T-minus 27hr 40min as I post this.
I figured it was not too soon to start this thread.
I"ll pick up my copy tomorrow night (probably send my son actually ) but I am going to postpone starting it until I complete ME2. I got far enough in the game today that I decided I DO CARE about having a save file to import into ME3.
My problem with this is it takes me soooooooooo long to get through a game.

I was pretty dissapointed with ME2 and although the demo did get me psyched, I still will wait for the collectors edition or at least the price to drop.

They say vote with your wallet, and I will never pick up a game for full price that has day 1 dlc (besides cosmetic stuff obviously).

Not playing and it angers me to no end that I never will.
"From Ashes" be damned.

Purchased, pre-loaded, and waiting to unlock.

I just (literally just - like thirty minutes ago) finished ME2 (with Shadow Broker and Arrival) and that save has a Shepard imported from ME1. I'm ready to go - all my important choices (and even some insignificant ones) are how I want them.

The day 1 DLC sounds like it was developed by a separate team from the main game after the core game finished development, so no biggie there, especially since I've got it coming as part of the digital deluxe version I bought. (Thank you tax return.) EA/Bioware's been doing day-one DLC for the last several games now and while it's kind of annoying, I'm not going to let that stop me from finding out how Shepard's story ends. I have far less issue with day one DLC than I do with Ubisoft's persistent internet connection DRM.

The day 1 DLC is of little concern to me because it takes me so long to get through a game. Dropping $60+ on game buys me entertainment for a month or more. I can see where the DLC might be harder to swallow if I expected to complete the game in 2 weeks (or 2 days ).

LOL! Taking the week off from work so I can play it until I could get it out of my system.

Not particularly thrilled with the multi-player elements, but I've been told that I can grind it out via single player and not get screwed over.
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TAZ

I WISH I could do that. This is Inventory week, so I can't even take Tuesday off. I am, however, not scheduled at work until 2, so my plan is to get up at 6 or so and play until I have to leave.

I realize not everyone has the same issue about day one DLC as I do. And I will eventually play the game, and will probably enjoy it very much and then gripe about how I wish it was more like ME1.

The DLC thing is just so obviously a case of changing how things work. It's basically applying the free-to-play microtransaction model on top of full retail priced games. And just like with subscriptions enough people will buy into it to ensure it keeps getting done. And I'd not be so quick to trust the people that want your money: http://www.pcworld.com/article/250546/c ... ycott.html

Okay, that said, I like that ME3 has story mode. If there are enough significant choices in it to play through twice I will probably enjoy skipping the repetitive combat.

I've logged maybe 5hr on multiplayer over the last couple Friday nights. The fun part was sharing the time with friends - that's all.
no Zircher, no screwdrivers in the single player demo.

Every company selling me anything wants my money. That's the point of a business. To make money. (Some large percentage of which of which they'll use to pay people who work for them, I'd hasten to add.)

In any case, this doesn't really affect me all that much. There was no way I wasn't going to buy ME3, no way I wasn't getting the deluxe edition, and no way I wasn't pre-ordering it. It's not like you can't finish the game without buying From Ashes.

I'm also a big fan of the inclusion of Story mode. While I'll probably play through the first time in RPG mode (the weapon customization has me intrigued, and I'll want to play with that) being able to zip through the story is also appealing.

Now what I'd REALLY like to see is a remake of 1 and 2 with 3's engine, but that will never happen, I'm sure.