Dragon Age Origins DLC expansion on day one $7.00 ....

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6232117.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1 Really? Developers are still getting away with this? Now I don't really want to sit here and badmouth the game perse, as its one of my most anticipated titles of the year- (if not my most anticipated) but when I see crap like this I have to call shenanigans on the part of Bioware. Does launchday DLC not bother anyone else?GodModeEnabled

It not only bothers me, but it makes me question which ignorant fools actually buy this stuff and thus give companies the impression that it's okay to release DLC of a game so close to its release date.

Well I guess it depends what the dlc is. It doesn't really bother me though as long as I feel I'm getting my money's worth on what comes on the disc itself. With it being Bioware I'm pretty confident that I'll find it worthwhile. I'll more then likely get it right away myself as long as it's content that can be accessed before finishing the game.

Well I guess it depends what the dlc is. It doesn't really bother me though as long as I feel I'm getting my money's worth on what comes on the disc itself. With it being Bioware I'm pretty confident that I'll find it worthwhile. I'll more then likely get it right away myself as long as it's content that can be accessed before finishing the game.

Archangel3371

[QUOTE="Archangel3371"]

Well I guess it depends what the dlc is. It doesn't really bother me though as long as I feel I'm getting my money's worth on what comes on the disc itself. With it being Bioware I'm pretty confident that I'll find it worthwhile. I'll more then likely get it right away myself as long as it's content that can be accessed before finishing the game.

GodModeEnabled

Well I don't really judge a game just on length alone. As long as I get a good value for the original game itself and I feel it's something that can stand on it's own then I'm fine with it. It's hard to say if it could have been something they could have included in the game for free though because we don't know what the budget was to create both the game and this content and how much it needs to sell to make that money back.

I am a little behind on the Dragon Age news so i want to make sure i am reading the article right, but if I understand it there will be three DLCs day one.(Warden's Keep,The Stone Prisoner,Blood Armor) Two of them (The Stone Prisoner,Blood Armor) will be free to anyone who bought the game new and the other one(Warden's Keep) will not unless you bought the Deluxe Edition. Right?

Well if that is correct then i don't really mind day one DLC that is free to those who bought the game, but the idea of the developer pretty much telling me "thanks for buying our game at full price, but if you want everything you will have to pay more." to put it mildly annoys me.

From where i am sitting I don't mind EA's attempt to combat the used game market and or piracy by allowing those who bought the game new to get The Stone Prisoner and Blood Armor free. Not including Warden's Keep in that though looks to me like a shameless money grab and a nice middle finger to those who are the first to buy the game.

Well, that confirms that I'll hold off on buying the game until the price enough to offset the DLC cost. Thanks for making the decision easy for me, Bioware.Skylock00

Yeah thats correct. Wardens keep is unavailable to anyone who didnt buy the game digitially according to the article. The other stuff is fine and softens the blow a little, but it still feels like a cash grab to me. If this content is being released launch day why couldnt they include it into the main game?GodModeEnabled

Warden's Keep is definitely a cash grab and that is what really annoys me.

If Bioware is unable to put everything they want in the game by their deadline and decides to release it as DLC day one. As long as they make it free to those who bought the game i can't really say I am too bothered by that. Charging for it though on top of the price you already paid seems like giving the middle finger to your fans. While we are on the subject exclusive DLC though a store like some games have been doing lately annoys me as well.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6232117.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1 Really? Developers are still getting away with this? Now I don't really want to sit here and badmouth the game perse, as its one of my most anticipated titles of the year- (if not my most anticipated) but when I see crap like this I have to call shenanigans on the part of Bioware. Does launchday DLC not bother anyone else?GodModeEnabled

You don't have to do it, I will. The game looks terrible both in and out of cutscenes, art style and execution is poor, characters are awkward-looking, technically it's lacking current-gen effects like self-shadowing and the lighting looks flat, animations are subpar and some of the dialogue in the trailers are just laughable, it's a standard hack-and-slash fare with the sort of "stand still and exchange hits" combat mechanics that haven't age well, at what point can we look at a game from Bioware and not assume that it's going to be some sort of successor to BG2? What the heck are they thinking releasing a DLC on day-one when the game itself isn't even all that polished? Are we supposed to judge the game by its quality or do we just assume the game will be great and people are committed to a blind-buybased on Bioware's pedigree? Mass Effect might have a lot of problems but the production value was its saving grace, and if anything Dragon Age is definitely lacking production value.

I will still get the game but won't be getting the DLC

So we're being charged $67 for the game on day 1.

There's a lot to like about EA nowadays, but their policy of holding back content and selling it separately isn't one of them.

This settles it.

JRPGs > WRPGs.

:P

I'm renting the game anyway, so I'm in no position to whine.

However, had I been planning on buying Bioware's next slideshow, this would've killed the idea. I'm letting my money do the kvetching on this one for me; there are plenty of other deserving games from hard-working companies coming out in November to throw my support behind.

That's really lame. If I didn't get such a good deal on the game to begin with I might have waited until closer to Christmas to pick it up. I still won't buy the DLC though until much later.

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]http://www.gamespot.com/news/6232117.html?tag=latestheadlines;title;1 Really? Developers are still getting away with this? Now I don't really want to sit here and badmouth the game perse, as its one of my most anticipated titles of the year- (if not my most anticipated) but when I see crap like this I have to call shenanigans on the part of Bioware. Does launchday DLC not bother anyone else?EvilTaru

You don't have to do it, I will. The game looks terrible both in and out of cutscenes, art style and execution is poor, characters are awkward-looking, technically it's lacking current-gen effects like self-shadowing and the lighting looks flat, animations are subpar and some of the dialogue in the trailers are just laughable, it's a standard hack-and-slash fare with the sort of "stand still and exchange hits" combat mechanics that haven't age well, at what point can we look at a game from Bioware and not assume that it's going to be some sort of successor to BG2? What the heck are they thinking releasing a DLC on day-one when the game itself isn't even all that polished? Are we supposed to judge the game by its quality or do we just assume the game will be great and people are committed to a blind-buybased on Bioware's pedigree? Mass Effect might have a lot of problems but the production value was its saving grace, and if anything Dragon Age is definitely lacking production value.

You are absolutely correct. On a technical level, Bioware is absolutely shameful. Mass Effect being released the way it was would've caused Japanese developers to commit seppuku, yet the two dorky doctors from up north keep carrying on like they're God's gift to gaming. At least Mass Effect had inspired design on the ships and enemies -- Dragon Age looks phoned in aesthetically.

On the DLC side, I think EA is realizing they bought a ****ing goose-egg with Bioware for the billion or trillion or whatever ridiculously bloated figure they paid for a company that releases a couple buggy, unfinished games a generation, and they're trying to recoup some of the money after realizing they got scammed to hell and back. But they shouldn't be passing the costs for their mistake on to the consumer.

It's just the DLC that comes with the higher priced versions people couldn't shell out the extra cash for.

The funny thing is though, all the butthurt gamers would be sitting here, whining and crying about how they won't be able to get that DLC if BioWare didn't release it.

Hm, even though the game looked totally unappealing so far I was going to give Bioware the benefit of the doubt just for being Bioware.
Now I think I'll just wait until it hits bargain bins, or until they release a Gold edition with the actual full game in it.

Not too impressed that I shelled out all that $$$ for the Collector's Edition preorder (you know...to get all the 'bonus' content) and I'm still NOT getting all the content available at the time of the games release? Seriously- WTF Bioware?

Day one DLC is one of the crappiest practices to surface this console generation. I won't support it.SteelAttack

They do it early and people yell "It should have been in the game!" they do it months down the road and people yell "Well that's useless, I'm already playing a different game." or "That game sucked, I'm not buying DLC for it." it's really lose lose for the devssmerlus

So in conclusion, DLC is better late than too early.

I don't find it bad because it's hard to say when the DLC was developed. We already knew about 3-4 items that were incentives to either preorder, get the CE or pre order from certain things but this new DLC has just been announced a month before the game has been released. It's a good indication that the main people working on the game are finished and working on DLC, helping port it to PS3 while QA (yes i said BioWare has QA...that has to be a punchline for someone's signature) and marketing are getting ready to get this game out to stores. Without knowing if it's something withheld, (it seems more of a sidequest so I doubt it was taken out of the story just to be dlc) or if it's something the devs worked on for fan service, I'm unable to grab my pitchforks and hockey sticks to storm the BioWare offices. Like I've said before, there doesn't seem to be a good time frame for DLC releases. They do it early and people yell "It should have been in the game!" they do it months down the road and people yell "Well that's useless, I'm already playing a different game." or "That game sucked, I'm not buying DLC for it." it's really lose lose for the devssmerlus

They could have waited a couple of weeks until people actually get the chance to buy the game before advertising the DLCs, it's like trying to sell people mods even before they've bought the cars.

Like I've said before, there doesn't seem to be a good time frame for DLC releases. They do it early and people yell "It should have been in the game!" they do it months down the road and people yell "Well that's useless, I'm already playing a different game." or "That game sucked, I'm not buying DLC for it." it's really lose lose for the devssmerlus

That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.

That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.Raikoh_

That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.Raikoh_

Bioware should give it to me for free because it should have been in the game in the first place.GodModeEnabled

With logic like that, all DLC should be free because it should all be in the game in the first place. Like I said though, don't like it, don't buy it. This isn't RE5's MP or anything ridiculous like that. Just content that comes with another version of the game to give more people an incentive to buy that version of it.

Grow a pair and stop crying over $7 that you don't have to spend in the first place.

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]Bioware should give it to me for free because it should have been in the game in the first place.Raikoh_

With logic like that, all DLC should be free because it should all be in the game in the first place. Like I said though, don't like it, don't buy it. This isn't RE5's MP or anything ridiculous like that. Just content that comes with another version of the game to give more people an incentive to buy that version of it.

[QUOTE="Raikoh_"]That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.GodModeEnabled

See the thing is you don't know if it's a blatant cash grab and that you won't get the "full" game experience with the initial product yet. They could have just as easily begun with an initial plan of what the game was going to be with a set budget and did all that exactly as planned and put it on the disk. These extras could just as easily been stuff that came up seperate from creating the game and most likely cost extra to develop so naturally they'll have to charge money for that content. Would you be happier if they just put that content in with the retail product and tacked the extra cost on so that even those who might not want it would have to pay anyway?

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"][QUOTE="Raikoh_"]That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.Archangel3371

See the thing is you don't know if it's a blatant cash grab and that you won't get the "full" game experience with the initial product yet. They could have just as easily begun with an initial plan of what the game was going to be with a set budget and did all that exactly as planned and put it on the disk. These extras could just as easily been stuff that came up seperate from creating the game and most likely cost extra to develop so naturally they'll have to charge money for that content. Would you be happier if they just put that content in with the retail product and tacked the extra cost on so that even those who might not want it would have to pay anyway?

[QUOTE="Archangel3371"]

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"] DLC developed after a games launch window and released later on is fine. I enjoyed the hell out of "The Lost And The Damned" and most of the Fallout3 DLC packs for instance. Sizeable content, generally worth the money, developed after a games launch window to keep the game alive, and add new experiences. But this is a blatant cashgrab and nothing else. If I want the full experience of the game its now going to cost me $67.00 Bioware should give it to me for free because it should have been in the game in the first place.UpInFlames

See the thing is you don't know if it's a blatant cash grab and that you won't get the "full" game experience with the initial product yet. They could have just as easily begun with an initial plan of what the game was going to be with a set budget and did all that exactly as planned and put it on the disk. These extras could just as easily been stuff that came up seperate from creating the game and most likely cost extra to develop so naturally they'll have to charge money for that content. Would you be happier if they just put that content in with the retail product and tacked the extra cost on so that even those who might not want it would have to pay anyway?

Well sure it may not be crystal clear from the outset but considering games these days cost in the tens of millions to make I'm pretty sure they have some idea of what the "full" game is going to be, I highly doubt they just wing it. The thing is we don't know how complete the initial game will be right now so while I can understand people being cautious I think it's premature to just outright call it a cash-grab and that you won't be be getting the full game experience without the dlc. Also I don't anyone knows how much this dlc will add to the game so it's premature to say that charging $7 for it is too much. Only when the reviews come then people can make an informed decision on if it's worth it for them.

Seriously, people, Dragon Age was completed months ago (at least the pc & 360 versions). So while some of the team continued tweaking it to be played on thePS3, other parts of the team were working on additional content. Instead of the old days of Baldur's Gate II, where they did a bunch of stuff and released a $30 expansion pack, they're gonna dole it out insmaller chunks as it becomes ready and sell it. You don't have to buy it day one as you'll have plenty of other stuff to do in the game. Butwhen you're ready for it, it'll be there. Not like Mass Effect, where by the time the DLC came out for that, I was done with the game. But go ahead and boycott what is surely going to be one of the all-time-great RPGs because they had more of a good thing for you the day it came out.

It really upsets me to see this happen. The game is done, the content is done, why not just include it with the game? They obviously designed it just to make a quick buck off of gullible consumers. BioWare should be ashamed.

Bioware can kiss my ass. It looks like I won't be buying this one near as soon as I anticipated.

It really upsets me to see this happen. The game is done, the content is done, why not just include it with the game? They obviously designed it just to make a quick buck off of gullible consumers. BioWare should be ashamed.

jubino

Maybe the game has already entered production and would have to halt said production to add the content onto the discs?

[QUOTE="Raikoh_"]That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.Skylock00

Like I said though, don't like it, don't buy it.

Raikoh_

I can't see why any gamer would defend this practice unless they were head of marketing at Bioware and have decided to leave the official forums to go through others and belittle people for not liking this strategy because they "are too cheap" or "need to grow a pair". It's really unfathomable that someone not working for the company or profiting from the success of Dragon Age would be defending this just because it might maximize profits. Why exactly do you care if we support this practice or are buying the game? Your answer to that is probably going to be "I don't care", but your aggressive posts illustrate otherwise.

[QUOTE="Skylock00"][QUOTE="Raikoh_"]That's the thing. It doesn't matter if and when they released it because peoplewill always rage over it like now. For some odd reason everybody feels this strange sense of entitlement and that the DLC should be free. But, why should Bioware give you what they themselves put money into making, for free? If you don't like the fact that you have to pay for it, then you don't buy it. It's not like Bioware is holding a gun up to you or a loved ones head and forcing you to spend money on the game or the DLC.smerlus

Skylock proved that theissue is timing (content held back from the main game) not the amount of content or the price. With a tiny handful of exceptions, on consoles we've always paid for our DLC. Couple that with the fact that DLC is the rule rather than the exception and nobody is shocked and horrified by the fact that Bioware is charging for DLC. The problem is day one DLC (which as I noted in my first post in this thread, is kind of a hallmark of EA games) which is in effect a price hike

I don't see what MS paying for the two GTA episodes has to do with anything since given their timing and content, its pretty clear they were developed post-GTA4, and not just held back from GTA4. Whether or not developers announce their plans prior to release, to a limited extent, DLC has to be planned for in advance (in the main game one needs to have 'hooks' to hang DLC on).

[QUOTE="GodModeEnabled"]Bioware should give it to me for free because it should have been in the game in the first place.Raikoh_

With logic like that, all DLC should be free because it should all be in the game in the first place. Like I said though, don't like it, don't buy it. This isn't RE5's MP or anything ridiculous like that. Just content that comes with another version of the game to give more people an incentive to buy that version of it.

Grow a pair and stop crying over $7 that you don't have to spend in the first place.

Skylock proved that theissue is timing (content held back from the main game) not the amount of content or the price. With a tiny handful of exceptions, on consoles we've always paid for our DLC. Couple that with the fact that DLC is the rule rather than the exception and nobody is shocked and horrified by the fact that Bioware is charging for DLC. The problem is day one DLC (which as I noted in my first post in this thread, is kind of a hallmark of EA games) which is in effect a price hike

I don't see what MS paying for the two GTA episodes has to do with anything since given their timing and content, its pretty clear they were developed post-GTA4, and not just held back from GTA4. Whether or not developers announce their plans prior to release, to a limited extent, DLC has to be planned for in advance (in the main game one needs to have 'hooks' to hang DLC on).

[QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

Skylock proved that theissue is timing (content held back from the main game) not the amount of content or the price. With a tiny handful of exceptions, on consoles we've always paid for our DLC. Couple that with the fact that DLC is the rule rather than the exception and nobody is shocked and horrified by the fact that Bioware is charging for DLC. The problem is day one DLC (which as I noted in my first post in this thread, is kind of a hallmark of EA games) which is in effect a price hike

I don't see what MS paying for the two GTA episodes has to do with anything since given their timing and content, its pretty clear they were developed post-GTA4, and not just held back from GTA4. Whether or not developers announce their plans prior to release, to a limited extent, DLC has to be planned for in advance (in the main game one needs to have 'hooks' to hang DLC on).

smerlus

Some felt 10 bucks for a half an hour of gameplay for SR2 (referring specifically to Ultor Exposed) just wasn't worth it. So you're right, size and price do matter (charging $50 for a new car in Forza 3 would go over a lot less well than charging $10 for 20 cars and 3 tracks). But there is a big gap between expecting value for one's money and demanding that something be free.

On a related note, timing is an issue for DLC. People don't object to DLC developed post-release and evaluate its worthiness on a case by case basis (same as they do games) but few are happy with content being held back from a full priced game and sold to them for additional money.

[QUOTE="smerlus"][QUOTE="CarnageHeart"]

Skylock proved that theissue is timing (content held back from the main game) not the amount of content or the price. With a tiny handful of exceptions, on consoles we've always paid for our DLC. Couple that with the fact that DLC is the rule rather than the exception and nobody is shocked and horrified by the fact that Bioware is charging for DLC. The problem is day one DLC (which as I noted in my first post in this thread, is kind of a hallmark of EA games) which is in effect a price hike

I don't see what MS paying for the two GTA episodes has to do with anything since given their timing and content, its pretty clear they were developed post-GTA4, and not just held back from GTA4. Whether or not developers announce their plans prior to release, to a limited extent, DLC has to be planned for in advance (in the main game one needs to have 'hooks' to hang DLC on).

Some felt 10 bucks for a half an hour of gameplay for SR2 (referring specifically to Ultor Exposed) just wasn't worth it. So you're right, size and price do matter (charging $50 for a new car in Forza 3 would go over a lot less well than charging $10 for 20 cars and 3 tracks). But there is a big gap between expecting value for one's money and demanding that something be free.

On a related note, timing is an issue for DLC. People don't object to DLC developed post-release and evaluate its worthiness on a case by case basis (same as they do games) but few are happy with content being held back from a full priced game and sold to them for additional money.