Dragon Age 2 - "Signature Edition" Preorder Upgrades

[BillSeurer]

They've done it since Jade Empire (Bonus characters with the limited edition) and back then they were still independent as studio (It was months before they joined Pandemic in that investment co-op and two years before EA bought up the co-op) but did have a publishing contract with Microsoft. EA wasn't in the picture then.

I remember games pre-Jade Empire that had bonus material (if not characters) for buying some special edition or another. Just off hand there was Fallout Tactics (Developed by Micro Forté and published by 14 Degrees East) which had some exclusive areas you only got with a special edition. That was from 2001 and Jade Empire wasn't until 2005.

 

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Oh, I think this is clearly Bioware's doing.

They've done it since Jade Empire (Bonus characters with the limited edition)

They did ? Are they in the PC version as well ?

And this bonus stuff ... Yes, I remember two shops being there in BG2 ...

 

[Alrik Fassbauer]

That is exactly how the book publishing industry works nowadays. When I really started reading SF&F back in the 70s there were actual stand alone novels. Sometimes multiple books were tenuously linked by taking part in the same universe but as for actual trilogies (or whatever-ogies) well, there was Lord of the Rings. Now it is pretty much standard practice that *every* book is going to be a trilogy at least and most of them could be cut down to a single book without losing any real reading value.

I see. Hm, I haven't experienced it that way, a) because I don't read that much nowadays, and b) maybe I'm not reading the "right" things for that.

I see Mr. Potter rather as a series of sequels, so to say, written one after the other, but now as an already existing work that was split into parts.

Just as an example.

 

[BillSeurer]

The Potter books were structured around the whole 7 years of school thing so they work as both a series and individual books. Though the later ones could have done with some extreme pruning by the editors.

 

[Dwagginz]

According to Game.co.uk, my prediction about the character was right. It says it comes with a free voucher for Day One DLC (i.e. the character), along with the other bonuses.

It's also £5 more on PC, and £10 more on Consoles (£35 and £50 respectively) - Aren't the bonuses supposed to be free?

 

[Alrik Fassbauer]

This is capitalism.

 

[Couchpotato]

This is capitalism.

All I have to say is here is a torrent.Capitalism is good but its slowly destroying the economy by giving corporations to much power.

 

[rich ruffo]

This company will get to big for its briches and the real developers will quit Bio and start there own Indie company and go back to their roots of the PC and so the cycle begins again.

 

[Couchpotato]

This company will get to big for its briches and the real developers will quit Bio and start there own Indie company and go back to their roots of the PC and so the cycle begins again.

That is the state of the business right now many artist and developers hate working with the big company's.Your just a cog in the machine you have no opinion just do as the suits say and screw your ideas.There are many blogs from game company employees that will give you a taste of how it works.

 

[Brumbek]

I totally agree with everyone who is upset at these silly marketing ploys and DLC overkill. One point I'll make: any time you create "special" content that only certain players get, it MUST BE non-essential and sort-of throwaway because you know not everyone will have it. This is why DLC is by definition, disconnected and out of place in almost all games. This is also why DLC does hurt everyone because it would always be much better to incorporate all content into the main game and assure everyone has the same cohesive experience.

But yes…I'm losing faith in BioWare every day.

And about capitalism, I'm compelled to point out that so many people ignorantly bash it. Capitalism is merely the system in which private entities own property, as opposed to Socialism, where the government owns the property. Look it up for yourself.

So BioWare's behavior is not Capitalism! Every single one of you would never, ever want to live in a non-Capitalist society, just ask former USSR, Cuban, Iranian, Venezuelan citizens…so call it Greed, Dirty Marketing, or such, but calling it Capitalism is just wrong. After all, it's the Capitalist society that has made us flourish to the point of being able to play video games, so don't bite the system that feeds you...so to speak.

 

[Couchpotato]

I totally agree with everyone who is upset at these silly marketing ploys and DLC overkill. One point I'll make: any time you create "special" content that only certain players get, it MUST BE non-essential and sort-of throwaway because you know not everyone will have it. This is why DLC is by definition, disconnected and out of place in almost all games. This is also why DLC does hurt everyone because it would always be much better to incorporate all content into the main game and assure everyone has the same cohesive experience.

But yes…I'm losing faith in BioWare every day.

And about capitalism, I'm compelled to point out that so many people ignorantly bash it. Capitalism is merely the system in which private entities own property, as opposed to Socialism, where the government owns the property. Look it up for yourself.

So BioWare's behavior is not Capitalism! Every single one of you would never, ever want to live in a non-Capitalist society, just ask former USSR, Cuban, Iranian, Venezuelan citizens…so call it Greed, Dirty Marketing, or such, but calling it Capitalism is just wrong. After all, it's the Capitalist society that has made us flourish to the point of being able to play video games, so don't bite the system that feeds you…so to speak.

If you read what I said it a good system but allows corporations to much power there needs to be more laws made to check there greedy little hearts.Look at the recession that they claim is over but is pure bull****.

 

[Dwagginz]

I totally agree with everyone who is upset at these silly marketing ploys and DLC overkill. One point I'll make: any time you create "special" content that only certain players get, it MUST BE non-essential and sort-of throwaway because you know not everyone will have it. This is why DLC is by definition, disconnected and out of place in almost all games. This is also why DLC does hurt everyone because it would always be much better to incorporate all content into the main game and assure everyone has the same cohesive experience.

Not one piece of DLC in the Signature edition is essential. Not one. The character that comes as a bonus with the Signature edition is Day One DLC, but I don't know if it's due to Project Ten Dollar or if it'll simply be DLC dropped on Day One (Like Warden's Keep). Someone with the Signature edition and another person with the standard edition (But no DLC, let's assume it's like Warden's Keep) will have primarily the same experience, but the Signature edition owner will just have a little bit more content to go through. The game won't be any different without that character (Just as Mass Effect 2 isn't any different without Zaeed).

And I think DLC's a good thing. If the developer wants to cut non-essential features and then work on them between the game going gold and release, then that's fine. How is it a bad thing? They've likely spent more time on the game and DLC, leading to a better experience. Yeah, it can be used in a bad way, but if a developer takes advantage of it then power to them.

There's a demand for DLC, whether it's maps, weapons, skins or missions. Publishers would be stupid to not capitalise on it.

 

[Alrik Fassbauer]

All I have to say is here is a torrent.Capitalism is good but its slowly destroying the economy by giving corporations to much power.

It depends on the company. Just look at Radon Labs.

Or at Funcom. "Everyone knew it, everyone had played it, no-one had bought it. Dreamfall was copied to death". Quote of an employee at the Games Com (cited from my memory).

 

[aries100]

Might I remind you all that when you got the BG2 Collector's Edition, you also got some nice bonus content for this - that was only available for those who bought this special signature edition.

So functions the market.

 

[Couchpotato]

Not one piece of DLC in the Signature edition is essential. Not one. The character that comes as a bonus with the Signature edition is Day One DLC, but I don't know if it's due to Project Ten Dollar or if it'll simply be DLC dropped on Day One (Like Warden's Keep). Someone with the Signature edition and another person with the standard edition (But no DLC, let's assume it's like Warden's Keep) will have primarily the same experience, but the Signature edition owner will just have a little bit more content to go through. The game won't be any different without that character (Just as Mass Effect 2 isn't any different without Zaeed).

And I think DLC's a good thing. If the developer wants to cut non-essential features and then work on them between the game going gold and release, then that's fine. How is it a bad thing? They've likely spent more time on the game and DLC, leading to a better experience. Yeah, it can be used in a bad way, but if a developer takes advantage of it then power to them.

There's a demand for DLC, whether it's maps, weapons, skins or missions. Publishers would be stupid to not capitalise on it.

DLC is around because this generation has showed they will pay more than they should for small content.Remember we vote with are wallets and unfortunately people have decided they want it.Its here to stay and you will never see an expansion pack that equals the original game ever again.

 

[Couchpotato]

Might I remind you all that when you got the BG2 Collector's Edition, you also got some nice bonus content for this - that was only available for those who bought this special signature edition.

So functions the market.

Ah but it was only a few items not a cut companion that was part of the original product.You don't make dlc until the original game is near completion not announce it months in advance.

 

[Dwagginz]

DLC is around because this generation has showed they will pay more than they should for small content.Remember we vote with are wallets and unfortunately people have decided they want it.Its here to stay and you will never see an expansion pack that equals the original game ever again.

You're also forgetting that this generation is the one where consoles come (as standard) with some form of memory storage. The Xbox did and showed that DLC does work as a business model for content distribution, and now both the PS3 and 360 are consoles that have online capabilities as standard, and the majority of 360s (and all PS3s, I believe) have storage capacity for DLC. That wasn't possible last generation bar the 360 (And I believe the Dreamcast), as the biggest console (PS2) didn't have online capabilities as standard, nor did it have widely available storage capabilities.

Ah but it was only a few items not a cut companion that was part of the original product.You don't make dlc until the original game is near completion not announce it months in advance.

And just where has anyone said this character was cut content? The game is likely coded (As ME2 was) with the character in mind, but it doesn't mean that character is cut content.

 

[Couchpotato]

You're also forgetting that this generation is the one where consoles come (as standard) with some form of memory storage. The Xbox did and showed that DLC does work as a business model for content distribution, and now both the PS3 and 360 are consoles that have online capabilities as standard, and the majority of 360s (and all PS3s, I believe) have storage capacity for DLC. That wasn't possible last generation bar the 360 (And I believe the Dreamcast), as the biggest console (PS2) didn't have online capabilities as standard, nor did it have widely available storage capabilities.


And just where has anyone said this character was cut content? The game is likely coded (As ME2 was) with the character in mind, but it doesn't mean that character is cut content.

So much trust for bioware it amazes me when people put faith in company that only cares about money and isnt the same company it was.People are sheep for buying into the whole dlc is a good idea and saying yes its worth $5-15 dollars when its not.Its not because of online capabilities its because people showed they will pay.I have been a gamer for over 20 years and I have loved some changes but despised others.

 

[Dwagginz]

So much trust for bioware it amazes me when people put faith in company that only cares about money and isnt the same company it was.People are sheep for buying into the whole dlc is a good idea and saying yes its worth $5-15 dollars when its not.Its not because of online capabilities its because people showed they will pay.I have been a gamer for over 20 years and I have loved some changes but despised others.

You do realise I have little trust in BioWare, right? I think their products are getting worse and worse (Although ME2 was better than ME1).

And it is partially because of online capabilities. How can people show they will pay for DLC if there's no way for them to get it? And just because you think DLC tends not to be worth the entry fee, it doesn't mean it isn't. I think Bethesda's Fallout 3 DLC and Rockstar's GTA IV DLC easily prove that some developers can make DLC that's easily worth the cost.

 

[Anderson]

Good deal.