BioWare has posted a clarification for those having issues redeeming Mass Effect 2 promotional codes received in the Collector's Edition of the game or as pre-order bonuses from retailers. The codes require you to go to MassEffect.com to redeem, and although PC players just have to download a file in most cases, it's the Xbox 360 users that are stumbling into an issue.
Take note: If you have played a recent EA game with an online component (like Battlefield 1943) on your Xbox 360, chances are you already have an EA.com account linked to your Gamertag. If this is the case, do not create a new account on BioWare's or EA's site to redeem your code.
Xbox 360 owners that have played an EA game online and have their Gamertags tied to an account should not input their codes until they can log into their EA.com accounts. If you've already tied your Mass Effect 2 DLC code to a new account, the only way we know to get the game content is to transfer your new account over to an existing one, which requires getting in contact with EA.
We're currently contacting the publisher to see if EA can implement a streamlined process to transfer accounts and will update as soon as we hear back.
Update: We've placed EA's suggestions on fixing various Mass Effect 2 DLC issues after the break.
EA's response:
We are aware of the issue. Users having this problem can go to http://support.ea.com, choose "email us" on the left, and users should be able to get through. Here's a couple other sites to reference
FAQ: http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/103/index/778857
As well, we have a lot of confirmations saying that if you changed accounts EA Online's account page can fix it. http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/107/index/771409
Reader Comments (80)
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 5:25PM Diemer said
I think I have a solution:
Every game should create a unique 16 digit code assigned to your specific online persona (something of a hash between your gamertag, the current solstice, and the blood/alcohol percentage of Nicole Richie todays date in 2006). This code when entered, confirmed, and re-confirmed could then be used to access a central database of content. Once into the database you could enter your gamertag and your password as a single string, backwards, as a second form of authentication to download your content (assuming, of course, that your xbox live vision cam has taken a snapshot of your face to be processed on the backend for that extra bit of protection).
8-10 weeks later you will receive a key for a safe-deposit box at a Wells Fargo in Duluth, MN which will contain an HD-DVD containing your DLC.
Easy...right?
Reply
Every game should create a unique 16 digit code assigned to your specific online persona (something of a hash between your gamertag, the current solstice, and the blood/alcohol percentage of Nicole Richie todays date in 2006). This code when entered, confirmed, and re-confirmed could then be used to access a central database of content. Once into the database you could enter your gamertag and your password as a single string, backwards, as a second form of authentication to download your content (assuming, of course, that your xbox live vision cam has taken a snapshot of your face to be processed on the backend for that extra bit of protection).
8-10 weeks later you will receive a key for a safe-deposit box at a Wells Fargo in Duluth, MN which will contain an HD-DVD containing your DLC.
Easy...right?
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:14PM (Unverified) said
Just wait until you try to get the DrPepper DLC codes working, unghh!
Reply
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:14PM Funkmaster General said
I don't understand why this has to be ridiculously complicated.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:49PM Debley said
Properly because MS charge for it, EA/BIoware thought they would save millions on MS's charging policy for EVERYTHING.
Still getting ME2 for xbox though, so lucky you MS you get money anyway maybe not as much but hey, moneys money to you, thats all you see. not people wanting fun playing a game. just targets to make money off of.
Reply
Still getting ME2 for xbox though, so lucky you MS you get money anyway maybe not as much but hey, moneys money to you, thats all you see. not people wanting fun playing a game. just targets to make money off of.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 5:17PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said
Charlie, STFU. EA screwed up on this one, not Microsoft you idiot.
And why the hell are YOU complaining? It's your mom's money, not yours.
Reply
And why the hell are YOU complaining? It's your mom's money, not yours.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 6:34PM philmcfail said
Ugh...I just entered all of my promo codes onto a new account. WHY EA? WHY!!!
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:17PM Vcize said
I don't understand why these companies feel the need to control as much as they can get away with, making things 10x more complicated for the consumers.
Hey EA, there's already a whole streamlined mechanism for redeeming DLC codes built into XBL that's so simple an artard could do it. Why are you not just using that?
Reply
Hey EA, there's already a whole streamlined mechanism for redeeming DLC codes built into XBL that's so simple an artard could do it. Why are you not just using that?
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:17PM (Unverified) said
EA...just tie the games into Live and cut all your involvement. Yes, I've got an EA Online account, but it's ridiculous.
Reply
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:24PM (Unverified) said
funny how setting up a konami ID almost led me to not play the game, but of course i had to give kogima the chance and im glad i did.
dont remind me. ""you must set up konami ID to play the beta, but we arent going to have enough servers to even handle the filling out of the form online, ultimately helping to crash the beta at first.
Reply
dont remind me. ""you must set up konami ID to play the beta, but we arent going to have enough servers to even handle the filling out of the form online, ultimately helping to crash the beta at first.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 7:25PM philmcfail said
I know, why couldn't the 360 version codes be linked XBL so we could just activate it from the system itself (not through game but dashboard).
Reply
Posted: Jan 27th 2010 9:28AM Prox said
I agree. My roommate and I got this game last night and we both balked at this "sign up for some EA website stuff" part at the beginning. As a result of this stupid, time-consuming method of obtaining DLC we may never get around to downloading the bonus content.
No big deal here, however, as the DLC all seems to be stuff that makes your character overpowered.
Reply
No big deal here, however, as the DLC all seems to be stuff that makes your character overpowered.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:25PM (Unverified) said
is this just the thing with a lot of EA games now ?
mirrors edge, dragon age....
what is the ultimate point of it for them ? collecting and selling email addresses i suppose ?
Reply
mirrors edge, dragon age....
what is the ultimate point of it for them ? collecting and selling email addresses i suppose ?
Posted: Jan 28th 2010 3:22AM monster215 said
definitely the latter. PC gaming logic/install forces you nearly every time to tinker with the dammed games.
ie delete the stupid BioEngine file on a regular basis.
Reply
ie delete the stupid BioEngine file on a regular basis.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:27PM Chief Oddball said
OK, I figured all this out...but wow. Overcomplicated IMO.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:29PM (Unverified) said
It was easy for me. Signed onto the Bioware social network, hit redeem promo codes, put the 3 different codes I had in and when I started the game up I was able to download all 3 packs.
Reply
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:38PM (Unverified) said
Yeah those .exe files are for the PC version. For 360, when you start the game up it automatically detects all the DLC you can get from the codes you entered on one of the EA/Bioware sites and you can download them from there.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:38PM arkweld said
same here. If you played Dragon Age, just log in to your Bioware Social account, select register game, select ME2 from the games menu and follow the redeems.
The ridiculous thing is setting up an EA account to match your 360 account and all that crap. Nowhere near as streamlined as Ubi's Uplay. Why have two separate accounts for the same company to begin with? If you have an EA account you shouldn't need the Bioware account and vice versa.
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The ridiculous thing is setting up an EA account to match your 360 account and all that crap. Nowhere near as streamlined as Ubi's Uplay. Why have two separate accounts for the same company to begin with? If you have an EA account you shouldn't need the Bioware account and vice versa.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:40PM (Unverified) said
And you have to make sure you're using the same email address for the EA account and Bioware social network that you are for your 360, or it won't work. If you use the social site, when you hit redeem code it will tell you what email you're using and if it's the same as your 360.
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Posted: Jan 27th 2010 6:38PM ashleydb said
"If you have an EA account you shouldn't need the Bioware account and vice versa."
You don't, they are the same thing... unless you used different email addresses to sign up for different accounts at some point...
The worst thing is the messaging. It's confusing to refer to EA Nation Account, BioWare Account and any other terms that get used for the same thing.
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You don't, they are the same thing... unless you used different email addresses to sign up for different accounts at some point...
The worst thing is the messaging. It's confusing to refer to EA Nation Account, BioWare Account and any other terms that get used for the same thing.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:32PM BananaBoat said
It took me half an hour to get everything set up. After setting up an EA account, and punching in the code for the cerberus network, I had to reboot my 360 once to make the first DLC download (it was stuck at pending), then repeat that process for the second download pack (the pre-order bonus one). Once each pack was downloaded, I had to reboot so that I could get the message in the game. In other words, it was 4 or so reboots before I was ready to play.
Frustrating, but ultimately worth it.
Reply
Frustrating, but ultimately worth it.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 5:32PM Jayeffaar said
You seem to have missed the point of this post: you're not supposed to create a new account for each game. That's what is getting people in trouble here. Once you have one EA account, you're good to go for all their games. And yes, it's still a pain in the ass.
Reply
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:38PM wcarnation said
The trappings of excess finally rear their bloated heads.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:47PM (Unverified) said
More like EA would feel stupid that they wasted all that money developing EA Online just to dump it.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:38PM TheDarkWayne said
I would be more upset if i wasn't sure they'd put all this crap on the marketplace for sale eventually anyway. I think i'd rather just pay for this shit then deal with EAs horrible customer service, I still haven't been able to link my Bad Company profile to my EA account, i can't imagine it will be easy to sort this shit out.
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:40PM TheDarkWayne said
geez is anyone getting the You Did It! message way more frequently than usual? it took me 3 times to post that
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Posted: Jan 26th 2010 5:00PM (Unverified) said
Yes! It did it on my first three post attempts, yet I never received an email to allow my posts to show up. What are the chances that I'm typing to myself now...
Reply
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:40PM (Unverified) said
...
I entered a fake email to play the 'Army Of 2' demo... Now i have a bad feeling my Gamertag is linked to that addy in the eyes of EA. God, i hope i'm not screwed.
Reply
I entered a fake email to play the 'Army Of 2' demo... Now i have a bad feeling my Gamertag is linked to that addy in the eyes of EA. God, i hope i'm not screwed.
Posted: Jan 26th 2010 4:49PM WMcPete said
After all the trouble redeeming my codes, I found I am unable to import my character from ME1... I am totally pissed off at this game before I have even started playing it yet. Anyone else totally screwed with the character import on the Xbox due to switching HDDs or original console?
Here is a link from Bioware's forum regarding this problem...
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/107/index/777943/1#779165
Reply
Here is a link from Bioware's forum regarding this problem...
http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/107/index/777943/1#779165
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