Bioware/EA, I am dissapoint...

DLC is prepped before the game is released. So for a limited time only, you can get an additional party member for free when you buy the Signature edition of Dragon Age II before January 11. And after, it becomes paid DLC. I am a big fan of Bioware and Dragon Age, but these kind of business decisions just piss me off.

Thoughts?

I don't see anything wrong. Pre-order incentives are normal, and it's normal to detail exactly what this bonus is...

I don't see anything wrong. Pre-order incentives are normal, and it's normal to detail exactly what this bonus is...

Baranga

I will have to agree only because we don't know if certain things are cut-out of the game before release or not. They can say that this and that didn't fit the game at the time due to story elements or what not and we're going to make it a DLC. Either way, it's going to be a DLC if that's what they want. It's an incentive for pre-order bonuses like Baranga said.. Partially due to piracy as well. They have to give paying customers something to look forward to. Sorta like a reward.

I will say this, on my part. I won't be buying a lot of major games day one this year. Due mainly to backlog and I feel almost greedy even though it's my hard-earned money. :P The only 2-3 games that I "will" buy day one are Diablo 3, The Witcher 2, and Guild Wars 2 (if it does release 2011). I'm sticking to my plan.

I've paid for Dragon Age Origins DLC before so I have no problem paying for this when I know I will be missing out on the Signature edition.

My problem is that is for a limited time only (January 11). This already effectively creates a disparity even between people who pre-order different SIgnature editions. If the pre-order bonus was valid until the release date, I wouldn't have much of a problem with that.the_ChEeSe_mAn2

I see where you're coming from.I totally understand and I don't disagree with you. Imho, this "pressure" to pre-order the game this early Jan 11, already irks me the wrong way. I don't like it at all.

I mean, what if I want to pre-order Dragon Age 2 "with" the Signature edition bonus in February? Why can't I do that? I might not have money this month or whatever. I just don't like being pressured to pre-order a game so I can get some extra goodies, and if I don't, I'll have to "pay" for it later. I just decided, screw it. I'll buy Dragon Age 2 down the line when I'm ready.

Not that this matters, but I always buy major releases day one. At least the games that I genuinely like. And I like Dragon Age 2, due to the fact that I really enjoyed DAO, despite some rather controversial changes. Let's not start a flame war thread. :P

As you can tell, business operations in the gaming industry has changed dramatically. Since then, I don't feel the need or feel any regret for not buying games day one any more. This is how much the industry has changed. I'm not saying for the worst, but you know what I mean.

That isn't the only bad thing they are doing, firstly they are charging console level pricing on PC games (wasn't aware the PC suddenly incurred a $10 royalty fee) and they are refusing to release Dragon Age 2 (and probably Mass Effect 3) on steam at launch. It will probably get released on steam some time after launch in a similar way to that Hot Pursuits game.

It is funny just how many different ways EA/Bioware are screwing with PC gamers, however from what I have seen on this board it won't make a difference most will still fall for it and buy their games.

Don't see the problem

They want to secure sales and they're offering a nice extra for people who were going to buy iy anyway

Honestly all this crap about "they're not being fair" has to stop. They're selling a product and want to make sure that it sells well so they can get all their bonuses. By offering a piece of DLC for early buyers it helps secure those bonuses

That isn't the only bad thing they are doing, firstly they are charging console level pricing on PC games (wasn't aware the PC suddenly incurred a $10 royalty fee) and they are refusing to release Dragon Age 2 (and probably Mass Effect 3) on steam at launch. It will probably get released on steam some time after launch in a similar way to that Hot Pursuits game.

It is funny just how many different ways EA/Bioware are screwing with PC gamers, however from what I have seen on this board it won't make a difference most will still fall for it and buy their games.

charmingcharlie

Very true. I forgot about the $10 increase in PC games. Activision seems to have done their job and laid down the price line for everyone to follow. And then EA started doing it with Medal of Honor 2010. It's ridiculous. I'm guessing they figured, well, PC games are being pirated and selling considerably less than their console counterparts, we're going to slap on $10 so we can make more money. God knows if we'll sell more because people are going to be angry about the $10 increase.

In before, people start saying, you're complaining about $10? First of all, it's about the principle. Secondly, $10 can get you a rockin' good game on Steam or other digital download service, hell even retail box version. $10, can buy some people two meals, or one nice meal. Whatever. We can't tell people what and how to spend or save their money.

Option A: Pre-order the game before Jan. 11 to get your free upgrade to Signature Edition, which allows you get the DLC for free.

Option B: Buy the game on release and If you want buy the DLC for 7 bucks.

Option C: Wait for price drop/Steam Sale/DAII Ultimate Edition.

The whole idea behind DLC was that it was supposed to be extra on top of the full release. You pay them extra $ because they did extra work.

But this game isnt even out yet! So we need to buy it right now or they will lock us out of the complete game and we need to pay more later if we want to play all of the content. This DLC stuff is out of control.

Whats next, making the final boss fight DLC and making you pay more to see the end of a game?

[QUOTE="the_ChEeSe_mAn2"]My problem is that is for a limited time only (January 11). This already effectively creates a disparity even between people who pre-order different SIgnature editions. If the pre-order bonus was valid until the release date, I wouldn't have much of a problem with that.Elann2008

I see where you're coming from.I totally understand and I don't disagree with you. Imho, this "pressure" to pre-order the game this early Jan 11, already irks me the wrong way. I don't like it at all.

I mean, what if I want to pre-order Dragon Age 2 "with" the Signature edition bonus in February? Why can't I do that? I might not have money this month or whatever. I just don't like being pressured to pre-order a game so I can get some extra goodies, and if I don't, I'll have to "pay" for it later. I just decided, screw it. I'll buy Dragon Age 2 down the line when I'm ready.

Well, here's wot I think.

There aren't many DVD printing facilities capable of delivering so many copies of a game. DA2 should be gold in the second week of February (considering the overall trend). Until then they must sort out exactly how many Signature Editions must be printed, clear schedules and take care of a lot of additional paperwork.

Also this news made me preorder it, it's only 25 pounds (+1 transport outside the UK) on The Hut.

[QUOTE="Elann2008"]

[QUOTE="the_ChEeSe_mAn2"]My problem is that is for a limited time only (January 11). This already effectively creates a disparity even between people who pre-order different SIgnature editions. If the pre-order bonus was valid until the release date, I wouldn't have much of a problem with that.Baranga

I see where you're coming from.I totally understand and I don't disagree with you. Imho, this "pressure" to pre-order the game this early Jan 11, already irks me the wrong way. I don't like it at all.

I mean, what if I want to pre-order Dragon Age 2 "with" the Signature edition bonus in February? Why can't I do that? I might not have money this month or whatever. I just don't like being pressured to pre-order a game so I can get some extra goodies, and if I don't, I'll have to "pay" for it later. I just decided, screw it. I'll buy Dragon Age 2 down the line when I'm ready.

Well, here's wot I think.

There aren't many DVD printing facilities capable of delivering so many copies of a game. DA2 should be gold in the second week of February (considering the overall trend). Until then they must sort out exactly how many Signature Editions must be printed, clear schedules and take care of a lot of additional paperwork.

Option A: Pre-order the game before Jan. 11 to get your free upgrade to Signature Edition, which allows you get the DLC for free.

Option B: Buy the game on release and If you want buy the DLC for 7 bucks.

Option C: Wait for price drop/Steam Sale/DAII Ultimate Edition.

AAllxxjjnn

[QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"]

Option A: Pre-order the game before Jan. 11 to get your free upgrade to Signature Edition, which allows you get the DLC for free.

Option B: Buy the game on release and If you want buy the DLC for 7 bucks.

Option C: Wait for price drop/Steam Sale/DAII Ultimate Edition.

the_ChEeSe_mAn2

My question is, do you think they're rushing the game out? It could explain why they're putting on this signature edition pre-order deadline. Don't get me wrong, BioWare hasn't disappointed me once.Elann2008

Baldur's Gate 2 shipped two years after Baldur's Gate. This is roughly the same interval DA2's been in development (since the PC version was finished in February 2009). It was 2D, but it had a lot more content than any DA game, Bioware was smaller and the tools were a lot more primitive than today. I am absolutely sure that DA2 won't be rushed.

And anyway, Bioware always made games on a pretty tight schedule.

Well for me i'd say it's worth preordering, not like it's costing you more anyway and the funds don't get taken until very soon before it's shipped out to you... Can't argue with that.JohnF111

[QUOTE="Elann2008"] My question is, do you think they're rushing the game out? It could explain why they're putting on this signature edition pre-order deadline. Don't get me wrong, BioWare hasn't disappointed me once.Baranga

Baldur's Gate 2 shipped two years after Baldur's Gate. This is roughly the same interval DA2's been in development (since the PC version was finished in February 2009). It was 2D, but it had a lot more content than any DA game, Bioware was smaller and the tools were a lot more primitive than today. I am absolutely sure that DA2 won't be rushed.

And anyway, Bioware always made games on a pretty tight schedule.

Here's a question many should ask themselves: If I had the option would I -

A. Make more money and work just as hard?

B. Not make more money and work just as hard?

Their scheme to get people to preorder backfired in my case. I might have preordered or purchased the game soon after release, but now I'll wait a year for the ultimate edition.

Huge fail on bioware$ part.

I have no idea what you guys are complaining about. I pre-ordered a couple months ago and don't really see how this is different from the Day 1 DLC we had with Shale.

I have no idea what you guys are complaining about. I pre-ordered a couple months ago and don't really see how this is different from the Day 1 DLC we had with Shale.

ralph2190

Don't see the problem

They want to secure sales and they're offering a nice extra for people who were going to buy iy anyway

Honestly all this crap about "they're not being fair" has to stop. They're selling a product and want to make sure that it sells well so they can get all their bonuses. By offering a piece of DLC for early buyers it helps secure those bonuses

Jaysonguy

This disgusts me for many reasons:

-You don't advertise 'exclusive' content in a timed preorder because it doesn't want me to preorder and makes me want to either wait or pirate the game (which I won't do).

-You don't raise the price for a game by $10 where if I don't buy it by a certain date the game I already get an incomplete game.

-The game already stinks of them wanting to milk it with DLC, if the Dragon Age ones are any indication the DLC will be horrible.

I'll wait for the complete edition that will inevitably come to be on sale in a couple of years while I play complete games from developers who don't try smoke and mirrors.

Shale DLC was provided with the basic retail version provided you bought it new.the_ChEeSe_mAn2

Ohh I thought it was a pre-order thing, and after release it retailed for 15 bucks or something.

Anyway, you said earlier that you don't have a problem if they had the offer extended to the release date. You can still pre-order now and not pay anything for it, and if you change your mind later, you can always cancel. Yeah the business decision sucks and all, but if you're not one of those people who wait a full year to play the ultimate edition, you will be missing out on free dlc + other goodies just because you purchased after Jan 11.

You're acting like this is something new... Yes its disgraceful but so many companies are doing it. They did it with the first game too. biggest_loser

Yeah exactly. Even Deus Ex: HR has this bonus mission that is only available when you pre-order the game from Gamestop. There's really nothing we can do about it.

[QUOTE="the_ChEeSe_mAn2"]

Shale DLC was provided with the basic retail version provided you bought it new.ralph2190

Ohh I thought it was a pre-order thing, and after release it retailed for 15 bucks or something.

Anyway, you said earlier that you don't have a problem if they had the offer extended to the release date. You can still pre-order now and not pay anything for it, and if you change your mind later, you can always cancel. Yeah the business decision sucks and all, but if you're not one of those people who wait a full year to play the ultimate edition, you will be missing out on free dlc + other goodies just because you purchased after Jan 11.

Unfortunately, I don't have the money to pre-order right now because all my money has been already pre-budgeted (comes with being a university student). the_ChEeSe_mAn2

You're acting like this is something new... Yes its disgraceful but so many companies are doing it. They did it with the first game too. biggest_loser

Which is the source for that annoyance. Wait for Dragon Age for close to 3 years, finally get it home, play about 7 hours and then the game tells me to do a quest I have to buy content that was available for preorder.

This really upsets me because I really do love Bioware games. However, this whole Dragon Age: Ultimate Edition has pretty much made up my mind that I will never again buy a Bioware game at launch. They will do the same thing with Mass Effect 2 I'm sure as well and in about 1.5 years, Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 3. If they are going to be such DLC fantatics, then it makes no sense to buy early unless money is no object to you.

Their business model seems to be:

1) Convince people to buy the original version (Pre-order "bonuses" help to do this)
2) Sell a bit of DLC / expansion packs to these people at a premium
3) Package it all together in an "ultimate" version and get them to buy it AGAIN

They could easily put this stuff in the game.:|

Not buying though.

Yeah exactly. Even Deus Ex: HR has this bonus mission that is only available when you pre-order the game from Gamestop. There's really nothing we can do about it. ralph2190

Yes, there actually is something we can do about it and that is to simply not buy these games. If people spoke with their wallets this practice would end. Unfortunately, there's now a whole new generation of gamers who have been raised on this nonsense and will gladly accept it so I don't see things getting better any time soon. In fact, it is only going to get worse.

Different studios at bioware work on different franchises, and right now I'm not too impressed with their dragon age department. I've seen much more worthy content flow from their mass effect and star wars departments.

Bioware is becoming pretty meh to me.

Valve remains the best PC developer.

I remember the good old days when developers simply made a complete game and released it as such. And if people wanted more, they would do extra work and come out with an expansion. And we would give them more money because they did extra work in addition to the full release.

Now its like they make the game and say "yeah if you want to play the every part of the game we made, you are gonna have to buy it within the next 3 days or you'll have to pay more money later."

As shady as it is. its smart though financially. Little kids will beg their parents for every shiny toy that is dangled in front of their face and they will get what they want--even if it isn't reasonable. Its spoiled brats that ruining the gaming industry.

As an adult however, they have lost some of my money. I'll wait for the ultimate edition.

Bioware is becoming pretty meh to me.

Valve remains the best PC developer.

Remmib

That's speculative at best. Taking Steam out of the equation, since we're talking specifically about games here, Valve is pretty narrow-minded. Portal was a nice departure for them and a great game, but a lot of their older games are pretty...basic. Counter-Strike, as massive as it is, does not appeal to a great deal of PC gamers because of how ludicrously unrealistic the game is, and honestly, the last time I played everyone was using Desert Eagles. Day of Defeat was and still is a great game, but DOD:S is pretty unpopulated right now. Left 4 Dead was a pathetic game IMO and did not warrant the $50 price tag that it came with.

I know I'm not the only that would think that way, and I am also fully aware that there are people who highly disagree with me. I'm just saying, Valve being the best PC developer in terms of games, meh. Best developer in terms of doing PC programs in general, of course they win out, they gave us the monster that is Steam :)

DLC is prepped before the game is released. So for a limited time only, you can get an additional party member for free when you buy the Signature edition of Dragon Age II before January 11. And after, it becomes paid DLC. I am a big fan of Bioware and Dragon Age, but these kind of business decisions just piss me off.

Thoughts?

the_ChEeSe_mAn2

After Dragon Age Origins, I've got a pretty good idea of how bad Dragon Age 2's DLC will be. I can afford to miss out on it if it means that I get the game for a better price a few months down the line.

Then again, after Dragon Age Origins, I think this might be the first Bioware RPG that I skip entirely. I don't see anything appealing about this franchise, and everything I've heard about DA2 makes it sound worse than the original.

Maybe I'll wait for the Ultimate Edition...if it's cheap.

Bioware is becoming pretty meh to me.

Valve remains the best PC developer.

Remmib

Bioware was a great PC developer back when they made BG2 in 2000. They might have even been a great PC dev back when Neverwinter Nights came out in 2002...although that was nowhere near as good as their previous game.

Since then, though, they probably don't even count as 'PC developers' - they made a bunch of timed Xbox exclusives, and then a bunch of action-heavy multiplats. The only PC-oriented game they'll have made in the past nine years is The Old Republic.

this is pc gaming we are talking about, lets not discuss the possibility but it is highly likely that said possibility will we available.

so thats still an option if you cant preorder and must buy it after release

So for a limited time only, you can get an additional party member for free when you buy the Signature edition of Dragon Age II before January 11.

the_ChEeSe_mAn2

The fun part of this limited offer is that it won't be available on Steam.

I wonder if that's because Bioware would rather not give part of their profits to Valve, or because they know the Steam version will be popular (so they'll sell more DLC)...

[QUOTE="the_ChEeSe_mAn2"]

So for a limited time only, you can get an additional party member for free when you buy the Signature edition of Dragon Age II before January 11.

Planeforger

The fun part of this limited offer is that it won't be available on Steam.

I wonder if that's because Bioware would rather not give part of their profits to Valve, or because they know the Steam version will be popular (so they'll sell more DLC)...

This is the fun part indeed. Pushing the EA Store and excluding only Valve- the game is available via other digital sources.

There is no confirmation that even a normal edition will exist or be available via Steam. Bioware claims that the normal edition is the signature edition until the 11.1.

Very unfortunate for people that had no idea abou the signature deal. The 20 $ content that was "gifted," for preorders, will be sold for 7$.

And there still is day one DLC as part of EA's project 10$, which will include the option to respec.