Rant 3: Acapulcopsis Now
Posted: 2012-03-26 08:58
How about recalling some words of wisdom from Mr Tarantino?
Remember, we will get back to that. Now, let me speak about very important trouble of today's world.
Every time I open browser now, I find out that BioWare pissed gamers off one another time. And it's not just because my FB still has subscription on Mass Effect 2 news, this stuff is all over the internet now. Hell, even Forbes writes about how ME3 most notorious features - day one DLC and questionable ending are not that cool. That's the freaking Forbes we are talking about, magazine that praises oligarchs robbing their countries for natural resources and finance moguls meatspinning entire world for more cash! And yet somehow Bioware topped all of them and outdone that Kony guy as world's new evil, right now world is on the edge of chaos and president Obama blessing SEAL Team Six to take out BioWare's CEO Ray Muzyka.
So how it came down to that? Let's find out.
To be frank, many of us have seen something like this coming. First, BioWare started to fight used copies sellers of ME2 by allowing to download character DLC only to people who spent money on new copy of thye game. Sure, you would pay more money on a new copy than on a used one, but that DLC came as reward for doing it and that was OK. But EA and BioWare still weren't satisifed and that's how we came to day one DLC "From Ashes", featuring story-important Prothean character. And that DLC was for money. And they said DLC development wasn't part of main game development. I really don't want get into that, let's just ask Shepard himself what he thinks about it:
Worth thousand words, commander.
Yeah, this action drops some shadow on producers of the series and makes EA & BioWare executives look pale, but it doesn't make franchise worse, right? Mass Effect is still an epic experience of mindless messing with ancient civilizations, boning the blue creature, having bizarre stereotypes as your room mates and watching Miranda's perfectly smooth *** on wall-wide FullHD plasma panel. We all enjoy precious memories about hours and hours spent riding in Mako IFV on random-generated landscpaes or listening about deep worries and troubles of our companions (because listening every day about your girlfriend's problems is just not nearly enough). And we were able to punch reporter in the face - unbelievably satisfying, especially after watching Euronews! All of this joy could have led only to spectacular ending where all ends will met and all of your choices would suddenly matter for fate of the Galaxy. But suddenly something went wrong. For number of reasons I have not played ME3 at all and haven't seen ending in question (don't forget to spoil those bollocks in the comments), but what I understood is that stuff goes boom in three awesome, totally different colors.
Bricks were immediately shat and internet petitions were signed. Of course, some people accepted the ending and learned to love what they got for 60+10 dollars/euros, but they don't visit Penny Arcade and ME forums, so who cares? BioWare was in denial, but suddenly Mr Muzyka declared that ending will be revised in the upcoming downloadable content. Beautiful flowers of hope blossomed in the hearts of fans, because their dream of riding Normandy in the sunset and living happily ever after with that dude from engine deck could actually come true. Protesters decalred themselves winners and now getting ready to pay for one more awesome DLC. The end?
Maybe so, but what we got for starting price is the game without plot-important character, without real ending and we actually supposed to be happy that it would be given to us later, for affordable price. Reminds that Tarantino joke from beginning, right?
Yes, developers need our money to survive and continue to make new great games about Miranda's family treasures, but using such market strategies IMO only alienates players and makes them think twice before buying new AAA title from EA or BioWare. I'm not against DLC, not a fan either, but I bought ME2 DLCs and had no regrets, while can't say the same about ME3 and future titles. Instead of all this **** about day one DLC, they could have stated that game would cost 70 $ and no less. Oh, I'm sorry, 69.99$, because some wise people still think this small trick works. Remember, people, publishers are testing you, how far will you go, how much you will be ready to pay for anything - from weapon skins with Little Pony to metal statue of Shepard's turd in natural size. If you are OK with paying more for things that supposed to be in game from the beginning, if money are literally burning your pocket - fine, if you are not - say it with your money. If you won't buy it, publishers will get a clue and maybe even that weird "military" guy from Modern Warafre 3 promos will stop calling you "*******"!
And this is how we will get nice things.
Remember, we will get back to that. Now, let me speak about very important trouble of today's world.
Every time I open browser now, I find out that BioWare pissed gamers off one another time. And it's not just because my FB still has subscription on Mass Effect 2 news, this stuff is all over the internet now. Hell, even Forbes writes about how ME3 most notorious features - day one DLC and questionable ending are not that cool. That's the freaking Forbes we are talking about, magazine that praises oligarchs robbing their countries for natural resources and finance moguls meatspinning entire world for more cash! And yet somehow Bioware topped all of them and outdone that Kony guy as world's new evil, right now world is on the edge of chaos and president Obama blessing SEAL Team Six to take out BioWare's CEO Ray Muzyka.
So how it came down to that? Let's find out.
To be frank, many of us have seen something like this coming. First, BioWare started to fight used copies sellers of ME2 by allowing to download character DLC only to people who spent money on new copy of thye game. Sure, you would pay more money on a new copy than on a used one, but that DLC came as reward for doing it and that was OK. But EA and BioWare still weren't satisifed and that's how we came to day one DLC "From Ashes", featuring story-important Prothean character. And that DLC was for money. And they said DLC development wasn't part of main game development. I really don't want get into that, let's just ask Shepard himself what he thinks about it:
Worth thousand words, commander.
Yeah, this action drops some shadow on producers of the series and makes EA & BioWare executives look pale, but it doesn't make franchise worse, right? Mass Effect is still an epic experience of mindless messing with ancient civilizations, boning the blue creature, having bizarre stereotypes as your room mates and watching Miranda's perfectly smooth *** on wall-wide FullHD plasma panel. We all enjoy precious memories about hours and hours spent riding in Mako IFV on random-generated landscpaes or listening about deep worries and troubles of our companions (because listening every day about your girlfriend's problems is just not nearly enough). And we were able to punch reporter in the face - unbelievably satisfying, especially after watching Euronews! All of this joy could have led only to spectacular ending where all ends will met and all of your choices would suddenly matter for fate of the Galaxy. But suddenly something went wrong. For number of reasons I have not played ME3 at all and haven't seen ending in question (don't forget to spoil those bollocks in the comments), but what I understood is that stuff goes boom in three awesome, totally different colors.
Bricks were immediately shat and internet petitions were signed. Of course, some people accepted the ending and learned to love what they got for 60+10 dollars/euros, but they don't visit Penny Arcade and ME forums, so who cares? BioWare was in denial, but suddenly Mr Muzyka declared that ending will be revised in the upcoming downloadable content. Beautiful flowers of hope blossomed in the hearts of fans, because their dream of riding Normandy in the sunset and living happily ever after with that dude from engine deck could actually come true. Protesters decalred themselves winners and now getting ready to pay for one more awesome DLC. The end?
Maybe so, but what we got for starting price is the game without plot-important character, without real ending and we actually supposed to be happy that it would be given to us later, for affordable price. Reminds that Tarantino joke from beginning, right?
Yes, developers need our money to survive and continue to make new great games about Miranda's family treasures, but using such market strategies IMO only alienates players and makes them think twice before buying new AAA title from EA or BioWare. I'm not against DLC, not a fan either, but I bought ME2 DLCs and had no regrets, while can't say the same about ME3 and future titles. Instead of all this **** about day one DLC, they could have stated that game would cost 70 $ and no less. Oh, I'm sorry, 69.99$, because some wise people still think this small trick works. Remember, people, publishers are testing you, how far will you go, how much you will be ready to pay for anything - from weapon skins with Little Pony to metal statue of Shepard's turd in natural size. If you are OK with paying more for things that supposed to be in game from the beginning, if money are literally burning your pocket - fine, if you are not - say it with your money. If you won't buy it, publishers will get a clue and maybe even that weird "military" guy from Modern Warafre 3 promos will stop calling you "*******"!
And this is how we will get nice things.