So who else here is pre-ordering Mass Effect 3?

[shortylickens]

Actually I just realized I'm not supporting EA or Origin any more so that simplifies my choice greatly.

 

[thespyder]

… are you honestly thinking that every single person who pre-ordered ME3 during the promotion to get a free copy of BF3 did it and fully expected to wait for three weeks before being able to play it? Was that information even clearly mentioned on the pre-order Origin page during the promotion?

Yes, it was clearly stated in the promotion. You may wish to go back and peruse it again. As to if every single person read the disclosure thoroughly, probably not. But failure to read is hardly EA’s problem.

You think I'm blinded by my "hate" towards EA. I think that you're being naive to believe that everyone who pre-ordered it for BF3 did it and actually never expected to play the game right away while having to wait for ME3, without necessarily wanting to screw EA over by canceling their pre-order. And what's to stop EA from canceling access to BF3 anyway if the consumer happens to cancel the pre-order? The copy would be free, what's to lose for EA if they cancel access to BF3 in the event that they "lost a consumer" for a purchase of ME3 since they canceled their pre-order anyway. Would that be perceived as immoral business practices or something? Ok, what about the consumer who obviously tried to take "advantage" of the promotion, is that moral? Even I think that EA would be right to do that if they wanted in such cases (I.E. to cancel access to BF3, or rather to remove access to BF3 at least from the freely given BF3 key given in the promotion, in the event that the consumer cancels ME3).

You are overlooking the fairly simple fact that monitoring canceled prescriptions takes effort. Effort that EA may not wish to put into place when the simpler solution of not allowing access exists. Also, existent copies on hard drives increases the risk of hacks and tampering with the copy protection. Again, a risk that EA may not wish to expose themselves when a simpler solution exists.

Or finally, nothing at all prevents, in the scenarios you indicate above, a player from early pre-ordering ME3 and then playing BF3 up until the very last minute and then canceling. No amount of action on EA's part will prevent 3-4 weeks of "Free play". Once again, a risk that no sane company may be willing to take on a Premium current product.

Anyway, there's been many times on Steam when they offered their consumers a free game to play right now (or even more than that) if they did pre-order an unreleased game within a set period of time (a promotion's time limit). I can give some examples, one of which is very recent, for Crusader Kings II. In CKII's case, if you "pre-order now", you receive two CKII DLCs at the game's release, but you also receive the original CK copy for free to play right now... I'll give more examples:

º Pre-Purchase King Arthur II, gain access (right now) to a prologue campaign.
º Pre-Purchase Real Warfare II, get a free copy (and play right now) of RW: 1242.
º Pre-Purchase L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition, receive GTAIII for free, play right now.
º Pre-Purchase Sonic Generations, receive Sonic 3D Blast + S3&K to play right now.
º Pre-Purchase Call of Duty MW3, receive a free copy of CoD4 (play right now).
º Pre-Purchase Stronghold 3, receive the original for free and play right now.
º Pre-Purchase Tropico 4, receive Tropico Reloaded for free, play right now.
º Pre-Purchase Space Marine, receive a copy of Darksiders (play right now).
º Pre-Purchase Call of Juarez: The Cartel, receive CoJ: Bound in Blood (play right now).
º Pre-Purchase Dungeon Siege III, receive both DS1 and DS2 for free, play them now.
º Pre-Purchase Red Faction: Armageddon, receive RF: Guerrilla for free, play it now.

My source for them (and hundreds more) is on www.steampowered.com, News section, filter by "Product Releases" (on the right panel with filter options). All of the examples from the list above come from the very first page of results. The point? It happens on Steam, why not on Origin? After all, Steam is "just another content delivery platform" as much as Origin is, right? Steam isn't any "better" nor "worse" than EA, right? Why is it that I can sometimes get to play a free game I received from a Steam pre-order, right now, but I'd have to wait for the same kind of promotion if it happens on Origin such as in that specific case of ME3 + BF3? Because I could cancel my pre-order? Ok... but I could cancel my pre-order on Steam too, yet I'd have received the promoted free game and I'd be able to play it right now, what's the big deal.

I really think you need to take a look at some of those “Free” offers. Most are MUCH older products or Demo (partial) products not something that is sold for premium amounts today. And even if they are more current items, just because one company does a given marketing tactic, doesn’t directly relate to all other companies that don’t do that particular practice as evil, poor and rotten.


Not saying EA isn't evil and rotten. But your examples are really not as supportive of same as you appear to think.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

how hilarious would is be if when you logged on to origin you heard "I'm commander shepard and this is my favorite store on the internet."

If you don't get the joke you haven't played ME2.

 

[Stuka87]

how hilarious would is be if when you logged on to origin you heard "I'm commander shepard and this is my favorite store on the internet."

If you don't get the joke you haven't played ME2.

This would make my day.

 

[airdata]

I think after playing the demo yesterday I'm sold.

 

[daaron415]

Does anyone here think getting the Digital Deluxe version is at all worth it? It seems you get a few extra weapons, some minor cosmetic extras, and the Day1 DLC involving an extra squadmate, and that's it. For $20 more than the standard edition, is anyone convinced its a better deal than just taking the standard and buying the DLC seperately?

 

[thespyder]

Does anyone here think getting the Digital Deluxe version is at all worth it? It seems you get a few extra weapons, some minor cosmetic extras, and the Day1 DLC involving an extra squadmate, and that's it. For $20 more than the standard edition, is anyone convinced its a better deal than just taking the standard and buying the DLC seperately?

My personal opinion is that you nailed it. Most if not all of it is cosmetic. And the extra DLC will eventually become available at probably less than the $20 price point.

but if you are really REALLY jazzed about it, maybe it is worth it. It isn't to me.

 

[ibex333]

I am sure as hell NOT pre-ordering Mass Effect 3. I'll buy it for $10 on Steam in a year or so. It pisses me off how fast they pump out these games, I didn't even have a chance to play Mass Effect 2 with it's myriad DLC packs and they are already releasing Mass Effect 3. Had they taken more time to release the 3rd installation, who knows... perhaps it would have been even better.

Same thing with Deadspace 2... I never even had a chance to beat the 1st one!
And same this with Witcher 2.. I hardly even touched the 1st one. And it is not a small or short game by any means! And Deus Ex HR? I still have to beat the previous games in the series before I can go for HR.

Some of us actually WORK for a living?! And I mean WORK, where you actually spend most of the day at work to make your money, and you actually do stuff at work...


/end of rant


(and yes, I know no one is forcing me to play these games, it's just that I still cant get over the fact that I used to play and beat almost every single good game that would come out back when I was in High School)

 

[irishScott]

I am sure as hell NOT pre-ordering Mass Effect 3. I'll buy it for $10 on Steam in a year or so. It pisses me off how fast they pump out these games, I didn't even have a chance to play Mass Effect 2 with it's myriad DLC packs and they are already releasing Mass Effect 3. Had they taken more time to release the 3rd installation, who knows... perhaps it would have been even better.

Same thing with Deadspace 2... I never even had a chance to beat the 1st one!
And same this with Witcher 2.. I hardly even touched the 1st one. And it is not a small or short game by any means! And Deus Ex HR? I still have to beat the previous games in the series before I can go for HR.

Some of us actually WORK for a living?! And I mean WORK, where you actually spend most of the day at work to make your money, and you actually do stuff at work...


/end of rant


(and yes, I know no one is forcing me to play these games, it's just that I still cant get over the fact that I used to play and beat almost every single good game that would come out back when I was in High School)

Wow, you are the only person I know complaining about quality games being released in a timely manner. I suppose you like Valve's approach of tabling Half Life 2: Episode 3 indefinitely? You might as well complain that J.K. Rolling came out with Harry Potter books so fast. Would have been SO much better if she took 20 years.

If you lack the time you lack the time, but these games will be playable for at least the next decade. Just play them when you get the time. Also I beat The Witcher 2 without having ever touched a copy of The Witcher and enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[darkewaffle]

Wow, you are the only person I know complaining about quality games being released in a timely manner. I suppose you like Valve's approach of tabling Half Life 2: Episode 3 indefinitely? You might as well complain that J.K. Rolling came out with Harry Potter books so fast. Would have been SO much better if she took 20 years.

If you lack the time you lack the time, but these games will be playable for at least the next decade. Just play them when you get the time. Also I beat The Witcher 2 without having ever touched a copy of The Witcher and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Perhaps he's a big George R. R. Martin fan

 

[ramj70]

I am sure as hell NOT pre-ordering Mass Effect 3. I'll buy it for $10 on Steam in a year or so. It pisses me off how fast they pump out these games, I didn't even have a chance to play Mass Effect 2 with it's myriad DLC packs and they are already releasing Mass Effect 3. Had they taken more time to release the 3rd installation, who knows... perhaps it would have been even better.

Same thing with Deadspace 2... I never even had a chance to beat the 1st one!
And same this with Witcher 2.. I hardly even touched the 1st one. And it is not a small or short game by any means! And Deus Ex HR? I still have to beat the previous games in the series before I can go for HR.

Some of us actually WORK for a living?! And I mean WORK, where you actually spend most of the day at work to make your money, and you actually do stuff at work...


/end of rant


(and yes, I know no one is forcing me to play these games, it's just that I still cant get over the fact that I used to play and beat almost every single good game that would come out back when I was in High School)

ME2 came out two years ago. Just curious on how long you think it should be between games?

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

I had it pre-ordered until yesterday on Amazon, and then I cancelled it because of the Prothean DLC mess.

I don't really care what anyone else's opinion on this either, I know there are people who will just take it, I'm not one of those people. A well written press release isn't going to make me all gushy between the legs and feel like hugging and making up. This situation is pretty shady, and people that don't see how shady it is, well, that's your call. Game publishers will keep moving the line when it comes to content you have to shell out $10 a pop for after paying $60-$80 for a base product, and at some point hopefully you realize it's too far. Chances are, it'll be too little, too late at that point.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I had it pre-ordered until yesterday on Amazon, and then I cancelled it because of the Prothean DLC mess.

I don't really care what anyone else's opinion on this either, I know there are people who will just take it, I'm not one of those people. A well written press release isn't going to make me all gushy between the legs and feel like hugging and making up. This situation is pretty shady, and people that don't see how shady it is, well, that's your call. Game publishers will keep moving the line when it comes to content you have to shell out $10 a pop for after paying $60-$80 for a base product, and at some point hopefully you realize it's too far. Chances are, it'll be too little, too late at that point.

I didnt preorder, and am becoming more and more inclined to wait for a price drop or at least some reviews before ordering the game. I will wait to see how this DLC mess affects the game, i.e. how really essential to the game this content is.

But already I guess I have missed some significant plot points by not getting the DLC for ME2, then they add multiplayer, which I will not play, but supposedly gives bonuses for the single player game, now this day one DLC mess.

Makes me nostalgic for the "good old days" of true single player games that you didnt have to buy DLC for to make a complete story.

 

[CraigRT]

Pre-order no... But I will get it not long after release. Loved ME2... Wonderful game.

 

[irishScott]

I had it pre-ordered until yesterday on Amazon, and then I cancelled it because of the Prothean DLC mess.

I don't really care what anyone else's opinion on this either, I know there are people who will just take it, I'm not one of those people. A well written press release isn't going to make me all gushy between the legs and feel like hugging and making up. This situation is pretty shady, and people that don't see how shady it is, well, that's your call. Game publishers will keep moving the line when it comes to content you have to shell out $10 a pop for after paying $60-$80 for a base product, and at some point hopefully you realize it's too far. Chances are, it'll be too little, too late at that point.

So you're accusing Bioware of lying with no evidence. Alright, just as long as you know that.

 

[surfsatwerk]

MULTIPLAYER now? WTF it's like this game is part of an Onion article.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

So you're accusing Bioware of lying with no evidence. Alright, just as long as you know that.

Pretty sure the name Bioware isn't anywhere in my post.

Or EA. But yes.

 

[irishScott]

Pretty sure the name Bioware isn't anywhere in my post.

Or EA. But yes.

The press release you mentioned was from Bioware. See earlier in the thread.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

The press release you mentioned was from Bioware. See earlier in the thread.

I know. I understand the press release is from Bioware, but it smells a lot like EA.

The same company that stuck the Bioware name on a Command and Conquer title. In my mind, Bioware is kind of only Bioware in name only anymore unfortunately.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Pretty sure the name Bioware isn't anywhere in my post.

Or EA. But yes.

I dont know how the game will play out or how accurate the statement from Bioware is, but what would you expect them to say? Of course they will put the best spin possible on it. They would hardly come out and say "We nerfed the game so you will have to spend more money up front to get the full story."

 

[JamesV]

I'll wait til it's $20 or less.

I personally cannot stand dialog tree gameplay, and the dumbest game mechanic ever - romance. The ME universe has always been bland and uninspired (I read alot of fantasy/sci-fi), and the combat while kind of interesting, is clumsy feeling.

 

[RobertPters77]

I canceled my pre-order that I had since November.

Why? Because of the way EA/Bioware/Dice treats it's customers.

First straw was with Origin.

As much as I resent steam sometimes and hate the lack of customer service(No phone Number? WTF!?), I'm happier with it. I'm happy having all my PC friends in one place. If EA was quicker to the punch with origin and provided better social networking than steam then Yes I would jump ship to origin. But steam is so ingrained that even game developers who 2 years ago would never think of integrating steamworks into their games have jumped on the bandwagon.


Second straw is with BF3.

The game is awful. Just freaking Awful. EA/Dice lied. BF2 fans like myself got milked out of our money for the sequel we've been waiting for 6 years. And what does Dice have to say about it? F*** You! They got our money they don't care. BF3 is a broken laggy Piece of S**t on all three platforms. That solely exists to steal marketshare from Call of Duty. If I want Call of Duty I'll play Call of Duty.


The final straw is with Bioware and Jennifer 'Hamburger' Hepler.

I loved Dragon Age Origins, I loved Mass Effect 1. But I hated Dragon Age 2. Why? Because that Talentless hack of a fat bitch known as Hamburger Hepler keeps interjecting her YAOI sexual fantasies into the stories. She's a horrible writer plain and simple. Have you guys read her book M.I.T.H.? It is some of the worst writing I have ever come across. I mean a middle-schooler can write a more cohesive and entertaining story. I forced myself to read the first half. After that, I couldn't pick the book up again. It's absolute trash. And yet Bioware decides to hire this Fat Lard No talent Lard Ass as a writer for Bioware? One of the best RPG makers? How the hell? But no that's not what made me cancel my origin pre-order. It's how Bioware insulted it's fans. Calling them entitled little brats. Paying off slowtaku and other publishers to defend them.

F**k You Bioware. F*** You EA. And F*** You Jennifer 'Hamburger' Hepler!

 

[Xellos2099]

I am not sure what with the HATE on origin. If you have a system that can run mass effect 3... origin use a minimal amount of the system resource...

 

[Corporate Thug]

I am not sure what with the HATE on origin. If you have a system that can run mass effect 3... origin use a minimal amount of the system resource...

Not sure myself. In any event, I'm going to wait til it goes on sale (in the $25 range) since I have a pretty good back log going.

 

[Arachnotronic]

I really, really don't get the origin hate. You load the program, press the picture of the game you want to play, then...you play it. Not sure why this is so terrible.