These polls are always hilarious. You are in a forums, known for its outright negativity towards every game, asking what people think of an entire company based on SWTOR.
#1--The team that worked on SWTOR aren't the same people that worked on the other Bioware projects. There may be a few people whom have crossed over but the bulk of them have never worked on anything but SWTOR. (FACT—based on the games credits)
#2—EVERY, and I do stress EVERY, MMO to ever be released was riddled with bugs at its launch. It has lacked endgame content and had many PvP imbalance issues. So as far as MMO's go SWTOR is par for the course.
#3--You can't comment on your own poll if you are looking for a serious result. You are outright fueling the negativity in your own thread. That pretty much equals a tainted poll.
#4--Do you take your opinion on all of activision based on what World Of Warcraft does? or Call of Duty? This poll is a sweeping idiotic generalization of an entire company of developers based on a studio in Austin. If I theoretically found out you lived in let’s say California and I said my opinion of Californians as poll takers has dropped into the tank because of you that would be incredibly ignorant. What you are doing is the same thing.
#5--People have unrealistic expectations these days when it comes to MMO's. They like to play the "I didn't pay $60 for a beta" card and it’s silly. No company ever promises their players that the game will be bug free. In fact—that is impossible even with 50,000+ people testing in the beta. 50,000 people may be in, but about a fraction of those actually are looking for bugs. The majority of people who get into betas do it as a free preview of the game and then turn around and blast it based on the actual beta. I’m not even referring to just SWTOR—that is every single beta that is available.
The people who most enjoy SWTOR aren’t spending a whole lot of time on the forums answering polls like this. Players who didn’t have a good time in any game are going to be on here blasting that game rather than playing it. So if you think you’ve grabbed a legitimate cross-section of the SWTOR community in this poll you are a complete fool.
I agree.
Anybody with any reading comprehension knew going in that SWTOR had an emphasis on story. Bioware did something a little different from all other previous MMOs by putting in their trademark storytelling. Heaven forbid they do anything that slows down burned out MMO vets as they race to level 50.
I don't see any kind of marked decline in population on my server but I do notice people aren't blowing right by me to steal quest objectives anymore. If that's because the burnouts have left, good riddance. I hope they stay out.
Why were you not arguing this point back when all the polls prior to this games launch were overwhelmingly positive?
Maybe because I hadn't played the game yet?
My impression of the game from watching videos wasn't very positive. In fact, here's a couple threads I started about it in this forum:
I was mostly voted down in those threads by people who hadn't even played the game. Not sure if you've played TOR but I'm leaning toward "No, I'm just here to pointlessly troll".
Anyway I got into beta and completely changed my mind. I think it's a good MMO and a good game regardless of genre. There's very little if any healthy discussion of the game in this forum, most of the posting is indicative of unhappy people(and TOR or any other MMO ain't gonna solve that problem) and the mods who really could care less.
Everyone keeps saying Bioware but it's not the Bioware we know any longer people. It is EA now and things are done EA's way. Our beloved Bioware is dead Jim. EA is only trying to scam more money by playing off Bioware's reputation but rest assured it's 100% EA pulling the stings. As fare as TOR is concerned it's EA and LA pulling strings.
Poor Bioware, RIP
Actually TOR was mostly made by Bioware Austin by people hired specifically for the MMO from mostly from other MMO's dev efforts (or failed efforts as may be).
It was stood up in an entirely different country and composed of entirely different people than the previous incarnation of Bioware. That isn't to say the original Bioware had no input in the game, they did and do.
But anyone who thought that this was really a "Bioware" game just as BG or KOTOR was just fooling themselves. Between the EA buy out, the merger with Mythic, and the "sister" studio. There wasn't a chance in hell.
What disturbs me about SWTOR isn't that the game is lacking in a number of ways, which I believe it is. But mostly that EA clearly has more effect on things than Iwas hoping and I think this will seriously bleed into the real Bioware games (like Mass Effect 3 and we already see some of the EA-ness in ME2)
That is BS, back before SWTOR launched Elikal asked a question very similar to this and the poll was pretty positive in favor of Bioware. I didn't see anyone complaining then about such a poll.
I'll be honest I wasn't really paying attention to GW2 until the videos hit over the last 2 weeks.
We're finally seeing some innovation from the MMO genre - something that has been really lacking the last couple of years. Oh, and a game from a reputable developer where it looks like PvP might actually be the main focus of the game or at least equal to that of PvE?
Everyone keeps saying Bioware but it's not the Bioware we know any longer people. It is EA now and things are done EA's way. Our beloved Bioware is dead Jim. EA is only trying to scam more money by playing off Bioware's reputation but rest assured it's 100% EA pulling the stings. As fare as TOR is concerned it's EA and LA pulling strings.
Poor Bioware, RIP
Actually TOR was mostly made by Bioware Austin by people hired specifically for the MMO from mostly from other MMO's dev efforts (or failed efforts as may be).
It was stood up in an entirely different country and composed of entirely different people than the previous incarnation of Bioware. That isn't to say the original Bioware had no input in the game, they did and do.
But anyone who thought that this was really a "Bioware" game just as BG or KOTOR was just fooling themselves. Between the EA buy out, the merger with Mythic, and the "sister" studio. There wasn't a chance in hell.
What disturbs me about SWTOR isn't that the game is lacking in a number of ways, which I believe it is. But mostly that EA clearly has more effect on things than Iwas hoping and I think this will seriously bleed into the real Bioware games (like Mass Effect 3 and we already see some of the EA-ness in ME2)
I said for the worse. . not because of SWTOR though. . pretty much all business decisions since DA 1. The whole water everything down so everyone likes it a little rather than many like it a lot.
I think one issue that Bioware may run into as it moves away from RPGs is that MMO, FPS, and RTS players are far less forgiving of terrible gameplay than RPG fans who are looking for a story. Bioware cannot expect fans to buy up there products for high school romances and explosions if the gameplay does not stand by itself. Then again, at this point in time I would also say that Bioware's story quality has dropped considerably too. ME2, ME3, Dragon Age 2, and TOR all appear to follow a far more conventional/generic action hero model with emphasis on tits and explosions to sell their games and not the setting.
Bioware justs seem to be marketing towards a crowd that just wants instant tits and explosions over RPG setting.
All I can say is they used to be my favorite developer. Thats no longer the case. Not even close.
So I guess as a back up Bethesda is my favorite developer. Bought Skyrim for the PS3. WOOPS. Not anymore. Not even close.
Fortunately I guess Rockstar and Rocksteady as failed to dissapoint me. Not sure what's happening to some of these developers but I guess nothing good lasts forever.
If Bioware were independent, and if SWTOR were developed by the original Bioware and not some random dev group named "Bioware" by EA, then I could perhaps answer this poll. Right now I'm not even sure what Bioware is besides a cool name.
I've enjoyed every game I've ever bought under that developer name, but the quality has been sometimes better and sometimes worse, and these days I dont even know if I buy a Bioware game when their name is on the box.
I guess I cant say if my view has changed on Bioware because I dont feel like it is that company anymore. I'm not saying it's a bad company, it's just not that company.
I used to love Bioware, so so much. Over the last few years though, their games are stale, boring, and uninspired, with cliched stories and boring combat. SW:TOR is just another instance in that fall from greatness.
Edit: I should clarify that I think this is all EA's fault.
"There are two great powers, and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit."
John Parry, to his son Will; "The Subtle Knife," by Phillip Pullman
For me my opinion really got worse after I played Da2. I mean, what a rushed game that was. As mentioned above the DLC for a game on day 1 depresses me, but it doesn't surprise me. I will be playing Me3, and I will be buying the DLC, but I damn well don't have to like it. I think I will just fall into a diablo induced coma for a few years once D3 drops and forget this nonsense.
That is BS, back before SWTOR launched Elikal asked a question very similar to this and the poll was pretty positive in favor of Bioware. I didn't see anyone complaining then about such a poll.
Hehe, nice someone remembers that. ^^
Even I am surprised however how much the tides of favour changed. I know my opinion is in some cases a niche opinion. What really baffles me is how Bioware totally and entirely denies a) THAT they changed and b) that the change alienates their own corse fanbase. Or at least many of them.
I recally Angry Joe's really good DA2 review, who critizised most of the important mistakes Bioware made with DA2 and their new design philosophy. And SWTOR went all the way in this direction. That, plus the really shady business practices with ME3 makes me a non customer for the time being. For me the story of Shepard ends with ME2. (Which given how the ME3 ending is supposed to suck, maybe is better that way.)
I still don't know how such things can happen. I mean the issues of DA2, SWTOR and other later era Bioware games is always the same, more or less. The lifeless worlds, the sterile look asf. Their games' issues are IMVPO not something you need to be a genius, but simply obvious. But in a company of that size, isn't there ONE person who can stand up and say: "hey guys, it isn't working like this!"? THAT's what really baffles me. Or are they only surrounded by uncritical yay-sayers now? I don't really understand why they have zero understanding to really correct themselves in any way.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
I honestly don't see what the big deal with the ME3 DLC. it's always some side story that is barely relevant to the main game.
The ME 2 DLC was very forgettable. People say they aren't getting the whole game, your missing out on a single side quest that barely even matters.
They could have released the same DLC in a few weeks and Boone would even care about it. I wouldn't even buy it based on experience with previous ME DLC.
I honestly don't see what the big deal with the ME3 DLC. it's always some side story that is barely relevant to the main game.
The ME 2 DLC was very forgettable. People say they aren't getting the whole game, your missing out on a single side quest that barely even matters.
They could have released the same DLC in a few weeks and Boone would even care about it. I wouldn't even buy it based on experience with previous ME DLC.
This is my opinion as a consumer only, but here is what it feels like:
EA has gone from "Lets make a quality game and see how much money we make from it" to:
"Lets see how much money we can make on this quality game" to:
"Lets see how much we can maximize our profit margin on this game" (cutting production costs) to:
"Lets see how much we can maximize our profit margin on this game by releasing and game with low cost to develop DLC, normally included in the game"
I honestly don't see what the big deal with the ME3 DLC. it's always some side story that is barely relevant to the main game.
The ME 2 DLC was very forgettable. People say they aren't getting the whole game, your missing out on a single side quest that barely even matters.
They could have released the same DLC in a few weeks and Boone would even care about it. I wouldn't even buy it based on experience with previous ME DLC.
I tell you what the deal is.
a) Some content is ONLY inside the Digital Deluxe edition, among it a Protean companion, and given how central the Proteans are to the entire ME story, I say that is frigging important and not arbitrary!
b) Putting a DLC even at launch means the normal box has cut content they sell extra ON TOP of the already hefty box price of $60 for a NORMAL PC version. Which is already insane expensive!
c) The DLC content gets larger and larger, and especially Bioware & EA are always selling smaller content for more money. Some of the DA DLC content was $7 or something for a mere 1 hour playtime! Given a normal expansion pack of $30 gives me 10-20 hours, that is extortion! This trend to take out content and add it as DLC to make even more money is just plain WRONG!
d) EA continues it's policy to make re-selling your game impossible by "Origin" and content bound to one player. I VIVIDLY oppose that. If I pay 60 bucks, EA got my share for the development of the game. It then should be MY PROPERTY, and that includes my right to sell that game. Period. I mean, what comes next? Forbidding to resell used books or cars? That minimizes the profit of car companies and book authors, but no one would use that argument to make reselling impossible.
This is a bad development of things I can not support. So for me it's a clear boycott.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
But in a company of that size, isn't there ONE person who can stand up and say: "hey guys, it isn't working like this!"? THAT's what really baffles me. Or are they only surrounded by uncritical yay-sayers now? I don't really understand why they have zero understanding to really correct themselves in any way.
No need to blame the developers and artists I think. Too many of them are just people like you and me doing their job.
In my opinion, the founders and leaders of Bioware wanted to transform Bioware into a mass-market brand long before they got acquired by EA. And, from a business point of view, that might even have been a good decision.
As a sidenote, do I remember right that the founders of Bioware didn't even sell Bioware to EA but instead sold Bioware to Elevation Partners (a private equity fund) many years ago and Elevation Partners sold their stake to EA?
I maintain this List of Sandbox MMORPGs. Please post or send PM for corrections and suggestions.
But in a company of that size, isn't there ONE person who can stand up and say: "hey guys, it isn't working like this!"? THAT's what really baffles me. Or are they only surrounded by uncritical yay-sayers now? I don't really understand why they have zero understanding to really correct themselves in any way.
No need to blame the developers and artists I think. Too many of them are just people like you and me doing their job.
In my opinion, the founders and leaders of Bioware wanted to transform Bioware into a mass-market brand long before they got acquired by EA. And, from a business point of view, that might even have been a good decision.
As a sidenote, do I remember right that the founders of Bioware didn't even sell Bioware to EA but instead sold Bioware to Elevation Partners (a private equity fund) many years ago and Elevation Partners sold their stake to EA?
I think they are victims of their own succes.
When they made Baldurs Gate and KOTOR, they were one company among many. Then gradually their self image shifted into being "THE company". It is as with George Lucas and Star Wars. Back when Lucas made the first trilogy, he still had people who corrected and critizised him, and he was willing to listen. But at the time of the Prequels, Lucas had become such a legend, no one dared to question him anymore. I mean, he was THE Geroge Lucas! But even he has things he is good at and things he just isn't. Same is with those Bioware dudes. They have strengths, but also weaknesses. And they lost the will or chance to have people who iron out their weakness. And as Lucas totally capitalized on his strength, visual and world design, at the neglectance of the rest, so did Bioware entirely focus on their strength, storytelling, at the expense of almost everything else.
"good decision!" for whom? You see, I am no EA stockholder. I am a gamer. As a gamer my interest is good games, not giving EA stockholders maximum profit.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
I honestly don't see what the big deal with the ME3 DLC. it's always some side story that is barely relevant to the main game.
The ME 2 DLC was very forgettable. People say they aren't getting the whole game, your missing out on a single side quest that barely even matters.
They could have released the same DLC in a few weeks and Boone would even care about it. I wouldn't even buy it based on experience with previous ME DLC.
I tell you what the deal is.
a) Some content is ONLY inside the Digital Deluxe edition, among it a Protean companion, and given how central the Proteans are to the entire ME story, I say that is frigging important and not arbitrary!
b) Putting a DLC even at launch means the normal box has cut content they sell extra ON TOP of the already hefty box price of $60 for a NORMAL PC version. Which is already insane expensive!
c) The DLC content gets larger and larger, and especially Bioware & EA are always selling smaller content for more money. Some of the DA DLC content was $7 or something for a mere 1 hour playtime! Given a normal expansion pack of $30 gives me 10-20 hours, that is extortion! This trend to take out content and add it as DLC to make even more money is just plain WRONG!
d) EA continues it's policy to make re-selling your game impossible by "Origin" and content bound to one player. I VIVIDLY oppose that. If I pay 60 bucks, EA got my share for the development of the game. It then should be MY PROPERTY, and that includes my right to sell that game. Period. I mean, what comes next? Forbidding to resell used books or cars? That minimizes the profit of car companies and book authors, but no one would use that argument to make reselling impossible.
This is a bad development of things I can not support. So for me it's a clear boycott.
I can see your side of the story as well. To me, the bigger issue is the quality of their DLC. Like I said it is usually very poor quality (and quantity) of content. It's a no brainer to me that I'm not going to buy it. At the same time the franchise is one of my favorites, and I know I want to play it
I'm confident I will more than get the $60 value out of the game. There aren't many games out there I would consider as smart of a puruase as this one.
I guess I just don't get the outrage. When I heard about the DLC, my thought was "well, I wasn't buying it anyways, so whatever". I don't feel like I would have missed out on anything had I not gotten the ME2 DLC or the DA 1 DLC. The stand alone game is gla complete experience by itself.
As far as not being able to sell your games goes, which is hardly just limited to EA in the PC market, I've been buying games of steam for years and I prefer it to buying the damn box copy. There is a tradeoff here. You can't sell your game, but at least you have access to the game if your discs get lost or damaged.
In fact, I can't think of a time when you could ever sell used PC games effectively. This is more thecause of drm than digital distribution. Most forms of DRM these days don't let the game run on multiple systems (steam, online activation, ubisoft drm, etc). This is true even if you buy a box copy. Go ahead and try buying a box copy of Skyrim and selling it used. You can't. It requires steam and a connection to activate. Once you activate it's associated with that steam account permanently. You cannot sell it used. Has nothing to do with Bioware or EA AT ALL.
I would never buy a used PC game. Too easy to get ripped off. The idea is foreign to me. If you want to sell all your games after you play them, I would suggest console gaming. This isn't something you can pin on EA, it's just the nature of the beast.
I still think they're good... they made a game with their trademark element of story. How good the story is is subjective. Don't see the problem of them being somehow worse for SWTOR.
I view them in a less favorable light. But I've always been a big Bioware fan. I still am. Dragon Age 2 was the game I let them have a mulligan on. They deserve criticism for this product, but I'll check out ME3 and see if they can turn it around.
If ME3 turns out to be a steaming pile of crap (I really don't think it will be), then yeah, I think we can say credibly that the Bioware that made true classics is gone.
Comments
Maybe because I hadn't played the game yet?
My impression of the game from watching videos wasn't very positive. In fact, here's a couple threads I started about it in this forum:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/4447419#4447419
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/post/4362033#4362033
I was mostly voted down in those threads by people who hadn't even played the game. Not sure if you've played TOR but I'm leaning toward "No, I'm just here to pointlessly troll".
Anyway I got into beta and completely changed my mind. I think it's a good MMO and a good game regardless of genre. There's very little if any healthy discussion of the game in this forum, most of the posting is indicative of unhappy people(and TOR or any other MMO ain't gonna solve that problem) and the mods who really could care less.
My youtube MMO gaming channel
http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/02/bioware-responds-to-mass-effect-3-day-one-dlc-outrage
Already starting with ME3...
That is BS, back before SWTOR launched Elikal asked a question very similar to this and the poll was pretty positive in favor of Bioware. I didn't see anyone complaining then about such a poll.
They are no longer a SW company they are a division of EA now.
This pretty much sums up my feelings for them.
But examine logically why that might be...
I'll be honest I wasn't really paying attention to GW2 until the videos hit over the last 2 weeks.
We're finally seeing some innovation from the MMO genre - something that has been really lacking the last couple of years. Oh, and a game from a reputable developer where it looks like PvP might actually be the main focus of the game or at least equal to that of PvE?
Been a while...
I voted for the worse.
I personally liked it better when their games actually had a soul and you could see TLC had been given in design & development.
Just my 2cp tho
The purposely engineered false scarcity of Collector's Edition games completely disgustes me.
They are fucking digital copies. Hard to find pre-order my ass. Should be so fucking illegal. Complete con job.
I said for the worse. . not because of SWTOR though. . pretty much all business decisions since DA 1. The whole water everything down so everyone likes it a little rather than many like it a lot.
Wa min God! Se æx on min heafod is!
Definitely for the worse,
I think one issue that Bioware may run into as it moves away from RPGs is that MMO, FPS, and RTS players are far less forgiving of terrible gameplay than RPG fans who are looking for a story. Bioware cannot expect fans to buy up there products for high school romances and explosions if the gameplay does not stand by itself. Then again, at this point in time I would also say that Bioware's story quality has dropped considerably too. ME2, ME3, Dragon Age 2, and TOR all appear to follow a far more conventional/generic action hero model with emphasis on tits and explosions to sell their games and not the setting.
Bioware justs seem to be marketing towards a crowd that just wants instant tits and explosions over RPG setting.
All I can say is they used to be my favorite developer. Thats no longer the case. Not even close.
So I guess as a back up Bethesda is my favorite developer. Bought Skyrim for the PS3. WOOPS. Not anymore. Not even close.
Fortunately I guess Rockstar and Rocksteady as failed to dissapoint me. Not sure what's happening to some of these developers but I guess nothing good lasts forever.
If Bioware were independent, and if SWTOR were developed by the original Bioware and not some random dev group named "Bioware" by EA, then I could perhaps answer this poll. Right now I'm not even sure what Bioware is besides a cool name.
I've enjoyed every game I've ever bought under that developer name, but the quality has been sometimes better and sometimes worse, and these days I dont even know if I buy a Bioware game when their name is on the box.
I guess I cant say if my view has changed on Bioware because I dont feel like it is that company anymore. I'm not saying it's a bad company, it's just not that company.
I used to love Bioware, so so much. Over the last few years though, their games are stale, boring, and uninspired, with cliched stories and boring combat. SW:TOR is just another instance in that fall from greatness.
Edit: I should clarify that I think this is all EA's fault.
"There are two great powers, and they've been fighting since time began. Every advance in human life, every scrap of knowledge and wisdom and decency we have has been torn by one side from the teeth of the other. Every little increase in human freedom has been fought over ferociously between those who want us to know more and be wiser and stronger, and those who want us to obey and be humble and submit."
John Parry, to his son Will; "The Subtle Knife," by Phillip Pullman
For me my opinion really got worse after I played Da2. I mean, what a rushed game that was. As mentioned above the DLC for a game on day 1 depresses me, but it doesn't surprise me. I will be playing Me3, and I will be buying the DLC, but I damn well don't have to like it. I think I will just fall into a diablo induced coma for a few years once D3 drops and forget this nonsense.
Hehe, nice someone remembers that. ^^
Even I am surprised however how much the tides of favour changed. I know my opinion is in some cases a niche opinion. What really baffles me is how Bioware totally and entirely denies a) THAT they changed and b) that the change alienates their own corse fanbase. Or at least many of them.
I recally Angry Joe's really good DA2 review, who critizised most of the important mistakes Bioware made with DA2 and their new design philosophy. And SWTOR went all the way in this direction. That, plus the really shady business practices with ME3 makes me a non customer for the time being. For me the story of Shepard ends with ME2. (Which given how the ME3 ending is supposed to suck, maybe is better that way.)
I still don't know how such things can happen. I mean the issues of DA2, SWTOR and other later era Bioware games is always the same, more or less. The lifeless worlds, the sterile look asf. Their games' issues are IMVPO not something you need to be a genius, but simply obvious. But in a company of that size, isn't there ONE person who can stand up and say: "hey guys, it isn't working like this!"? THAT's what really baffles me. Or are they only surrounded by uncritical yay-sayers now? I don't really understand why they have zero understanding to really correct themselves in any way.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
The ME 2 DLC was very forgettable. People say they aren't getting the whole game, your missing out on a single side quest that barely even matters.
They could have released the same DLC in a few weeks and Boone would even care about it. I wouldn't even buy it based on experience with previous ME DLC.
Shadow's Hand Guild
Open recruitment for
The Secret World - Dragons
Planetside 2 - Terran Republic
Tera - Dragonfall Server
http://www.shadowshand.com
This is my opinion as a consumer only, but here is what it feels like:
EA has gone from "Lets make a quality game and see how much money we make from it" to:
"Lets see how much money we can make on this quality game" to:
"Lets see how much we can maximize our profit margin on this game" (cutting production costs) to:
"Lets see how much we can maximize our profit margin on this game by releasing and game with low cost to develop DLC, normally included in the game"
Kind of getting annoyed with this business model.
I tell you what the deal is.
a) Some content is ONLY inside the Digital Deluxe edition, among it a Protean companion, and given how central the Proteans are to the entire ME story, I say that is frigging important and not arbitrary!
b) Putting a DLC even at launch means the normal box has cut content they sell extra ON TOP of the already hefty box price of $60 for a NORMAL PC version. Which is already insane expensive!
c) The DLC content gets larger and larger, and especially Bioware & EA are always selling smaller content for more money. Some of the DA DLC content was $7 or something for a mere 1 hour playtime! Given a normal expansion pack of $30 gives me 10-20 hours, that is extortion! This trend to take out content and add it as DLC to make even more money is just plain WRONG!
d) EA continues it's policy to make re-selling your game impossible by "Origin" and content bound to one player. I VIVIDLY oppose that. If I pay 60 bucks, EA got my share for the development of the game. It then should be MY PROPERTY, and that includes my right to sell that game. Period. I mean, what comes next? Forbidding to resell used books or cars? That minimizes the profit of car companies and book authors, but no one would use that argument to make reselling impossible.
This is a bad development of things I can not support. So for me it's a clear boycott.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
No need to blame the developers and artists I think. Too many of them are just people like you and me doing their job.
In my opinion, the founders and leaders of Bioware wanted to transform Bioware into a mass-market brand long before they got acquired by EA. And, from a business point of view, that might even have been a good decision.
As a sidenote, do I remember right that the founders of Bioware didn't even sell Bioware to EA but instead sold Bioware to Elevation Partners (a private equity fund) many years ago and Elevation Partners sold their stake to EA?
I maintain this List of Sandbox MMORPGs. Please post or send PM for corrections and suggestions.
I think they are victims of their own succes.
When they made Baldurs Gate and KOTOR, they were one company among many. Then gradually their self image shifted into being "THE company". It is as with George Lucas and Star Wars. Back when Lucas made the first trilogy, he still had people who corrected and critizised him, and he was willing to listen. But at the time of the Prequels, Lucas had become such a legend, no one dared to question him anymore. I mean, he was THE Geroge Lucas! But even he has things he is good at and things he just isn't. Same is with those Bioware dudes. They have strengths, but also weaknesses. And they lost the will or chance to have people who iron out their weakness. And as Lucas totally capitalized on his strength, visual and world design, at the neglectance of the rest, so did Bioware entirely focus on their strength, storytelling, at the expense of almost everything else.
"good decision!" for whom? You see, I am no EA stockholder. I am a gamer. As a gamer my interest is good games, not giving EA stockholders maximum profit.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
I tell you what the deal is.
a) Some content is ONLY inside the Digital Deluxe edition, among it a Protean companion, and given how central the Proteans are to the entire ME story, I say that is frigging important and not arbitrary!
b) Putting a DLC even at launch means the normal box has cut content they sell extra ON TOP of the already hefty box price of $60 for a NORMAL PC version. Which is already insane expensive!
c) The DLC content gets larger and larger, and especially Bioware & EA are always selling smaller content for more money. Some of the DA DLC content was $7 or something for a mere 1 hour playtime! Given a normal expansion pack of $30 gives me 10-20 hours, that is extortion! This trend to take out content and add it as DLC to make even more money is just plain WRONG!
d) EA continues it's policy to make re-selling your game impossible by "Origin" and content bound to one player. I VIVIDLY oppose that. If I pay 60 bucks, EA got my share for the development of the game. It then should be MY PROPERTY, and that includes my right to sell that game. Period. I mean, what comes next? Forbidding to resell used books or cars? That minimizes the profit of car companies and book authors, but no one would use that argument to make reselling impossible.
This is a bad development of things I can not support. So for me it's a clear boycott.
I can see your side of the story as well. To me, the bigger issue is the quality of their DLC. Like I said it is usually very poor quality (and quantity) of content. It's a no brainer to me that I'm not going to buy it. At the same time the franchise is one of my favorites, and I know I want to play itI'm confident I will more than get the $60 value out of the game. There aren't many games out there I would consider as smart of a puruase as this one.
I guess I just don't get the outrage. When I heard about the DLC, my thought was "well, I wasn't buying it anyways, so whatever". I don't feel like I would have missed out on anything had I not gotten the ME2 DLC or the DA 1 DLC. The stand alone game is gla complete experience by itself.
As far as not being able to sell your games goes, which is hardly just limited to EA in the PC market, I've been buying games of steam for years and I prefer it to buying the damn box copy. There is a tradeoff here. You can't sell your game, but at least you have access to the game if your discs get lost or damaged.
In fact, I can't think of a time when you could ever sell used PC games effectively. This is more thecause of drm than digital distribution. Most forms of DRM these days don't let the game run on multiple systems (steam, online activation, ubisoft drm, etc). This is true even if you buy a box copy. Go ahead and try buying a box copy of Skyrim and selling it used. You can't. It requires steam and a connection to activate. Once you activate it's associated with that steam account permanently. You cannot sell it used. Has nothing to do with Bioware or EA AT ALL.
I would never buy a used PC game. Too easy to get ripped off. The idea is foreign to me. If you want to sell all your games after you play them, I would suggest console gaming. This isn't something you can pin on EA, it's just the nature of the beast.
Shadow's Hand Guild
Open recruitment for
The Secret World - Dragons
Planetside 2 - Terran Republic
Tera - Dragonfall Server
http://www.shadowshand.com
a little worse but not much, and i been playing since dec. 13th
I still think they're good... they made a game with their trademark element of story. How good the story is is subjective. Don't see the problem of them being somehow worse for SWTOR.
i knew sw:tor was gunna be a piece of trash so that didnt change much
as so many ppl stated tho, day 1 DLC for ME3 is just ridiculously greedy
i guess ill just have to show them by downloading a hacked copy
I view them in a less favorable light. But I've always been a big Bioware fan. I still am. Dragon Age 2 was the game I let them have a mulligan on. They deserve criticism for this product, but I'll check out ME3 and see if they can turn it around.
If ME3 turns out to be a steaming pile of crap (I really don't think it will be), then yeah, I think we can say credibly that the Bioware that made true classics is gone.