It wouldn't be fair to say Bioware should have learned their lesson from the last time they shipped discs with paywalled content, since, well, it's the same discs as last time, but just when Bioware have finally wiped most of the egg off their faces, you know?
To refresh your memories, Bioware previously got into a bit of hot water for including some of the data essential to Mass Effect 3's day-one DLC "From Ashes" –which premium preorder owners received automatically bundled with the game– after claims that DLC was only worked on after the main game had been finished. Bioware later released this statement:
[You] simply cannot use a DLC module to ‘insert’ a new character. As we've mentioned before, that character has to be planned and the framework has to be established ahead of time for us to build off of with the DLC module. You may have seen a similar framework developed in ME2 for the Zaeed and Kasumi characters. We wanted Javik to be a fully featured squad member, with deep dialogue throughout the game – and we needed him to be accessible via the character selection GUI (which you cannot simply ‘overwrite’ with DLC). Thus, certain elements of the Javik appearance and some of the VO needed to be included on the disc. That is a fact. But that doesn’t mean the content was created, and then removed.
Okay, that's fair, even though some embittered fans might argue the character or his story arc should never have been DLC to begin with. But what's more disconcerting is this latest story that text files including dialogue and a mission summary for the upcoming Omega DLC, which was announced six months after the game's release, are also included on the Mass Effect 3 disc.
Here's the skinny: some sharp-eyed fans at Hold the Line claim to have to datamined text files which reveal the characters, factions and locations of the Omega DLC, which is slated for an autumn 2012 release. If you're into some SPOILERS, here is the text of the plot summary:
Aria tells you that Omega is now under a blockade from Cerberus. Since a direct attack didn’t work, Cerberus is now trying to starve Omega into submission by blockading supply ships coming in through the regular Omega relay. The level’s appearance will change to reflect this – the Afterlife has gone quiet, the music is off, the flashing lights are gone, maybe a soup kitchen has taken over the dance floor. Aria requests that you steal into the blockade and board the command ship. Take down the blockade so Omega can be resupplied.
As punishment for breaking the neutrality pact, Cerberus launches an attack against Omega. The enemy is attempting to destroy Omega’s shields, which will allow asteroids and meteors to smash into the station. You must repel the assault and ensure the shield remain operational.
(END SPOILERS.)
Players of the main Mass Effect 3 storyline should note that much of the above summary, if accurate, could already be inferred from the DLC's title and Aria's dialogue in-game. Furthermore, as neither Bioware nor a third party have confirmed the data's presence, it remains at this time just a (rather disconcerting) rumor. If it is true, however, this is just the latest in a string of embarrassments for the developer over this particular title, and not the sort of blow to customer confidence Bioware need right now.
Header credit: TruePrince on deviantArt.
