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BioWare responds to outrage over Mass Effect 3 'From Ashes' DLC

Lydia Sung - Thursday, February 23, 2012 2:01am (PST) Like (1) +my favourites

Claims DLC was made after core game was completed

When the Mass Effect 3 - From Ashes DLC leaked onto Xbox.com, many Mass Effect fans were understandably outraged upon learning that the (spoiler) Prothean squad member would be paid content at launch. Not surprisingly, BioWare has issued a statement to address the community's concerns and justify the downloadable character.

BioWare's Michael Gamble made a post on the official forums earlier (about a day after the DLC leaked) to "clarify a few things." Now keep in mind that his post contains some spoilers regarding the paid content, so anyone who has taken care to avoid any information about the add-on might want to skip the segment below. The gist of Gamble's explanation, however, is that the paid content isn't a major part of the Mass Effect 3 experience, and the game is complete "right out of the box." He goes on to mention that From Ashes was actually developed by a separate team after the core game was done and "not completed until well after the main game went into certification."

Some spoilers follow:

- “From Ashes” includes the Prothean squad mate, an adventure on Eden Prime, a new weapon, and an alternate appearance for every squad mate. Note that these alternate appearances are in addition to the ones already advertised in the CE.

- The Collector's Edition has been advertised from the beginning as containing a bonus character/mission, but we were not at liberty to provide the details. The Prothean is optional content that is certainly designed to appeal to long-time fans, which is why he is part of the CE offering (the version many fans would be likely to purchase). Mass Effect 3 is a complete – and a huge game - right out of the box.

- The content in “From Ashes” was developed by a separate team (after the core game was finished) and not completed until well after the main game went into certification.

- The Collector's Edition has been sold out in most places for some time now, and is becoming very hard to find (many players prefer not to purchase the digital version). As such, we wanted to make this content available so that SE buyers could also incorporate the Prothean into their game.

From Ashes was supposed to be officially revealed this coming Friday, but now the cat's out of the bag. Images and video for the DLC pack are will be released soon.

Update: Mass Effect producer Casey Hudson clarified via Twitter that the From Ashes DLC was developed during the time it took to "bug-fix, certify, manufacture, and ship [core] game discs." For Mass Effect 3, the certification process stretched "about three months." Hudson explains that because DLC enjoys faster certification and of course no additional manufacturing overhead for retail release, BioWare was able to complete From Ashes and get the add-on certified in time before release.

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8 thumbs! ^

Lorx Feb 23, 12

NOBODY SAY WHAT'S IN THE SPOILER, IT'S A SPOILER

Required video link, yes, it's that TotalBiscuit video basically everybody's seen.

Personally am not mad that it's being released day 1. I'm annoyed about what's in it, as a day 1 pack. That's hyper important lore-centric stuff in there. Wasn't really planning on buying ME3 anyway, because of lol-origin, but this just kind of seals the deal :/

0 thumbs! ^

Royal Bloody Feb 23, 12

So it seems EA/Bioware pulls a move like this which they've done in the past plenty of times. And now suddenly out of the blue, someone finally brings attention too a long foreseen problem that now I'm suppose to feel disgusted and shock over now?

The only people you need to get mad at, are the gamers that allow this to continue. I usually buy EA games at bargain bin prices anyways, so this no problem for me, but I understand the outrage though.

-3 thumbs! ^

mneidig Feb 23, 12

It's a shame that a player's loyalty can be so easily swayed and that they get upset that a business acts like a business.

I've been waiting for Mass Effect 3 since I finished the second one. Origin is not going to stop me, nor should it stop anyone from playing this game.

Personally, this DLC makes me all the more excited, and frankly, I suspect those complaining aren't getting the CE.

1 thumbs! ^

BlackLabel Feb 23, 12

quote Royal Bloody
So it seems EA/Bioware pulls a move like this which they've done in the past plenty of times. And now suddenly out of the blue, someone finally brings attention too a long foreseen problem that now I'm suppose to feel disgusted and shock over now?

The only people you need to get mad at, are the gamers that allow this to continue. I usually buy EA games at bargain bin prices anyways, so this no problem for me, but I understand the outrage though.

It's more in the past that other than Shale being one of the better characters in Dragon Age. The difference was he wasn't necessary in any way to the plot and he was available to everyone that bought the standard edition or collectors edition new.

In Mass Effect 3 it's different. This is a character that going by what it is, is a massive part of the lore and it's necessary content yet you have to pay £10 on top of the initial brand new price to get it or buy the even more pricey collectors edition.

mneidig, So you're saying you're happy with this? You're happy paying £40 ($60) for the game new and then having to pay £10 ($10) more for a piece of necessary content? If everyone thinks like you the gaming industry is *bleep*ed.. Just wait until Activision see's how well this worked, don't put it past them to sell half a game for £40 and ask for a £10-20 day one DLC to unlock the rest, that is where this practice is going to get us if people accept it like idiots.

1 thumbs! ^

Lorx Feb 23, 12

Royal Bloody, I don't think anybody's seen a move this big from EA, at least not in any major title.

mneidig, Watch the TotalBiscuit video. I swear everybody and their dog hands this link out like candy, same as they did his video on SOPA, but it's food good reason. The guy is just good at making solid points.

1 thumbs! ^

BlackLabel Feb 23, 12

quote Lorx
Royal Bloody, I don't think anybody's seen a move this big from EA, at least not in any major title.

BioWare do it a lot but in the past it's been merely to combat used sales and has been free. This time they have gone a lot further and to be honest I think it's BioWare's decision and not EA. Every other EA game that isn't made by BioWare has the typical pre-order content and maybe something to combat used sales, but only in BioWare games are characters and missions left out either to stop used sales or in this case monetise content we should get on disc. EA get a ton of flak sure but something tells me this was BioWare's decision.

1 thumbs! ^

Crafter Feb 23, 12

Lorx: Being a higher profile launch, I wouldn't be surprised if some fine fellows make a hack to play without Origin, like they did with BF3.

Jorden | Feb 23, 12

*** This comment was removed by its author. ***

0 thumbs! ^

BlackLabel Feb 23, 12

quote Jorden
when the hell does mass effect 3 come out

In 2 weeks..

-1 thumbs! ^

BlackScythe Feb 23, 12

I don't believe them. They are forced to do this by EA. No need to add lying to the list.

1 thumbs! ^

Lorx Feb 23, 12

Keep in mind, nowhere did they say that it wasn't planned to release this as day 1 content. All they said was a separate team worked on it, once ME3 was in it's final stages and more or less out of development. Wouldn't really think anything in there is a lie.

quote Crafter
Lorx: Being a higher profile launch, I wouldn't be surprised if some fine fellows make a hack to play without Origin, like they did with BF3.

Thing is, when players have to do that, is EA really doing their job? Buying a game is showing your support for what it is and what it stands for. I love what ME3 is, the series is great, but what it stands for with Origin and DLC, no thanks, I'll pass.

BlackLabel that's a pretty interesting theory, that it's Bioware's decision. Personally I thought that ME2's release DLC was brilliant, as you said it was made to purposefully attack used game sales, which I can understand. Developers get basically nothing from those. I was surprised when I head about the ME3 DLC, specifically because of just how much I appreciated ME2's DLC and how it was released.

0 thumbs! ^

BlackLabel Feb 23, 12

quote BlackScythe
I don't believe them. They are forced to do this by EA. No need to add lying to the list.

No they aren't.. Their first EA release Mass Effect 2 was a typical EA release with fair pre-order content and a fair anti-used game policy. Dragon Age and Dragon Age 2 then started taking characters out of the game to combat used games and now we are at this point.. EA does not do this for any other game and this only seems to happen only with BioWare titles. BioWare have said in the past they have full control over this IP.. Who do we lay blame with as sure EA can be a bit dodgy at times, but EA's past suggests this wasn't their doing.

1 thumbs! ^

shaunybaby Feb 23, 12

Yeah I love the series, I love Biowares games on the whole, but I am not supporting them if they are going to ass f*ck use with launch DLC that isn't included for early adapobters is straight out profiteering. So I say F*ck you Bioware because the only money they will be getting from me is when I can buy an ultimate edition second hand.