The BioWare / EA / Origin thread

[Vainamoinen]

Quoted from "Whatever":

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

What if they make you your puppet though. Something like a screen that says: Go online now to play the final 5 story missins and experience the epic conclusion of ME3 or stop now and we delete your savegame.

In a sense, some parts of this were so near the truth that it's almost a prophecy.

First, it looks like EA really means it, although I could not believe it earlier, naive guy that I am. Registering ME3 DLC indeed means that the offline mode of Origin doesn't work anymore.. That's as close to consumer deception as it gets considering former EA statements. So I bought a DLC that I won't play and can't give back. The game's reluctance to load games in offline mode that used a DLC is as close to "we delete your savegame" as I can imagine. BRA-VO, EA, you got my money already without delivering. Isn't that what you always wanted?

That company owes me. That company owes me so fucking much.

Second, building up the galaxy to actually be READY for the final assault requires you to play multiplayer. Yes, it seems it's possible to reach the "best" ending without, but having your "readiness rating" consequently remain at 50% without the multiplayer, that leaves something to be desired. They don't even tell you why it remains there. It is EXPECTED that you find out by playing online. This is not a single player game, and heck, it should be.

Third, ME3 has effectively avoided the closure I was after (as discussed elsewhere). My decisions have built up to nothing; the fate of the universe is decided not in 100 hours of play, but in two really boring minutes; the last decision does not even have consequences that are really shown or discussed, but are rather only hinted at.

Fourth, where does EA/Bioware go from here? With the coming DLCs, there are only two ways to go on. (a) the new story elements take place before the final assault and therefore hardly change anything with the game - but might add to your readiness quite a bit and (b) the new story element take place after the final assault, giving you the change to explore that new world you've created a bit (provided your Shepard is not dead, which is normally the case). Yet the illusion that you have the chance to create three entirely DIFFERENT new worlds at ME3's end would be history.

Game designer Mike Gamble twitters:

Hardest. Day. Ever. Seriously, if you people knew all the stuff we are planning...you'd, we'll - hold onto your copy of me3 forever.

With the above mentioned meager options they still have, whatever they're planning can't turn out that great. And second, what's that shit with holding on to my ME3 copy forever? I have to anyway, because these guys took my right to sell my retail games from me!!

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

And second, what's that shit with holding on to my ME3 copy forever? I have to anyway, because these guys took my right to sell my retail games from me!!

That's just fore the console versions. The only versions that count.
Also either they plan more multiplayer events like the one this weekend or they just puke out a 10$ DLC pack every 2 months until the end of time.

Also I took this screenshot yesterday. And the ending of ME3 somehow saddens me when I think about this being released in the Arrival DLC last year...

[Chyron8472]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

Registering ME3 DLC indeed means that the offline mode of Origin doesn't work anymore.

This is where torrents (of DLC) become a better option, and where EA and BioWare shoot themselves in the foot.

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

That's just for the console versions. The only versions that count.

And why is that?

[Darth Marsden]

Because with consoles you don't have to deal with Origin. Duh.

[Chyron8472]

Ah. Well, I don't have a 360 or PS3.

[Vainamoinen]

Neither do I. And I always felt keyboard/mouse was the way to play Mass Effect...

[GaryCXJk]

Beeeeeeeh, the larger this thread becomes the less I'm beginning to like Origin, to the point where I actually think, F this S. The only reason I register The Sims 3 and its EPs there anyway is so that I can get the special content only available on the exchange of The Sims 3.

Basically they're committing gaming hijacking.

[JedExodus]

Originally Posted by GaryCXJk

Basically they're committing gaming hijacking.

Like the first time you brought HL2 or the The Orange Box home from the shop. I don't have to like their service but it would be hypocritical to argue with it on its principle as someone with a gazillion games on Steam.

[Chyron8472]

Originally Posted by JedExodus

I don't have to like their service but it would be hypocritical to argue with it on its principle

Are you talking about Steam or Origin?

[JedExodus]

Originally Posted by Chyron8472

Are you talking about Steam or Origin?

Origin, though it doesn't really matter. They're both the same in that regard which was my point.

[Rawr]

I remember being ridiculously annoyed at Half Life 2 and Counter Strike Source requiring Steam. How times have changed!

[GaryCXJk]

Originally Posted by JedExodus

Origin, though it doesn't really matter. They're both the same in that regard which was my point.

At least Steam doesn't force me to be online all the times when I have DLC, and it doesn't ban me on Steam if I'm banned on the forums.

[JedExodus]

Originally Posted by GaryCXJk

At least Steam doesn't force me to be online all the times when I have DLC, and it doesn't ban me on Steam if I'm banned on the forums.

Aye, the single EA account for everything policy stinks though I think your DLC issues may be game specific, i'd no such issues with ME3 and a spotty connection.

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by JedExodus

Origin, though it doesn't really matter. They're both the same in that regard which was my point.

Well ask some other people and they'd tell you that both services scan your entire PC, kill your dog and EAt your parents. While in reality only one of them does that.

[Chyron8472]

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

Well ask some other people and they'd tell you that both services scan your entire PC, kill your dog and eat your parents. While in reality only one of them does that.

EAt your parents?

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by Chyron8472

EAt your parents?

[Vainamoinen]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

Registering ME3 DLC indeed means that the offline mode of Origin doesn't work anymore.. That's as close to consumer deception as it gets considering former EA statements. So I bought a DLC that I won't play and can't give back. The game's reluctance to load games in offline mode that used a DLC is as close to "we delete your savegame" as I can imagine. BRA-VO, EA, you got my money already without delivering. Isn't that what you always wanted?

Time to blow off some steam here. This problem has since been identified and discussed on the Bioware forums by users with the very same problem since the game was released in March. The problem lies with some internet connections and I was able to load saves that used the DLC in offline mode when I did not establish/deactivate an internet connection after booting my PC. Which of course screams "Origin looks for online possibilities even in offline mode", but that's not even the kicker.

Now, more than two months after release, and after EA must have found out about this huge fuckup, Origin has just reached version 8.6 (!) and a new patch for ME3 came out.

Does it fix this issue which sure as hell is known to Bioware and EA, I ask you, what do you think?

ZIP. They don't even acknowledge the problem.

Out of mere responsibility for other customers, I could not ever buy an EA product again. EA is an impressive symbol for EVERYTHING wrong in gaming these days, and if customers don't act according to that knowledge, PC gaming is sure to perish.

[der_ketzer]

Originally Posted by Vainamoinen

Time to blow off some steam here.

Steam.

And be assured: According to EA there is no problem. That's just your stupid "user"-view on the case. But what Do you know. EA is glorious.

[Rather Dashing]

Originally Posted by der_ketzer

Steam.

And be assured: According to EA there is no problem. That's just your stupid "user"-view on the case. But what Do you know. EA is glorious.

Isn't it grand when things work as intended?

[Chyron8472]

Two things occurred to me recently:

First, Deathspank is published by EA. It's like Ron Gilbert + EA = confused to the point of being mindblown.

Second, users used to hate on Steam when it first came out, for such as having games on disc requiring Steam, so it makes me wonder if the disdain for Origin will wane in future.