The lights are on
UPDATE: EA has provided us with the following official statement in response to allegations that the "From Ashes" day one DLC for Mass Effect 3 was on the disc:
"From Ashes is a 600 MB+ download with all new content, including the mission on Eden Prime, new dialogue options and conversations with Javik, new cinematics, the Prothean weapon, and new appearances for all squad members. All of the above content was completed while the main game was in certification and are not available on the disc. "As stated previously, in order to seamlessly integrate Javik into the core campaign, certain framework elements and character models needed to be put on disc. We did something similar with Zaeed and Kasumi in Mass Effect 2."
ORIGINAL STORY: From angry fans to defensive developers, everyone seems to have an opinion on Mass Effect 3's day one downloadable content and whether or not it's acceptable. The latest update comes from a fan claiming to have proof that the squad member unlocked in the DLC was on the disc from the start.
Responding to statements from BioWare saying that the "From Ashes" DLC content was not worked on until after Mass Effect 3 was completed and thus couldn't be included on the disc, YouTube user lljkceski created the video below. In it, the fan claims that by changing a single line of code in the PC version of Mass Effect 3, you can unlock the Prothean squadmate for play without downloading the DLC.
You can watch the video below to see the evidence and decide for yourself if you think its damning. Keep in mind that at this point it's basically BioWare's word versus random fan's word -- either way, you're trusting someone without full knowledge of what went on behind the scenes.
For now, I've reached out to EA and BioWare to see if they have any further comments on the day one DLC or the allegations made in this video. I'll update this post if I hear anything back.
[Thanks to Duraigo for the tip]
Don't know which corporation disgusts me more between EA and Activision, both are garbage. Unfortunately stuff like this is what I feared would happen when Bioware sold its soul to the greedy a-holes at EA who are more concerned about nickel and diming the consumer over giving them a good gaming experience for their $60+. It's been a slow decline but Bioware has finally gone the way I thought it would when they teamed up. Forcing online multiplayer, which wasn't needed, on the gamer to complete the single player experience. Day one DLC and a joke of an 'ending' that will be 'fixed' by more $10-15 DLC in a few months. Disgusting. What happened to the days of putting out a complete game right from the get go? I never had any respect for EA but I've completely lost whatever I had for Bioware.
its as simple as this... when we buy a product on day 1, we want to have the product... not parts of it
Wow.. How in the world do these people know how to do these things? Delete a few words here, add a few words there and presto-chango, character unlocked. I'd say that EA's statement sounds honest and truthful to me. I don't really see how it makes any real difference though. Their DLC unlocks this character, some missions, etc., so what does it really matter if it was on the disc or not? Where is it stated that a developer can't put the necessary components for a planned DLC pack on the originally shipped game disc? Seems like a petty argument. Get over it. You want to play some extra stuff, outside of the realm of the developers pre-determined game parameters? You gotta pay for it. Whether pieces of that are already on the disc or not shouldn't make any difference. Sure this walks that fine line of having to incrementally pay more simply to unlock pieces of the original game, but I don't really think that's the case here. I haven't seen any triple-A title pull anything like that so I don't know what everyones getting worked up over. Games take massive amounts of work and planning. If a part of that planning means including parts of a post-release DLC pack on the shipped game, so be it. Cry about this when you have to pay to unlock parts of the original game. Until then, move on.
Lol. I've had a PS3 since 2006 and have still yet to buy a single piece of DLC. I hate publishers as much as the next guy but it's not that big of a deal. Plat the game and move on...
I can't help but think this would be less of an issue if it were actually a surprise for the fans created during certification, not something intended and announced at least nine months ago. Next time you do this, Bioware, keep your mouth shut.
yeah i call bs on this so they called in the voice actors again just for this so called dlc. me no think so.
This is why I wait for Game of the Year Editions or a release with all DLCs included.
I hate what I'm about to say but its true....... "This is why people hack games and pirate them, because companies like EA, Capcom, and Bioware *** on gamers and use strong arm tactics. And stunts like this by EA and Bioware justify the pirating community"
With that said, I've been a gamer all my life 28 years now! and besides God of War, Gears of War, and the UnCharted series, Mass Effect has been right there at the top of my all time favorites. However, stuff like this makes me not want to support them.
Same with Capcom and there DLC for the new Street Fighter X Tekken. Why would these companies think that its cool to start ripping off its fan base now is completely strange to me. I believe that if its on the disc when you bought it, then it is yours, and you should not be charged for it. However, if its not on the disc and it is really DLC, then people shouldn't complain, either buy it or not.
This is making gaming less and less attractive!
It's the lie that's bad, not necessarily what they did. When your customers start thinking that you are a ***, you don't want to give them more reasons to think so. Lying will do that for you.
I don't care about the day 1 dlc. It's the endings that appalled me.
$10 is worth it, prothy the prothean is awesome.
Day one DLC is garbage, and Bioware knows it. Their heartfelt statement is garbage too.
*Update* Yeah it's just some more PR talk. Whatever, I won't be buying this DLC that's for sure.
Day one DLC is garbage, and Bioware knows it. And, their heartfelt response is garbage too.