[float=left][attach=1][/float]Well it looks like EA's jumping on the pre-order bandwagon already for Battlefield 3 with a set of exclusive weapons and mods and free access to a DLC map pack. The pre-order bonuses the items are apparently only available when pre-ordered in physical form and not if you pre-order through a digital service like steam and the final nail in the coffin here is that the items appear to be inaccessible if you do not pre-order. There is no reference to being able to unlock them or even purchase them as DLC at a later date. Seeing as the items are "essential" by EA's own statement it is simply unforgivable to give away powerful items to some players and not others in a genre where balance is king.
More after the break.[cutoff]
I don't mind DLC in principle and have bought several in my time nor do I mind pre-order's getting some sort of bonus, even in game content. What I do mind is when it isn't available later as either an unlock or as DLC (paid or otherwise) to those who prefer to see reviews before ordering. I'm still waiting to be able to download the various pre-order bonuses for Mass Effect 2, which irks me even more as PS3 got them for free but I'm stuck without on PC despite buying the collectors edition. When I bought it I was under the impression the Cerberus Network was going to be a pipeline of small DLCs that would normally cost a dollar or two and might contain those pre-order items a couple months down the line. What I got was Zaeed, Firewalker, some armor, and a gun or two when I first installed and have had to pay for everything since.
Sadly I think things are going to continue this way. EA isn't inspiring any confidence to the contrary at the least.
Via
Battlefield.comEdit: Added Firewalker pack to Mass Effect 2's bonuses. Thanks to mikethor007 for pointing that out.
Update 6/14 10am:
Rock Paper Shotgun has an article on this as well with some comments and a link (also linked below) to an FAQ from DICE/EA regarding the issue. RPS seems disinclined to take this at face value and I'm with them on that.
Rock Paper Shotgun article:
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/06/14/bf3-preorder-dlc/EA/DICE FAQ:
http://blogs.battlefield.ea.com/battlefield_bad_company/archive/2011/06/13/physical-warfare-pack-and-back-to-karkand-questions-answered.aspx##Update 6/15/ 3:30 PM PST:
Total Biscuit in his mailbox for yesterday addressed this issue perfectly. He has more issues here than I but sums my feelings up perfectly towards the end "If they won't drop them then I'm sorry but I'm not playing your game. My personal enjoyment is not as important as the state of the industry and if we continue to accept consumer unfriendly practices then we will get reamed. We will get nickel and dimed at every possible opportunity. Why? Because we let it happen." Full mailbox video embedded below:
http://youtu.be/db7-m0YuNU8