Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
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DoomsdayDevice
Eryri
Hrothdane
magnetite
draconian139
RavenEyry
ElSuperGecko
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Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I was looking at the release information for the Extended Cut earlier, and something struck me as odd.
"Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut is a DLC pack for Mass Effect 3. It was released on June 26, 2012 for all platforms worldwide, except for PlayStation 3 in Europe, where it was released on July 4, 2012. It will be available for free download until April 12, 2014"
Now wait a minute. Available until April 12, 2014? What happens after that date? Will Bioware charge for it?
Or will it simply cease to exist?
Now, this has me thinking. As far as I'm aware, Bring Down the Sky is still available for download. Pinnacle Station is still available for download. As are all of ME2's DLCs.
So why would they impose a time limit on the Extended Cut?
Unless of course, they believe that the Extended Cut will no longer be necessary after that date.
The developers of Mass Effect 3 clearly had a plan for their DLC releases for the game ("you would keep your (save games) forever..."). That plan was put on hold when they had to firefight with the EC. The Extended Cut was clearly a response to the fan backlash over Mass Effect 3's original endings. As such, it was also clearly not Bioware's original intent to provide the epilogues in the Extended Cut, or the slideshows, or the additional dialogue. However, by putting an expiry date on the Extended Cut, are they hinting that it will become redundant in the future? That, in effect, the Extended Cut is just a stop-gap solution, and that it will not in actual fact be canon?
SPECULATIONS!!!!!!!!
"Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut is a DLC pack for Mass Effect 3. It was released on June 26, 2012 for all platforms worldwide, except for PlayStation 3 in Europe, where it was released on July 4, 2012. It will be available for free download until April 12, 2014"
Now wait a minute. Available until April 12, 2014? What happens after that date? Will Bioware charge for it?
Or will it simply cease to exist?
Now, this has me thinking. As far as I'm aware, Bring Down the Sky is still available for download. Pinnacle Station is still available for download. As are all of ME2's DLCs.
So why would they impose a time limit on the Extended Cut?
Unless of course, they believe that the Extended Cut will no longer be necessary after that date.
The developers of Mass Effect 3 clearly had a plan for their DLC releases for the game ("you would keep your (save games) forever..."). That plan was put on hold when they had to firefight with the EC. The Extended Cut was clearly a response to the fan backlash over Mass Effect 3's original endings. As such, it was also clearly not Bioware's original intent to provide the epilogues in the Extended Cut, or the slideshows, or the additional dialogue. However, by putting an expiry date on the Extended Cut, are they hinting that it will become redundant in the future? That, in effect, the Extended Cut is just a stop-gap solution, and that it will not in actual fact be canon?
SPECULATIONS!!!!!!!!
Last edited by ElSuperGecko on Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I always took it to mean it'd be charged for or just come on new copies, but I suppose it could vanish. I don't see the DLC cycle continuing until well into 2014 though.
RavenEyry- Praetorian
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
No, me neither. But maybe that was just a "catch all" date. i.e. they knew for a fact that they wouldn't be doing any more work on ME3 bty that point. Their DLC plans would be completed and released by that point.
Think about it, if IT (or something similar) was their original vision for ME3, and they intended it to work with the original shipped endings for the game, and if there's a twist or reveal of some sort still to come with regard to the ending choices, then once their DLC cycle is over the Extended Cut (and the ending slides) may well become obsolete.
I admit, when the EC was originally announced I didn't think too much of the expiry date at the time, but now... I'm not so sure.
Think about it, if IT (or something similar) was their original vision for ME3, and they intended it to work with the original shipped endings for the game, and if there's a twist or reveal of some sort still to come with regard to the ending choices, then once their DLC cycle is over the Extended Cut (and the ending slides) may well become obsolete.
I admit, when the EC was originally announced I didn't think too much of the expiry date at the time, but now... I'm not so sure.
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Too bad April 1st isn't on a Tuesday...could have made for the most epic April Fool's prank ever.
draconian139- Abomination
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
ElSuperGecko wrote:
The developers of Mass Effect 3 clearly had a plan for their DLC releases for the game ("you would keep your (save games) forever...").
If they have plans out to 2014, I wouldn't be surprised. There's other companies which have plans for their products out to say, 2017. Other plans aren't publicly known yet, although may be on the drawing board. Only someone who works there in a high place would know their ultimate plans for the franchise.
magnetite- Brute
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Edited thread title as it wasn't quite reflecting my intent.
I guess what I'm saying is that as the EC was nothing more than a reaction to the fan backlash, and as it wasn't part of their original plans, once their actual plans come to fruition, it could become unneccesary.
Hence the expiry date. Once all the DLC is released, once Bioware's plans are revealed, the Extended Cut will no longer be required.
Imagine if IT was confirmed as it currently stands. The ending slides would no longer be necessary, the voiceovers from EDI, ShReaper and Hackett would be irrelevant. The entire finale would change. No more EC.
I guess what I'm saying is that as the EC was nothing more than a reaction to the fan backlash, and as it wasn't part of their original plans, once their actual plans come to fruition, it could become unneccesary.
Hence the expiry date. Once all the DLC is released, once Bioware's plans are revealed, the Extended Cut will no longer be required.
Imagine if IT was confirmed as it currently stands. The ending slides would no longer be necessary, the voiceovers from EDI, ShReaper and Hackett would be irrelevant. The entire finale would change. No more EC.
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I like this idea and it seems possible, but my gut feeling is that the time limit just has to do with how long Microsoft and Sony have planned to keep it up at this time. It probably costs BioWare money to keep the DLC available on Live and the PSN. They might even extend the time limit at a later date, such as how the servers for Demons' Souls have been extended several times.
Still, the EC becoming obsolete would also help explain why so little effort was put into it. Why make a AAA effort when it's not going to matter in the long run anyways?
Still, the EC becoming obsolete would also help explain why so little effort was put into it. Why make a AAA effort when it's not going to matter in the long run anyways?
Hrothdane- Scion
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
The thought had occurred to me too actually. I certainly hope that the EC is rendered obsolete by future content as it does nothing for me.
However the expiration date may have more to do with the next generation consoles being released. I'm not sure that Microsoft and Sony would continue to support dlc for the old generation when they're trying to get everyone to buy their shiny new systems.
However the expiration date may have more to do with the next generation consoles being released. I'm not sure that Microsoft and Sony would continue to support dlc for the old generation when they're trying to get everyone to buy their shiny new systems.
Eryri- Phantom
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
So if it's rendered obsolete, what happens if people already have it installed? Would it just not be registered as valid DLC content? Say if I started it up, it wouldn't recognize the DLC and when you started the indoctrination sequence at the end, it wouldn't show all the extra scenes?
magnetite- Brute
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
magnetite wrote:So if it's rendered obsolete, what happens if people already have it installed? Would it just not be registered as valid DLC content? Say if I started it up, it wouldn't recognize the DLC and when you started the indoctrination sequence at the end, it wouldn't show all the extra scenes?
Well, if we're assuming that a future DLC would make the EC irrelevant, either by adding post-Citadel content or altering the endings (or even the player perspective of the endings), then the sequences and slides added by the EC would be removed, replaced or edited.
Examples:
- We get a successful refuse. We'd get a medal ceremony scene instead of Liara's time capsule. EC obsolete.
- Synthesis is revealed as eeeeeeeeeevil. Ending slides change to husks walking mindlessly into Reaper processing ships. EDI's voice becomes monotone and brainwashed. Music becomes creepy and disturbing. EC obsolete.
- Destroy breaks indocrination attempt. Ending sequence changed to lead in to ME4. Again, the EC would be obsolete.
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I'm not sure it means anything.
I personally think that if we get some sort of reveal, it will all be post-ending.
So I don't think something is actually going to replace the EC.
But who knows....
I personally think that if we get some sort of reveal, it will all be post-ending.
So I don't think something is actually going to replace the EC.
But who knows....
DoomsdayDevice- Being of Light
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
This is exactly what I think
BleedingUranium- Thresher Maw
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I hope it doesn't. It has my idea in it.
Hanako Ikezawa- The Thorian
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Why would it become obsolete?
What, you think once the reveal is here, they will go back to having the old endings again? Come on.
Or do you think the reveal will replace what is now the EC?
Very unlikely, IMO.
Future generations who play the game will still need to beat indoctrination, after all.
I absolutely don't see it happening, guys, sorry.
EC is here to stay. Reveal will be post-ending. :stick:
What, you think once the reveal is here, they will go back to having the old endings again? Come on.
Or do you think the reveal will replace what is now the EC?
Very unlikely, IMO.
Future generations who play the game will still need to beat indoctrination, after all.
I absolutely don't see it happening, guys, sorry.
EC is here to stay. Reveal will be post-ending. :stick:
DoomsdayDevice- Being of Light
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Of course the reveal would be post-ending, but since 95% of EC is during the "dream", it would become irrelevant. Instead of being less-than-helpful slides and epilogues, it would be nothing but filler, or rather, that's what it already is with IT.
BleedingUranium- Thresher Maw
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Exactly. The EC was never part of Bioware's original plan. It was created solely to appease fans following the ending backlash. Hell, "refuse" wasn't originally even presented as an option in the shipped game!
Bioware put back their DLC schedule and to create something that was essentially a quick fix. Once their DLC schedule is complete, and once the entire Mass Effect 3 story has been revealed, the EC may become wholly unneccesary. If any reveal is made regarding the Catalyst, the finale and the ending choices, then the EC will almost definitely become unneccesary.
Bioware put back their DLC schedule and to create something that was essentially a quick fix. Once their DLC schedule is complete, and once the entire Mass Effect 3 story has been revealed, the EC may become wholly unneccesary. If any reveal is made regarding the Catalyst, the finale and the ending choices, then the EC will almost definitely become unneccesary.
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
2014? That'll be when Mass Effect 4 is either out, or has been officially annouced as coming soon.
Make what you will of that. But honestly I think it does indeed mean the EC won't be relievent after that point. Thank goodness.
Make what you will of that. But honestly I think it does indeed mean the EC won't be relievent after that point. Thank goodness.
Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
I don't think it means anything.
If they're hosting something for free, they're expecting that people buy new DLCs along with it. By the time 2014 rolls around, ME3 will have been two years old. They won't be making any DLCs for a two year old game.
In other words, it'd be pointless to keep a free DLC up if business slows down.
If they're hosting something for free, they're expecting that people buy new DLCs along with it. By the time 2014 rolls around, ME3 will have been two years old. They won't be making any DLCs for a two year old game.
In other words, it'd be pointless to keep a free DLC up if business slows down.
FreewheelinDylan- Pod Crab
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
Especially if it was wholly irrelevant to the story...
If it was absolutely essential to the story however, they may feel obliged to keep it available.
If it was absolutely essential to the story however, they may feel obliged to keep it available.
ElSuperGecko- Space Cow
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Re: Will the "Extended Cut" become obsolete?
This is actually quite possible OP.
Yes, I actually think they MIGHT (again, MIGHT) in fact have a more or less "Director's Cut" of ME3 (aka with the IT reveal :P), that pretty much makes the prettier dream of EC obsolete.
But this is not just speculation, it is in fact guessing.
ME4 will prob be for 2014, only maybe 2015.
Yes, I actually think they MIGHT (again, MIGHT) in fact have a more or less "Director's Cut" of ME3 (aka with the IT reveal :P), that pretty much makes the prettier dream of EC obsolete.
But this is not just speculation, it is in fact guessing.
ME4 will prob be for 2014, only maybe 2015.
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