Day 1 DLC prompts calls to boycott Mass Effect 3

Oh boy. Here's the story as it stands, and I'll try and keep it spoiler free:

Due to a slip up recently on Xbox's LIVE Marketplace (what else?), it was revealed that the first installment of Mass Effect 3 DLC content would be a day 1 release. The DLC is called From Ashes, and contains a bonus mission and bonus character (in the same vein as the Zaeed and Kasumi DLC from Mass Effect 2), and was revealed to have been the same bonus mission/character content included for in the Collector's Edition of Mass Effect 3 (surely covered in the extra cost of the CE, along with the artbook and various other extras).

Not surprisingly, because you know, the internet, there's been a backlash asking why such notable DLC isn't actually included as part of the game, even accusals that a piece of the main game had been annexed and sold off as DLC for a bit of extra coin.

Of course, the general defense is that you can plainly just not buy the DLC. But for some that old retort just isn't good enough in this case.

The meat of the argument against this piece of DLC comes from the fact that the mission and character combo included revolves around something so spoilery and integral to the Mass Effect universe that some are bewildered that it's not actually part of the main game itself. I've been spoiled as to what the DLC pack is about, and I have to agree that it is a surprising move that it's being treated as somewhat of an extra.

Some in fact feel so strongly that the content of this DLC is paramount to the complete experience of Mass Effect 3 that they're proclaiming that they may as well be extorted by the conglomerate of unabashed evil which is Electronic Arts - which in turn has lead to calls of boycotting the game.

Total Biscuit sounding off and proclaiming BioWare has gone too far (there are spoilers):



Basically, he argues that selling an important piece of DLC which was obviously planned in advance is unethical, milking the consumer, amongst other things; and says that even though he enjoys the Mass Effect series immensely, that he will boycott the game.

Casey Hudson, executive producer of the Mass Effect trilogy, went to Twitter to explain the planning process behind the DLC to try and quell the flames (@CaseyDHudson):

Another BioWare producer took to the official developer's forums to try and calm the corners of uprising also. I'll quote some of his post as the rest of it is spoilery, not to mention the thread itself. But there's the link anyway.

So the question is, are the complaints against this Day 1 DLC a fair call, or is it the height of fan entitlement?

Zaeed was a worthless piece of shit. Literally, not, like, his persona or morality. I totally forgot about him.

I started the rant video, saw it was 24 minutes, then decided to base everything off of the first 5 minutes. His argument is baseless and idiotic. They didn't make the content and removed it to sell separately. It's part of the +$10 CE (via a code, i.e. NOT INCLUDED), and will be available if you want it or not for the other versions for $10 (You don't NEED it. . .At all).

Trust me, I hate what EA is doing (Like having to register console games in order to use them), but this is just stupid.

Cut. Print. Dumb.

Hate day 1 DLC more so when its like res evil 5 and its on the disc already and you are paying to unlock it.

I also hate the fact If I get ME3 on day one I'll also be getting the dlc

I pretty much exclusively use Garrus, anyway. The sexual tension is so thick, you could cut it with an omni-blade!

The only Gods are Money & Bitches *fist bumps Sketch*

Anyone see that ep of Key & Peele?

But how many of those votes are Sketch aliases?

One of the playable companions is unique/relevant to the main overall story, but yeah, the DLC story is separate. The character's relevance is what has most people's panties in a bunch.