From the title of this post, you’re probably thinking that this rant is yet another one of the many complaints about the Day One DLC for Mass Effect 3 which SPOLIERS!! apparently has something to do with the Protheans, meaning it is rather relevant to the game. /SPOILERS!!

Nope, my problem is with people getting mad at me because I will be getting it day one from buying the Collector’s Edition of the game. I’m really sick of hearing about how I don’t understand why someone else is frustrated because I get the DLC “free” on launch day. Let the rant commence:

First off: No, actually, I don’t get the DLC free, I paid extra for the collector’s edition which means I get the DLC most likely either on my receipt or with the box set. I didn’t pay $60 and Bioware just decided, “Well, they bought the special-super-galactic-fun-time version which totally costs the same as the other edition, better throw in some extra content for them for no fucking reason!!” No, people who pre-order collector’s editions of games always, ALWAYS get some sort of extra content. ALWAYS. That’s the fucking point of getting the special edition. Sure, I’m pumped to get an N7 Patch and a lithograph thing, but given the past several years of video games, why would you be shocked that there’s day one downloadable content for one of Bioware and EA’s biggest games?

Second: IT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU THE SAME DAY AS LAUNCH! I’m not getting the content before you. It’s not like I’m getting special privileges here. Everyone gets access to the DLC on the same day. And, again, I paid for my copy of it through my extra $20 for the collector’s edition. Which is $10 MORE than what the DLC costs. You’re paying less than I am by getting it on launch day.

Third: Honestly, I get where these people are coming from. They feel that they are paying full price for an unfinished and incomplete game. I get it. I have this same issue with online pass code bullshit: It’s fucking stupid. I bought Saints Row, for example, why do I have to buy an online pass code? It’s because I bought it used. And I get it, the game developers make a profit off NEW copies of their games, but it’s frustrating when I have to pay just to play a goofy game like Saint’s Row the Third with one other person online. Same goes with the Cerberus Network in ME2. I just wanted Zaeed, but I had to pay 1200 Microsoft points because I bought the game used an entire year after the game had been released. And by that point, the Cerberus Network wasn’t even being used anymore for updates, so basically I had paid that much for a mission equivalent to Kasumi’s mission, which costs 560 MPs, so it was doubley-stupid and a hell of a lot more money than I should have had to pay for one mission and another character.

My issue with this whole thing is when gamers turn on eachother. As though I’m the bad guy because I’m getting the DLC code with my game when I pick it up at midnight. Honestly, I get where the fans are coming from, but I also get where Bioware and EA could be coming from. They have to make a profit. And honestly, it’s an add-on for a reason; it ADDS to your game experience. I like to think that Bioware and EA aren’t purposely leaving out entire portions of the game that are important to the core of the game.

I mean, let’s be real here: ALL the DLC is relevant to the story in all the Mass Effect games. You learn more about the plot, characters, races, histories, etc. etc. via the DLC, but it’s moreso extra goodies. Like, I LOVED the Overlord DLC for ME2 because it genuinely made me uncomfortable and was one of the two or three points in the game where I really felt strongly about making a decision. Am I glad I paid extra for it? Hell yea. Would I have died without playing it? Of course not. It made the game more fun for me personally, but it really didn’t have any outcome, consequences or ramifications in the plotline. Again, extra goodies. Again, I get where everyone’s coming from, but take your frustrations out with the people at fault here, not those who bought the Collector’s Edition.