BioWare embracing episodic content for all future projects

by James Ransom-Wiley { Jan 18th 2007 at 10:25PM }

BioWare looks to start swinging episodes like it was 1993 again (LL Cool J? "Back Seat"? Too obscure?). The Mass Effect developer recently pledged to support all of its confirmed upcoming titles with post-release episodic content, including Dragon Age and Jade Empire: Special Edition. BioWare even claimed that its "other" (read: announced) titles would be treated to digitally distributed content, suggesting the studio's total adoption of a longevity model built on episodic releases. The strategy will span both "console and PC" platforms, confirmed CEO Ray Muzyka.

"Consoles," eh? Could BioWare be expanding its console development beyond Xbox 360? After all, a DS title is in the works.

Tags: BioWare, Dragon Age, DragonAge, DS, Episodic, Jade Empire, JadeEmpire, Mass Effect, MassEffect, PS3, Wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Nick Flavor @ Jan 18th 2007 10:31PM

*too obscure

EihBeir @ Jan 18th 2007 10:50PM

Nick Flavor stole my comment.

dybot @ Jan 18th 2007 10:58PM

Well if they do it like Oblivion that will be OK

rjm72 @ Jan 18th 2007 11:03PM

I think this is great news, as long as certain conditions are met.
The episodic content has to be good, fairly priced and not stuff that should have originally been in the game.

Also episodic content should be optional, in other words, I shouldn't have to buy it to understand the plot in any future full fledge sequels. That is my opinion at least.

icelandman @ Jan 18th 2007 11:47PM

#4 speaks great truth. I want a full experience in the box when I buy it, everything else should be cocaine laced frosting on my Mass Effect cake.

The best case scenario is 10 hour+ installments (NO HORSE ARMOR) at $10 to $15 a pop, full with new gears locales, voice overs...

No less, I will not accept it.

~PEACE

fawazr @ Jan 19th 2007 12:21AM

I'm sure these games will crush pink cookies in a plastic bag... like a building.

GhaleonQ @ Jan 19th 2007 1:25AM

*shakes head* MAKE MORE GAMES, NOT STUPID EPISODES!

EnLiven @ Jan 19th 2007 4:11AM

If it's anything like the premium modules they released for NWN i'll be very interested in it. Pretty ,much guaranteed my money.

Matthew Walsh @ Jan 19th 2007 4:36AM

The text says "console" singular and yet you implied it said "consoles" plural the very next sentence! Honestly...

Jdoki @ Jan 19th 2007 6:43AM

I'm still very sceptical of episodic content.

On the one hand I can understand devs needing to make as much money as possible to cover the (supposedly)massive 'new-gen' development costs. I also like the idea of extending a game through new content.

But on the other we have...

What if (as #4 mentioned) we HAVE to buy the additional content to fully understand the plot before Mass Effect 2 arrives? And if we don't need the extra content to advance the story at all then why bother with extra episodes in the first place - they are just 'fluff'.

And couldn't it be argued that any developer time spent on episodes is detracting from the main focus of producing Mass Effect 2 - essentially increasing the development time and in effect 'delaying' the release.

The extra content in Oblivion was OK for the most part. I liked some of it but skipped over most of it. In the context of Oblivion extra content or episodes is perfect - because it is a single contained world and game. Mass Effect has already been announced as a trilogy, so why would I want to boot up the first game again to go on an abitrary quest to find an uber piece of equipment that could easily be added to Mass Effect 2 to bulk up that game?

It really wouldn't surprise me if at some point developers start releasing a 'base version' of a game on a physical medium, and the sequels as downloads at a later date - they already have the engine, they already have many of the assets. It would reduce distribution costs - ensure the original product keeps selling, they could do vouchers where if a person buys the base version shortly before the sequel they get a free code to download the sequel etc.

Episodic and additonal content has it's place - but right now I'm not sure developers/publishers have the gamers interests at heart - and it's a worrying if we start seeing atrend where games are launched with missing content purely so more money can be recouped or so devs can hit release dates.

joey @ Jan 19th 2007 10:53AM

props on the old school throwback

Jake @ Jan 19th 2007 3:19PM

I am not a fan of Episodic content. If it is offered free or at a reasonable value it is okay. And I actually like that they release things like Horse armor because they can make money off of stupid people and I laugh. All in all, I wish they would just start working on Mass Effect 2 rather than ME1.1

What scares us all is what #4 pointed out, as well as what happened on GRAW. GRAW had a downloadable maps and gear pack. The maps were worthless for multiplayer, as well as the gear, but if you didn't buy it you couldn't play with anybody that did buy it. It was so hard to find a game, especially with my "friends" that I eventually had to buy it. It's only advantage was being able to play with anyone you want.