Mass Effect 3 DLC included with new art book

By Fred Dutton Published 25 January, 2012

"Character boosters" and new weapon offered.

Another day, another report of obscurely packaged Mass Effect 3 DLC.

Following news earlier this week that EA is giving away exclusive DLC with Mass Effect action figures, today we learn it's also handing out in-game content to anyone who shells out for a forthcoming hardback art book.

According to a Dark Horse blog post, all those who pre-order The Art of Mass Effect Universe (priced at $26.91) through Barnes & Noble before 20th February will receive a download code for "character boosters" and a new weapon called the Collector Assault Rifle.

For reasons unexplained, the retailer notes that the voucher will only work for PC and Xbox 360 versions of the impending BioWare action RPG sequel.

We're seeking word on whether gamers outside of the US will be able to access the content.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (60) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Rajin #1 4 months ago

    ''Another day, another report of obscurely packaged Mass Effect 3 DLC''

    Indeed it is, while i already showed my grief of the loss of a company known as bioware in the previous news section, this is another nail in the ''day-one purchase'' coffin.

    While i think the trilogy could have been so much better off without these things or dumbing down design choices, i'll probaly buy the complete edition on sale(so about 20-30 euro for the complete edition)

  • FuzzyDuck #2 4 months ago

    Jesus, what percentage of the game will be left on the disc?

    I look forward to the ME3 Easter Eggs - and that's nothing to do with hidden curios!

  • monty_79 #3 4 months ago

    @FuzzyDuck Ha ha, true. At this rate, the disc will just contain a couple of wireframe models.

    In all seriousness, I'm really looking forward to ME3 but come on EA. Can't you just give the majority of this stuff with the actual game?

    I've got the sneaking suspicion they are going to RRP it at £45, too...

  • ShiroBen #4 4 months ago

    Yes! Keep doing this! You are FILLING ME WITH HOPE.

  • kinky_mong #5 4 months ago

    What a shambles.

  • darkmorgado #6 4 months ago

    @FuzzyDuck

    "Jesus, what percentage of the game will be left on the disc?"

    Most of it, as these sorts of codes normally just unlock stuff that is already there.

  • Sicho_666 #7 4 months ago

    Wasn't the Collector Assault Rifle a part of the bonus DLC that came with the Limited ed of ME2?

  • vert1go #8 4 months ago

    Fuck this. Tired of it. Had enough. Preorder cancelled.
    Either I get the full game in the box, or I cannot be bothered any more. The ONLY message this stuff gives is "buy all the extra shit too, or feel like you're missing out on content."

    Otherwise might as well wait and buy it preowned.

  • Mr.Spo #9 4 months ago

    I love Mass Effect, but this makes me sad. Very sad.

  • DurzoBlint #10 4 months ago

    The really sad thing is that it's probably all skins and broken weapons.

  • barnett666 #11 4 months ago

    @FuzzyDuck Ironically it'll probably all be on the disc when you purchase it. All these codes will just be 108Kb flags that will unlock content that was probably already made 6 months ago (just like bioshock 2).

    Can't blame EA for trying to make money but they're SERIOUSLY over doing this. Serious fans want to have the complete adventure. Having randomised DLC codes on action figures (meaning you're not even guaranteed everything if you purchase all the chars) is quite sickening. I'd tolerate it for maybe one item as a novelty to show people online that you purchased the art book as you appreciate the hard work and design that's gone into the series but they shouldn't be putting a code on anything that has a N7 logo on it!

  • Sicho_666 #12 4 months ago

    @endgameRO Thought so. Don't get me wrong, I do want to get the Collectors edition of ME3 because I also have the Limited editions of the othe 2 games but with all the DLC I've heard that will be exclusive with this book, that figure I think they're seriously taking the piss. I think when it comes to extra content for ME3 I'll only bother with stuff that extends the storyline, if they do bother with it.

  • ZuluHero #13 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 12:04:53 26-01-2012

  • Kaonazhie #14 4 months ago

    Yes, EA. Give me more and more reasons to spend my money on your game(!)

  • freethinker101 #15 4 months ago

    I felt they did the same with Arkham City, and not a good business model. It confuses the consumer and infuriates the loyal fanbase. A game should ship complete! With your reward being unlocking these things on multiple play throughs. I'm not against dlc that enhances a game, I just don't like paying for things that I already own.

  • RevanNL #16 4 months ago

    EA is seriously overestimating the Mass Effect franchise. It had decent sales, but not Skyrim-like sales. And now EA seems to be focussed on driving the existing fanbase away

  • Bremenacht #17 4 months ago

    pew

  • eviroboy #18 4 months ago

    Nothing new. The Killzone 3 strategy guides came with a code for unlock points to aid online progression. I think things like that are acceptable but exclusive weapons and stuff like that shouldn't be.

  • DarthCheesiest #19 4 months ago

    The Mass Effect 1 art book which came with the special edition guide was excellent, so I already have this one on order.

    Another game related art book which is going to be excellent is 'The Eyes of Bayonetta', which is now going to be published in the UK, I can't wait for it.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eyes-Bayonetta-Art-Book-DVD/dp/1926778421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327531942&sr=8-1

    Regarding DLC, Bioware could milk fans with as much mission type DLC content as they want and the fans would still be grateful. But oh no, stuff probably I don't want, or be bothered to keep track of.
    Edited by DarthCheesiest at 25/01/12 @ 23:38

  • Mr-Brett #20 4 months ago

    Can't say I care since it's only for the multiplayer anyway.

  • Hellion83 #21 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 20:12:17 01-02-2012

  • Sevens #22 4 months ago

    Of course.

  • dirtysteve #23 4 months ago

    Collector assault rifle was in the last game too, I didn't like it.

  • kickerconspiracy #24 4 months ago

    I have never pirated a game before.

    I might make an exception in this case.

  • TheRealBadabing #25 4 months ago

    Can't wait until 10 years time when we all laugh about how EA fucked up Mass Effect and how all the Limited Collectors Bonus Pre-order Origin Exclusive Ultra Editions are in a big hole in the desert.

    It has to happen, right?

    I mean seriously, there must be a point at which we vote with our wallets and just make all this shit go away. Or maybe people really are that stupid...

  • Fudce #26 4 months ago

    Character boosters?

    Rule 1 of good DLC: "NEVER SELL POWER!"

    Unless they're letting you download an in game booster pack for a FF8 style card game (which would be awesome by the way) then EA and Bioware suck golden glowing balls.

    Now excuse me while I go back to my EA/Bioware MMO.

  • skyrend #27 4 months ago

    I was excited as anyone to jump into ME3.

    But after Dragon Age 2 and all this DLC crap, I think I'm foregoing it altogether.

  • Morte-360 #28 4 months ago

    'and a new weapon called the Collector Assault Rifle' the cheeky gits actually expect someone to shell out 26 quid for a artbook and a gun that was ine ME2 oh... they really are milking ME3 for every last possible ounce of money.

  • munki83 #29 4 months ago

    ME3 is the new skylanders

  • ZizouFC #30 4 months ago

    Will all this shit at least be available to purchase at a later date?

  • anomagnus #31 4 months ago

    Another day, another overly emotive, tabloid style article from fred. woo hoo. Fucking hell fred, you must hate bioware. I've yet to see you put together an article yet that was dripping contempt for them. That you got a job with EG should be surprising, but given its recent output, isn't.

    At the very least, it wasn't a cut and paste from Kotaku, i guess.

    I'll buy it anyway, i love the art of Mass Effect. I love me my big hardback art books. And i'll get me some free DLC, and i'll enjoy it.

    I'll savour it all the more knowing how it infuriates the 50 people on EG who think DLC is raping their family. I'll drink it the fuck down, like a sweet, sweet bottle of lucozade. Yuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

    @Zizoufc

    Considering that virtually all the current ME2 dlc is available for purchase, i'd say it will be.

    Only -12 in the end. Wow, guess the anti bioware brigade moved on. Or there isn't that many.
    Edited by anomagnus at 26/01/12 @ 18:25

  • SClaw #32 4 months ago

    I love Mass Effect and, to be honest, I don't mind DLC - even little thing that are basically cheats - sometimes. But lately... yeah... stop it EA. Too much.

  • Yuroko #33 4 months ago

    Can't wait for the Mass Effect Kidz themed Happy Meal.

  • Inmediasress #34 4 months ago

    @anomagnus
    No wonder some people think you're a lunatic. Considering you always go around pouncing on every oportunity to call out people on trivial issues like this.
    I think you miss the point of irony since from all the haters/fanboys you seem to be the most emotionally invested in them.

    Even with all the hate that's going on against Bioware these moves don't really help their reputation, and pointing it out is no crime.
    Well except in your world where Bioware is the new relegion.
    Maybe you should consider going back to the Bio forums and hold a morning prayer session with Stanley Woo or something.

  • Nico4 #35 4 months ago

    wow -.-

  • ZuluHero #36 4 months ago

    Seems to be some pretty strong views against DLC in here and some rather cynical ones that say that this has only been done to sell this book. The problem with this is that you only have to look at the merchandise on the Bioware store to know that this isn't true. A lot of the items are sold out and sales of books, t-shirts and other paraphernalia are doing really well.

    My point is that they don't *need* to do this to sell books and action figures as that stuff is selling well enough on its own.

  • anomagnus #37 4 months ago

    @Inmediasress

    Whats that immediasress, overly emotive language that makes no sense is annoying you?

    And its SOOO different from the overly emotive language used to make a point you agree with, is it?

    And when you see posts that have 'fuck off' four times in a row? That comes across as stable, does it?

    I think perhaps its you that misses the point. Since most of the bashing makes no sense, i've decided to just post the same type of shit that i see on this forum and use it in my points.

    Whats laughable is that most of my posts are the usual themes

    'wait until the game is released to judge it'
    'if you don't like mutli player, don't use it'
    'its dlc, don't buy it'

    Had you ACTUALLY bothered to read most of my posts, you will see very little overt defense of Bioware. The games developer itself could be moonie games making rainbow bright scrollers for all i care.

    What annoys me is the attitude of gamers such as yourself, the generation 'immediate gratifcation for me' type of posters that take everything as a slight against them personally. It is the arguements made that i attack.

    Everything you like, or don't like about bioware is a choice. You've made it clear, for 2 years now, how much you hate bioware, so make the grown up choice and move on.

    Even if you intended to buy this game, everything you do or do not like it about is a choice. Don't like DLC, don't buy. More armour does not make the game 'complete'. More guns does not make the game 'complete'

    Don't like multi-player. Don't use it.

    If we do want to talk about emotional investment, i enjoy biowares work, and with the exception of sonic, they've never missed a beat for me. While Morrowind will be my favorite RPG, ME2 remains the greatest game i have played. I look forward to ME3 with great anticpation, and am loving SW:TOR at the moment. So, rationally, there clearly is a part of me that gets annoyed by people like you, who openly twist facts to suit yourself in order to make a point.

    You've clearly never invested in SW:TOR, yet love to make wild claims that its not making money. Now, that may be the truth, but you don't have facts to back it up.

    You clearly hate ME2, but you make claims as facts, and seem unable to accept that you are in the minority. Regardless of what you think about Bioware, their 'worst' game was DA2, which ran an average of 8/10 and shifted 2 million units. That is a solid score, and solid sales. Many games companies would love to have a game that bad.

    TL:DR my post is a pisstake, of the usual hyberbolic shite i see from the anti bioware brigade. I also expected more negs. Either your friends on the anti bioware wagon aren't up yet, or so people got the joke. Guess we'll know more later.
    Edited by anomagnus at 26/01/12 @ 09:43

  • ichobi #38 4 months ago

    if anything company doing this only encourage piracy.

  • TeaFiend #39 4 months ago

    I got the hardback book for Mass Effect 1. It is quite nice. I have had this one on pre-order from Amazon for a while. If it gets some DLC that would be a nice bonus, but I am not overly fussed.

  • anomagnus #40 4 months ago

    @endgameRO

    Overly emotive response, as a perfect example of my pisstake, incoming.

    On the one hand, you claim DLC used to be a reward for buying a game, and were fine with it, and on the other you're claiming that offering a reward for buying an art book is a slap in your face.

    So its perfectly ok for a games developer to offer you a reward for one of the products, but its WAY over the line to offer a reward for buying another of their products. Theres a word for that. Hyprocrisy.

    Really, its funny, that i only have to wait for 3 posts in response to immediaesress post to get the usual 'slap in my face' and 'i'm getting treated like shit' posts, over an optional piece of DLC in a videogame.

    Hurray for internet anonymity, granting us the power to make over the top statements without repercussions.

  • Subi #41 4 months ago

    Of course, the very best DLC will only be available in limited amounts inserted into ten random Willy Wonka chocolate bars.
    Edited by Subi at 26/01/12 @ 10:58

  • Sak666 #42 4 months ago

    Somehow after re-reading Penny Arcade related to Mass Effect 3, i dont think there's much rp in this game anymore. EA can keep their dlc too as every other company.

  • Rajin #43 4 months ago

    @anomagnus

    While you do make a some sense in your post some parts are a bit of nonesense(ignoring to who you're replying)

    ''about Bioware, their 'worst' game was DA2, which ran an average of 8/10 and shifted 2 million units. That is a solid score, and solid sales. Many games companies would love to have a game that bad.''

    Because a game shifted a lot of copies and has a overall undeserving 8 doesn't mean it's a GOOD thing. Many people bought it with the idea of a improvement upon it's predecesor in most area's. Reviews regarding some big company games are anything BUT reliable these days. Metacritic and units shipped shouldn't be the benchmark on how good a game is.

    ''ME2 remains the greatest game i have played''

    Obviously your opinion(while i really don't agree with it) but it makes your post a ''overly emotive post'' as well because i can't believe you're able to free yourself from bias if you think like that.
    Edited by Rajin at 26/01/12 @ 11:14

  • anomagnus #44 4 months ago

    @Rajin

    Rajin, opinion on the how good a game is will vary from person to person. I've stated time and again that not every game can be for every person. The first games developer to do that will be king of the world.

    If we remove personal opinion on a game, then the only way we have to measure how good a game is, is how well it was received professionally, and how it sold. You say they can't be used as a benchmark to judge a games value, but what else can be? While i have been overly critical of this site, i've openly said they're biased, i've never once accused them of being bought, as many do. I've never beleived the hyperbole about games reviewers being bribed, because i've seen as many large games get shit scores as good scores.

    You're claiming that high scores and high sales aren't a good thing? Then what should be? Personal opinion? How do you benchmark that? How do you standerdise that? Should we not consider Dark Souls, Skyrim, Skyward Sword, the Witcher 2, etc as good rpgs because they received better scores and sales? All i can think of is, you believe the game was poor, so all facts and reviews become irrelevant based on your opinion.

    Regarding bias, i think my point was to make it clear that i'm not emotionally disengaged from the product. In fact immediaeress brought up the point that i am emtionally invested in the product, and i was agreeing with him. I suspect this is to do with my opening line about freds overly emotive language, or a previous post about DLC were i advised people to not get so heated over optional dlc.

    However, you're claiming its an overly emotive post. Well certainly, the first piss take was, that was its point, to be as over the top as possible. But each post after that has been scornful perhaps, but i would resent overly emotive. It does annoy me that when i intend to buy something, that you'd have people on this forum resent the fact i should receive a reward from bioware over. I want the artbook. Tell me why i shouldn't receive a gift for it? Especially when it doesn't take anything away from anyone else. Do you not think its a bit childish for the gaming community to resent this? The majority of the bile i see directed against Bioware, and its from a very small group, treat this as zero sum game. For someone to win, someone else must lose. Thats not the case. I can buy the book (i won't buy the toys!), enjoy it, get a reward, and use it.

    I simply cannot see why someone would find this as offensive as someone people here seem to do.

    Just regards fred, i do find his style of writing, particularly about bioware to be very poor. His stories are either factually incorrect, out of date, or contain one sided stories. EGs style has become a lot more tabloid than broadsheet over the past two-three years, and many of their articles are little more than kotaku cut and pastes, but even given that, freds work is something i have a problem with.

    Edit

    Its hard not to see the rage over the toys and booked and their associated DLC as childish selfishness. Its basically 'if i can't have it, they shouldn't'. This isn't how the process is working. Beleive it or not , people have different tastes. Bioware is going to have a cross section of fans who enjoy the game AND want the toys. For them, this is a great little reward. The same is true of the art books. I love artbooks, i have a bookcase full of them. For me, this is a great cross over.

    Try not to judge it as something thats stealing from you, but just rewarding others for wanting something Mass Effect related
    Edited by anomagnus at 26/01/12 @ 12:15

  • ZuluHero #45 4 months ago

    Based on the number of commenters in here that have suddenly changed from "I was going to buy this but now I'll just pirate it instead", I wonder if EG will publish an article showing a link between how their news incites piracy? ;)

  • Live3ish #46 4 months ago

    wasnt the collectors assult rifel available in 2 as DLC and if thats the case I belive an early press relese said that all DLC wepons form the privious gaems would be available if you had them

  • GavinUK86 #47 4 months ago

    im not bothered what dlc you get with buying something else. im buying the collectors edition and ill be happy with whatever i get in that. simple as. if you want extra then go ahead and buy the other stuff. its your choice. it isnt like your missing out on anything by not buying these items. its just extra weapons or skins. not gonna change the game. yes, its silly what ea is doing but what can you do, its their choice.

  • Rajin #48 4 months ago

    @anomagnus

    great post, honestly:)

    What i meant to say regarding high scores and sales is that some people use these statistics to instantly benchmark a product. As someone who hates marketing and sadly, studies Busniss Management that has about 1/4 marketing, i dislike how people quote numbers of sales and metacritic. Sales especially NEVER make a game good, it shows how popular or succesfull it is. Not saying that it doesn't mean anything, just that you can't make a standard out of a subjective expirience.

    Truth is, no matter how you put it, most users were far less friendly regarding Dragon Age 2 then reviews and such. It IS a mediocre game, not a bad one(it deserves a 6-7 in my opinion , and i can name so many arguments for that)

    Besides that, you and i will never ever agree on DLC. But regarding the subject i do think you're disregarding some things on how people like me, who play games for more then 15 years used to have ''unlockables''. These skins, weapons, armour and characters(that last thing is what really negativly can influence a game) could be unlocked by certain achievements.

    I'm not trying to convince you on that subject, just stating my opinion and expiriences of the past.

    I already stated once that i am disappointed with the level of journalism regarding games. Games such as Brink, Dragon age 2, MW3(not a bad game but once again, many sites aren't consistent regarding sequels, something that does exactly the same as it's predecessor get's a lower score unless it's from a big publisher) and even Uncharted 3 deserve a bit more objectivity and consistency.
    Edited by Rajin at 26/01/12 @ 13:27

  • CORIANA_SIX #49 4 months ago

    All this 'get an exclusive gun if you buy this' nonsense is getting out of hand!

  • anomagnus #50 4 months ago

    @Rajin

    Thanks:) Hopefully people will understand the difference between a pisstake post and others.

    The only thing i'd say is, be careful of saying most users didnt enjoy Dragon Age. There's no way to back that up. And i've seen plenty of people praise the game. For me, personally, it was better than DA1. It forced a decision on me that i have never had to make before. I also loved the story, and the smaller scale, and found the art direction on it to be very different than the usual sword and board fantasy. I hardly believe i am on my own on that.

    As for unlocks vs. dlc, i posted on another thread that i accept this monetization of games, as an acceptable trade of to get the type of game that is a AAA title. Games aren't cheap to make these days, i accept that DLC needs to be there.

    From a gamers perspective, as someone that replayed Mass Effect 2 maybe a dozen times, all the DLC added to my replays, either with new content or something as simple as new skins. Its pretty hard to resent that.

  • ZuluHero #51 4 months ago

    @Rajin and @anomagnus

    Well it's not 15 years ago and times have changed. It's been this way for the past 5 years and let's face it, nothing we say in here is going to change EA's or Bioware's or anyone elses mind.

    The only way that might happen is if everyone bands together and makes ME3 flop. But there is a snowflakes chance in hell that will happen. There is no way i am strong enough to not buy it for one, the same as millions of others. I admire people with the strength to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the cost or how much they might want to play something.

    Anyway, I think this is an agree to disagree moment. Its been interesting reading your posts though :)
    Edited by ZuluHero at 26/01/12 @ 14:50

  • Puzza #52 4 months ago

    So how much of the game are we actually getting if we don't want to spend on all these extra things like action figures and art books?

  • anomagnus #53 4 months ago

    @ZuluHero

    Things have changed a lot. Don't get me wrong, if the day ever came that the ending for a game became a DLC, i'd probably feel the same.

    I just will never understand how people can say 'i've canceled my pre-order'. Am i supposed to believe that these people are so small, so spiteful that at the sight of someone else being rewarded, they'd be so upset they'd cancel their game order? If yes, i feel sorry for them.

    Still can't wait for March 9th. I have the day booked off. Hoping for a midnight opening!

  • Madder-Max #54 4 months ago

    @anomagnus

    Way to go 'Bioware-employee-boy' so as a company then, you Bioware guys reckon that we arespiteful if we dont follow your pathetic attempt at rat running the DLC course?

    It embarrasing the way this game is being m,arketed tbh and you are alienating the core fan base that got the ME franchise to where it is.

  • Rajin #55 4 months ago

    @Madder-Max

    To be fair, the core fanbase you speak off is/was in my opinion more focused on the old bioware rpg's such as Kotor, dragon age, baldurs gate etc.

    I accept that Mass Effect was never meant for a fan like me, even though the first one had many elements that i liked(second one as well but less so)And i hoped it would shape more to the RPG-image i had in mind after part 1. Part 2 however instantly showed me that it would turn the opposite direction.

    Not sure whether it is made by a relatively new team as well(difficult to find which team of bioware developed this)
    Edited by Rajin at 26/01/12 @ 17:57

  • anomagnus #56 4 months ago

    @Madder-Max

    Well, it was never going to be too long before another one of you popped up to prove my point. Another spiteful little man, fueled by rage, impotent by design. Your barely literate shite aside, i AM the core fan base. I've been playing bioware games since BG2, and i bought ME1 and 2 on release, plus all DLC on release. And despite my better judgement, i will address your pathetic point,i am not a bioware employee.

    I would classify you as spiteful. Your spite is dripping of your post. You seem to have missed the content of my post entirely, and in fairness, it was probably over your head anyway. So, in the vein of you making a wild claims, i'll make one of my own.

    Your inability to see someone else rewarded for doing something strikes me as the sign of a socially maladjusted sociopath. I doubt you feel empathy. You clearly don't exhibit it.

    @ Rajin

    You're the opposite. You put your case out there, you acknowledged my points and moved on. Were everyone of the anti bioware brigade like you and arcam, i doubt i'd be posting half as much.

    But when you see shite like this, do you understand why i post? This isn't about bioware as such. I'm sure i'd see shite like this to do with COD or BF3. But since i barely play those games, i'm not exposed as much.

    Its funny how quickly for people like madder max, attacking their points becomes he's a fanboy. Or desperately sad.

  • ZuluHero #57 4 months ago

    @Madder-Max

    You mean alienating the "core fanbase" that WILL buy t-shirts, action figures and art books? ;)

    No, what he's saying is that it's up to if you want to rat run the DLC course or not, just don't begrudge the people that do.

    The funny thing is that people seem to be confusing people like Anomagnus as some sort of DLC zealot, where in reality they don't really care if it exists or not. Sure, It's nice to get a little bonus for pre-ordering or buying merchandise but it will in no way sully or spoil the game for us if we didn't buy a single iota of DLC.

    And it especially doesn't bother us if you get the fluffy lion outfit with the flower gun while we only get the sealion suit and fish gun ;)

  • agparrot #58 4 months ago

    I'm going to very briefly put my moderator hat on and thank you guys for your intelligent and well thought out discussions of Mass Effect, DLC, and things relating to it.

    I understand people can resort to emotive posts when discussing such things, so for those people who aren't engaging in quite as constructive a manner, please let's not turn this comments thread into a flame-and-bait-and-troll thing.

    For myself, I absolutely loved ME1, and I really enjoyed ME2 and the way it fleshed out the universe, even though when I got to the end of the game it felt like I'd taken part in a series of side missions rather than much of a development of the Grand themes laid out by the first game.

    My own concerns about the third installment relate to this area of it really. I flinch a little bit at day one DLC and so on, but there is an easy solution for me if I don't want to buy it - I don't buy it. More important to me is the balance of RPG versus Action, as I personally thought ME2 was already skating towards an experience that was perhaps just a little over-simplified. I certainly didn't miss the pages of equipment that you only ever wanted to turn into omni-gel from the first game, but I'll be a little bit disappointed if there is too much of a transition towards third person shooter in the third game.

    This kind of move is obviously driven at a publisher level, to encourage increased sales, and I genuinely understand that businesses have to make money, so from one point of view this is a good thing. However, I won't be able to help but feel that the grandiose RPG aspirations, however RPG-lite they were, of the first game will have been wasted if the third game ends up being a re-skinned Gears-alike action game.

    Other people will of course feel differently, and I'm fine with that. I'm certainly not going to judge the game ahead of detailed previews, reviews and player feedback, though. They might just strike the perfect balance, after all.

  • Ternon #59 4 months ago

    People are gonna pirate the shit out of ME3, and who the hell can blame them?

    At this point it is the most reasonable and responsible thing to do.
    Never has a reason for pirating been so strong as in this case..
    Edited by Ternon at 26/01/12 @ 21:01

  • Madder-Max #60 4 months ago

    @anomagnus

    Oh. My. God. You utterly ridiculous person.

    You are bringing a thread about a game to a low polarised personality conflict.

    Bioware really does not know how to help itself does it?

    All one needs to do is check your comment history to see my point.
    Edited by Madder-Max at 27/01/12 @ 09:08