Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME! - Episode 11
A Space Leviathan shares it’s secrets with us and we’re one step closer to saving the universe.
Mass Effect 3
Players: 1 Offline Player
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Action, RPG, Third-Person Shooter
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genres: Action, RPG, Third-Person Shooter
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Developer: BioWare
MSRP: $59.99
Developer: BioWare
MSRP: $59.99
Mass Effect 3 will follow from the events of the Mass Effect 2 DLC expansion Arrival and follow Commander Shepard as he/she tries to save the galaxy from the Reapers by rallying civilizations of the galaxy together, while also having to deal with Cerberus, who have decided to turn against him/her.
Mass Effect 3 ‘Extended Cut’ DLC Launches Next Week
Posted By Shaun K. about 11 months, 4 weeks ago
The time is nigh…
After months of waiting, debating, arguing, begging, demanding, and a whole lot of other words that end with ‘-ing’, the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut DLC is at last within sight as BioWare confirms its official release date. This DLC is of course the company’s response to the vocal subset of ME3 players who were not satisfied with the game’s ending as originally presented. This new DLC is meant to give players greater closure and clarity in regards to the events that played out within each of the game’s various endings.
Personally, the discussions, debates, and just plain arguments I have had with various people over ME3‘s ending have been some of the most vehement I have ever participated in regards to video games. Love it or hate it (and yes, as I constantly remind some people, plenty of us did indeed love it), this is an ending that has evoked a great deal of emotion in people. For a while there following the release of ME3, it felt like talk about the ending was bleeding into almost every discussion and story even remotely video game related and I know I am not the only one, on both sides of the fence, who got thoroughly sick of the whole affair. Yet, now that some time has passed and tempers have cooled to something resembling reasonable levels, I find myself highly intrigued by just what BioWare has up their sleeves going forward. For more information on this, be sure to check out the interview below that Casey Hudson, Mac Walters and Jessica Merizan of BioWare recorded to specifically address just what players can expect from the Extended Cut:
The Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut DLC arrives on June 26 for Xbox 360 and PC customers worldwide. PS3 owners in North America will also be able to download the DLC on June 26 but unfortunately PS3 owners in Europe, Asia, and Australia will be required to wait for a as yet to be revealed later date. The DLC will come in at a whopping 1.9 GB and will be free to all owners of Mass Effect 3 regardless of system. Stay tuned to Blistered Thumbs for continuing coverage of this and all BioWare games and be sure to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Source(s): BioWare.
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax.
RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS!
Sage Reviews: Mass Effect 3
If the effect is disappointment, then yeah it's pretty massive.
Mass Effect 3 Review
For every cynic and sycophant that staunchly made up their minds regarding this truly well crafted conclusion, the true test of Mass Effect 3's worth will be the long lasting influence of the series as a whole. For my money, Mass Effect 3, along with the rest of the trilogy, deserves the accolades it receives.
Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts!
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC.
Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3's single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint. 
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
The fate of the world, nay, of the universe rests in one duck’s hands. Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward.
Mass Effect 3 DLC 'Omega' Brings the Noise & Fury in Latest Trailer
The battle for Omega is about to begin.
Retake Omega with Aria in Tow
The latest details regarding Mass Effect 3 DLC will have some new surprises to contend with, including Aria herself.
Mass Effect 3: Retaliation Revealed
A huge update for the multiplayer game is inbound, one that will change the shape of it for a while.
More Mass Effect Content on the Way, Including Whole New Game
Despite the shakeup at BioWare, GM Aaryn Flynn is promising good things in the future. Hopefully they can deliver.
Mass Effect: Leviathan Officially Dated
BioWare has officially announced the release date for their first single-player DLC for Mass Effect 3.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
Posted By Robert G. about 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
A year ago, when Mass Effect 3 was first released, I made a note in my review on how the game gave us very little room to breathe:
“But it doesn’t help that Mass Effect 3 is very hard to swallow because of the emotional roller coaster you to go on. Death and destruction are rampant, tensions run high throughout, and overall, the experience leaves little room for catharsis, leaving players emotionally drained after it’s all said and done. The highs are elating, the lows are devastating, and the game pulls no punches on its way to the finale to end all finales.”
I stand by this quote to this day, as replaying Mass Effect 3 several times now over the past year has shown that the final chapter in BioWare’s space opera is missing one final ingredient to get it right. One piece of the puzzle to unlock a sense of catharsis and to create a quasi-denouement moment that fans have been clamoring for ever since.
Well, Citadel does just that.
| PROS | Pure fan-service, The final party |
| CONS | Pure fan-service, Weak plotline |
| WTF?! | Blasto… yes, you meet him. |
A running theme with the single-player downloadable content for Mass Effect 3 has been the simple question of “What is the point?” Why bother paying $10-$15 for a piece of DLC when the ending is known to you, and even at that, may not even be the ending you are looking for? Is it worth the money, the content, the time? To these questions, the answer is staring you in the face: Just enjoy it.
Let go and realize, for a moment, that BioWare does care, does want to see you off one last time. Citadel as a DLC is basically pure fan-service by BioWare, and is unapologetic about it as well. Citadel reminded me that I should sit back and relax, let go for a moment and enjoy the show. Citadel boasts nearly six hours of content, conspiracy, cheesy one-liners, in-jokes, and one of the most touching yet memorable party scenes in a video game. All of it is glitz and glamour, comfort food for the mind to just munch on without much thought to it. Yet, when it’s all over, the questions you ask yourself won’t be whether or not the storyline makes sense, or if the morals and choices are deep or resonating. No, the questions you will ask is, “Why does it have to end?”
The adventure begins as you are given a condo by Admiral Anderson on the Citadel to relax in after forced shore leave. Considering the Reapers are basically destroying the galaxy, forced shore leave is a bit far-fetched to swallow. Admittedly, the plot in Citadel, which follows Shepard pursuing a mysterious opponent trying to kill the good Commander for reasons unknown, is rife with sci-fi clichés and contrived to the point of near ridiculousness. That may be the point. Not that the storyline of Citadel is bad–it’s well told despite being 80’s cheese–but that it holds a sort of smarmy charm that would have die hard fans light up like Christmas for each reference given.
Considering that all the writers on the Mass Effect team had a hand in penning the script for Citadel, it is not surprising that the strength is character interaction over plot. It was nice to see the characters cut loose and engage in revelry for a bit, the biggest scene of course being the climatic party you throw for pretty much every surviving squad mate available to you. It is a moment of enjoyment, watching everyone in character interact with each other in a fun way, rather than being all business as the main game pretty much is. Herein lies the strength of Citadel as a DLC: It doesn’t take itself that seriously. It is not about a major plot-line or even connected to the reaper threat in any way. It is about Shepard and the Normandy crew, fighting together against a new enemy one last time.
This is it, isn’t it?
Adding to the DLC are few war assets and weapons, but once again that is not really the point. What you gain though is access to an arcade and casino, and your penthouse of course, which can be upgraded by buying or winning new furniture. The combat Arena offers you a chance to add old squad-mates once again, and presents new challenges that will test Shepard once more. Truthfully, it is these extra moments that make the DLC memorable, since they are with your entire squad, including old friends from Mass Effect 2. Throw in romance scenes that many have vocally asked for with missing squad mates, and it all connects into several character driven vignettes for fans to enjoy. All of this, of course, coalesces at a final climax of the Normandy crew celebrating a party together in Shepard‘s new apartment. It is a meeting of friends and comrades, an interactive sequence of moments of camaraderie, designed to make you both laugh and cry. It serves as the last hurrah, as these characters come together one final time, a picture marking the moment as a great memento to the series,
It is also the shot in the arm that Mass Effect 3 needed. As a DLC it once again reminds many of us fans why we enjoyed this series in the first place. It was never about the seriousness of the narrative nor the epic scale. It has nothing to do with philosophical musings of an ending that many see as an affront to their experience, nor a developer team sticking to their guns despite what many see as an act of betrayal. The cynics and sycophants, as I have said before, made their choices long ago, and Citadel will not change their minds in the least about how they feel. However, it will remind them that Mass Effect 3, along with every other game in the trilogy, is one great joyride to participate in, with fascinating characters, worlds, and choices thrown in the mix to create an experience few games can fully achieve.
So here, we finally do come to the end, once and for all. Citadel is a good DLC, a DLC for the fans, by fans. It doesn’t apologize for being that, and nor should it, as Citadel offers fans the chance to find that moment of catharsis at long last, to sit back and enjoy themselves one more time before the final assault. It may not change your opinions of Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun, final sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. In that, this final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
This DLC was purchased by the reviewer on the Xbox 360 for the price of 1200 MSP ($15.00), and is also available on the PC and PS3. It was played for six hours total before returning to the main game.
8/10
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax. RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS! Sage Reviews: Mass Effect 3
If the effect is disappointment, then yeah it's pretty massive. Mass Effect 3 Review
For every cynic and sycophant that staunchly made up their minds regarding this truly well crafted conclusion, the true test of Mass Effect 3's worth will be the long lasting influence of the series as a whole. For my money, Mass Effect 3, along with the rest of the trilogy, deserves the accolades it receives. Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts! RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC. Mass Effect 3: Omega Review
Omega is the type of DLC that should thrive for role-playing games, but will likely be brushed aside for having little to do with anything as a tangible reward. RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3's single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present. Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.-
March 08, 2013 at 06:07pm
Quite funny, sending it’s self up in all the right places and very self aware. Leviathan was probably the most fun of the DLC, but this one makes me feel the best. Enjoyable all the way through. I’d hoped for something different but it was a great way to end it.
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March 08, 2013 at 06:07am
I’ve had a strange experience with the Mass Effect series. It’s been a mixed bag of ups and downs the whole way through. I didn’t like some of the game mechanics, but I was able to use a combination of modding tools and manual file editing to customize the gameplay to my liking (For both 2 and 3). So I loved the gameplay, but only because I was able to do something to the game that the developers did not intend.
I loved the story, but hated the ending. To me, video games are escapes from reality. When I play a game, I’m not playing as Commander Shepherd or the Dragonborn, I’m playing as me, imagining myself in that role and immersing myself in the plot. In this way, the story becomes a much more satisfying experience than, say, reading a book. There, you experience the story from a third person perspective, and therefore maybe you don’t care so much whether the story has a happy ending or not, because the ending isn’t happening to *you*. But when you are pretending it’s you, suddenly the absence of a happy ending feels like a much larger void.
The other reason I didn’t care for the ending(s) is that it seemed a betrayal by BW. Not only was there really no happy ending to be found, but the endings weren’t all that different, as BW had promised would be the case. And worst of all, the endings really didn’t make any sense; logically, or within the game’s lore, or both.
But aside from that, the rest of the story was so good.. As much as the ending enrages me, I find myself loading up the game now and then, mostly to play the multiplayer. Despite the bad, I don’t have the deep loathing for it that I have for Crysis 2.
And so it’s difficult for me to decide whether I want to spend the money on the DLCs. On one hand, I’m sure I’ll enjoy playing ME3 again, with new story to explore and toys to play with. On the other, I’ll have the disappointment of the ending in the back of my mind, nagging at me. Do I want to continue supporting a company that did X so well, but with Y caused so much disappointment and frustration? Which side of the scale is heavier?
It would be an easier choice if the game was on Steam, because they frequently run sales, which would make the purchase a lot easier to justify. But from what I’ve seen BW doesn’t run sales on their downloadable content.
So, it’s a tough decision on several levels, and it doesn’t help when I come here, read this review, and the author is basically telling me to ‘just turn my brain off and enjoy it’ so I’m not bothered by its evidently mediocre storytelling. -
March 06, 2013 at 09:59pm
Sorry, I just can’t let go. I am a lover scorned, haha. I’m afraid I’ll be passing this one up, and honestly, I’m probably just done with this series as a whole. But hey if some people get enjoyment of this dlc, that’s pretty awesome. They were able to look past things I could not and get a fun experience out of it. But I am positive that if I tried to play this it would only just end up pissing me off.
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March 06, 2013 at 04:31pm
I just finished it, and while the humor can be hit-and-miss (we finally get to see the damn toothbrush), this package is overall enjoyable. While “Omega” seemed like a chore to go through (all that work and yet Aria still hangs out at Purgatory?), “Citadel” was like a cold beer during football.
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March 06, 2013 at 02:36pm
Finished the main mission (meaning the bad guy’s dead) so far and boy have I been enjoying every minute of this DLC. All the character dialogue I’ve heard has had me smiling to laughing out loud, especially the character banter. I will agree the story is on the weak side, but like you’ve pointed out the characters really make it so you don’t really care. I especially liked it in the archive stage where Shephard and the crew are running and gunning it through like The Expendables (well more like in the second movie, but still…). All in all, I have to say this DLC has proven to be worth every penny.
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March 06, 2013 at 01:12pm
I loved this dlc I beat it yesterday and I loved it yes the plot may of not been that good but this dlc was just so enjoyable I was smiling and laughing almost the entire time it was fun it was finny except for the final boss with was very frustrating at least for me. Seeing all those old friends and listening to to compete and joke with each other was so fun I laughed so much.
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March 06, 2013 at 12:56pm
Ha! No more turning off the game right before the end and watching the Star Wars Medal Ceremony for me
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March 06, 2013 at 12:42pm
Do we finally get to used that Poker table or shall it ever languish in the background of the Normandy? So much chance for a “All Good Things” type ending but RBG and all that. Maybe someone can fan mod to make this be the ending..Or maybe its meant to be considered such.
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Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME! - Episode 11
A Space Leviathan shares it’s secrets with us and we’re one step closer to saving the universe.
Mass Effect 3: Citadel Review
It may not change your opinions on Mass Effect 3, but Citadel’s job is to give the series a fun sendoff, a coda for fans to enjoy. This final piece of Mass Effect 3 doesn’t disappoint.
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
The fate of the world, nay, of the universe rests in one duck’s hands. Mass Effect 3 is AWESOME!
Mass Effect 3: Leviathan Review
Leviathan is a short, thrilling romp that takes a few chances in mixing things up, even with a perceivable outcome of being an anti-climax.
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC.
Mass Effect 3 Video Review - ZGR
There sure is a lot of nerd rage floating around the net about Mass Effect 3. Daniel lets you know his thoughts!
RAD Episode 284 - Mass Effect 3 Citadel
Birdman reviews the last piece of Mass Effect 3′s single-player DLC as we say goodbye in grand fashion with friends past and present.
RAD episode 262-Mass Effect 3 DLC- Leviathan
The darkness cannot be breached in this SPOILER FREE review of Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC.
A Socratic Debate: A Dialogue Between a Paragon and a Renegade
The following is a philosophical conversation between a Paragon and a Renegade. Each of them have a contrasting point of view, and will try to impose their will on the other by bring up evidence, as well as posing philosophical “what ifs” and “whys” against each other. How you interpret this dialogue is up to you.
Characters with Character: Commander Shepard
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Commander Shepard!
RAD episode 242-Mass Effect 3
Birdman totally abandoned sleep over the weekend to bring you this BT FIRST review of Mass Effect 3. Birdman brings his female Commander Shepard and lets you know how the fight against the Reapers went. This review contains small SPOILERS!
Characters With Character: Liara T'Soni
This is one alien who is a lot more than just a pretty face.
Characters with Character: Grunt
Note: The following contains spoilers. You have been warned. If you were to ask any
Characters with Character: Miranda Lawson
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Miranda Lawson.
Characters with Character: Mordin Solus
What constitutes a good character? Join me in this series that attempts to look at these characters and tries to peel away the layers of depth they have. Join me as we find Characters with Character in our Special Mass Effect Retrospective! This week is Mordin Solus.
Mass Effect 3 Co-op a Thing?
Does a grainy scan of a South African videogame magazine constitute proof that we’re getting multiplayer in Mass Effect 3? Not concretely, but then again, Bioware hasn’t exactly used the word “no” when asked about it.
free dlc is good,that they do something about the ending ppl hate is good.
My problem is just, I dont really want to have to replay the whole last station and earth part aging to see it.
I still feel they did that no manual saving to prevent ppl to see that the endings are all the same.
Actually I believe no matter what, it considers the final part of the final level, when you get onto the citadel, as it’s own ‘mission.’ If you go to ‘restart mission’ you’ll start with your shepard right at the end, just as s/he has been teleported into the final area. So you can see perfectly fine that all the endings are the same and crap.
Man, people really need to raise their expectations for an ending if they liked it, let alone loved it. We can argue plot holes and deus ex machina, but I just can’t see people defending how shoe-horned and out of place the whole ending is.
As an artist I don’t expect anyone to pay for my work if they don’t like it. That is all I have to say.
What I despise most about this whole ME3 drama is that so much focus is placed upon the ending when we should be focusing on the rest of the game’s shortcomings and accomplishments. There are plenty in both categories, the ending being one of the most disappointing among them in my opinion, but they’re so often overlooked.
So while a DLC option to explain the ending more thoroughly is appreciated, it really should not have been necessary for a polished trilogy finale in my opinion.
As for the interview, red flags came up immediately when they began to talk about some of the fans interpretations of the ending. Honestly, it perplexes me that if you take the ending (not endings, a single, distilled ending) at face value, without the Indoctrination Theory in mind, how can you not get the message that ‘everyone dies pretty much’ when the relays are destroyed and everyone is stuck in one system. They say that wasn’t the intended message, but how else could you interpret those events without ignoring the lore that is so integral to this story? How could you not see it having difficulty with your players by ending on that note?
At least they admit that you can never please everyone. I just wish they’ll take something from this along the lines of ‘what mistakes did we make and how can we improve’ and hopefully not ‘some fans are just idiots who can never be pleased, so why bother’.
Its not that hard to have that interpretation at all. That was the point of those glimpses of the aftermath and the eventual far future. To make it clear that a. the relays did not explode in the manner that they normally would if caused by an outside force (thus the views of Earth (provided your readiness is high enough of course) and the Normandy) and that b. another way to travel the universe was found (via the Stargazer and the young boy).
That was my honest to god gut interpretation the moment I finished the game before talking to anyone else. So it is possible to reach that conclusion. Obviously some people had a problem reaching similar conclusions which is what has lead us to this whole point.
It’s actually a pretty hard leap of logic to make, since they go on about how this has been occuring for cycles, the stargazer and child could be a part of a different cycle, who eventually found records of the shepherd’s exploits.
Who knows… which is kind of the issue most had with it, in getting to know a story about a very select set of characters people are invested in the characters.. not that the universe is still spinning thousands of years in the future. Granted Shepherd’s mission was to ensure that end… what people care about is, what happened to my characters?
The big thing about the view of earth is it very much leads to believe that is indeed shepherd in the rubble who is supposed to be on the citadel not Earth. So it feels like for example.. you were watching Thor… and you get to the point where he can’t pick up the hammer… and then it cuts to the final fight scene where he’s in his full armored glory.. you’re left to sit and wonder… how did we get here, what happened? Unfortunately this is how this felt to me and most of my circle of friends who actually finished the game.
Ugh they still wont just admit the ending was bad.
Ohhh well some people just got too attached and wanted closure, we didn’t do this to make people happy we just saw an opportunity *cough*bs*cough*.
I wish it wasn’t such a fluff piece. I wish they could just talk about it honestly.
…And on a side note the ending wasn’t the worst part, it was journal THAT NEVER UPDATED. That effects you much more though the game.
Did it ever occur to you that they are speaking about it honestly? That they genuinely do not feel the endings were bad? Is that really such an impossible idea to grasp?
Easy tiger no need to get nasty we just here to have fun. Yes of course I can understand the idea, but I don’t agree with it.
Do you honestly think that they are doing this cause they saw an opportunity? Not say fan outrage? It just feels like there is an elephant in the room.
This.
I’d actually like to give kudos to EA (you know, “The Worst Company in America” according to The Consumerist) for granting Bioware the budget to create 1.9 gigabytes’ worth of content that was meant to be available for free. Although I wonder, was the Dragon Age II content pack “The Exalted March” sacrificed for this?
Survey says… large amount of the data will be the rest of the content that was supposed to be with the game in the first place. That is the stuff that isn’t audio for Fallo…er Mass Effects epilogue to accompany the slideshow showing us how we shaped the Wastela…AHHHGG Mass Effect Universe. That is before we blew The Galactic Community back to the “Stone Age”. Can’t wait to see what magic wand fixes that hole in their “perfect” ending that we cannot “grasp”. Ridiculous.
I still think the indoctrination theory would be a perfect idea to run with, but I doubt more and more that’s going to happen. However this ending DLC turns out, I’ll be more cautious on investing in future Bioware games.
I’m sorry but I just can’t agree to it. On principle, this whole idea of customers demanding a new ending and screaming havoc after playing through an entire game many demanding refunds and more? No. Sorry, but even if the product sucks, it was far from broken. Did they fudge up the ending? I have no doubt in my mind that this travesty is entirely due to a piss-poor effort.
That said however, this is not the proverbial Pandoras Box that I ever wanna see opened. As a consumer, a gamer, and someone who works in retail on a daily basis, I can tell you this: the average citizen of our country? Yeah, they pay taxes, yeah they work, yeah they have their own lives and problems…but quite frankly, the majority of people are ignorant in every capacity. And no, I’m not saying completely stupid, just ignorant and unlearned (though there most certainly are plenty of the latter there as well)
I’ve seen facets of the human condition that would make the stomach curl and make you wonder if there’s any hope for humanity left and I hate to break it to y’all but it sure as hell isn’t a minority. Our country, for all the wonders it produces, has encouraged blatant ignorance and stupidity by coddling the masses into thinking that, if you complain, you will get everything you want, no matter how inane or stupid said issue might be or whether the consumer is right or wrong on the issue – the customer is always right (spoiler alert – that’s bs).
I’ve had customers actively argue, when very clearly in the wrong, that they have no obligation to read a sign, only the $ and the number beside it, the hell with location, the product itself, to hell with the all the rest…And people accept this. People believe this is the way it should be. That’s right folks, our economy encourages illiteracy.
But I fear I’ll get off topic if I continue down that line. The issue is this – this whole ordeal gives people an absurd sense of entitlement. On one side, would it encourage developers to improve the quality of their product? Possibly. A lot of people are ignoring the complete shit-storm that lies on the opposite spectrum of that pole though. Should I be able to get a refund on any crappy game I buy in the future?
Is software and intellectual property now refundable just because we don’t like how it ends? Countless people tout the gameplay. The overall story is lauded with the exception of the end but for the longest time, people were actually demanding refunds for a fun and enjoyable game, just because they didn’t like how it ended? Does no one else see just how bad this CAN (not saying it will, just possibility) make things for both developers and the industry as a whole? The sheer number of delays in product that these floodgates we’re opening can bring among countless other issues? Call me pessimistic but I’m sure, I’d rather deal with the fact that one good game had a crappy ending than open that can of worms.
Now I know there’s more to this issue than what I’m putting here. I’ve gone into great detail over the whole issue of them promising facets of the game that weren’t included and yes, that is an issue…Most people don’t give a rats arse about that though because mob mentality took over right from the get-go.
Half the people who argued for this probably didn’t even know what they were arguing for outside of that they didn’t like it, not that I can back that up with facts outside of dealing with the consumers at large on a daily basis, many who were among those crying havoc. A large chunk who I spoke too…yeah, no, they haven’t nary a clue as to the facts outside of, “This ending sucked.” I’m not kidding either, that’s the standard answer for why that I received whenever I asked if they were for or against this…
You are right.
But its sadly too late. More coming in a week from me on this I promise…
Whole lot of babbling there, and nothing addressing the core arguments of the angry fans. Broken themes, broken promises, betrayed fanbases, all that stuff that’s borderline anti-business to the point of fucking over the publisher’s stocks, nothing. Basically the statement “How DARE they expect something WORTHWHILE” stretched over eight paragraphs and dosed with condescension and insults.
But it’s okay! You don’t need to worry about the stupid masses being stupid anymore, because they’ve been steering more towards smarter decisions from now on, namely not buying anymore of Bioware’s shitty, rushed, horribly written games. At least until the higher-ups roll some heads and openly apologize for being idiots and assholes, like they should.
so should the fans in the end. I said elsewhere once, everyone is wrong in this situation. But like I said…more coming in a week.
I’ve found one of the benefits of neutrality in this is you can make fun of both sides.
Yeah, I think I knew about that one. Other than that, I’m not sure, lol.
Actually, that about sums up how I feel on it, at least as far as the purchase of intellectual property (non broken) goes. Only you said it much better than I could have =/ Thanks though!
From a guy who said “There were no Star Wars Bounty Hunter games” DESPITE a SW Bounty Game was released in 2003 that you clearly didnt research,i’ll take your future reviews/standpoints with a lorry load of salt.
*eye roll* Yes because god forbid we ever make a mistake because once that happens our entire body of past, current, and future work becomes irrelevant and we should simply stop writing altogether. I mean I forgot about the existence of a fairly obscure and not particularly liked Star Wars game that hit with little fanfare before being forgotten about by the larger audience when trying to write a quick news piece on the eve of traveling to E3. You are absolutely correct to rake me over the coals for that one, yes you are. *sighs and rubs nose wearily* You do whatever you have to do. I think I will be fine regardless.
You have made a mistake once! That means all you say is LIES! FILTHY lies.
And mosha, you should take EVERY review with a grain of salt, they are, after all, only opinions.
Shade:
As I contend elsewhere in this conversation, the controversy over the endings isn’t merely aesthetic, but functional. BioWare promised wildly divergent endings based on character actions throughout the entire series of games. What they delivered was three colors of explosions. That IS a functional problem. Therefore, your point here is invalid.
Are you sure about that? I’m pretty sure I covered all of that with this little part:
["Now I know there’s more to this issue than what I’m putting here. I’ve gone into great detail over the whole issue of them promising facets of the game that weren’t included and yes, that is an issue…"]
Yep…pretty sure that wraps that up nice and easy, you know, since none of that really had anything to do with my main point and has already been touched upon countless times elsewhere. I should also mention that those core arguments – most of your arguments that you mention are kind of chaotic by nature and really subject to personal opinion.
On a particular point though, betrayed fanbases? Okay, so a game’s ending didn’t turn out how you wanted? That’s betrayed? Look, I get you have an investment in the series, but you have no right to dictate the creative control of a developer. I know people have made this argument on both sides of the fence, but they create a product that they feel you may enjoy. You aren’t entitled to anything beyond that unless the product itself is actually broken or defective of which this is neither – it’s an argument over intellectual property and is subject to nothing more than opinion, be it one side or the other when debating quality or design.
Broken promises? Yeah, I can definitely see that, but betrayed fanbase? Hardly. You say it as if they made this and thought to themselves, “Meh, they won’t know any better.” I’m sorry but as one who partakes in the creative arts myself, no…just, no. You’re assuming that what you didn’t like was a deliberate sabotage and half arsed attempt when quite frankly, for all you know, they may have believed in their product. Again though, this part simply does not count as an argument against intellectual property and the quality there-in because everything here would be subjective to opinion.
On that note: You missed my main point apparently – less about the issue of opinion on the quality of the game and more on the issue of what this event is going to do to the economy.
I kind of wished they didn’t give us an extended cut, and just said the ending was bad and for us to deal with it. If they just stopped fluffing up their ending like it was fucking Mozart I wouldn’t be nearly as pissed.
” nary a clue as to the facts outside of, “This ending sucked.”… that’s the standard answer for why that I received whenever I asked if they were for or against this…”
Really? I thought it was because the the past lore was contradicted (relays), plot holes (why DID the Normandy do what it did at the end?), and the poor deus-ex machina three choice ending. (obviously there’s allot more but I don’t have the playthough knowledge or want to do a full rundown of all the points)
I know people who liked the ending are dismissive of the people who didn’t, so dismissive as to replicate the same attitude as the people who’s opinion they oppose.
I think arguments have been made showing some genuine concerns regarding the ending and I also think that “if you just like it” then that’s perfectly fine too.
And people are more than entitled to complain about it, it was bioware’s decision to do this or not, though if they didn’t there would have been consequences. People who say that this destroys their artistic vision that’s kinda BS, if anything it will improve it, because this shows that they are learning from their audience, and will be able to make better product down the line. If i’m not mistaken Arthur Conan Doyle killed Sherlock Holmes and the fans of his work inspired him to retcon the death basically, after which he wrote some of his best work. Comic books, a similar medium does this ALL the time. Does this depreciate their value? I don’t think so.
I have a feeling Bioware themselves weren’t happy with the ending either (just leaving it how it was), just by going off some of the comments made in the video above.
Not saying Bioware thinks the ending is terribad’ but I think there is validity in saying that such a character heavy story with hardly any character closure could be considered a missed opportunity.
As an artist, I always found it rather hysterical when people claim ‘artistic vision’ as a reason for why their work should not be critiqued or changed. An artist who refuses to take criticism and sticks to their own narrow minded views of their works will only stagnate in the end. I’ve seen it time and time again within the art world, and while stagnation can sometimes appease the masses it cheapens you and the very title you’re trying to lay claim too. That’s not to say you should always change your work because someone else pointed out a flaw, perceived or otherwise. But that claiming ‘artistic vision’ as the reason for keeping it the same is a cop-out. And as you rightly pointed out, some of the greatest works of many artists only came about once they re-evaluated their work based upon the criticisms they received.
It should also be noted that the claim is even more absurd when you consider the fact that Mass Effect 3 is a PRODUCT that we as the consumers are purchasing. You as the publisher can claim artistic license until the cows come home if you want, but at the end of the day if you don’t appease your paying customers you can’t expect them to come back and purchase another item from you in the future. When money is involved, it changes the game a good deal. Consumers have the right to give feedback on the items they have rightfully purchased.
And I agree to this to a point. Where I take issue is not whether or not artistic vision shouldn’t be critiqued because it damn sure should be. Rather than that, an entire well-made game should not be refunded or anything of the sort be required just because one part of it sucked. Don’t get me wrong and think I excuse the sloppiness that may or may not have happened but the bottom line of my entire point is that if developers begin to cater, we will lose a lot more than people realize.
This is a product, but the issue was one of opinion rather than core functionality on any level or capacity. Plot holes are always liable to happen in any story, but you don’t get to just flat return the book you just bought and read because you were ‘unhappy’ with it.
It’s just like trying to stop the sales of used games. This affects more than just game developers in our own little market. It sets precedent for a great many potential disasters, all far worse than this.
You aren’t going to appease everyone, ever. The majority of people have no clue what they want and even more are only there to jump on the bandwagon. I simply worry for what potential consequences lie in store when this door opens.
I love how I’ve had words put in my mouth by a few previous posts before yours and more than a little bit of trolling and flaming, which going by the thumbs up, people seem to enjoy. It’s a little worrisome considering I almost never really post on this site…I think I realize why I quit bothering to sign up or participate on sites like these. People don’t want your opinion, nor can they respect it. On that note however, thank you for at least not being one of those people Nyaore.
I think I’m done with this topic.
I would contend that the ending IS a matter of game functionality. Remember when this game was being marketed? One of the huge selling points was the claim that there would be wildly divergent endings based upon character actions throughout the entire series. What we got were three different colored explosions. IT wasn’t merely that the ending of the story was unsatisfying; it’s that the game’s ending did not function as the game designers claimed it would.
To draw a comparison, it would be similar to if the designers of Skyrim decided to release the game with no player magic. One of the hallmarks of The Elder Scrolls games is that the player can fight, use stealth skills, and cast magic; to omit the magic would be a major flaw in the game, especially after advertising magic as a key feature of the game. Well, guess what: the wildly divergent endings was supposed to be a gameplay feature of ME3, and it is entirely absent. Therefore, the complaints about the ending are not, as you seem to argue, a purely aesthetic one, but a functional one as well. You can’t discount that from the conversation.
If you’re going to advertise wildly divergent endings in your game, you darn well better deliver! Heck, even if the endings had all been incoherent esoteric Stanley Kubrick 2001 endings, at least if there had been a dozen or so different ones, each one of them clearly unique, then at the very least, they would have delivered on the functionality aspect of the endings, in which case players could complain strictly about the aesthetics. But what do we get? Three different colored explosions.
So, no, I’m not going to allow you to limit the conversation about the game’s endings to merely aesthetic points: there are functional ones as well.
And yes, we do live in a society of complainers. And yes, it is true that some of the stuff people complain about is stupid. But that in no way changes the fact that legitimate complaints are still legitimate.
And it’s not that people don’t want your opinion; it’s that they don’t want to read pages and pages of whiny complaints that don’t even touch on the real issues, but do nothing but belittle those who do believe their complaints are legitimate. If you really want to express your opinion, stick with the real issue, don’t belittle those you disagree with, and back up what you say with facts and good arguments. Otherwise, you come across as the troll.
I did touch upon that. When he made note that I didn’t I specifically pointed out where these flaws exist and agreed to it. I also said that I’m not going to touch upon that because it’s already been discussed at length elsewhere and there’s no arguing that fact. But what you fail to bring up here is that not everyone is complaining about the actual facts of what WAS wrong on a technical level with their advertising.
I have never denied not even once that this is an issue. I never said these problems don’t exist and I was discussing a different problem entirely albeit with ties to a same conclusion. I’m arguing on behalf of the other point because whether you accept it or not, a very LARGE part of the complaints are being made solely from the ‘ending sucks’ standpoint rather than the facts behind it’s technical failings.
When precedent is set, it won’t be on the basis of false advertising, it’ll be on the facet of “This game’s ending sucked, we complained, they fixed.” That’s my issue.
I guess this means I should resume playing ME3 soon…after I finish Tales of Graces f, Dengeki Stryker, and a few more eroge.
On a sidenote, I wonder if they’re soon going to announce whether that rumored retake Omega DLC is true or not
cant wait to hear people complain and demand yet again it’s not still good enough.
That would depend entirely on the quality of the DLC, now wouldn’t it?
Haven’t played ME3 yet due to it’s stupid Origin-only policy on the PC.
I hope the ending will satisfy those who wanted an ending that actually took into account your decisions throughout the series, since that seems to be the biggest flaw aside from the “choose one of three ending cutscenes”-problem. And they already pretty much stated that won’t go away.
I for one have to hope that ME3 WiiU can use the PC saves of ME2. Or that EA stops being stupid and releases an Origin-free version.
Origin free copies will never be released, unfortunately. At least with the console versions you can play without being connected.
Well, the only console I might get that has ME3 is the WiiU, and even then I’ll only play when it can use my PC saves. I didn’t transport them over 2 PCs and several years just so I can play a somewhat “blank slate” shepard ^^
Seeing as the WiiU seems to be able to use any USB harddrives, there might be a realistic chance for that.
Pfft…”Back in the old days,games simply had a Congratulations or worse yet GAME OVER message..or others simply looped back to level one when you clocked the game..grumble….”
1.9 gigs for a Poxy ending and nowt else..Oh my sides did split.How gaming has changed…
CONGLATURATION!!!
You prooved the justice
of our culture.
Now go and rest our heroes!
Yes, it has evolved for the better. We have a higher standard for games as both a product and an art form, and that is one of the best (and perhaps one of the more annoying) things that has happened to games. We can get invested in them now, they can rival epic novels in scope, and drive us to continue playing. Back in the day, you played a game to play a game. Now, you play a game to get invested in all of its facets, Sound, story and gameplay all coming together for something truly amazing.
This is what gamings becoming, we care not just about one parameter of the game, but the collective whole…and we SHOULD.
The only thing for sure that will happen is Controversy. If they can pull it out of the bag and make it insanely good, good for them. Although I don’t think it’s going to be possible to save the ending.
Yeah most likely, I can’t see this thing making a full recovery, though the size of the files does intrigue me enough to bother downloading it. Also Destro, yeah games back in the NES and prior times did that because generally there was no story to follow, most games since SNES have had at least something, especially where an RPG is concerned… in fact RPG’s have had great endings for even longer than that… so your argument falls a little flat.