Dragon Age -- BOYCOTT THIS GAME

[Tessera]

For the time being, the answer to this particular problem is much simpler:


DON'T BUY THIS GAME. IT'S A RIP-OFF.

Save your money. Go spend it on something nice.
Take your significant other out to dinner. Whatever.

 

[vash2040]

I agree that the added pay for me DLC is a bunch of crap, but the game moves just fine without it. I'm going to ignore any DLC that just a single quest. Only thing I will by is if say an expansion were to come out, and even then I'd be wary of it till I had some time to research it and it's story line.

[tepesimpaled]

This is just making it harder for me to purchase this games now.  I can't deal with this DLC stuff that isn't new content.  The Fable 2 DLC I was ok with as it was not on the disc but a few hundred megabytes downloads.  Street Fighter 4 I did not buy because the DLC outfits were over priced and they were just unlocks for content on the disc.  I miss what DLC is failing to recreate, the good old expansion pack.  DLC that is on the disc or ready to go at lunch but held back is crap.  Well Dragon Age will not be on my shelf, maybe I'll borrow it to at least play it some.

[Steeal]

I know this is not about the money, it's the principle.  Monetarily tho these are just the facts on prices taken from Steam.  Like I said I know this boycott is about the in game advertisement of selling finished pulled content at release.  This is just info for everyone to judge as they see fit.

Steam

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 : $59.99

Dragon Age: Origins - Digital Deluxe Edition (DLC included) : $64.99

(Prices as of Nov. 12)

[Tessera]

I know this boycott is about the in game advertisement of selling finished pulled content at release.

That is correct... and if you and others continue to underwrite
this disturbing practice, then it will only get worse.

And worse.

And worse.

[Arglaar]

One thing most of you are forgetting to take into account is that this game was "Finished" back in early 2009. 
The game was supposed to be released back in "4th qtr Fiscal year 2008" but was pushed back to let them do a simultaneous release across all platforms.
http://www.gamesradar.com/pc/dragon-age/news/biowares-dragon-age-finally-dated/a-20080619115153589058/g-2007021318127502086
http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewstory&threadid=95356


That means they've had over 6 months to be working on this DLC.

If the game had come out back then, and they had released the DLC this early, would you all be complaining still?

[anariel]

Call me old-fashioned, but there was a time when patches and additional content was given freely. I feel like buying a game, let's say Starcraft, and then finding they are releasing adittional maps... and you have to pay extra for each map you want.

Oh, and taking into account the fact that I understand they made that DLC reference so people will know there is avaiable, it's not an issue of what's being said, but how it's been said: the fact that's a quest you can't abandon talks high enough.

[Recon Ranger]

The only question is "Did you get the complete game?" as that is what you paid for. From what I have read, as I haven't bought the game; the answer would appear to be NO!

[Arglaar]

Call me old-fashioned, but there was a time when patches and additional content was given freely. I feel like buying a game, let's say Starcraft, and then finding they are releasing adittional maps... and you have to pay extra for each map you want.

They also released the Toolset so there are people who are making their own extra content for the game.

Oh, and taking into account the fact that I understand they made that DLC reference so people will know there is avaiable, it's not an issue of what's being said, but how it's been said: the fact that's a quest you can't abandon talks high enough.

This, I can understand.  Unfortunately, I don't see any method for abandoning quests in the game.  However, what I can see them doing, is adding extra text to the quest at the start, explicitly saying what the quest is, and if the player accepts it, that it will bring them to the DLC store and the quest will not go away until the player buys the DLC.  Full disclosure if you will.
Hell, it might already say that, I bought the DLC before I even started the game, knowing that it was already out and that I wanted it.

The only question is "Did you get the complete game?" as that is what you paid for. From what I have read, as I haven't bought the game; the answer would appear to be NO!

My answer to this question is, "Yes.  I got a complete game.  With the DLC, I got more."
Was it worth it? Yes.  Total played time was right around 76 hours for my first playthrough.  The DLC added about 8-10 hours.  For me, at least.

[Tessera]

Some people are willing to pay for the privilege of being exploited.

Other people are not.

Some people are willing to take another inch up their ass.

Other people don't want anything up their asses to begin with.

Some people are willing to be a good doggy, so long as their master throws them a bone.

Other people refuse to be dominated, regardless of how many cheesy rewards they are offered.


It all comes down to personal pride and ethics, in other words.

[Kandid]

That means they've had over 6 months to be working on this DLC.

If the game had come out back then, and they had released the DLC this early, would you all be complaining still?

The way they promoted the DLC in the game by NPC's is unacceptable.

[Tessera]

I would still like to know why they didn't simply incorporate the DLC
into the main game, and then release it as a complete product..?

Because it's a fucking manipulative SCAM, that's why.  

If somebody has an alternate explanation, then let's hear it.

[Cylnar]

If somebody has an alternate explanation, then let's hear it.

Well...my brother, who pre-ordered the game, responded to my indignation about the DLC thing with a theory that BioWare used it as a bargaining chip in order to entice EA not to slap a bunch of draconian DRM on the game. I don't know if I buy that but who knows?

I will be buying the game eventually...but not at full price. I'll wait until the price of the game drops enough to cover the price of the DLC...or a Game of the Year edition comes out that includes it.

[Kandid]

Well...my brother, who pre-ordered the game, responded to my indignation about the DLC thing with a theory that BioWare used it as a bargaining chip in order to entice EA not to slap a bunch of draconian DRM on the game. I don't know if I buy that but who knows?

I also recall reading that theory in the official BioWare forums, but there's more to that. In addition to the ingame DLC promotion we all know, there's also a "free" DLC whose code is received with the game, and it makes trading the game away harder because when you try to resell your game you'll already have used this code. Thus second hand copies will be slightly useless.

I will be buying the game eventually...but not at full price. I'll wait until the price of the game drops enough to cover the price of the DLC...or a Game of the Year edition comes out that includes it.

I hate to succumb to EA's sham but I still want to play Dragon Age.

I'm with you on this, I'll definitely wait for a discount or a Game of the Year edition which includes all DLC. Their previous game Mass Effect's price here got dropped to 20 TL shortly after I bought it for 50, needless to say I was very upset and I felt like an utter idiot for paying full price...

[Tessera]

Wait until after Christmas. It should come down in price then.

I want to remind everyone that I am not trying to bash Dragon Age the game.
I am protesting against the business model being pushed onto the rest of us by
BioWare and Electronic Arts. Only by boycotting such unethical business practices
can we hope to send a strong message to the industry.

As for myself, I have a history of speaking out against corporate exploitation.
That's why I spoke out rather loudly against Blizzard Entertainment four years
ago, and it's also why I am speaking out now. Somebody has to... even if
nobody else listens. On principle alone, I feel that it is the right thing to do.

Listen... I'd love to play Dragon Age, too. But I won't give my money to thieves.
And that is exactly what we are talking about here: thieves who are ripping us off.

[Recon Ranger]

Agreed, as the old saying goes, "Excuses are like assholes; we all have 'em and they all stink!"

[anariel]

As for myself, I have a history of speaking out against corporate exploitation.
That's why I spoke out rather loudly against Blizzard Entertainment four years
ago, and it's also why I am speaking out now. Somebody has to... even if
nobody else listens. On principle alone, I feel that it is the right thing to do.

LAtely it tooks me ages to find a party for the daily heroic (or ANY heroic). And I'm tank wih my 3 80's and 2 of them are healers too... Anyway, Blizzard says C'thun (EU) is a balanced realm. Obv they are saying that, but wherever you go there are a couple of horde camping the summoning stone.
And blizzard is happy, because people will just migrate or switch factions. Paying 20 bucks.

Tess... Can you make a mod to see the female Blood Elves as something else as anorexic sticks? Then maybe I'll migrate... (not my drood, though... She won't turn into a cow EVER) XD.

[indeed777]

Let's illustrate my point with an analogy:

How would you feel if you purchased a brand-new album by your favorite band... and after you played it, there was a message inside that said "We have deliberately withheld three kick-ass songs from this album. If you want to listen to those three songs, then you must send us an additional $12.00 immediately."

Uh, I believe Radiohead did this with Kid A and Amnesiac.  We thought, "Oh, outtakes. I see."