I'm hoping this will be allowed here, not be seen as a "rant" and be directed to the proper people to actually have something done about this.
The Root Problem:
Adding DLC items (Mk V, +3 Circuits from the Epic Resource Pack etc) to a blueprint prevent it from being shared.
Gameplay issues caused by the Root Problem:
- Bad/Confusing UI. When trying to share an item with these "unsharable items" in a blueprint, a vague and unhelpful message "Blueprint Cannot Be Shared!" appears, with no indication of why. This is frustrating to the end user.
- Inability to create alternate blueprints. When upgrading a weapon with "unsharable items" the original blueprint is overwritten. i.e.: after adding Mk V parts to "eGov Compact Plasma Repeater with Ripper" and saving Blueprint it remains "eGov Compact Plasma Repeater with Ripper" instead of a new blueprint named "Mk V eGov Compact Plasma Repeater with Ripper" or something to that effect.
- Stunted/Crippled Gameplay. With all the existing and upcoming DLC Resources that include Weapon Parts and Circuits, it seems that Weapon Sharing as it stands is useless beyond the latter half of the first playthrough. Once the player starts getting DLC Resources such as Mk V parts and +3 Circuits, the standard in-game items are essentially either trash or just plain mundane. No one I know who is past their first playthrough cares at all for +2 chips or standard parts/frames.
In all, this feature is out of place and does not live up to it's advertised role or user perceived expectations. The user expects this feature to keep up with the user's gameplay and add significantly to the overall social aspects of the multi-player experience. Instead the user finds this feature a hindrance, stunted by artificial restrictions that hold no purpose and to have no value beyond the initial few days of playing.
Hoped for Resolution: Remove these restrictions.
EA and Deadspace 3 both stand to benefit enormously from the removal of the DLC Resource restrictions for blueprint sharing.
Here's why:
- The cost of DLC Resource Packs vs BluePrints are no different. Just like a DLC Resource Pack, a Blueprint costs Resources such as Tungsten, Scrap Metal etc, a category which Ration Seals are a part of and obtained the same way. There is no real difference here, just the difference that the Users are spending other scavenged resources other than Ration Seals in this case. If a user needs these Resources and does not have them in inventory, they can buy these resources with either cash or Ration Seals from the built-in Store at the Bench.
- Having users share these higher end Blueprints that call for DLC Resources helps upsell these Resource Packs and DLC extensions to other users. This is part of Social Networking and essentially turns the DeadSpace User Base into sales advocates for Deadspace content.
If EA does not wish to remove these restrictions then I would highly encourage them to remove the blueprint sharing feature all together. While a very good idea it has been done with very poor execution and better suited for Deadspace 4 after more thought has been put into it.
If neither action are suitable, then at least add some better user feedback in the UI and explanation on blueprint sharing restrictions.
