Mass Effect 2.

[DeadPoolX]

I recall BioWare stating that LotSB has some connection to ME3, but it isn't pivotal. There are probably a few references or people you'll recognize if you've played it and import that character into ME3, but I don't think it'll be much more than that.

Regardless of LotSB's impact on ME3, I'd strongly recommend playing it. The character interaction and banter between Shepard and Liara is priceless.

[Tawmis]

So, I got the email for the:
BioWare invites you to participate in our Sequel Celebration!

So, I thought, "Awesome!" I already have Mass Effect 2 for the PC (as well as X360), but the idea of playing it on my PC (which I am going to do since I just beat Origins at work! So the timing is perfect!) - without the need of a CD (so it's EA's version of Steam, basically) - was one that appealed to me. Mass Effect 2 for free, just for having Dragon Age II. Nice. (Might need the signature edition to take advantage? Not entirely sure). At any rate, I go and install it - and launch it. And run into an issue where it's asking for the CD. I suspect this is because I already have the CD version installed; and despite launching it from EA's "Steam" (whatever they call it) - it's still prompting for the CD.

So I decide to go onto Bioware's forum, and while I am there even try to help a few people who seem to be having issues. So I make my post with my issue.

Then I see a few threads over in the Dragon Age II forum, for this - makes sense, since it required Dragon Age II. There is this one and this one. I am scanning the thread to see if anyone's run into the issue I had posted... and come to realize, once again, why I despise the Bioware Social Forum.

I have no idea WHAT the FRUSK happened between the good ol' days when it was just the Bioware forum of old - to this entire merger with EA, and the creation of the social site.

Bioware's forums used to be full of people with some intelligence - and dare I say, respect. What I see on the social site now - is neither of those. I mean I have NEVER seen so many freaking ungrateful people in my life. People who are complaining because they already have Mass Effect 2. Really? You're complaining because you paid the regular price for Dragon Age II, and they're offering a free copy of a game. You paid NOTHING extra! It's not like you paid the cost for two games, and now this free game they're offering is one you can't use! People are demanding - DEMANDING! - that they be allowed to use this as some kind of discount towards downloadable content, or even Mass Effect 3. Some people asked - but a great many are saying that since they already own ME2, that they should be rewarded somehow. Holy Crap. I have never wanted to reach through my screen and strangle the throats of so many freaking selfish people.

And then there's "The Mac People" - and their, "Oh, look, another deal we can't take advantage of. Will we be compensated or are we getting screwed again?"

Compensated? Really? COMPENSATED? By all that's holy - you own a freaking Mac! So sit there and tell me how awesome your Mac is now, you whining sonsofbitches!

I could literally feel my blood pressure rising ridiculously high at the nerve of some of these people. A great MANY of these people.

Some people had good ideas - like being able to use the code to gift to someone else. I thought that was pretty cool (if they already own Mass Effect 2 - it's a great way to gift it and get others possibly hooked and such). But those rational people seemed so far and few between.

So the entire post seems like a rant - but I swear, it's also an announcement for those that may have gotten DRAGON AGE II and not have Mass Effect 2 - or even if you have it - to download it anyway and play it through EA's "Steam" if you wanted.

[DeadPoolX]

Absolutely amazing. BioWare is GIVING away one of their highest selling games ever (that also won "Game of the Year" and is still selling extremely well) and people complain about it?

Two posts in particular stuck out:

1. "You couldn't come up with a better way to reward your loyal fans? I guess you don't want to give away DLC's, or any new content."

2. "A better offer to show appreciation would be a bundled PS:T, BG1, BG2, NWN1(+expansions) JE, and DA:O."

The first post is annoying, but unfortunately expected. The second post, however, is mind boggling.

Maia and I already have ME2 so this doesn't do much for us, but if we can gift it to someone else, that might not be too bad. Even if we can't, it's still free, so why complain?

I can't believe some of them on there are yelling that "this isn't really a free game because the DLC still costs!" Yeah, the DLC does cost, but it's also entirely optional. The core game will play just fine without any extra content.

What's funny is they don't seem to understand that even if they bought $60 worth of DLC (and I don't think that's possible, but let's just double the price of the game itself), that's still less than if they bought the core game at full price and then tacked on the DLC. So now matter how you look at it, you're still getting an amazing deal.

Oh and is anyone else really sick and tired of hearing about "awful" DA2 is?

It's not perfect, but it's getting patched and those problems that need immediate fixing are often taken care of by the community. The Isabela Friendship Bug, for instance.

Probably the single greatest reason I play party-based RPGs is because of the story and character interaction. DA2 handles those two beautifully.

I just hope BioWare doesn't pay too much attention to the nitwits whining about this stuff. I like the direction BioWare took with DA2 and I can't imagine I'm alone in that.

[AndreaDraco]

Oh... the social forum!

Some people on there are really great. Some, on the other hand, are the worst products of Generation Z.

I like the direction BioWare took with DA2 and I can't imagine I'm alone in that.

No, I'm with you, even if with some concerns, regarding mainly the filler waves of combat and a somwhow rushed ending where your choices didn't seem to matter as much as they did in Origins.

[Tawmis]

Normandy Replica coming:
http://yfrog.com/h8k8vep
http://biowarestore.com/mass-effect/mas ... ip-replica

Mass Effect 2 made it into that museum thing we had here somewhere (too lazy to look for the actual thread)...
http://www.americanart.si.edu/exhibitio ... mes/#games

[Maiandra]

This shirt in the ME2 Bioware Store made me laugh.

I think they should combine two of the shirts so that this is the front and this is the back.

Oh, and the Normandy replica is cool too.