Mass Effect 3 "From Ashes" DLC found on disc, BioWare explains
Not terrible like it may seem, studio says
Over the weekend, one diligent fan uncovered a method to unlock the Mass Effect 3 "From Ashes" DLC without paying for it (see above), meaning it was already on the disc. However, the game's associate producer Michael Gamble and also publisher EA have since clarified only part of the content is included -- a necessity, they claim, for technical reasons.
"...in order to seamlessly integrate Javik into the core campaign," EA notes, "Certain framework elements and character models needed to be put on disc. We did something similar with Zaeed and Kasumi in Mass Effect 2.”
"ME3 was a labour of love for the dev team," explains Gamble. "To finish a game like ME3, it literally takes months of intense bug fixing and certification. At this point, our goal is to polish the game to an extremely high quality – not to add extra content. You hopefully see a lot of that polish in ME3."
"During that certification time, we had a small team of developers begin to craft the ‘From Ashes’ content, with the intent to finish production on it long after ME3 was out of our hands as a dev team."
"However, because the plot of ME3 is so richly interwoven with the character interactions and moments, you simply cannot use a DLC module to ‘insert’ a new character. As we've mentioned before, that character has to be planned and the framework has to be established ahead of time for us to build off of with the DLC module. You may have seen a similar framework developed in ME2 for the Zaeed and Kasumi characters. We wanted Javik to be a fully featured squad member, with deep dialogue throughout the game – and we needed him to be accessible via the character selection GUI (which you cannot simply ‘overwrite’ with DLC). Thus, certain elements of the Javik appearance and some of the VO needed to be included on the disc. That is a fact. But that doesn’t mean the content was created, and then removed. It is a necessity of adding a rich character presence in our game."
"That, however, is the extent of it. As mentioned above, the DLC is over 600 mb. The DLC data holds the mission itself, the cinematic flashback moments, the cinematic dialogue interactions with Javik, his weapon, the appearances for squad members… everything that makes the adventure a cohesive experience. 'From Ashes' is not Javik’s character model. It is the story of finding the last remaining Prothean, and how his tale interweaves with Commander Shepard’s as he struggles to destroy the Reaper threat."
The included content can be accessed with the hack, but it will break your game in a variety of ways due to what's missing, so besides the obvious reasons, BioWare advises against it.
Source: Forbes
Alternate Source: BioWare Social Network
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"No we had to put 'some' into the game..."
Yea bioware we get it, you're out on a money grab mission, have fun you aren't getting another dime from me. I'd bet money the next DLC will be an actual ending to the game after the garbage they gave us.
Anyways, as a whole it didn't feel like it was worth in the N7 or if some paid for it, the $10. Being on disc or not, still was crap. Not only did it feel half-ass done, but we were given a prothean that doesn't really to my opinion feel like he even belonged in the story. He almost felt like he was just there, along with most of my crew in this one.
It's funny how you can begin doing something after (part of?) it is already on the disc. Smooth.
No regrets buying the N7 edition here.
There's nobody else in your squad more centric to the plot and lore than him. That he's DLC is just a low blow to the wallet.
Simply put Limmic, if DLC is done right, we shouldn't hate it. As you said, it's optional, there should be no pressure to download it or anything. If done correctly, DLC is a
good thing. Problem is when it's done without much thought, well, this happens. People being mad over DLC, tends to be a sign there's something wrong with it. Provided of course, there's a legitimate reason to be mad about it, and those people aren't just being cheap.
I don't think punching reporters is very ProtheanShepard is basically...well, he's Shepard.No doubt that the game and DLC are selling very well, the game is very good after all. The sales it gets, it deserves. Bio-EA are just being far too greedy for me to feel right joining in on that. I like buying games when it feels like the company respects me as a person, rather than a wallet.
Sure, Protheans in general were the catalyst for Shepard discovering a great deal in the series. But Javik himself, while his species (and being the sole remaining member I suppose) is relevant to the backstory, doesn't offer much through his interactions with Shepard.
If this DLC came out three months from now, there wouldn't be this uproar about it. People are angry because they don't seem to get the inner workings of game development despite being told by Casey Hudson himself via Twitter and interviews. They mentioned that Kasumi was integrated similarly in ME2, that a placeholder existed on-disc because they knew she would be DLC later. And more importantly was the Shadow Broker DLC in ME2, it was plot-significant (to current galactic events), and included a very important character to the series. Because that came out later it wasn't given the same criticism, but in reality it's not really any different. It was important for a good deal of fans, and was finished after the main content, yet there would have been some sort of on-disc content there as well. The argument stems from it being release-date DLC, and people not really understanding how that worked, or at least not being able to remove that from their mind when they argue about it.
I love the series, and will buy whatever story/character DLC they release just to get some more Mass Effect, as it's one of the few games I am a completionist with. One thing that made me question people's sanity are the people claiming they would "boycott the game entirely". If that was on the basis of DLC marketing/pricing/etc. then it would make more sense to buy the game, but not the DLC. And that's what it comes down to, if you really hate it, don't buy it. And while that might be a crappy statement, I would rather have the option, should I choose, to buy more Mass Effect content.
Companies like EA will always try and get an extra buck from gamers if possible, because all we will ever be is a potential sale to them, so in the end what's left for us is that we can speak with our wallets. I just decide what games I feel are worth the content for sale and what ones aren't, and I think the Mass Effect series DLC is worth the money, minus Pinnacle Station...that one sucked.
I am upset and am totally in my rights to express my displeasure, because when I don't buy Bioware again they will know exactly why they aren't getting my money any longer.
Something I didn't notice while playing through ME2 and it's DLC was how much I dislike how BioEA runs their DLC. Well, besides that Cerberus Network thing for new copies, that was actually rather brilliant and I will still commend BioEA for doing that. As you said, they'll always try and get an extra buck off of us. That's kind of what they do, we're just a potential sale.
But the thing is, I'm not really okay with that. Not that I wish to personally be important to a developer or anything. I'm just a fish in a vast sea after all. But having run into quite a few developers that care about the game and it's community as a whole moreso than the profit, I just can't really go for obvious nickel and dime tripe anymore. Feels not only disheartening, but kind of a waste. When Bioware was in the planning stages, and decided to make the Prothean of all people the DLC, that's the kind of decisions I can't back with my wallet. They could have chosen just about anybody, and they chose for the sales figures. They're a business and they're allowed to do that, but it's not something I'll back with my money. If others do, more power to them, and I thoroughly hope they have an experience they deem worth their money. I realize my stance is not some universal truth or truly right or wrong, but I buy based on morals of the team behind it. When I buy it's not that I'm buying a specific game, I purchase more as a sign of support (you know, and actually liking the game). It is an entertainment industry after all, if there's a game I want but really just don't feel right supporting, there's always something that gives a similar experience that I can look into instead.
Also Limmic, welcome to the site, glad you decided to join.
Is that why people aren't complaining about falling through maps, having multiplayer unlicks being relocked for no reason Even if you paid with real money, unable to recruit drell, hanar or spectres to their final fight if they imported (this glitch affects anyone who imported their Shepard) and can't get the "good" ending unless they play mp (you have to play all 3 games in a VERY specific order and unlock everything and then some in order to get the good ending but without drell, hanar and spectres because of the glitch this is nearly impossible without multiplayer) Or why some guns shoot blank?
That's some terrific polish right there
yeehaw.
The fact is that DLC sells, well because it sells, it's a business model that makes them tons of money whether people like it or not. I generally like the concept of DLC more than the actual implementation of it, but I am in favor of having optional additional content after a game hits shelves.
Also, I am equally within my rights to label you a whiner for whining about DLC as a business model. Your argument was that you didn't like it because....you have to pay for it? That's not an argument, it's a statement. And a whiny one at that.
Also, make sure to write Bioware/EA a letter next time you don't buy from them again, otherwise they might not be sure why they didn't get your money.
Lorx - Perhaps they realized what they had thought up and written for the Prothean just wasn't up to snuff with the rest of the content and made a change in how they were going to make it. I mean just compared to the rest of the squadmates they are all much more fleshed out than he is, so maybe they came up with his character late in development and just didn't have the time to make him more substantial of a character. Seeing what he has to offer, he feels like a DLC character, even compared to James Vega. If they had gone further with his story, or had some interactions beyond audio over the comm system, with other characters then perhaps he'd feel a bit bigger of a character. Sure, this is just speculation on my part, but just based solely on what he adds to the game, he feels on par with a Zaeed or Kasumi in regards to his level of depth.
I've read the site for a while now, but finally decided to join up, as I usually don't comment and they only let you comment twice as a guest...
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