Bioware's Anthem has seen no small number of potholes on the road to commercial and critical success, but the announcement yesterday that the game would receive almost none of the updates previously publicized for release in April (by Bioware itself), may well have been the last straw for many.

What did Bioware say yesterday, and how will it impact development of the game going forward?

What role did Electronic Arts have in delivering a game that requires such foundational changes to its structure that even a 90-day forecast is not to be trusted?

Why did the 90-day roadmap exist in the first place, and how was it used to sell a wary public on the prospects of Anthem?

And why might use of the roadmap at this point be considered "deceptive", given what the Federal Trade Commission has previously said on the issue?

Strap into your Javelins, folks, it's another long one.

FOR MORE ON BIOWARE'S RECENT "ISSUES" WITH MESSAGING:

"Virtual Legality #18 - Metroid Prime 4 vs Anthem: A Tale of Two Messages (Hoeg Law)"

(https://youtu.be/n-tymXSjh0k)

"Virtual Legality #44 - Kotaku Adds Another Note to Bioware's Discordant Anthem (Hoeg Law)"

(https://youtu.be/_9Hx3_Scbew)

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/mSPPN-3UUT0

#Anthem #Roadmap #VirtualLegality

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Discussed in this episode:

2:00 - "'Anthem' Delays Its Entire Roadmap, Hasn't Fixed Loot And This All Feels Very, Very Bad"

Forbes - April 24, 2019 - Paul Tassi

(https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2019/04/24/anthem-delays-its-entire-roadmap-hasnt-fixed-loot-and-this-all-feels-very-very-bad/#44d1b5102f92)

5:47 - "Anthem's biggest upcoming features are all being delayed until god knows when"

PCGamer - April 23, 2019 - Steven Messner

(https://www.pcgamer.com/anthems-biggest-upcoming-features-are-all-being-delayed-until-god-knows-when/)

8:15 - "Update on Anthem from the Development Team"

Reddit Post - April 23, 2019

(https://www.reddit.com/r/AnthemTheGame/comments/bgkgl3/update_on_anthem_from_the_development_team/)

18:08 - Anthem Year 1 Roadmap

Electronic Arts Website (As of April 24, 2019)

(https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/acts)

21:45 - "Anthem – our Live Service begins"

Bioware Blog Post - February 22, 2019

(http://blog.bioware.com/2019/02/22/launch-anthem-our-live-service-begins/)

34:20 - "Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business"

Federal Trade Commission (as of April 24, 2019)

(https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/advertising-faqs-guide-small-business)

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FOR MORE CHECK US OUT:

On Twitter @hoeglaw

At our website: https://hoeglaw.com/

On our Blog, "Rules of the Game", at https://hoeglaw.wordpress.com/

On "Help Us Out Hoeg!" a regular segment on the Easy Allies Podcast (formerly GameTrailers)

(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZrxXp1reP8E353rZsB3jaA)

Biweekly on "Inside the Huddle with Michael Spath" on WTKA 1050