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Post by jklinders on Mar 13, 2012 11:06:19 GMT 1
That's what they're trying to say, and I think this chart popped up shortly after they made this claim, but surely whether or not a company thrives post-launch isn't dependent on day one DLC alone. Bethesda just released Skyrim sans any kind of DLC, and they managed to keep everyone employed. (Minus the people at ID Software, but that was on account of how RAGE did on the market.) Apples and oranges really. Skyim is a sandbox game and they have gone on record already as planning on massive expansions (think closer to Shivering Isles than horse armor) as DLC. Combined with the notion that Skyrim, due to it's modding community will enjoy longer term use by it's players they can get away with taking their time. That chart would probably have longer production windows for the second team as the pieces involved will be a lot bigger than adding a single map and one companion. At $10.00 the DLC is unarguably too expensive. I would say at tops $5.00. But this business model allows them to keep people on the project. I know it is tempting to take the piss out of of BiowEAr for this. God knows I want to as well. But the price is what is odious, not the fact that they are charging for it at all. My background in management cannot allow me to see it any other way.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Mar 13, 2012 11:49:09 GMT 1
To be honest, as a soon-to-be game developer, I can't blame most developers with their DLC in general. The DLC is one of those things that helps them keep their jobs a little longer. I can understand that. However, I'm still skeptical with the story behind BioWare's business scheme for the Prothean DLC. Mainly because someone data mined the game that was in an original state before the said DLC was installed. www.cinemablend.com/games/Mass-Effect-3-Day-One-DLC-Was-Disc-All-40298.htmlSo either BioWare leave it as a placeholder of some sort. (Even in Skyrim and New Vegas have their own placeholders for their upcoming major DLC packages), or there's more to it than that. You decide. Then again, what about the GTA4 DLC? I haven't been up to date with the development of GTA4 from Rockstar, so can someone clarify me if they have placeholders for their episodic DLC?
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Post by jklinders on Mar 13, 2012 13:19:26 GMT 1
The same thing occurred with the Kasumi DLC as I recall. But all it had was a bit of combat chatter and the ability to select her as a character. Her mission, map, associated dialogue and weapon were nowhere to be found. That was in a separate download.
There is no suggestion whatsoever that the full Eden Prime package exists already in the game aside from an incomplete scrounge by some people sniffing around. In other words, they can't tell for sure but they are shooting their mouths off anyway. That is not journalism, just shit disturbing blogging.
My best guess is that because they had planned in further advance for "From Ashes" they were able to preproduce more content, but it was still not ready fro prime time as of certification. Even so, if this project was outside the originally planned budget of the game design, then charging for it is not out of line. At 10.00 on the other hand...
If half of the folks who buy ME 3 get the DLC, that raises about 17.5 million in revenue if the 3.5 million copies shipped report was accurate. I doubt it cost more than a tenth of that to create the map. The cost vs reward is what I find odious.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Mar 13, 2012 13:56:51 GMT 1
Hmm... good point. I guess the only way to find out is to have one of us to data mine a freshly installed ME3 without the DLC thing. Any helpful tips or a place where I learn to do that? I'm reconcidering taking a look at it myself.
On the other hand I agree a 10 dollar price is too high for that type of DLC. It's not even as long as the other DLC from DA2. (The one that stared Felicia Day I think). While the multiplayer is alright, I still find it unnessasry to implement into a game like ME3, where the main selling point is the single player campaign, not the multiplayer aspect. Hence I rather see other players get the Prothean DLC for free if they brought a fresh copy of the game instead, if they still intending to implement the "10 dollar project".
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Post by jklinders on Mar 13, 2012 14:14:21 GMT 1
Well the multiplayer came down to design choice. I even have a possible co-op partner outside of this site lined up.
Locking out multiplayer from used copies is rapidly becoming the preferred choice to encourage new game purchase since so many folks disapprove of online passes. I liked the cerberus network idea personally. I may or may not use the multiplayer. But it is potentially a better money maker for them. My friend would not have bought the game without the co-op. Full stop. He flat out refused to have anything to do with ME 1 and 2. It was smart from a marketing perspective. Honestly as annoyed as I got at the idea it was good business. Most report that the co-op is nothing short of awesome. So kudos.
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Mar 13, 2012 14:39:25 GMT 1
Fair enough. Good for BioWare I suppose, not that I give a damn anyway.
I would enjoy the multiplayer aspect more if most of my friends are on PC, not on Xbox. I should have stick to xbox back then if this happens. Ah wells, that's life I suppose. I do have a possible friend to join with outside of the forums too, but I'm getting too old for this shit nowdays, especially dealing his mates. One of them was hot-headed fist punding type player and the other was a some emo kid. Not only they argue like there's no tomorrow, their mysogynist jokes gets old real fast for me. So yeah, if ME3 was just consist of multiplayer gameplay, I would have not buy this game. That's how tired I am with interacting with other players.
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Post by lieden on Mar 13, 2012 16:14:24 GMT 1
I've read Knightfall's review and I feel my resolve is breaking. -_-
... which means I will try to be super-professional and finish these commissions well before their deadline! XD
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Post by Mister Buch on Mar 13, 2012 16:46:10 GMT 1
lol
Knightfall's review is spot-on, incidentally. This game is pretty special (until the last 5 minutes I guess).
Jooooiiiiin usssssss
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Post by Tillian Panthesis on Mar 13, 2012 23:50:17 GMT 1
I've read Knightfall's review and I feel my resolve is breaking. -_-
... which means I will try to be super-professional and finish these commissions well before their deadline! XD Can't argue with Knight's review. Also I cannot help but I've been reading back to my game theory notes and books since the shitstorm with the ME3. Games like this... made me question about my reasons, goals and existance as a game designer. Hence reading those notes back, just to find the answers for myself. It feels like I'm having a mid-age crisis, except with my career and love for games.
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Post by Hodster on Mar 14, 2012 0:00:40 GMT 1
Agreed that Knight's review was spot on!
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Post by jklinders on Mar 14, 2012 0:18:43 GMT 1
When Javik came to the citadel, I expected huge amounts of people crowding around him to see an actual prothean. But no, a hanar, an asari, and a turian go to him. A hanar an asari and a turian went into a bar?
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Post by Clint Johnston on Mar 14, 2012 4:52:52 GMT 1
LOL. Yeah, no one seems to care that he's another race they've never seen.
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Post by Clint Johnston on Mar 15, 2012 6:11:19 GMT 1
I take it back. I took him on the Salarian homeworld mission and several characters brought it up and were even disbelieving of his race.
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Post by Clint Johnston on Mar 17, 2012 20:08:52 GMT 1
I think I ruined that meme. I was nice every time I met him. What does he do in 3?
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Post by Warhammer Gorvar on Mar 18, 2012 1:15:37 GMT 1
I find the timing off on mine. He was shouting that AFTER Cerberus invaded in the beginning of Act II.
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