March 21, around 10am, the internet cough on fire once again over ME3 related stuff. Except this time, it was serious and level headed people that were beating Bioware with virtual baseball bats. All this new controversy over some comments from Bioware co-founder Dre Ray saying that they might do something ending related in DLC form. Ryan, Patrick, Brendan Sinclair and countless others were disappointed with what they perceived as a coward move on Bioware's behalf.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/who-wins-when-mass-effect-3s-ending-changes-6367380/
(thanks to
) It's staggering to me that journalists, not internet nerds, true professionals would jump to conclusions and start judging Bioware on Dr. Ray's statement alone. Not even reading it correctly!Most people seem to think that the guys that developed the game caved in to fan pressure. Some are coming out of the woodwork (not having played the game yet) and argue that it diminishes video games as an art form. A few are even accusing Bioware of bringing back the medium 10 years in the past.
So here's my problem with this whole situation/argument:
What if the developer of ME3 didn't think the ending was as good as it could have been?
What if they didn't want to make DLC to fill the plot holes or give more closure because games are suppose to stand on there own?
What if, with all the fan outrage, they decided to add things they didn't have time to add before the game shipped?
What if, shocker, the artist actually wanted to change the painting before it was shipped to the gallery but didn't have time?
And, of course, the part where THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE CHANGING ANYTHING!!! Just clarifying stuff (maybe eliminating some plot holes?)
If I can agree with one thing Jeff has said about mass effect 3, it's that they didn't have enough time to make the game. Most parts are incredible and some are kind of a bummer: http://www.giantbomb.com/mass-effect-3/61-29935/someone-stop-the-bombcast-bummer-train-on-me3/35-539421/
To me, it's a sign that the development studio didn't have the time to come up with, and build, a solution to the game's problems. In short, I think they didn't fulfill there creative vision with the ending. For proof, look no further than the ending cutscene. Its stitched together nature that leaves huge plot holes in a story that had almost none until this point seems to indicate a rushed job. They surely compensated with awesome character interaction and amazing set-pieces in the rest of the game but in the end, it's the final chapter that people remember the most.
On a more business oriented note, I don't feel a lot of hardcore fan of ME3 would have bought DLC content that fleshed out a world that's almost gone by the end of the game. I certainly wouldn't have simply because a new character or location in that world doesn't appeal to me after an ending so definitive.
So, where do you stand on this issue? Do you think it's the chance for Bioware to clarify there ending and bring some closure? Do you think they gave up and are pandering to fanboys? Do you think they fullfilled their creative vision? Do you think they had a vision in the first place?
EDIT: New developments thanks to
Seems that it was not the vision of everyone on staff. allegedly...
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