Dragon Age - DLC Woes

Happily I had no issues. I am in Australia though and the game was released a little later so the issues might have been fixed.

I signed in to the Bioware account from work (using logmein, what an ace invention!) and redeemed all my codes so when I got home the game was ready to go. It just needed 10 minutes to download the content.

So far the best bit is the ring that has +1 to all attributes. I think that came from playing the Journeys game.

Well, I didn't get my codes - so I went ahead and bought points instead. It's been more than 24 hours (their support "guarantee" limit) - and I hear several people have been told be EA support that it'll be up to a week before they can get e-mails out.

That cost me ~35$ extra because of the euro conversion. Also, I really love how it's standard practice to make these add-ons cost the least convenient amount of points - so that they force you to buy significantly more points than you actually need. This way, you're not only overcharged - you're also psychologically conditioned to add even more points later on, so you can afford the next one, because having spare points go to waste doesn't sit well with human nature.

None of this should reflect on the developers themselves, of course, but it's incredible what we consumers seem to accept as acceptable business practices these days. Naturally, I've only myself to thank for this.

I tell you, it really requires a promise of something TRULY great to get me to break my own standards like this, and what I've seen of the game so far seems to be just that.

I hope I'm right, or I'll have to go kill someone.

Seems to be sorted by now. My install/redeem/download etc. process all went really smoothly.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
Also, I really love how it's standard practice to make these add-ons cost the least convenient amount of points - so that they force you to buy significantly more points than you actually need.

I guess it should be noted in all fairness though that owners of the CE were able to buy Warden's Keep without being forced to buy any excess points. Warden's Keep was 560 points and there is a 560 point package to match that purchase. So they don't generally force anyone to overpay, i.e. your "standard practice" accusation is not quite accurate in this case at least.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
I guess it should be noted in all fairness though that owners of the CE were able to buy Warden's Keep without being forced to buy any excess points. Warden's Keep was 560 points and there is a 560 point package to match that purchase. So they don't generally force anyone to overpay, i.e. your "standard practice" accusation is not quite accurate in this case at least.

Yes, that's what they GENERALLY do, you're talking about a specific example. This is true for anyone who hasn't bought it upon launch under these conditions. The practice is standard not only for this game, but for online systems in general. Like the Microsoft points on Xbox Live and so on.

Why do you think they even have a points system in the first place? It's not to minimize profit, that's for sure.

It's the same reason things cost 9.99 and not 10. It's just extra psychological factors to squeeze more money out of people, and the fact that some of you are oblivious to it makes it that much easier to do, now doesn't it.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
…and the fact that some of you are oblivious to it makes it that much easier to do, now doesn't it.

Whatever you say, Chief . OK, fine, I may be a dumbfuck, sure, but at least I'm a happy dumbfuck who didn't pay a single cent more than was advertised.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
Whatever you say, Chief . OK, fine, I may be a dumbfuck, sure, but at least I'm a happy dumbfuck who didn't pay a single cent more than was advertised.

You can respond any way you choose, and if you think I'm calling you a dumbfuck you're mistaken.

I'm saying it's standard practice to squeeze as much money out of people as you can get away with, and I'm surprised people would disagree with that.

In any case, if there's something wrong with me because I wanted the extra content I paid for - then you're free to consider me as whatever you wish. I'm pretty happy with my choice, seeing as how the game is great. I'm just sad that I had to pay extra because I find it wrong that I should have to, but that's the price you pay for trusting EA and their digital store.

I don't know how their support works and it's probably getting hammered with customer requests at the moment but couldn't you have waited for support to solve your problem with the codes? It would seem to me that your situation is an exception and not the rule.

The rule is millions of happy dumbfu… I mean customers like myself who bought the retail CE and then were able to optionally acquire Warden's Keep for an extra $7 or 560 points. As I said there was a 560 points package on offer for exactly $7 or -since I am from Europe like you- EUR 6.51. There was no rip-off and no excess points and no overpaying or overcharging involved whatsoever.

That's why in this case I find it unfair to accuse them of overcharging or adhering to some sort of "standard practice". The only shop I can think of where it's "standard practice" that the points and the real world prices for the products on offer don't always match up would be Microsoft's Xbox 360 points system but even then the points are not lost and if you use the Xbox shopping platform on a regular basis it will most likely even out at some point.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
I don't know how their support works and it's probably getting hammered with customer requests at the moment but couldn't you have waited for support to solve your problem with the codes? It would seem to me that your situation is an exception and not the rule.

Yes, I could have waited - but I didn't want to. That's not what I'm talking about, I'm talking about the points system.

The fact that EA store messed this up is not surprising, and it's not like I'm blaming anyone for my own impatience. It's just an unfortunate thing that could have been avoided without all this promotional crap of extra DLC upon launch. They could have simply made it part of the CE and not a downloadable mess causing problems for so many, and I can assure you that my case is no exception.

The rule is millions of happy dumbfu… I mean customers like myself who bought the retail CE and then were able to optionally acquire Warden's Keep for an extra $7 or 560 points. As I said there was a 560 points package on offer for exactly $7 or -since I am from Europe like you- EUR 6.51. There was no rip-off and no excess points and no overpaying or overcharging involved whatsoever.

Yes, people who paid extra for the CE got extra content - which is 100% irrelevant to my point.

I'm talking about the people who DIDN'T buy the CE now, and in the future.

That's why in this case I find it unfair to accuse them of overcharging or adhering to some sort of "standard practice". The only shop I can think of where it's "standard practice" that the points and the real world prices for the products on offer don't always match up would be Microsoft's Xbox 360 points system but even then the points are not lost and if you use the Xbox shopping platform on a regular basis it will most likely even out at some point.

You're wrong and you obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Go look at the points on the Bioware social site and then realise that you can't avoid buying SIGNIFICANTLY more points than you need for either of the two specials, separately or combined. That's a fact, and nothing you want to believe can change the facts - sorry.

What we could potentially debate is WHY that is the case, and my point is that they want to squeeze more money out of people. You might have some different theory, but really, I don't care based on your inability to think rationally or logically about what I've been saying.

That you got the extra content you paid for is not in question, and I would have gotten the same if they'd managed to send the codes. So, if that's not clear enough for you, I'll have to clarify by saying that I'm not talking about you or I, I'm talking about those who DID NOT buy the CE or digital deluxe edition, but who intend to buy the extra content now or in the future.

Anyway, back to Dragon Age and I think I'll leave this thread for good

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
You're wrong and you obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Go look at the points on the Bioware social site and then realise that you can't avoid buying SIGNIFICANTLY more points than you need for either of the two specials, separately or combined. That's a fact, and nothing you want to believe can change the facts - sorry.

Not sure how many times I need to repeat this but the equation is really easy, you know… Warden's Keep = 560 points = $7 = 560 points = Warden's Keep. And conveniently there actually IS a 560 point package that you can buy from their store for the sole purpose of buying Warden's Keep with it. Not 580, not 600, no, 560 points exactly. For exactly $7. How wicked is that? I'd say it's KRAAAAHHHHZZEEE KEEEEWWWLL!!!
What you are saying is completely wrong. "Fact" is that you can absolutely, positively buy Warden's Keep w/o buying any (let alone "significantly") more points than you need for it.
I've only said this two times already in my previous posts above though so maybe this third time it will stick even for you? Pretty please?

And as for the Stone Prisoner, well, everyone gets it for free who purchases a retail or digital copy of the game so the only people who would need to buy it anyway are a) pirates or b) people who buy the game second hand.
Anyway, if for some reason someone would need to buy it then it's $15 or 1200 points.
OK, this is a tinly little bit more tricky since there is no 1200 point package but anyone with an elementary school level of skill in maths should be able to figure it out because there are conveniently packs of 400 and 800 points so you can buy the exact amount of 1200 points that are required. Magic!
The 400 points package is $5 and the 800 points package is $10 so once again we got this easy equation… Stone Prisoner = 1200 points = $15 = 1200 points = Stone Prisoner. You're once again not paying a single cent more than you need. Not. A. Single. One.

As we can see we can in fact buy each pack separately or both packs combined for the exact amount of money that is advertised with the corresponding packs of virtual currency (points).

Them's the facts but, hey, feel free to keep on ignoring them.

Please look at this post:

Nahlra wrote:

The one thing I will give them a lot of credit for is I could buy the exact amount of points for $7 to get the extra content I didn't get with my collector's edition. They also didn't make me pay more for not buying bulk points. This says a lot to me.

http://www.rpgwatch.com/forums/showt…post1060982065

Just as information.

Yep - I was pleasantly surprised when I heard about that (on a Mac forum, no less ). XBOX Live is usually a huge rip in terms of points, so doing this is a nice change.

I like PSN store since I can just add currency to my account (used to be in $5 increments with a minimum of $25! ) … so when I bought Zombie Tycoon for PSP it cost $8, and Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron cost $40.

"DLC - Less Content, More Money."

Originally Posted by Moriendor
Not sure how many times I need to repeat this but the equation is really easy, you know… Warden's Keep = 560 points = $7 = 560 points = Warden's Keep. And conveniently there actually IS a 560 point package that you can buy from their store for the sole purpose of buying Warden's Keep with it. Not 580, not 600, no, 560 points exactly. For exactly $7. How wicked is that? I'd say it's KRAAAAHHHHZZEEE KEEEEWWWLL!!!
What you are saying is completely wrong. "Fact" is that you can absolutely, positively buy Warden's Keep w/o buying any (let alone "significantly") more points than you need for it.
I've only said this two times already in my previous posts above though so maybe this third time it will stick even for you? Pretty please?

And as for the Stone Prisoner, well, everyone gets it for free who purchases a retail or digital copy of the game so the only people who would need to buy it anyway are a) pirates or b) people who buy the game second hand.
Anyway, if for some reason someone would need to buy it then it's $15 or 1200 points.
OK, this is a tinly little bit more tricky since there is no 1200 point package but anyone with an elementary school level of skill in maths should be able to figure it out because there are conveniently packs of 400 and 800 points so you can buy the exact amount of 1200 points that are required. Magic!
The 400 points package is $5 and the 800 points package is $10 so once again we got this easy equation… Stone Prisoner = 1200 points = $15 = 1200 points = Stone Prisoner. You're once again not paying a single cent more than you need. Not. A. Single. One.

As we can see we can in fact buy each pack separately or both packs combined for the exact amount of money that is advertised with the corresponding packs of virtual currency (points).

Them's the facts but, hey, feel free to keep on ignoring them.

Actually, I just noticed they added the 560 point option - which wasn't there when I bought my points. That means you can now avoid extra points if you buy 3x400 for Stone Prisoner (or 800+400) and 560 for Warden's Keep. Last time there were only the 400, 800, and 1600 options.

Also, I didn't realise Stone Prisoner was free for non-CE/DE editions.

In any case, it means that I'm wrong and I apologize for the mistake and my being an ass about it.

Not only that, but I was also wrong in not expecting more from Dragon Age. If it keeps on like it has, it might just top all previous Bioware games - even the great ones.

Originally Posted by DArtagnan
In any case, it means that I'm wrong and I apologize for the mistake and my being an ass about it.

[Darth Vader Voice]Apology… accepted, Captain DArtagnan[/Darth Vader Voice]

/target = DArtagnan
/forcechoke



Seriously, no worries. We all have our blind or blonde or whatever moments sometimes, myself very much included, of course, and I could have been a little bit nicer, too .

Originally Posted by Moriendor
[Darth Vader Voice]Apology… accepted, Captain DArtagnan[/Darth Vader Voice]

/target = DArtagnan
/forcechoke



Seriously, no worries. We all have our blind or blonde or whatever moments sometimes, myself very much included, of course, and I could have been a little bit nicer, too .

True enough, but I have an unfortunate tendency to trust in my own stance too quickly sometimes, and in this case I think I had a brain meltdown or something.

I can only hope this isn't the case (much) more than I'm aware, or it could be very counterproductive to my ideal of looking at things with open eyes