@Napalm said:
@Oni said:
@Marokai said:
@Oni said:What a completely insane formspring response from Jeff, there. Never before have I seen such a controversy in video games that seemed to rely on one side just making shit up out of thin air in how most people are reacting. 90+% of the responses here have been civil and right on point, and have focused on a really critical issue of how completely disconnected the games media seems to be from the general public. That's really important stuff that seems to get sidelined in favor of total copouts like that answer from Jeff. It amazes me so few people on this site seem to realize how much most of the bomb crew seem to hold much of this community in utter contempt and feel perfectly free to shit on their own creation with little reason. This has nothing to do with "entitlement" or people being "whiny," you're absolutely right. This issue is summed up by people in the media and the game industry that use those insults as an excuse to just dismiss anything legitimate. It's the business equivalent of calling something you don't want to seriously respond to "trolling" just so you feel like you can declare victory. Ugh, sorry. I guess I got a little sidetracked there, but this controversy is compounded by so many other problems at this point. It is the easiest thing in the world to beat up on a fanbase and that intellectually lazy nonsense has to stop, and not just with Mass Effect.This whole thing is beyond ridiculous. I don't know any other industry where valid criticism of a commercial product is widely ridiculed/marginalized by the press. Granted, we're seeing the tide change somewhat, and this article certainly isn't as patronizing/condescending as most, but it still feels incredibly pithy. The thrust seems to be "You can't please everyone with an ending" and "In time people will appreciate it." Empty platitudes. It doesn't really add anything to the conversation, and it's clear Jensen hasn't played it, so why is Patrick even talking to him in the first place? Not to be rude, but there simply isn't anything meaningful someone who's not finished the game can say, which this article plainly demonstrates.
Most of the responses in this thread have been pretty civil as far as I've seen, yet there are still plenty of comments to the tune of "I can't believe these whiny/spoiled/entitled/angry brats." Even Gerstmann's formspring (http://www.formspring.me/jeffgerstmann/q/310270218972699052). We have content creators sticking up for each other (press and developers) because they have a better relationship than with their fans and because both sides know what it's like to be "yelled at" in comments.
Mass Effect 3 is a commercial product. If you are not satisfied, let your voice be heard in a civil manner, as most of you are doing. You're being acknowledged, and maybe someday even the press in their ivory towers will come down to see what the noise is actually about.
I agree that it's super fucked up that the entire media seems to be sporting blinders to the fact (and if you don't think this is a fact, you're really blind) that there is a MASSIVE disconnect between the writers and their audience at the moment. The disappointment and criticism of the ending isn't even the main concern to me anymore, it's that the press is simply not doing their job: They aren't being critical of the things that they're ostensibly critiquing, and they aren't representing their communities (fairly) at all. It should be the fucking press laying it on Bioware for this, not the fans! Of course I don't expect every critic to agree with the movement, but there is almost NO ONE willing to write an article that's calling out Bioware. Don't shit where you eat, I guess. It's incredibly disappointing, and I've lost almost all faith in this entire field of 'journalism' over this debacle. Games writers need to seriously reevaluate their role, their goals and the way they go about their business if this industry wants to be respectable.
Of course, I believe that this is the entire reason why the press isn't really speaking out: It's hard to admit that you're wrong, and maybe even harder to admit that you're not really in touch with your audience at all.
This was what I was saying two weeks ago. I lost all respect for Vox Games and at least a dozen journalists because as soon as Ray put out that message, everybody was condemning the fans and shitting on us. I'm talking hardcore vitriol. It was fucking embarrassing. Never have I seen an entire industry rally against the fans in a manner in which they deceive their entire audience for the sake of, well, I don't know really. Nobody is willing to look at the situation critically, or even just read the dozens upon dozens upon dozens of well-thought out responses and why we feel the way we do. All they do is look at the Facebook Mass Effect 3 comments, assume everybody is an entitled brat and use that as their talking position.
And Jeff's FormSpring response just got my blood boiling. That is the type of bullshit that needs to stop.
Yeah, I hate quotes within quotes within quotes as much as the next guy. But these all bring up a valid point or two. I as well have had my faith in the games journalism industry shaken to the core due to the handling of this controversy. For as many brilliant minds the gaming press has, one would think that there would be one notable proponent to the outcry.
And, no, I am not speaking of someone who should come alongside the critical masses and shovel shit in Bioware's face regarding the nitpicky logic holes in the ending. No. What I want is for someone to actually take a few hours, reach out to the community's most well spoken minds on the topic and put an ear to ground on this issue. (there are some here on GB and on neogaf's spoiler thread and I'm sure elsewhere) Then, in response to the massive collective attacks from the gaming press, post an article on a reputable site that not only brings attention to the more sane arguments, but also empathizes with said audience. After all, it would seem that the journalists in the most keen position to understand and give a well worded voice to an audience would be some of the guys here at GB and a few other select sites.
Instead, we are only getting articles from outside of the gaming spectrum in our defense. The California Literary Review, some no name contributor to Forbes who uses his contributory platform to have a small voice and maybe a few bits here and there come to mind. Whereas in the game's press, it is a complete circle jerk of defenders and mockers of the 'entitled'. Even PC Gamer Podcast's spoiler portion where they specifically claimed to stay away from what the remainder of the press had done to the fans, they too were too lazy to actually listen to why fans had issues with the handling of the ending. Not only did they not bother to actually read the quotes from Bioware and instead attempted to paraphrase them, but they got those and many other points of contention flat out wrong. Then their call out to the community to voice their opinions resulted in three voicemails at the end of the show. One was about the Javik DLC debate which to be honest, is the least of people's concern nowadays. And the other two were either mirroring points made throughout the podcast by the contributors or being 'that' guy calling out everyone who did not like the ending as being entitled. They merely used his voicemail to get around their promise to stay civil, and more or less agreed with him in the end. And of course, there was not one voicemail to represent the other side of the coin.
I could go on, but this is already entering TLDR territory.
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