finished content so you can feel special go puck yourself.

[WitWolfy]

Why curse the consumer? Was his choice from the start to buy the CE. For all we know he just collects CE games, like I do.

[NewZealander]

i don't look at it as removed content, i see it as a ce bonus, i always buy collectors editions for big releases games, and this is the type of content that deserves to be saved for something special such as a collectors edition.

i don't know and don't actually care if this content was cut from the main game, its all just speculation, you cant change it so why so many people are getting mad is beyond me.

[mayberry]

I am going to make a big "hollywood" movie, and at the climatic end, it will shut off at the theater and a prompt will pop up stating " TO VIEW ENDING, PLEASE PAY $10.00 MORE "!

[pandehz]

Lets team up.

Make it $20 and we'll split even

[denero1]

i want in on this deal throw in some 3d glasses before they enter in charge $5 for them

[ShinraE5]

Oh ok. Well if a Bioware employee says Bioware isn't ripping me off, then I can sleep easy...

[mayberry]

I see what you did there! hee hee!

[susanto1228]

They will cave in..it's a shitstorm now

I'm sure they are talking about it now and
release the DLC for free....these guys are
idiots.

Once again BIoware it's who your in bed with
that's ruining your reputation how unfortunate.

[FantasyStar]

Leaked SP beta and script says Casey Hudson is FULL OF SHIT. Go read it for yourself if you need some heavy convincing.

[GarandShooter]

They're in a no win situation.

If they release some half-baked afterthought DLC, it's a money grab to cash in on the popularity.

If they plan it during the development phase for continuity, it should be considered part of the main game, and gamers' entitlement attitude kicks in.

If they start working on it the day after the game releases and release it many months down the line, no one (or few) cares or buys it and it's a wasted effort.

Everyone here seems to know how it shouldn't be done, yet no one has a solution that fixes the perceived problem. I have one; prevent leaks!

[pandehz]

Well yea its dlc.

If they release an expansion pack and promote it , ppl will buy. For small dlc's 6 months down the line ppl will tend to stop caring when other games are around. Expansions are the key.

Like BFBC2 Vietnam expansion was well received and bought in a good amount of content. I bought it too.

This whole 1 line plot dlc's should just delete itself in today's world of gaming.

[urwifeminder]

Really looking forward to me3 will have to get collectors edition ill save my tears for something worthy like the free syria movement.

[Krakn3Dfx]

What else are they going to say?

Also, as a fan of ME1 and ME2, last living Prothean seems like a pretty big deal IMO, if they're not essential to the story somehow, then that's pretty shitty too.

[Tommy334]

Blame the 360 and dvd.

[k4rma]

That still doesn't sound any better. That development time could still have been used in ME3 to put more content in the game. Also I cant believe they could plan and organise this as some last minute quick turn around content. It takes months and months to test even the smallest DLC.

The point is that it was ready before the game shipped, so it should have come on the disk, a second disk or as a free download if they couldn't fit it on there.

Again its creating a two tier system where a lessor game is developed for poorer gamers.

We never had to deal with five years ago and being a gamer was a much less stressful back then. But over the last 3 years or so it feels like I have to fight to get a fun experience sometimes. I'm sick of it.

Maybe i'll eventually just give up on gaming altogether, and stop buying any games.

[hazelamy]

and if you believe that, i've got this bridge for sale, going really cheap.

[cyclonus007]

1. EA announces the Collector's Edition which will contain bonus content and will be extremely limited.

2. The hardcore fans preorder it immediately. Everyone else goes "Meh".

3. Said "limited" Collector's Edition sells out on 360. Stores stop taking preorders. Imagine that...

4. Then comes the Bioware leak revealing that the bonus content is actually a "possibly" important bonus character and missions. Oops...

5. Gamers (who originally thumbed their nose at paying more for the Collector's Edition bonus content) rage.

6. EA announces they will be offering the same bonus content from the Collector's Edition for sale on Day 1 to please the standard edition people who still want it. Surely that will please people, right?

7. Gamers (the ones who are feeling particularly entitled and don't want to pay extra for the Collector's Edition OR pay for Day 1 DLC and YET want the bonus content anyway) rage even more.

Does that about sum it up?

[Panzerkanzler]

Yep.

[ninjahunter]

I paid for the CE and am still enraged at the principle. I have canceled because i Think my believe system is more important to me than bioware buying a porsche for each of its employees.

[cyclonus007]

I'm just not getting the anger here. The Collector's Edition has exclusive content and people complained so EA makes that same content available to everyone Day 1.

This isn't the first Mass Effect with paid DLC so I don't see the problem. Plus, BioWare is pretty good at providing DLC that can be really good but at the same time not 100% essential to the campaign which is exactly what DLC should be.

All in all, it sounds like people are mad that additional content costs extra now. Who knew?

[Droid Control]

Look at Skyrim. Those guys begun work on the DLC AFTER the game shipped. Thats TRUE DLC.

Having content ready to go, content that COULD be on the disc but is kept off so you can release a few weeks later and charge, is not TRUE DLC.

Thats just cut content.

Bioware SHOULD be working right up until launch on the actual game, making it as good as it can possibly be. They shouldnot be working on DLC before the game actually ships.

[sjaakiejj]

DLC is made by different people than the teams that work on the retail game in the final few months before release. Assets are already finished by that time, and 90% of the work is bug fixing and testing. So during that time, teams are often set to begin on extending the content in DLC, and the schedule may very well line up with the shipping of the game. Remember, shipping a game takes months to arrange, and factories need about a month or two headstart to start manufacturing the discs. DLC only needs to be put online, and has an overhead of maybe a week at most. The DLC likely wasn't finished by the time the game went gold, and does not play an essential part in the story of Mass Effect 3.

If you wanted it so badly for 'free' you should've bought the Collectors Edition, as many others did.

[honkyjesus]

From the mouth of BioWare...

[negative]

Oh sweet fucking christ.

You all need to relax and take a fucking puff.

What a waste of time.........

[honkyjesus]

Speaking of wasting time...

[MilkMan]

How can we make this any more clear. The issue isn't the process of how they go about making DLC. The issue is wwhy are they penalizing customers of the standard edition for not buying the CE edition.
What, the CE edition had little a small amount of stuff?
This IS a slap across the ballz to paying customers of the standard edition, which I guarantee you will be in much bigger quantities than the already sold out CE edition.
It's plain WRONG.
So keep your business explanation to yourself man.

[sjaakiejj]

" The issue is wwhy are they penalizing customers of the standard edition for not buying the CE edition. "

They're not. The content was never meant for the standard edition. If they're penalizing anyone, it's the people who pre-ordered the CE, mostly believing they would get a character that was EXCLUSIVE to the CE.

Now they've offered customers to buy the before mentioned exclusive DLC for CE to Standard Edition customers, and suddenly it's a "slap across the balls to paying customers of the SE"? Your logic doesn't hold up.

[MilkMan]

I'm sorry...
but you have to get your facts straight.
CE buyers get all for free, according to EA's policies they can add or subtract anything they want from any offer. That's how they where able to bump up the signature edition for free for folks that pre-ordered Dragon Age 2.

Standard edition buyers of ME3 must buy what is perceived to be and what very well likely a central character to the Mass Effect mythos for an extra 10 dollars.

The issue is, whether this was done before, after, during..whatever, this character is no dog. This a Prothean is in fact an important piece of what is happening in Mass Effect and should be included in the main core gain NOT DLC that you should have to pay and EXTRA 10 dollars or for the privilege few that bought the CE edition which I guarantee is in the minority.

Its greed, my brother. There is no other way to describe it, talk about it, justify it, or explain it.

We as gamers or "lovers" of Mass Effect cave in to this nonsense will send the wrong message and we will see this kind of thing EXPLODE all over the place.

If you think for a second that other publishers are not watching this. Think again.

Lets not bang our chest because some of us bought the more expansive of the two. That is in the minority and its foolish. I bought the CE edition and I fight and make a point for those that did not.
I have the resources, so that ANYTHING the gaming industry wishes to do wont affect me, and I fight.

Because I am in the minority.
I wish others would stop with the "this is the way the world is" crap and take action.

Like I said on a previous post. You can lie here and say you will do one thing and do another but EA will have the real numbers...if this type of thing rears its head again we will know who was lying.

The beast only understands money.
and for the record. I canceled my CE edition after I heard this nonsense. So there is a free copy roaming around somewhere on Amazon.

Its the principal of a thing.

[sjaakiejj]

You're jumping to conclusions. There is no evidence of the said prothean playing any important part in the story at all, and it's unlikely, given Mass Effects track record with DLC characters, that he will play any part in the story. It's far more likely that the prothean is in there simply because Bioware wanted to give a bit extra to CE buyers, and NOT because it's somehow relevant to the story.

But instead of arguing and bickering about it here on N4G, how about we just wait until the game is out, and draw conclusions based on actual evidence?

[honkyjesus]

Glad he isn't worried about the Internet starting a basic bandwagon of ME3 and BioWare products. Cheers.

[Zephol]

im commander shepard and this game is awesome!

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Standard industry practice, I'm not saying its right but we fall victim to this scandal all the time. For example Capcom releases ultra super duper versions of street fighter games. And most likely will do the same with Street Fight X Tekken. COD, you need to pay for the special edition of COD plus a member of Call Of Duty Elite paid version. That's a alot to do just to get 10 to 15 dollar maps for free. Activsion and Infinity Ward, and soon to be Treyach are the worst thieves of this gen. You have to spend more to get free content when the content is simply cost around 10 to 15 bucks. But demand is so high for Capcom's Street Fighter and Activision's Cod, ppl don't want to "boycott" or anything of that nature. But I like Mass Effect just THAT much to let this be....tolerable, to say the least.