Mass Effect 3

[Balthus Dire]

Co-Founder of Bioware gives his two cents

Just thought you'd guys like to know.

Like I said: Bioware didn't plan for this at all.

 

[ProjectPat2280]

Weren't you saying how dumb the indoctrination theory was all this time and that fans were just grasping at straws? Or was that someone else?.

Nope. I haven't even bothered to look at the theories until now. I didn't care one way or the other. After watching that video that was posted I like a lot of the ideas behind it, I still don't give a s**t rather it's true or not. I mean I think it makes much more sense than what I thought earlier which was that Bioware just fell down on the job with all the plot holes.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Did you read the link in spiderbob's post? Because it sure sounds like they fell down on the job to me lol.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I think maybe it was just too subtle. The signs seem to fit too well for it not to be the case.

I've heard that "mystery" and getting us to think was the driving force behind the ending. But, they might have just been too subtle about the Indoctrination. They've gotta give most people a good enough chance to figure it out themselves. That's one of the things about storytelling that can be overlooked when you're trying to surprise people, or "get them thinking".

And if that's the case...I have no idea how they thought they could end the trilogy or the franchise with that.

Maybe that's how good they are? Like Pat said, maybe they're so good, that even when they have a horrible cluster****, they accidentally walk into a wonderful opportunity to make it the ending something...amazing.

It is weird to think that this writing team, who have on showcase in this very game some amazing writing, would cobble together that plothole filled ending without a purpose to it.

 

[Matt]

Co-Founder of Bioware gives his two cents

Just thought you'd guys like to know.

With all the talk about "maintaining artistic integrity," the game being critically acclaimed/loved by the majority and the more passionate fans being "destructive," rather than "constructive," it seems as if they are laying down the ground work to completely leave the ending alone.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Like I said: Bioware didn't plan for this at all.

Nobody could have planned for the ****storm that came. I don't think even the most cynical of people could have imagined people would be as pissed off, and as vocal, as they've been.

Also...it looks like it's going to happen. It sounds like they'll announce something in April. And I'm assuming the Indoctrination thing is going to happen, because I think that's the ONLY option in keeping their artistic integrity. They cannot just erase the final five minutes as if we never played them. Everything that happened at the end NEEDS to be a part of it, even if it's just

Spoiler

Shepard on the floor of the Citadel, lying next to Anderson, drooling from his mouth from the mind**** he's gotten.

Maybe it's just me, but...it sounds like it's happening.

 

[Balthus Dire]

With all the talk about "maintaining artistic integrity," the game being critically acclaimed/loved by the majority and the more passionate fans being "destructive," rather than "constructive," it seems as if they are laying down the ground work to completely leave the ending alone.

Even though I know BSN can be a circus sometimes, I do feel like the majority of feedback has been constructive in the threads that matter. If you look at the stickied "Feedback" threads almost every post is constructive. I'm not sure where he's getting "destructive" from....Facebook? Twitter? YouTube? In that case, what did he expect? Everybody is vile on those.

At this point, I don't think they'll leave the ending alone completely, but with all the talk about artistic integrity I really don't think they'll do the indoctrination ending some are hoping for. If anything, they'll find some middle ground where the "artistic integrity" of the current ending is maintained, but fans are offered more closure and such through some kind of epilogue sequence. I think that's the best we'll get.

 

[Matt]

Honestly, I don't see how they can claim anything is destructive. The fact is, even if some fanboys are acting like asses, this movement has raised $40,000+ dollars for a very worthy charity (something BW hasn't even acknowledged). Doesn't exactly seem destructive to me. I personally think it would be a great PR move for EA or Bioware to match whatever is raised by the ME fans.

 

[Soapy]

Co-Founder of Bioware gives his two cents

Just thought you'd guys like to know.

Hmm... this part...

If you are a Mass Effect fan and have input for the team – we respect your opinion and want to hear it. We’re committed to address your constructive feedback as best we can. In return, I’d ask that you help us do that by supporting what I truly believe is the best game BioWare has yet crafted. I urge you to do your own research: play the game, finish it and tell us what you think. Tell your friends if you feel it’s a good game as a whole. Trust that we are doing our damndest, as always, to address your feedback.* As artists, we care about our fans deeply and we appreciate your support.

...makes it seem like the backlash might be affecting sales.

 

[Matt]

Nobody could have planned for the ****storm that came. I don't think even the most cynical of people could have imagined people would be as pissed off, and as vocal, as they've been.

Also...it looks like it's going to happen. It sounds like they'll announce something in April. And I'm assuming the Indoctrination thing is going to happen, because I think that's the ONLY option in keeping their artistic integrity. They cannot just erase the final five minutes as if we never played them. Everything that happened at the end NEEDS to be a part of it, even if it's just

Spoiler

Shepard on the floor of the Citadel, lying next to Anderson, drooling from his mouth from the mind**** he's gotten.

Maybe it's just me, but...it sounds like it's happening.

It sounds like the exact opposite to me.

Also, [blackout]If Shepard was indoctrinated, based on where he woke up in the "perfect ending"/when trippy **** started happening, Shepard never made it onto the Citadel. If anything, he'd wake up in London.[/blackout]

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Some fans have gone overboard. Weren't there threads at the Bioware forums that had to be shut down because of cursing, and direct attack on specific team members?

There's been quotes from specific people floating around, like Gamble and Casey Hudson. Maybe we don't see it, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if there have been trolls saying messed up stuff about them specifically.

And remember, this is coming off pretty soon after that entire personal attack on the Bioware writer where they altered her comments from a few years ago.

I can absolutely understand the need to mention that, "hey...some of you people have said some out of line stuff" in that statement.

 

[The Squirrel]

At this point, I just want a definitive answer from Bioware, no matter what it is.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Some fans have gone overboard. Weren't there threads at the Bioware forums that had to be shut down because of cursing, and direct attack on specific team members?

There's been quotes from specific people floating around, like Gamble and Casey Hudson. Maybe we don't see it, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if there have been trolls saying messed up stuff about them specifically.

And remember, this is coming off pretty soon after that entire personal attack on the Bioware writer where they altered her comments from a few years ago.

I can absolutely understand the need to mention that, "hey...some of you people have said some out of line stuff" in that statement.

There will always be trolls. There will always be jerks. But the majority of feedback through Bioware's official threads has been constructive.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

It sounds like the exact opposite to me.

Also, [blackout]If Shepard was indoctrinated, based on where he woke up in the "perfect ending"/when trippy **** started happening, Shepard never made it onto the Citadel. If anything, he'd wake up in London.[/blackout]

Spoiler

He could wake up on the Citadel, maybe. I think they could plausibly say that everything after Anderson's death was where the the Indoctrination took complete hold, with The Illusive Man now free of their Indoctrination.

I dunno, it'd be weird that they are "hard at work" to announce in April that they're not going to do anything about it at all.

I think, now with that statement, that they'll do something. Even if it's just a scroll of text that gets added on in a patch. It sounds like they'll do something.

I'm not saying whatever they'll do next will be good, or great, or will be satisfying. But, I dunno. It sounds like they're going to try and do something.

 

[Balthus Dire]

IMO if they go the "epilogue" route (which I think they will) while maintaining the current ending it will fix many of the closure problems and possibly the plot holes (though some will he harder to fix, ie: [blackout]Mass Relays[/blackout]), but the ending as-is will still be very poorly written and not nearly as good as it should've been.

In short, it'd be less lame...but still kinda lame.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

There will always be trolls. There will always be jerks. But the majority of feedback through Bioware's official threads has been constructive.

Agreed.

But, I don't think that statement indicated that the majority of it has been destructive. He's mentioning that there has been destructive comments. And if there have been attacks on they're own forums directed at actual team members, like Casey Hudson, then I could understand them pointing that out in the tail end of the statement.

Just because people spent $60 plus tax on a game doesn't make it okay for them to **** on a human being. I think that's something, especially on the internet, that is always good to be reminded about.

 

[Soapy]

You know, if the indoctrination theory isn't true and what you see is what you get with the ending, I would probably be okay with it if they just altered the ending so that you had something similar to the first Dragon Age where it tells you what happened to all the major characters and factions after the Warden died/left/whatever you chose.

That would be a good way to make your choices really matter with wildly different outcomes, but wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to produce.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

Spoiler

As long as they could explain to me how the **** Joker got from the Sol system to...wherever the **** they landed, and why some of the people leaving the Normandy were people that were with you during the final push...those alone would be steps up from what we have now.

 

[Carnage27]

Finally a terrific, and classy response.

I applaud this, I only wish it would have come sooner, rather than the snark that was given out steadily for a while.

They're giving more closure? Good. If they just explain what the hell happened, I'll feel a lot better about the game.

And I doubt anyone from Bioware reads this forum, but if they do, thank you for listening. I know some of the people out there are ridiculous, but it's nice to know someone at least is considering the fans.

 

[Upset Spideyfan]

Good they're taking the route I was hoping which was not creating some new fundamentally different ending but expanding on what was there and overhauling it.

With all the talk about "maintaining artistic integrity," the game being critically acclaimed/loved by the majority and the more passionate fans being "destructive," rather than "constructive," it seems as if they are laying down the ground work to completely leave the ending alone.

[BLACKOUT]I disagree, it seems to me that he's saying that we're not going to create some new Shepard rides off into the sunset with LI ending or that they are going to create a totally new climax. That the basics of the ending will remain the same: Relays blow up, Shepard dies (in most endings) [/BLACKOUT]

The following quote:

Exec Producer Casey Hudson and the team are hard at work on a number of game content initiatives that will help answer the questions, providing more clarity for those seeking further closure to their journey. You’ll hear more on this in April.

Seems pretty much like confirmation of some kind of ending dlc that will be unveiled at PAX.

 

[X Knight]

Finally a terrific, and classy response.

I applaud this, I only wish it would have come sooner, rather than the snark that was given out steadily for a while.

They're giving more closure? Good. If they just explain what the hell happened, I'll feel a lot better about the game.

And I doubt anyone from Bioware reads this forum, but if they do, thank you for listening. I know some of the people out there are ridiculous, but it's nice to know someone at least is considering the fans.

agreed. this should have been the response from the get go.

I guess they really weren't expecting this amount of backlash; must have reached a critical point if one of the cofounders of the company has to respond.

it does sound like they are planning something. what it is, and how they are going to deliver it..........well, I guess we'll find out in April.

hopefully, they just don't announce it on April 1st...........

 

[X Knight]

Spoiler

He could wake up on the Citadel, maybe. I think they could plausibly say that everything after Anderson's death was where the the Indoctrination took complete hold, with The Illusive Man now free of their Indoctrination.

I dunno, it'd be weird that they are "hard at work" to announce in April that they're not going to do anything about it at all.

I think, now with that statement, that they'll do something. Even if it's just a scroll of text that gets added on in a patch. It sounds like they'll do something.

I'm not saying whatever they'll do next will be good, or great, or will be satisfying. But, I dunno. It sounds like they're going to try and do something.

if it's just a text epilogue thing, they sure as h*** better NOT charge for that........lol

 

[Master Chief]

Spoiler

I hunted around to find the important bits - only after I'd played the game. Didn't want to spoil anything for myself.

And yes, I used lots of Ctrl+F myself. t:

And it's fine to speculate about what's presented - what I'm noting is that there were never plans in the script to have the entire ending be some sort of Indoctrination dream. It just wasn't there. And all they did to get the ending we got was CUT content. They added nothing, just pulled a few scenes and changed the Illusive Man fight into an Illusive Man... cutscene?

Spoiler

lol yeah, the game has been out for a long time and they're just coming forward with these silly PR statements. Now I'm in the camp that believes they simply f**ked up.

I have no idea how this happened. It's clear that they had an idea of what the fans wanted based on what they said in interviews, so why... meh. I'm bummed out.

 

[Havok83]

Did people just race through the game. I was shocked when people beat it within a few days of release. 2 weeks later and Im still playing it. Almost 30 hours in. I definetly explore every aspect and talk to everyone after a mission so I dont miss any conversations or little tidbits they might offer.

 

[Speedball]

If it's something text based, like the ending of Dragon Age Origins, I'd be perfectly fine with it. But they shouldn't make people pay for it, it'll just cause another *****ing storm.