BioWare has responded to reports that many consumers who purchased the physical version of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 could not install the game. This error was reportedly due to the second disc being an install disc from Mass Effect 2. Thus consumers were required to use the supplied Steam code to activate and download the digital copy, rendering the physical version useless.
So far there's still no explanation as to how an Electronic Arts disc ended up in a sealed Activision product, but BioWare is calling it an omen. In fact, when the universe talks, we should listen, and the universe supposedly thinks Black Ops 2 gamers are supposed to be playing Mass Effect instead. At this point, that's a good assumption on BioWare's behalf.
"The first fifty fans affected by this phenomenon to send us a picture holding their special disc 2 will receive a code for a FREE PC copy of Mass Effect Trilogy," BioWare said in a blog. "Remember, in order to qualify, YOU must be in the picture, and disc 2 of your Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 must be visible. Got it?"
Given that anyone could hold up their Black Ops 2 disc and claim it's packed with Mass Effect 2 goodness, this "response" seems more like a gimmick to promote the Mass Effect franchise in the initial stage of Black Ops 2's release. So far reports have indicated that there are no physical visual indications that Disc 2 doesn't contain Black Ops 2 installation files without looking at its contents in File Manager.
This week Activision said Black Ops 2 has shattered pre-order records set last year by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and the company expects the game to be the biggest entertainment launch of all time.
"In addition to an amazing and innovative game, we're also proud and humbled to see the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II creating yet another legitimate, pop cultural phenomenon," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. "To our millions of fans worldwide, who have driven everything from pre-orders to YouTube views, to midnight lines outside of stores worldwide to new levels, we just want to say, thank you. You are the best fan base in the world, and the unprecedented thrill ride that is Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is all for you."
For gamers who purchased Black Ops 2 with the Mass Effect 2 disc, they possibly may have received four games in one thanks to BioWare's offer. Still, how did that EA disc end up in Activision's game? Do these publishers use the same disc manufacturing plant? This we want to know.
