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This thread has been linked to the game 'Mass Effect 3'.
Over the past year or two there's been a trend emerging of penalizing people who buy second hand copies of games. Typically this involves giving people bonus downloadable content if they buy a game new, via redemption of a code. Or - and this is a bit more unethical - withholding the multiplayer portion of a game unless you buy a new copy or spend extra money to buy a multiplayer code.
However, EA - who coincidentally have been nominated for The Consumerist's 'Worst Company' award - have taken things a step further with Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 2 gave you a bunch of extra bits and bats if you bought the game new or purchased a 'Cerberus Pass'. Mass Effect 3 doesn't have this option - instead, if you buy the game second hand you have to pay extra to get access to the game's online features of the game.
So how is that new? After all, Mass Effect is largely a single player experience. The difference is that to get the best ending in Mass Effect 3 - although I could make a separate post about how poor the endings are - you need to have an in-game military strength of 5000. This means completing a bunch of side quests etc to raise your military strength to this level. But your ending is also affected by the in-game 'galactic readiness' stat. If you don't play the online portion of the game, this is set at 50% which means that your military strength is halved.
What this really means is that if you buy the game second hand, it's twice as hard to get the best ending. Having a new purchase only multiplayer portion isn't all that new, but Mass Effect 3 actively penalizes people who bought the game second hand, making it harder to properly 'win' the game. Which given that, either way, you've paid money for the game, is a hell of a thing to do.
However, EA - who coincidentally have been nominated for The Consumerist's 'Worst Company' award - have taken things a step further with Mass Effect 3. Mass Effect 2 gave you a bunch of extra bits and bats if you bought the game new or purchased a 'Cerberus Pass'. Mass Effect 3 doesn't have this option - instead, if you buy the game second hand you have to pay extra to get access to the game's online features of the game.
So how is that new? After all, Mass Effect is largely a single player experience. The difference is that to get the best ending in Mass Effect 3 - although I could make a separate post about how poor the endings are - you need to have an in-game military strength of 5000. This means completing a bunch of side quests etc to raise your military strength to this level. But your ending is also affected by the in-game 'galactic readiness' stat. If you don't play the online portion of the game, this is set at 50% which means that your military strength is halved.
What this really means is that if you buy the game second hand, it's twice as hard to get the best ending. Having a new purchase only multiplayer portion isn't all that new, but Mass Effect 3 actively penalizes people who bought the game second hand, making it harder to properly 'win' the game. Which given that, either way, you've paid money for the game, is a hell of a thing to do.
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i think this is great. why buy a second hand in a cheap price but can't enjoy it well. me and otakucastle.com still patronize the original ;)
But.. but.... okay then.
Ha ha, very good :)
Machie, is Godwin's Law applicable when the comments made were not of a serious nature though? If not then I fear that you may have just illegally closed a valid thread and you really don't want to know what the punishment for that is. Lets just say that they're not called the Freeola Gestapo for nothing.....
Machie, is Godwin's Law applicable when the comments made were not of a serious nature though? If not then I fear that you may have just illegally closed a valid thread and you really don't want to know what the punishment for that is. Lets just say that they're not called the Freeola Gestapo for nothing.....
Godwin's law.
'fraid I'm going to have to close this thread now.
*********** THREAD CLOSED ***********
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…....(”)_(”)
'fraid I'm going to have to close this thread now.
*********** THREAD CLOSED ***********
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……(=’.’=)
…....(”)_(”)
True I suppose. And it is a better comparison than multiplayer access and car manufacturer warranties so its a step forward at least. ;)
Dr. Garin wrote:
What have I done....
You suggested that we should compare the most evil facists in history....................................to the Nazi's!
What have I done....
You suggested that we should compare the most evil facists in history....................................to the Nazi's!
... ;¬)
What have I done....
Alfonse wrote:
Comparing a videogames company to Hitler? You guys make me sick
If anything Hitler gave more than you bargained for
Pass the bucket, Alfie ... but he's included too, all for £14.50 free p&p @ play.com + pre-order bonus of 'Berchtesgaden exclusive level' ;¬)
Comparing a videogames company to Hitler? You guys make me sick
If anything Hitler gave more than you bargained for
Pass the bucket, Alfie ... but he's included too, all for £14.50 free p&p @ play.com + pre-order bonus of 'Berchtesgaden exclusive level' ;¬)
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