Mass Effect 3

[rajpoot]

All you whipper snappers with your xstations and your playboxes...
Why, back in my day, we had 5.25 inch disks. 3.5 if we were lucky. And the games that came with them were complete! Not like this namby pamby Dee El Cee stuff you kids are peddling.

The only console I ever owned was a Chinese NES knockoff which I used to play Contra and Duck Hunt.
And Dave, I used to love playing Dangerous Dave on the PC.

[Kekvit Irae]

Back to the multiplayer, the Asari Adept is now my new favorite character class now that I've got a Stasis bubble. It can lock down EVERYTHING, especially Guardians (even when using the power from the front). It's also awesome to use when capturing points since it works as a short-term landmine. Only things I cant lock down are turrets and the Atlas, but that's why I roll with an Engineer.

[Secura]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about with this "Day One DLC" and I certainly don't see why it's Bioware's fault. If people want to point the finger, they should blame piracy.

This Prothean DLC may well be a major piece of narrative for the game, but it was initially intended to be an exclusive bonus for the Collector's Edition; the alternative would be for EA to completely pull the content from PSN or Marketplace and leave it for CE owners. I, for one, welcome the chance to have this content as I'm only getting the bog-standard version of the game and I'm not fazed by paying a few extra pounds for it.

On the game itself, I'm totally enthralled with the multiplayer aspect like many of you. I've unlocked all the available characters with the exception of the Turian Sentinel and Asari Adept (I wanna try both before the game comes out), but I'm having a blast with the Salarian Infiltrator. Energy Drain is fantastic, both keeping me alive and keeping enemies weakened/immobile for a quick snipe. I'm not having much luck with the Vet Packs though, I keep getting the Drell Vanguard which is a little too squishy for my liking.

[rajpoot]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about with this "Day One DLC" and I certainly don't see why it's Bioware's fault. If people want to point the finger, they should blame piracy.

Harsh DRM or intrusive software like Origin can be blamed on piracy, but I cannot see how you blame Day One DLC on piracy.

[johnhughthom]

I really don't see what all the fuss is about with this "Day One DLC" and I certainly don't see why it's Bioware's fault. If people want to point the finger, they should blame piracy.

This is completely different from the other day one DLC, the likes of Shale and Cereberus Network. It's a blatant attempt to grab more money from gamers on day one. My opinion is that calling it "immoral" or similar is rather naive, EA is a business and free to charge what they want, when they want, how they want. Like has been mentioned before, if this becomes the norm it's gamers to blame, not developers and publishers. Personally I'll not be bothering with ME3, simply because I'm not overly enamoured with Bioware's recent releases.

[Secura]

Harsh DRM or intrusive software like Origin can be blamed on piracy, but I cannot see how you blame Day One DLC on piracy.

Playing pirate copies (or indeed, buying the games second-hand or renting them) results in both publishers and developers losing money; I recall a quote from the Heavy Rain team that claimed a few million people played that game without them getting a penny for it due to these problems.

To combat this, the base price was increased but that just perpetuates the problems, so publishers have taken to using incentives to those who buy the game new, but leaving the content to be purchased for $10 for those that want it. The thing is, how many of those people playing second-hand go on to buy that content? And what of the pirates who cannot buy it due to DRMs, Microsoft banning their console or whatever?

How does the company make money when people are experiencing their product for nothing? People may be irked by Online Passes and Day One DLC, but I feel the blame for it falls to piracy and second-hand sales more than it does the greed of publishers.

My opinion is that calling it "immoral" or similar is rather naive, EA is a business and free to charge what they want, when they want, how they want. Like has been mentioned before, if this becomes the norm it's gamers to blame, not developers and publishers. Personally I'll not be bothering with ME3, simply because I'm not overly enamoured with Bioware's recent releases.

If people weren't fortunate enough to get the Collector's Edition, and thus the From Ashes content, they'd be complaining about missing out on a major storyline and character arc; instead, EA opt for making this content available for purchase for those without the CE, and there's still complaining. What are they supposed to do in this situation? What would people prefer?

As for the fans boycotting the company by not buying Mass Effect 3, that's their loss. It's like watching two thirds of a film and then walking out. They'll all cave in eventually, once they start hearing about the game.

[johnhughthom]

It's like watching two thirds of a film and then walking out.

Not really, unless it was a film in three parts. Part one was something you enjoyed immensely, part two still enjoyable but moving away from what you enjoyed about the first. Then you remember the other recent film from the same company, where part one was fantastic, and part two was a complete piece of ****. Pattern of decreasing quality, from my point of view anyway.

As for missing what happens, I always thought the story was hugely over-rated. Sentient machine life wipes out biological life when it reaches a certain level of technological advancement, yawn, it's been done to death, and done a lot better with more believable universes. My favourite science fiction book series for example (released seven years before ME, just for the record).

Still everyone here seems to be enjoying it, good for them. Just don't assume us ME1 and 2 players who aren't bothering are feeling a sense of loss.

[Monk]

As for missing what happens, I always thought the story was hugely over-rated. Sentient machine life wipes out biological life when it reaches a certain level of technological advancement, yawn, it's been done to death, and done a lot better with more believable universes. My favourite science fiction book series for example (released seven years before ME, just for the record).

Still everyone here seems to be enjoying it, good for them. Just don't assume us ME1 and 2 players who aren't bothering are feeling a sense of loss.

Its a bit funny. ME is without a doubt my favorite franchise in gaming at the moment and I enjoy the story a lot, but you're right, its quite an average (bordering cliche) storytelling trope. Its generic sci-fi to the point that a lot of people have made the claim its made that way on purpose in an attempt to mimic to cheese of 80s sci-fi miniseries. I don't think Bioware is smart enough to go that far but I like it all the same. Subjective opinions and all that.

As for multiplayer, I havent played much of it since being involved with CKII - but what little i've played I've been continually frustrated with my unlock purchases. Still not a single race other than Quarian or Drell. That's just insulting. Will probably let the demo lay until launch day since its so close, and i have other things to worry about.

For those planning to play multiplayer after release my Origin name is linked in this thread. I'll be up for co-op post launch.