Andromeda was EA’s test-run for Battlefront’s lootboxes

Kind of like how EA has gotten out maneuvered by the fans/gaming media over SWBF2?

Games are completely different for me. I never blamed EA much for ME:A, I blamed the poor management by the developers during development. Battlefront 2 on the other hand, EA's poor business model is at the forefront in causing my issues with that game. I would say EA should be ashamed of themselves, but I know they'll never be.

I haven't played the retail version (just the demo) but it isnt a BAD game. But if progression is tied to loot crates, then that really hampers the experience.

I would argue that ME3MP was more random then BF2 (I played both) The major difference with ME3MP was that everything was that everything was to boxes; which required hours of gameplay to unlock or using real money. With BF2 you can go to the hero that you want and buy them (with same process). By just clicking on the character you want. Side note: I managed to get Luke and Vader with minimal effort and I'm at level 7. While yes, ME3MP you can always use the character that you bought, in BF2 that's not always the case. The leap of logic (mostly time) between ME3MP to BF2 doesn't make sense to me. I mean,there have been so many other games that have came out since then have microtrancations in them. I find it more likely they thought they could get away with it, since so many other games have had it since ME3MP.

Yes, but both still cost time and ME3MP is still slightly more random then BF2. The heroes (BF2) are under the Assault tap in the character menu and you can just buy them from there. Instead of just hoping you'll get the character that you want.

Not even close.

FIFA/Madden Ultimate Team is the mother-of-all pay-to-win loot-box grind-fests, it's the industry juggernaut of microtransactions and it props up EA's entire business these days. I used to think UT was the reason EA could fund studios like BioWare to make proper games but it's poisonous influence is killing the industry.

The rest of the industry from Activision/Blizzard's to Take Two (GTA:O) have been playing catch-up chasing EA's annualized Revenue-streams ever since. EA has been 'broadening the appeal of their games' aka turning all of their games multiplayer-orientated-GaaS cash cows for years if you haven't noticed, which explains Anthem, SW:BFII, N4S, ME3/A MP, etc. You can thank 'Sports fans' for turning the entire industry into a casino. I'm of course using the term 'sports fan' as a polite synonym for retard from now on and i'd advise you all to do the same.

ME3 was the test run for the loot boxes.

That depends what you classify as being outmaneuvered.

Though I am certain that in your case, it means pure shit-slinging, does it not?

Hmm. Point.

I just spent money on ME3 boxes last night... I feel so dirty. At least there aren't loot boxes AND card scrapping like Gears 4. ugh.