Dragon Age 3

[Sjofn]

How does the ME3 DLC work?  Can you buy it with real money on Origin?  Or do you need to buy EA monopoly money first?

Don't know for sure yet as all DLC so far has been free. However for the previous games you pay for the DLCs with real money for the PC rather than using BioWare points.

Pretty sure I had to buy BioWare points for my PC DLCs.

[koro]

How does the ME3 DLC work?  Can you buy it with real money on Origin?  Or do you need to buy EA monopoly money first?

Don't know for sure yet as all DLC so far has been free. However for the previous games you pay for the DLCs with real money for the PC rather than using BioWare points.

Pretty sure I had to buy BioWare points for my PC DLCs.

Yeah, all my ME2 DLC and the one thing I bought for DA1 had to be done with Bioware Points.

[Ingmar]

Well that was all pre-Origin right? I don't know if they still use the same old crappy website method for buying DLC now.

[Trippy]

How does the ME3 DLC work?  Can you buy it with real money on Origin?  Or do you need to buy EA monopoly money first?

Don't know for sure yet as all DLC so far has been free. However for the previous games you pay for the DLCs with real money for the PC rather than using BioWare points.

Pretty sure I had to buy BioWare points for my PC DLCs.

Yeah I'm wrong it is BioWare points only for the previous games' DLC for the PC. We'll still have to wait and see with Origin being required for ME3 how it'll work for the paid ME3 DLC.

[Venkman]

We'll know in a few days but I still feel like speculating

Origin allows e-comm check out and credit account management right in the client. For example, I can buy three add ons for BF3. Plus, all other ME3 DLCs have been "purchased" (for Free) using the same mechanism and then patched right from Origin. So if ME3 is going to be pay, I'll go with PC users paying for it through Origin.

Having explored that, I can quit out of Origin again... damned task bar storefronts.

[Sjofn]

Shit, I realized I bought the Prothean DLC back when it released, but I cannot for the life of me remember how I paid for it.

[Trippy]

BW Points:

http://social.bioware.com/page/me3-dlc

[Khaldun]

See, before we get into DLC and all that, this is why I really hate proprietary shit like this: you end up leaving little bits of unused money all over the place and can't even remember where it is or what you did with it, if anything.

[Venkman]

Hmm. Did Origin come out before ME3? I have this memory of having to quit out of ME3 to get the earlier add-ons (like, I can imagine doing that for From Ashes) But then the most recent ones (e.g. Extended Cut, Earth) and all the earlier ones, all are now in Origin.

[Trippy]

Yes Origin came out before ME3.

[Ingmar]

See, before we get into DLC and all that, this is why I really hate proprietary shit like this: you end up leaving little bits of unused money all over the place and can't even remember where it is or what you did with it, if anything.

Yeah the points thing is irritating. At least the Bioware points come in the same amounts as the things you buy with them cost, but still.

[Pezzle]

Yes, Origin has been around since mid 2011.  

[Amaron]

BW Points:

http://social.bioware.com/page/me3-dlc

I missed this.  I wonder how much of EA's beef with Steam is over this monopoly money bullshit.  If they're sticking to it even after they have origin then it must be a pretty profitable scam.

[eldaec]

EA's beef with steam is that they don't like giving other people money.

That isn't really a criticism in itself, but best not to start dressing it up.

[Paelos]

EA's beef with steam is that they don't like giving other people money.

That isn't really a criticism in itself, but best not to start dressing it up.

Sort of. While true they don't want to give people money, they didn't mind going it on the actual games. The beef was in fact over DLC revenue sharing. EA wanted to keep all that money in house, and Valve demands a percentage for hosting it along with the primary game.

DLC in general is causing a ton of problems with the AAA community, both on the revenue sharing side, and on the consumer acceptance side. It is short term profitable, which leads many developers to like the concept. However, it's unproven as to the long term impact of such schemes on the "franchise" approach of development when consumers know they will be nickel-and-dimed constantly. I'd almost compare it to the Airline industry and bag fees. There are unintended consequences of DLC that the publishers and developers aren't taking into account.

[eldaec]

No, they want Origin to be an actual thing so they can make barrow loads of cash from the retail step in the chain, and unless Origin has exclusives it won't be.

They aren't wrong btw, Steam would not be dominating if it weren't for HL2, TF2, Portal. What do you think DOTA is here to do?

[Ingmar]

Technically it isn't EA's beef with Steam, it is Steam's beef with EA. Valve pulled DA2 et. al. because EA wouldn't agree to sell DLC through Steam.

[Paelos]

Technically it isn't EA's beef with Steam, it is Steam's beef with EA. Valve pulled DA2 et. al. because EA wouldn't agree to sell DLC through Steam.

Exactly.

[Amaron]

No, they want Origin to be an actual thing so they can make barrow loads of cash from the retail step in the chain, and unless Origin has exclusives it won't be.

That was my point though.  They aren't making the DLC available on Origin.  That's pretty god damn odd.  They're going up against Steam but they're going to waste possible Origin exclusives on their monopoly money scheme?

[amiable]

No, they want Origin to be an actual thing so they can make barrow loads of cash from the retail step in the chain, and unless Origin has exclusives it won't be.

That was my point though.  They aren't making the DLC available on Origin.  That's pretty god damn odd.  They're going up against Steam but they're going to waste possible Origin exclusives on their monopoly money scheme?

As a consumer my frustration was that DLC is pretty much ALWAYS a scam.  Especially release day DLC, which just fucking screams "we are greedy hacks who are trying to screw you out of money by holding back content."  If as much effort went into game polish as went into re-jiggering the game so they could hold back content that should have been there to begin with and figuring out new stupid ways to "monetize" every damn thing Bioware wouldn't be in the position they are in (which is pretty much riding a failwave IMHO).  

I don't mind the way companies like Bethesda are handling DLC.  Their DLC is usually quite substantive and they make it easy to get, and it eventually all goes on sale a year or two down the line so if you are willing to wait a year or two you can get it for a couple of bucks.  Bioware's entire model is ridiculous.  Basically you need to buy some other currency (which must be purchase from an entirely different place than where you got the game) then you have to figure out how to download and install it, because it doesn't do that automatically.

I bought both DA1 and DA2 via steam, and I don't get any of the DLC through Steam.  I am not going to wade through 10 webpages of bullshit to buy "Bioware bux" so i can use that to download DLC that doesn't even function through Steam.  I refuse to use Origin's because my experience with SWTOR was so terrible I actually took the time to write a complaint letter.  And now you all are saying you can't get DLC through Origin's (the ONLY mechanism by which you can purchase this game online)?  I'm sorry but that is just clownshoes of epic proportions.  Management should be fired over this, they are costing both EA and Bioware a truckload of sales.

Protip:  make it easy for me to buy your shit and I may consider (even if it is in a moment of weakness) buying your shit.  Make it a pain in the ass and I am going to actively avoid you.  

(I apologize for the language but this really gets me incensed)

[eldaec]

Isn't that the same Bethesda responsible for the horse armour meme?

On DLC in general, the day 1 DLC that acts as a transparent scheme to circumvent the customer's right of first sale irritates me, and using bioware's godawful download system irritated me even more. OTOH paid DLC I don't care about because I can almost never be bothered to buy it. There are enough other games in the world.

[Sheepherder]

Isn't that the same Bethesda responsible for the horse armour meme?

[Kageru]

Technically it isn't EA's beef with Steam, it is Steam's beef with EA. Valve pulled DA2 et. al. because EA wouldn't agree to sell DLC through Steam.

According to EA. Not that I'd be surprised, since selling the base game on steam but keeping all the DLC exclusive to their own competing store was basically just trying to siphon off Steams user base.

I like the current setup. I barely notice EA titles now.

Also read the announcement that EA expects all games to have a substantial online / social component so it will be interesting to see how that affects DA3.

[eldaec]

Yeah, didn't really feel like EA were terribly upset when they got an excuse to pull out of steam...

Not that I really blame them. There is a reason you don't see half life, portal, or tf2 on Origin.

[Paelos]

Yeah it's because Origin sucks.

[Ingmar]

Also read the announcement that EA expects all games to have a substantial online / social component so it will be interesting to see how that affects DA3.

I'm not actually sure that's a new thing - DA:O technically has a social/online component, as did DA2; at face value the statement, might mean nothing at all is different for DA3. Or maybe it means ME3-type multiplayer tacked on (which I am all for, as ME3's multiplayer was great.)

[Rasix]

ME3 multiplayer would be really entertaining with either DA engine.  It would lend itself a bit better to DA2's combat implementation.

[Lucas]

Some official tidbits of info from today's blog:

http://blog.bioware.com/2012/09/17/a-blog-from-mark-darrah-dragon-age-iii-inquisition/

I am pleased to confirm that we are, in fact, working on the next Dragon Age game. Not a big surprise to most of you, I know. We have been working on it in some way for about two years now with the bulk of our efforts ramping up about 18 months ago.

Part of that effort has involved you, our fans, and the feedback you’ve provided for Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age II, and their DLC. We’ve visited message boards, read reviews, and we’ve gone to events to have direct face to face conversations with some of our most passionate fans. We’ve been listening, and we will continue to listen.

Recently, I said that we didn’t want to talk about Dragon Age III unless we had something to show. I’m trying to stick to that plan and won’t be revealing much today. That said, a lot of information and rumors have surfaced recently and we don’t want to hide from them. There are a BUNCH of things that I really want to share with you but I want to do this right, and doing it right requires some more time.

So here’s what I can confirm for now:

- The next game will be called Dragon Age III: Inquisition.
- We won’t be talking about the story of the game today. Though you can make some guesses from the title.
- This game is being made by a lot of the same team that has been working on Dragon Age since Dragon Age: Origins.  It’s composed of both experienced BioWare veterans and talented new developers.
- We are working on a new engine which we believe will allow us to deliver a more expansive world, better visuals, more reactivity to player choices, and more customization. At PAX East, we talked about armor and followers… Yeah, that kind of customization. We’ve started with Frostbite 2 from DICE as a foundation to accomplish this.

[koro]

Bioware will really have to pull out some serious stops to get me on board with DA3.

[Segoris]

Bioware will really have to pull out some serious stops to get me on board with DA3.

I was thinking similar, though in my head it sounded more like this:
"Bioware will really have to pull out some serious stops to get me to forget DA2, all their facebook bullshit, the ending of ME3, DA2, SW:Tor, DA2"


Though I do notice they say the developers are mostly from DA1, wasn't that the case with DA2 as well and they're just trying to gloss over all the shit that came out with DA2 by making sure to mention DA:O an extra time?

[Paelos]

Though I do notice they say the developers are mostly from DA1, wasn't that the case with DA2 as well and they're just trying to gloss over all the shit that came out with DA2 by making sure to mention DA:O an extra time?

They are pandering. Mike Laidlaw was the lead designer on DA:O, and on DA2. He addressed the issues of DA2 as: "There are some things I think that are certainly fair criticisms: the re-use of the levels is something we knew was a bit of a risk, but we wanted to make sure there was more content rather than less, so re-using some of the spaces and coming to them again was certainly one we were careful about and tried to re-use as artfully as we could."

To me, he's saying they were pushed for time in a tactful way. I think DA2 was a byproduct of the EA push-it-out-the-door shit we hated. One of the reasons DA:O was so well done was due to the fact it's development cycle was well underway before the EA takeover. Same thing with the original Mass Effect. EA's poisoned the well, and I don't think they can get control back.

[Segoris]

Ok that's what I thought but wanted to make sure I remembered right.

[Sky]

This thread keeps reminding me I haven't played DA2 and want to pick it up on a Steam sale...oh wait

[Hawkbit]

I read some line in all the press that said that they were "looking at" open-world games like Skyrim for inspiration.  That is interesting to me.

That said, no matter how interesting it is, ^.  No steam, no buy.

[caladein]

Less than excited about Frostbite 2, especially if the game is structurally similar to DA2 (which I wouldn't mind in other respects!) as the load times would probably make me want to punch something.

On the other hand, I'll probably have an SSD by then as they're already sub-$1/GB now. Also pretty.