Comments on: Bioware’s DLC Needs Addressing

By: bazerka250

bazerka250 — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:46:48 +0000

I bought Mass Effect2 the day it came out but never played it until now.I waited because I wanted to beat ME1 but never did so I decided to just play ME2.I had 6 dlc’s from ME2.Zaeed,Normandy Crash Site,Hammerhead and I’m not sure of the other 3 but 1 was Dragon Armor but I think that was from buying Dragon Age Origins.I also heard that Mass Effect 3 was in production before ME2 was even out but I don’t know how true it is.I hate dlc being announced before a game is released but if I like a game I would probably buy it.How is Dragon Age 2.Anyone play it?

By: agon23

agon23 — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:27:10 +0000

I bought dragon age 2 the day it came out. I’m a fan of the series and grant it, it does have it’s short comings. Such as it being way too human centric, last dragon age you could play dwarf and elf. And the game centers itself around kirkwall and the surrounding landscape. But so far I’m having fun, the action isn’t bad at all and the story is very interesting. Now I can see why Bioware shorten the game b/c I am interesting in playing the other classes but the problem with the first game was that it was long, the first time around i think i sunk in 100 hrs. ( i had bought the PS3 version with all the DLC) and I only did one play through with a human. I played briefly as a dwarf and elf but only in the DLC campaigns. I’m glad they fixed the inventory system b/c the DAO had a ton of gear with no stats constantly filling your bags. I wish I could customize my crews gear instead of just their weapons b/c I end up chucking away all bows, shields, and staff since I’m a 2H warrior. Likewise I end up getting real good gear that’s more suited for mages and rogues and I end up selling those too. Overall 4.5-5 they should have polished the inventory system.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:48:16 +0000

I haven’t played any of the mass effect 2 dlc, but I am considering checking them out. I’ll wait till I hear what you have to say about the other two.

@Rob J

I’ve had zero problems with DA2 so far and I have found both the combat and the story to be incredibly entertaining. I think a lot of the changes people are complaining about are way overblown and really just cut out some of the more cumbersome aspects of DA:O. In my opinion, ME 2 had far more radical changes from it’s predecessor.

By: Skeebo

Skeebo — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:49:43 +0000

@gank,
Bullshit, the game would’ve just come out later. No excuse for dropping content so you can release the game 3-6 months earlier.

There are a couple problems judging ME2 DLC,

1. I’m of the opinion ALL of it should’ve been included in the game from the beginning, if that means the game shouldn’t have come out until September and cost $80, so be it. What they essentially did is sell you a functional but stripped down version of the game at launch. After getting the DLC and the AEGIS gun pack (the Geth Plasma Shotgun is a must have if you’re playing as a Vanguard, the game is much more fleshed out.

2. That aside it is hard to say that the DLC is overpriced b/c they add more than just an extra side mission. They add additional content throughout the game, they are integrated seamlessly into the game… if you have them from the get-go you never really notice that they’re extra… other than Zaeed and Kasumi are missing recruitment missions. With the extra voice work required I’ll bet these DLC are expensive to make.

I’m generally upset with the way that EA/Bioware is handling DLC, but at least they didn’t F’ the early adopters of ME2 like they did with DA:Os by releasing the game with all DLC (including a 40 f’ing dollar DLC) for the original cost less than 12 months after the game came out.

And the turn-around time for ME3 is not the same shortened turn-around that DA2 had. DA2 was out barely a year after DA:O. It’s been over a year since ME2 was released and the release for ME3 is tentatively aimed at Christmas 2011, which considering they are essentially using the same engine as ME2 isn’t bad at all. The turn-around from ME1 to ME2 was just a little over 2 years, so the turn-around for ME3 is slated to be just a couple months less that the turn-around for ME2.

Paul, my advice when playing the DLC is to not play them the first time with a character that has already completed the main quest. They are best enjoyed with a fresh character so that you can see the content weaved into the larger game.

By: Rob J

Rob J — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:37:46 +0000

@trashcanman

Man the game is a horrible broken mess! Spent 3 hours playing it at a friends yesterday and he had to restart his xbox at least 5 or 6 times to get it to work. The combat is simply horrible as well. In the first 3 hours of the game at least I can say there was absolutely nothing to enjoy.

PC and PS3 versions are even scrappier and less complete just look at the bioware forums and the insane amount of problems people are having. How you make a game that crashes that much on consoles I have no idea!

By: trashcanman

trashcanman — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:51:44 +0000

Whoever told you DA2 is worse than the first one lied. The only truthful complaint I’ve heard so far is that you have to press “A” to attack now. Wah. Imagine that: a video game that makes you push a button when you want to do something. I know……madness. Gaming laziness has hit a new low when players throw fits over having to use an attack button rather than having the game automatically attack for you. Kasumi is an awesome character and that is my favorite gun in ME2, but the only way they become worth what they charge for that DLC (unless you replay again and use them from the beginning) is if she carries over into ME3. No word on that yet, but we hope. The vehicle one is kinda lame too. I wouldn’t bother with that one unless you come into a waelth of MS points like I did when I got it. But LotSB is an absolute must. It’s probably overpriced too, but it delivers big-time and features the best boss battle I’ve played in ages and some fantastic character development for Liara that has big implications for ME3.

By: Gank

Gank — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:13:01 +0000

“five years ago WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE DAMN GAME ALREADY.”

Well, no. It wouldn’t have been in the game at all, as they were made after the game went gold.

By: Paul Tassi

Paul Tassi — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:11:14 +0000

@George

Knoxx was a great DLC pack, but Zombie Island was pretty terrible. Use the shotgun. Always. The end.

@Frothy_Ham

Yes, capitalism. Sigh.

By: Frothy_Ham

Frothy_Ham — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:56:39 +0000

I think the sad truth is that videogames ARE a business, and the publishers want a return on their investment. It wasn’t really that much trouble to get Zaeed for free (I signed up for the account and haven’t gotten any spam at all, took 5 minutes, boo hoo), and everything else was a lot of fun to get even though it wasn’t necessary to the game.

Is having already installed DLC that is just “unlocked” by paying for it a dishonest practice? Yes, but I’ve read that the average development cost of a current gen (X360, PS3) title is over $20 MM now. Taking into account all the piracy of the PC versions, these companies not only want to make back their investment, but also make enough money to do it again in the future.

Capitalism baby….

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:50:23 +0000

I bought the PS3 version of the game, so it came with all the DLC, so i can’t help you there. Although I did by the weapons pack for the extra guns.

That new submachine gun you get in Kasumi’s loyalty mission is awesome! If you were playing a different class you’d notice right away. Make sure you equip it to your other party members who do use the submachine gun.

I’ve been using Zaeed a lot in current playthrough (number 2) because he can use disrupter ammo. He’s also a sniper. But I don’t know how much he’d cost.

Lair of the Shadow Broker is Good. It’s longer and more difficult. It also has a good boss fight. Also, you team up with Liara from ME1 for the whole mission.

I don’t remember Project Overlord, but I think it was longer as well.