Mass Effect 3 - - Part 11

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This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[Thread Manager]

This is a continuation thread, the old thread is Here

[The Infernal]

Originally Posted by Matt

PRetty crappy panel from what I've read. Seems like the panelists had a script and any time they were asked something that broke script they got kinda snarky. EA really needs to train Bioware's staff in better customer relations.

I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon. From what I've seen of the staff that frequent the BSN as mods, they don't really censor themselves that much. Even reading official announcements from them lately on the BSN seems to have a pinch of snark to it. I don't see them changing their ways.

[Donut]

When the audience cheered at the Bioware guy saying they will not respond to the IT Theory.

PLANTS ALL OF THEM. No Fan Boy would cheer to that

[Cory]

yea hard to believe not one person booed during that

[Matt]

Originally Posted by The Infernal

I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon. From what I've seen of the staff that frequent the BSN as mods, they don't really censor themselves that much. Even reading official announcements from them lately on the BSN seems to have a pinch of snark to it. I don't see them changing their ways.

Well based on the panel's response, the extended cut is going to be more of the same with some minor tweaks and will still be "intentionally ambiguous." Part of me wonders if at some point EA is going to step in and say, "Nope. Give them something that won't bring **** to our door."

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Cory

yea hard to believe not one person booed during that

& they want to let the content speak for itself. Rather then address anything

Rage War Fan Boys

There will be another **** Storm

[Matt]

That is what fanboys are all about though. They talk a tough game while hiding behind their computer screen, but when the time comes to speak up, they cower.

Though to be honest, most BW employees are the same way (which is why this has turned into an even bigger public relations nightmare than it should have been). They're snarky nerds who talk a tough game when hiding behind a Twitter account or answering pre-screened questions. It is a shame that the gaming media is so damn pathetic and reliant on studios for scoops, because some journalists really pushing the point on BW and asking the tough questions si exactly what the doctor ordered.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Matt

That is what fanboys are all about though. They talk a tough game while hiding behind their computer screen, but when the time comes to speak up, they cower.

Though to be honest, most BW employees are the same way (which is why this has turned into an even bigger public relations nightmare than it should have been). They're snarky nerds who talk a tough game when hiding behind a Twitter account or answering pre-screened questions. It is a shame that the gaming media is so damn pathetic and reliant on studios for scoops, because some journalists really pushing the point on BW and asking the tough questions si exactly what the doctor ordered.

I guess things wont heat up again until the Extended Cut is released. If it is just pictures with a Voice Over. Then the battle has just begun

[Upset Spideyfan]

Battle?



Its going to end there one way or the other, BW is not going to change the ending a second time.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Upset Spideyfan

Battle?



Its going to end there one way or the other, BW is not going to change the ending a second time.

A second time ? They are not changing it a first time. Their words not mine

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Donut

I guess things wont heat up again until the Extended Cut is released. If it is just pictures with a Voice Over. Then the battle has just begun

I think the problem here is that BW doesn't really seem to understand what the complaints are about. Just reading between the lines a bit, it seems to me that Bioware is under the impression that they have written this brilliant ending that is being poorly received because fans need more clarity/are too stupid to understand it's brilliance.

That's not the problem. The beef people are having is not with execution but rather concept. Fans are smart enough to get what they were going for. If this movement has proven anything it is that fans can overanalyze the **** out of things. The problem is CONCEPTUAL. Putting perfume on a piece of **** isn't going to change its smell. That is why I anticipate another **** storm when the "extended cut," releases.

[Upset Spideyfan]

Originally Posted by Donut

A second time ? They are not changing it a first time. Their words not mine

Adding whatever content they are going to add is changing it by the very definition of the word, I'm not going to get into semantics with you.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Matt

That is why I anticipate another **** storm when the "extended cut," releases.

It will get EA thinking

"Why did we buy Bioware exactly" ?

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Upset Spideyfan

Adding whatever content they are going to add is changing it by the very definition of the word, I'm not going to get into semantics with you.

But Bioware themselves have said they are not changing anything. It seems like whatever they add will be before the credits & after Star Boy & the different Rainbow Beams. That does not sound like changing anything currently in the game to me

[Upset Spideyfan]

Originally Posted by Donut

But Bioware themselves have said they are not changing anything. It seems like whatever they add will be before the credits & after Star Boy & the different Rainbow Beams

Stop being intentionally (I hope) obtuse.

Here let me rephrase it differently:

Bioware is not going to for a second time go through the process of revising the content that exists at the end of the game.

There.

[Donut]

Lets see what they do when the Extended Cut is released then

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Upset Spideyfan

Battle?



Its going to end there one way or the other, BW is not going to change the ending a second time.

I'm not so sure about that.

Here's the thing, BW has admitted defeat. By agreeing to change the ending, they are admitting that the ending is not up to par.

Now IGN and all of the media sources that have been praising the ending as to not alienate a developer are going to start saying what they really think. BW's **** storm is just beginning because now the main stream gaming media is going to stop riding the ending's dick and start getting behind the "Retake ME," movement. The ending is going to become something of a joke in coming months....the ending so bad that not only has BW agreed to change it, EA has agreed to do it for free. This ending is going to join E.T. The Game and Virtual Boy in the Video Game Fluke Hall of Fame. That is what I anticipate will be the response to the ending between now and the summer.

So if the Summer comes around and BW releases a tweaked version of an ending that has become an internet meme for mediocrity....there will be another uproar and this time the mainstream game media will join in. If EA and Bioware thought the first response was bad, imagine how bad it will get if they **** up their mulligan.

At that point, EA may very well start cleaning house and try to save the reputation of a studio that they paid a lot of money for in order to attract the very audience that is ridiculing them.

IF all of this happens (I'd say there is a 50/50 chance)....there could be post-ending DLC, which could be something as simple an Arrival-type DLC or something massive like DA: Awakening. Right now BW is saying there will be no post ending DLC, but make no mistake, EA is ultimately going to make the call. Not Casey Hudson. Not Mike Gamble. EA will make this call. And EA will do whatever they can to keep fans from turning on them (and that will happen if they mess up a second shot at the ending).

[Upset Spideyfan]

If the extended ending is not liked, BW and EA are going to cut their losses and keep pushing out their DLC.

[Soapy]

I'm starting to feel like Spideyfan and myself are about the only ones who haven't gone full retard over this thing.

[Upset Spideyfan]

Originally Posted by Soapy

I'm starting to feel like Spideyfan and myself are about the only ones who haven't gone full retard over this thing.

I hope you'll allow me the easy joke.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Donut

It will get EA thinking

"Why did we buy Bioware exactly" ?

There's the rub. People laugh off the idea of a "vocal minority," having any real effect on BW's profits. They shouldn't. This isn't like the Call of Duty boycott where a vocal minority *****ed on the internet but millions of frat boys still bought the game. Mass Effect, Dragon Age, The Old Republic....Bioware's roster are not mainstream games. The vocal minority is BW's customer base. EA bought Bioware to get a slice of the vocal minority profit that companies like Square-Enix have been enjoying for so long. EA isn't going to stand for Bioware pissing off their customers. Especially when Bioware's games do not have millions of frat boys to fall back on.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Upset Spideyfan

If the extended ending is not liked, BW and EA are going to cut their losses and keep pushing out their DLC.

Originally Posted by Soapy

I'm starting to feel like Spideyfan and myself are about the only ones who haven't gone full retard over this thing.

I'm not going "full retard." I'm just saying that post-ending DLC is possible if Bioware drops the ball again. EA will see an opportunity to make money and they will say, "**** your 'artistic integrity,' you're releasing a DLC that is after the ending or we'll find someone who will."

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Soapy

I'm starting to feel like Spideyfan and myself are about the only ones who haven't gone full retard over this thing.

You can always go read your non existent Mantis Comic Books

[Upset Spideyfan]

The thing is the longer after release, the exponentially less DLC you can sell. If by the Summer the extended ending is still not liked, EA is not going to sink a ton of cash into more DLC (they will not release an expansion) that is going to sell to at most a limited audience of core fanboys.

On top of that I believe that people's perception of the fan uproar has been seriously skewed by visiting places like the forum. If the people as a whole were so totally enraged they could have boo'd or yelled or chanted hold the line or any number of things during that panel. BW left to applause.

Now I don't mean that to say that the ending backlash isn't real, that BW is responding to it means most certainly that the backlash was substantial, but people assuming Retake Mass Effect to somehow represent the real body of fans, as a whole, have got it wrong honestly.