Mass Effect DLC to 'Bring Down the Sky' on March 10

Except "too much" and "too little" are relative. If you enjoyed Mass Effect's missions and wish to play a new one (boasting a different story and alternate enemies), then I fail to see how you could label it as being "little to nothing." You're implying that people buying what they want is ruining it for everyone?

Furthermore, the attachment to the amount of gameplay time is ridiculous. There's no fixed monetary value attached to each minute of gameplay ("if you're paying more than 20 cents per minute of fun, you're being ripped off!"). I'm sure fans of the game would rather get 90 minutes of Mass Effect than 2 hours of Project Sylpheed -- even if the latter was cheaper.

I don't understand why you're playing the dissuader here. Essentially, this is no different than a retail game purchase. Believe me, I don't get why people spend money on Dynasty Warriors or Madden every year either. :)

Ludwig:

The reason I point at the approximate time of play is twofold:

One, anyone who's ever played an RPG knows that the "playtime" estimate given out by the company is always in the ballpark of double the amount of time it actually takes the player to complete it. This is probably going to actually be 40-45 minutes of gameplay.

Two, it's because it's a single mission. It's not even a map pack. It's not a Rock Band song you can play and enjoy 20 or 30 times. It's not even horse armor. It's just a one-shot deal.

I really enjoyed Mass Effect, but these side-missions were just mass produced copies of each other with different flavor text. I mean, you've already seen what Bioware's idea of "different story" and alternate enemies" are. When the company goes to the well upwards of 20 times within the core game, and I was already growing tired of it, I don't see why being nonplussed about having to pay for the 21st installment is not viewed as an equally reasonable reaction as being thrilled about "more content" is.

This is most certainly not like buying a retail copy of a different game. This is like paying for 5% of an expansion pack.

I would much rather see Bioware pack it in, and come up with a nice, fleshed out 5-mission arc that had time to build up and resolve itself in a satisfying manner. Shooting new guys in two palette swapped environs is the exact definition of getting "little to nothing".

Why be happy with the scantest of scraps? Do you seriously anticipate waiting a month for content you're going to finish over the course of a lunch break?

See, the disconnect here is that what you see as scraps, others might see as a worthwhile addition. I think you're being too concrete in your judgment of the value here. Even if it's just 45 minutes, I'd wager that the quality of those minutes would make it a worthwhile purchase to those who enjoyed Mass Effect's side missions. It's not a rip-off if you have fun going through them.

To further elaborate, I'll say that the repetitive environments didn't impact on my enjoyment at all. As with many RPGs (especially turn-based ones), the combat itself is far more relevant than the environments. The game's meat is in its encounters, not its corridors. And it's true -- the only unique element was the different-flavored text. And that's fine if you're playing those missions for the text (or, more accurately, the little sub-plots).

If I get to enjoy another one during my lunch break, it'll probably be more satisfying to me than, well, a $5 lunch.

Ludwig:

I dunno, man. I mean, *2* flatbread Sammies for $2. That seems like a pretty satisfying lunch for under $5. :)

Anyway, I just think people should calm the super-fandom down a little bit. More ME content is a good thing, but I think everybody would really be satisfied if this just included more content than it's going to in its current state.

I don't think Random Guy is wrong at all. $5 for another one of the EXACTLY THE SAME time consuming side missions of Mass Effect that, really, was just 3 different building on 20 different types of terrain and two minutes of shooting each time is extraordinarily ridiculous. This isn't an over-assumption of concrete value, this isn't value at all.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Mass Effect, and strongly disagree with the dissenters about it not being a "game" and complaints about the combat system. I agree the combat system is alien, somewhat clunky, and un-explanatory, but once you've played it awhile it's more fluid than half the shooters out there, and is as much of a "Game" as any rpg's combat system. But the side missions (of which I've played most all of, cause I wants XP'z!) were the game's greatest shortcoming...really, really cool exploring the first couple times. Then, I seriously have to trek over terrain for 20 minutes to get to the same building for the 15th time to shoot guys for two minutes, get a new gun or two I won't use, and then leave?

$5 is, like a fourth to a sixth of a comprehensive expansion pack for, what, a coule identical clones to a hundred of the same thing you've already driven into the ground? Not even anything meaningfully new to the Universe? Lame. On all accounts. And the fact that it will be released and even a decent percentage of people will buy it is criminal. Again, I'm with Random Guy, it's more outrageous than Oblivion's Horse Armor.

I agree and say I was expecting more. I was expecting Earth, New side kick, something epic... I am not sure if I want to buy into a 5 dollar side quest. While the price isn't bad compared to other DLC, doesn't mean I don't want to pay a little more for something epic. I rather buy a 360 over a Wii even if the Wii is cheaper. I'd get more enjoyment possibly out of the 360.

If it were 1 Epic mission for 15 dollars and 2 side missions for 5 dollars each, well then I'd be happy because I have my epic mission. I'd have my guarantied moneys worth. The problem is I do not want to buy this until I hear others opinions once it's released.

Although 5 dollars isn't bad but for what I am getting doesn't feel guarantied great. But I do not have to buy it. Your all right. But I want to so.... hopefully I hear it's epic.

Seriously. Free. Project Sylpheed was budget priced and gave you a whole set of Challenge missions for FREE...nobody cared.

Now you're going to get a carbon copy of a mission you already played for $5 and people are creaming their pants and rushing out to buy points that'll sit in their account for a month. Despite the fact that the games are about of equal length, and Mass Effect cost you $20 more than Sylpheed already.

You guys are ruining this for everyone who's trying to do you a favor.

If you check the Codex the game shows what the Batarians look like. Not only that there is a lot of talk about them throughout the game. Especially if you choose the colonist background. As for the $5 for the same mission complaint, until its confirmed that its a cookie cutter side mission I'd hold my judgment. The announcement seems to hint that you will fighting on a space station and a new world. I seriously don't think space station will be a retread of the Kowloon Cruiser, mine, research facility, or Pirate/Scavanger/Crimelord base used on the uncharted worlds.

...you misspelled b***s**t.

I agree with you man. lol. I am also biased as you can see.

Well, I like the idea of smaller packs because I do not have a lot of time to play so instead of paying 20 all at once I can pay 5 dollars when I have the time to explore the universe further. My problem is I was hoping for a little more then a 1 side quest pack. Again 5 dollars isn't a lot but squeezing a little more in there some how would make it much more appealing... and not just more achievements ;)

+PSYCHIC+ not sidekick...