BioWare "Falsely Advertised" Mass Effect 3

[mxfox408]

Yes they promised one thing and didn't give what they advertised.

 

[mxfox408]

Stupid internet doublepost

 

[RileyinaBox]

It does shape the ending. It's kind of arbitrary how it changes, but there are multiple endings which are based on your choices. This is bullshit.

 

[Raijha]

It seems only Bethesda can deliver quality now.

I have to laugh at this. Having recently just finished the main storyline for Skyrim, I was honestly amazed there wasn't as much furor about that completely anti-climactic POS "ending."

And if anyone wants to pull the whole, oh, Skyrim is about the journey and the open world and the pure enjoyment of the game itself, not just having an awesome ending...........yea, think about that.

Although, to be fair, I put more time into 1 character on Skyrim pre mods or DLC and without completing 10 side quests (did absolutely everything else) than all the time I've put into all 3 Mass Effect games over all chars........does that even mean anything? Probably not.

OT: Mass Effect news again, rawr!

 

[Lovely Mixture]

I think people forget that ME3 is still a great game, just with a shitty ending. People didn't flip out this bad over Dragon Age 2, and that game wasn't nearly as good as ME3...

People DID flip out over Dragon Age 2, in-fact it's where the Bioware hatred began becoming more than just the mere group of people who didn't like Mass Effect 2. It's where the Hepler controversy boomed, it's where people started questioning whether Bioware had "sold out" to EA.

In fact the first time I asked "Why all the Bioware hate?" (before ME3 was released) the first response was "Did you not play Dragon Age 2?"

honestly amazed there wasn't as much furor about that completely anti-climactic POS "ending."

And if anyone wants to pull the whole, oh, Skyrim is about the journey and the open world and the pure enjoyment of the game itself, not just having an awesome ending...........yea, think about that.

In my opinion, the Elder Scrolls series has never been sold on its story so the fact that Skyrim's story was competent at all made it impressive. Mass Effect has always been about the story, people had forgiven the gameplay issues for the first two games because the story was interesting.

 

[Kazedarkwind]

i feel really bad for the writers at bioware right now, as an artist myself all i can imagine is them slumped down behind a desk hating their life cause people are practically wishing death upon them for there work. Which is one of the most heart breaking things ive seen out of this whole ending debate.

if i ever meet them im buying them a drink. They don't deserve this crap that the retakers are giving them.

No. No, no, no, no.

There is just no way that the ending as it stands is what any of the writers at Bioware really intended. I refuse to imagine that an intelligent, decent person who writes for a living would consider that ending complete and final.
I remember a phrase from Yahtzee's review of Dark Void where he said "this is a game that ran out of something".
When it came time to wrap up the ending to ME3, something ran out. Time, money, will, patience... whatever. A compromise was made. Either a lot more material had been written and they had to scrap half of it and go "Well, here's what we can manage to work in there at this point; we'll have to hope it's enough. Who knows, maybe the lack of an explanation will spark vivid debates!"
or
They had something entirely different planned and as the release date loomed ever closer, they had to go "Nope, there's no way we can get all that done without a delay; we'll have to whip up something else."

Of course, now that it's out, everyone in Bioware/EA's employ has to stand by that decision. Not one public statement made since the game came out has come from the heart of any of these people; it's impossible. "We stand by the team's creative vision". That's a sanitized PR line if I ever saw one.

im not disagreeing with you on the fact that SOMETHING ran out. (although i personally find the ending satisfying.) what im saying is is that AS AN ARTIST, the work that got done is what is represented as the writers works, and people are universally HATING you on a personal level. It is the worst fear of any artist that "What you make is a reflection of you". When it certainly isn't but people are treating the writers like that. Which is very heart breaking to think about.

Especially when they say "we stand by the team's creative vision" It's not really about the condolences of the public when i read that, i read it as "Our creative team is feeling like shit, but we support them since they have made amazing games for so many years and will continue making more amazing games for you"

 

[mxfox408]

I think Bioware should just stop making RPG games and start making sport-sims and multiplayer FPSes. At least fans of those games are not as rage-filled as RPG ones, and are more grateful.
And it will bring them more money.

I understand that they could have done it better. I understand that everyone (including me) wanted to see the impact of their actions. But this is just ridiculous. Such ammount of rage and complaints is but a tantrum. Legal complaint? Are you kidding me?!

They [Bioware]have already said, that they, well, "feel us" (On this I trust Bioware); They have already stated that they are making an Extended cut DLC (which, I assure You, will be free: EA won't dare make us pay for it after the whole scandal).
What else do you want? You want them to buy your copies from you and replace it with the "right" ones for free? Maybe a fellatio from Ray Muzyka himself, just for the sake of it?

You played the game, you enjoyed it until the very end, which they will fix.
So stop it. Just stop it. This is literally crazy. It is as if litlle spoiled kid got a fresh, home-made chocolate cookle from his/her grandma, and saw a bit of raw dough on the side:
-UWWAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!!! This cookie is bad!!!!
-Honey, please calm down, grandma will fix it.
-No!You messed it up! I hate you!- screamed the child, while eating one cookie after another, for they were delicious, every single one of them. Exept for the one with the dough.

P.S. Quoting I don't remember who, but probably MovieBob: "You want Bioware to make with ME the same thing you hate George Lucas for doing with Star Wars."

Obviously you haven't heard of the fans blackout boycott of Modern Warfare 3 on 4-20-12

Youpoint, like most of the douche bags and asshole journalist like movie Bob, and that Colin guy at ign who has his head up his ass. if people are promised something and built up and invested into it(fans who spent money and expected the advertising to hold up to the money invested into a gross product IS AN INVESTMENT) have a right to complain when a company didn't deliver what it advertised.let's say you ordered a pizza and they royally fucked up your order and then ignore your complaints for one month, then when they finally respond they tell you they will clarify why they did that and they are not going to give you a new one, wouldn't you feel entitled to get what you paid MONEY for? Or would let the company continue to treat you and its consumers like shit?

 

[Artemicion]

The sound of a hundred "journalists"' mouths dropping after being told by a member of the BBB that they're wrong.

'Tis a sweet sound.

 

[Krantos]

This is slightly off topic, but I think this post is a good example of how the escapist news contributors can't keep their opinions out of their "News" posts.

"their nerd rage is almost beyond belief." (also you had 2 their in that sentence)

"those who hoped BioWare would stick to its guns"

"gave in to the howling."

A five minute edit could have removed these elements, allowing this to be an actual news piece rather than an opinion column. Reporters are allowed to have opinions, of course. But a good reporter keeps it out of the news stories. If you want to write an opinion piece, then do so, but don't label it "News."


OT: I don't particularly support the Retake efforts, but I don't really see this as a bad thing at all. Companies should start being more careful when it comes to advertising. Anyone who's pays attention knows better than to put any weight on marketing for games any more, since the number of times promised features or functionality have been lacking in the final product is staggering.

And this pretty much only happens in the games industry. If a new car is advertised to have a built in GPS, and then DOESN'T, there's going to be hell to pay. If a blender says it has 12 power settings, it had damn well better have 12 power settings. You get the point.

Simple fact is this is just another instance of the games industry not being held to the same standards as other industries. This sort of thing needs to stop.

Heh, if they do start enforcing penalties for false advertising, they're really going to have to gag Peter Molyneux.

 

[Something Amyss]

I know you report what gets views... but GOD DAMN, can we just drop the Mass Effect shit.

Not as long as it's an issue. Sorry violating consumer rights and such bothers you.

Hey, someone in a position of power who DOESN'T think we are a bunch of whiny entitled douche bags! alright!

People like the BBB are about the only one in a position that should matter. Mostly, it's douchebags and internet personalities.

Do you REALLY feel they deserved this? Games marketing ALWAYS promises more than the game could deliver. Why is Bioware being singled out?

Because Bioware made singular and specific promises. Most products advertise with exaggerations and implications, most aren't this specific. Coke can advertise with beautiful girls and amazing parties, but they can't say "if you drink Coke, hot women will want to fuck you."

 

[Something Amyss]

They are different, though. Your choices along the way affect what ending you get. If you don't have enough GR, you don't get Synthesis, and the cutscenes are slightly different for the other two. Plus, if you get enough, then the destroy option gets the extra scene.

You might not like it, but it's still there. And it will most certainly hold up in court.

"slightly different" doesn't meet the claims, however. Not to mention, the specific claims of not getting an A B or C ending.

 

[Sylveria]

Hey, someone in a position of power who DOESN'T think we are a bunch of whiny entitled douche bags! alright!

Funny enough, the people with legitimate power or reputation, such as Forbes, have been on the side of the Retake movement. It's the people with no power who troll the internet, like Bob, or "game journalists" who have been against it.

 

[thiosk]

The only defense I have for ME is that the game universe cannot really end in grossly different ways-- they need a second series set ten thousand years in the future, and a Super Happy Fun ending where galactic travel and communication didn't collapse would be hard to reconcile with the ending this one got.

To me, and I didnt' watch all the endings, shephard dies and doesn't die constitutes a dramatic difference outcome, driven by the choices players make.

Note: Thiosk did not play ME2 or ME3, but he has picked up that this might be the end for shepard, but not for mass effect.

 

[sumanoskae]

Jokes on the gamers! Now, we'll get the same exact ending to every fucking game. The safe, happy ending that nobody has grounds to complain about. Thank you, "retakers". Thank you for your entitled douchebaggery.

Yeah, I'm sure this multi-million dollar industry will revolutionize it's business model over this indecent.

They've already stated that they aren't going to change the ending anyway, they're going to "Clarify" it.

But you know what, I WOULD prefer a totally generic ending to this nonsensical dirge, at least if the ending was forgettable (Which is a stupid compliant, because the ending to a story shouldn't function on it's own) I could get passed it. Just appreciate the rest of the game. The ending we got wasn't forgettable, it was much worse, it was damaging. It changes everything about the central conflict of the game, it condemns the characters the bleak, ambiguous fates for no reason other than to make you feel like shit, and then it ends on a sunrise with upbeat techno and tries to tell you things will be okay. It's not just bleak, it's manipulative.

In fact that last statement sums it up pretty well, it serves no purpose other than making you feel like shit. There's no rhyme, no reason, no constancy, just despair.

I WISH it was forgettable.

 

[Mournblade94]

Hey, someone in a position of power who DOESN'T think we are a bunch of whiny entitled douche bags! alright!

Funny enough, the people with legitimate power or reputation, such as Forbes, have been on the side of the Retake movement. It's the people with no power who troll the internet, like Bob, or "game journalists" who have been against it.

That is because magazines like Forbes understand customer's importance to business.

game journalists do not police themselves for quality. they are glorified forum posters who strike a gig. Take movie bob. His last video about American Pie was a glorified forum rant. I hate American Pie. All of them. I agree with bob. But why bring light to review it, if only to inflame those that watch.

The game journalists I think need some kind of count they need to stick with. Really though, their opinions are no more informed than any other internet forum poster.

On this site, most of the game journalists write opinion pieces. Most of them do not know how to compose an unbiased piece.

 

[Nuke_em_05]

I haven't played it yet, but I plan to. I know what the "ending" situation is, though, and I don't exactly care.

Yeah, so they said "it won't be ending A, B, or C." and it ended up being ending A, B, or C. And? For me, Mass Effect is about the 40 hours leading up to the ending (x3 games). I'm not going to let 10 minutes ruin the rest of it for me.

That's my choice, though. If other people have a problem with it, I don't have a problem with them voicing that opinion.

 

[badreaper74]

The only thing I will say about the Mass Effect 3 ending is I understand it. Like most of you i wanted some huge final showdown and several different endings, but after i sat and really thought about it i understand their decision for a couple of reasons.

1. There were to many variables. It's that simple. There were dozens of choices made over three games and trying to track and react to all of these choices would of been a huge investment. They could of done like they did in ME 2 with a few decisions making all the difference, but been there done that.

2. They implement a lot of mini endings wrapping up plot points. You resolved the Geth/ Quarian conflict, you decided what to do with the genophage, and you helped Miranda deal with her farther. these were all story lines carried from previous games that outcomes could be changed on what you did in previous games.

3. Finally and I believe most importantly is it gave everyone a pretty even spot to jump off of. Bioware had previously stated that they plan to develop more games taking place in the Bioware universe and the events of the Reaper Wars would of have been a major piece of the galactic history. By having bascially the same ending it would of given everyone a nice even playing field for Bioware to launch another game.

But after all this crap you gotta wonder if Bioware would ever come back to this franchise. Two excelent games and a stellar third that kinda failed in the final moments and people are suing you for false advertising. If it was up to me, i wouldn't even bother.

 

[Something Amyss]

A five minute edit could have removed these elements, allowing this to be an actual news piece rather than an opinion column. Reporters are allowed to have opinions, of course. But a good reporter keeps it out of the news stories. If you want to write an opinion piece, then do so, but don't label it "News."

Don't expect "news" out of "game journalism," period. It will only lead to heartache.

And this pretty much only happens in the games industry. If a new car is advertised to have a built in GPS, and then DOESN'T, there's going to be hell to pay. If a blender says it has 12 power settings, it had damn well better have 12 power settings. You get the point.

Most game lies don't come down to something that specific, including your example of Peter Molyneux.

Simple fact is this is just another instance of the games industry not being held to the same standards as other industries. This sort of thing needs to stop.

Sadly, they are. Have you ever seen complaints in other fields? People respond with the likes of "lol, you expect honesty?" They get flamed and berated like Retake.

By the way, I do support Retake. Not because I am one of them, but because they are one of the most civil consumer movements I've seen in the gaming industry.

In a fandom full of actual, honest-to-god entitled shitheads, Retake has done positive things, such as Child's Play donations. They have made their point creatively with cupcakes. They have made BBB and FTC complaints. They have not, by and large, offered death threats or resorted to histrionics. They're not calling the producers faggots or stalking them. There's been some angry responses, but from a consumer base that's normally dismissed as childish, this has been a strong consumerist movement with positive and thoughtful responses to an actual consumer issue.

I have trouble seeing the problem here.

 

[Darkmantle]

So now we have forbes and the better business bureau. I honestly hope this goes through, just to see/hear moviebob's reaction. It will be awesome.