It's already know that BioWare is to release episodic content for its forthcoming Xbox 360 game Mass Effect, but the developer has now revealed it's expanding episodic release plans to cover additional projects.
"...we have big plans afoot at BioWare for post-release and episodic content for upcoming cool BioWare games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Jade Empire: Special Edition and other upcoming BioWare titles, both on console and PC", BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka divulged in an interview with CVG which we'll be publishing shortly.
Speaking further about online initiatives, Muzyka said, "There have been a lot of innovations in the PC space in online games - World of Warcraft and other MMOs continue to expand the business and we're excited about joining that world ourselves with the upcoming title we're developing down with our great team at BioWare Austin [BioWare's in-development MMORPG] - and digital distribution and episodic content".
...I am all for episodic content, as long as the main game (which you can pay a lot of money for), is top notch i.e. its not been watered down, so they can split it into episodes...otherwise they should make each episode cheaper.
This is great news, Mass Effect looks like an amazing 360 title and if it can keep expanding in the same way as say a sci-fi TV show gets new storylines & characters, it will be well worth the asking price.
Even the phrase episodic content brings me out in a cold sweat of fear and anger. I haven't seen a single game under the episodic content deliver anything worthwhile.
That said, if you look at Guild Wars, it shows how episodic content should be, despite GW never claiming to be episodic.
If each game can be played standalone, with a proper beginning, middle and end to the story, then that's ok.
If however, it's in the same vein as Sam & Max or HL2 then I'll be dissapointed. I'm not a fan of D2D downloads due to the limited broadband in my area, and I don't like my HDD clogged up with stuff that could be stored on a CD/DVD and purchased from a high street retailer.
I still prefer a full price product with a full story. Leave threads open for a sequel by all means, but ending such as HL2 leave me fuming and feeling ripped off. Particularly when their episodes are 12 months apart and offer very little gameplay.
I still say Guild Wars has it perfected, I've got every 'episode' and they're great. Even Oblivion seems to be heading in the right direction with 'The Fridgid Isle'
With a full priced, full game, you expect 'closure' at the end of the game (unless it's bloddy HL2 etc..).
With episodic gaming, you get none of that reassurance. Episodes can flop or be canned at a moments notice.
Hopefully it's just a fad that will go the same way as VR games. I hate to sound like a reactionary old fart, but the current model of games (lets say one fully developed game every 3 years by each dev team) suits me fine.
Not everyone can afford to download huge gaming files in a few hours, or even have the capability. I understand the savings made by D2D, but it's no excuse for lack of development, and half bottomd 'expansions' or 'episodes'.
Finish the game, and then I'll think about buying it.
Episodic content is the worst thing happening to the gaming industry at the moment. For example, take the crappy Sin episodes or HL2 Episode-1.. terrible.
Designers are rushing in the ideas that seem like a product of a mod team. So basically you are paying for a mod every few years instead of a proper game with a begining and end. Instead of lowering the cost of a game for players, selling them 20% of the game every year for half of the quest is good for business I guess.
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