BioWare Making Mass Effect 3 More Accessible for New Players

[boag]

George Lucas didn't try to attract new viewers with Return of the Jedi.

This Statement is flawed, Remember that the original Starwars movie, was the 4th chapter, and Return of the Jedi incorporated a lot elements to appeal to more general audiences.

Star Wars wasn't originally released as Episode IV: A New Hope. It was simply released as Star Wars. It was only later on, when Lucas decided he wanted some wiggle room to go back and explore the backstory that he gave the films episode numbers.

And regardless, the fact remains that without having seen the first two films, Return Of The Jedi is not going to make a lick of sense to any viewer. How will they know who Obi-Wan is, or why he's glowing blue? From where would they learn exactly why Han is trapped in carbonite and hung up in a drug den at the film's start? Hell, would they even know why it's such a big deal that Vader is Luke's father, without having seen the prior two films?

Any good story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Any good trilogy follows this form. Therefore, it should stand to reason that you can't hook new players/viewers at the end, then they've already missed out the beginning and middle that set everything up for the finale in the first place. I personally would much rather Bioware simply spent all their resources making sure that established ME fans get the send off they deserve.

But then, it's not like I'm bitter about how Bioware decided to end the KOTOR storyline or anything...

IM not debating the merits or downsides to introducing people to a late trilogy, Im just stating that your statement, right there, which I quoted is flawed, therefore you should amend it or replace it for another one.

 

[blindthrall]

But then, it's not like I'm bitter about how Bioware decided to end the KOTOR storyline or anything...

I'm not sure how much of that was their decision, but I feel your rage.

This should be hastily scribbled on a scrap of paper and slipped inside every copy of ME3:

Part 1
You are Slickback Shepard, interstellar pimp. You teach aliens to fear the back of your hand, your guns don't run out of ammo, !ever!, you kill sandworms with a pistol, you bang a blue chick so hard Rupert Murdoch feels it, and then you slaughter an impossibly ancient machine squid god who eats species. You are elected Boss of the Galaxy, unanimously.

Part 2
Bioware pulls it pud for a while, some angsty bullshit, then you get bored and abort a baby terminator.

Problem solved. You're welcome Bioware.

 

[Caffiene]

On the one hand, it does sound like theyre trying to make good for both new players and existing players.

However: What the hell is with this assumption that every player is going to have their existing saves? Its two years since ME2 was released. I enjoy ME, but I didnt enjoy it enough to keep my save sitting around for two years, across multiple hard drives and reformats. I know the ME story. I dont want the dumbed down experience. But it sounds like Ill be forced to have it if I buy ME3.

While I understand wanting to have new players, I agree with the comments that a story-based trilogy is not the best place to try to go with that strategy. If you want a series that is welcoming to newcomers, you need to either build that into the series from the start, or to build the series on gameplay and themes with independant stories (eg, Zelda) rather than trying to do one big story.

I cant help but feel that Bioware is saying "Whoops... We kinda realised we didnt actually want to make a trilogy after all. We just wanted to make some games."

 

[ShaneGunWolf]

I honestly don't know about this. I mean, this is a game that's meant to be a CONTINUATION of previous games. In fact, instead of buying JUST this game if you haven't played the first two, it'll be MUCH more beneficial for a new player to play through the first two because the way they play will ultimately alter the story for the second and third games, making their game completely personalized.

Doesn't that sound like something that's much more fun to do?

 

[boag]

IM not debating the merits or downsides to introducing people to a late trilogy, Im just stating that your statement, right there, which I quoted is flawed, therefore you should amend it or replace it for another one.

What part of it is flawed? As I already mentioned, the Episode titles that hinted at previously unexplored backstory were only added to the original films later on after they were already released. Return Of The Jedi is a perfect example of a trilogy conclusion which requires knowledge of the prior events in order to understand what is going on. Why is that such a contentious issue for you?

Its flawed because:

on the one hand both reference events the viewer is unfamiliar with, Lukes Father, the Clone Wars and the Rebel Insurgency, the dismantling of the Galactic Senate.

on the other hand, they are both self contained stories, the only thing I could possibly give you a passing grievance over is Han Solos Rescue, otherwise its pretty straight forward and anyone new to the Franchise could sit down and watch Return and not be confused.

That is why your example is flawed.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Wow. Apparently most people just up and forgot to read the article they were responding too. Funny that...

OT: Sounds good to me. Seems like their solution is probably the best possible solution to draw in new players without effecting the old ones. Whenever Bioware opens their mouth about the game, they seem to mention nothing but good ideas (well, except for the silly multiplayer thing. But that was a one-time anomaly).

 

[D0WNT0WN]

snip

I dislike the phrase, yes, but only because it makes people who clearly didn't read the article through gripe about the developers 'making the game easier'. If you take a minute and read the full text, you'll see that this pertains to 'the story thus far' exposition, which Bioware wants to include for new players to catch them up but doesn't want to dump on people who are continuing with a previous save file and know what's going on. I fail to see how that's a bad thing.

If that one line is making you give up on Mass Effect 3, then you clearly weren't that interested in it in the first place.

Aye, you have me there. After the amazing dissapointment that was Mass Effect 2 and the abortion that was Dragon Age 2 I have little to no interest in Mass Effect 3.

Still my distain for the recent Bioware products doesnt mean I dont have my right to complain and gripe.

What I see is that new players wont start with the last game advertised to be an epic trillogy, it would be like somebody watching Return of the Jedi first and then saying "So why does Luke wear that black glove?". The whole feature is a pointless endeavour for this series. However In some series that span different consoles over the peroid of many years it is necessary (see Yakuza and Metal Gear Solid which did have features similar) but for a series like Mass Effect there isnt a need for a "Previously on Mass Effect option".

It is just a waste of hours and man power that is going to pull away from the main game, that's why it is a bad thing.

Also as for my comment on "More Accessible for New Players" that is just my general opinion on the phrase and ones like it, big red warning lights go on when I hear developers say words like that. I did not articulate my words properly in my first post.

 

[Jodah]

They have to. They are alienating their old players by requiring Origin.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Sorry, but I think Bioware's making a very wrong move here. I can understand wanting to attract new players (this is a business, after all), but using the final act of an epic trilogy is definitely not the time to do it. And what this inevitably ends up doing is screwing over the already existing fans of the game. I -want- my AI squadmates to go "Hey Shepard, remember that time we..." It gives the game personality, and it makes the story feel like it's mine.

Excited as I am for this game, I don't like this at all.

You do make a good point. Honestly, I don't want to risk the relationships being dulled down that I've developed over the past 2 games to be saturated for the new comer. Call it selfish, but the one thing Mass Effect had going for it was the interactive story. Don't fuck us over now.

Seriously, Tali better be all over my shit in this next game.

Also, The first Mass Effect didn't even really do a good job introducing newcomers in. It took me till the second playthrough to realize you could upgrade your guns.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

No. Failure. I don't care if you'll tell me about the experiences. I want to live them. Know what would help boost more sales Bioware?

Release Mass Effect 1 for PS3. Pests. I want to play this series, but I have neither a 360 or a PC capable of doing it.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

But I LIKED it when they walked up to me and went, "Oh, you remember that one time?" and I went, "Yeah, yeah I do."

So, that sucks.

If you actually read the article, it says that the game will KNOW if you played the previous two - so if you did, then characters will say "hey, remember that one time?". However, if you've never played the game before, then they won't, because that one time never occured for that player.

I don't get why people are upset over this. If you played the previous games, then nothing changes for you at all. Only newbies get an altered game. That's a win/win.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

Sorry, but I think Bioware's making a very wrong move here. I can understand wanting to attract new players (this is a business, after all), but using the final act of an epic trilogy is definitely not the time to do it. And what this inevitably ends up doing is screwing over the already existing fans of the game. I -want- my AI squadmates to go "Hey Shepard, remember that time we..." It gives the game personality, and it makes the story feel like it's mine.

Excited as I am for this game, I don't like this at all.

Did you miss the point of that article? If you played the previous games, WHICH YOU DID, then your party members WILL say "hey Shep, remember that time we..."

Only people who didn't play the previous game will get those lines cut.

Please actually read the article before you start complaining. Please? It makes this so much easier.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

Trying to make the third game in a story heavy trilogy more accessible for new players.

You're doing it wrong.

Remember that time when someone complained that The Return of the King was too confusing because it wasn't accessible to new viewers of The Lord of the Rings?

No, me neither.

Yuuup. Don't design a story heavy trilogy where you carry over saves from each game to the next and then also design it to be easily played without the prior games. You just fuck over everyone and make a mediocre game.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

They have to. They are alienating their old players by requiring Origin.

I thought the same thing as I was reading this!

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

I don't see reason for all the complaining. If anyone read through properly, they will know that we who have played all of the games won't get exposition every 5 minutes and therefore won't be affected. We shouldn't care. Granted, I question the thought process of anyone who wants to jump into an epic during the third chapter, but it's their decision.

I'm surprised though. With this, it means Bioware has more lines for write for a lot of scenarios. They're nothing if not dedicated.

 

[Et3rnalLegend64]

On the one hand, it does sound like theyre trying to make good for both new players and existing players.

However: What the hell is with this assumption that every player is going to have their existing saves? Its two years since ME2 was released. I enjoy ME, but I didnt enjoy it enough to keep my save sitting around for two years, across multiple hard drives and reformats. I know the ME story. I dont want the dumbed down experience. But it sounds like Ill be forced to have it if I buy ME3.

While I understand wanting to have new players, I agree with the comments that a story-based trilogy is not the best place to try to go with that strategy. If you want a series that is welcoming to newcomers, you need to either build that into the series from the start, or to build the series on gameplay and themes with independant stories (eg, Zelda) rather than trying to do one big story.

I cant help but feel that Bioware is saying "Whoops... We kinda realised we didnt actually want to make a trilogy after all. We just wanted to make some games."

I really don't understand your reasoning. Bioware clearly told us both times to keep our saves to import into the sequels. It's not their fault if you chose not to keep yours or lost yours. That is a matter beyond their control. They made their trilogy and they're choosing to make the third point a simple place to jump in for people who choose not to play the first two. By all means, the ones who have been here the whole time and wanted to continue have had ample warning and they can't cater to every little request just because someone didn't feel like holding onto his/her save.

 

[Zhukov]

I love how people are whining the house down without actually reading the article text.

Stay classy folks.

 

[BreakfastMan]

It is just a waste of hours and man power that is going to pull away from the main game, that's why it is a bad thing.

Not really... From my understanding of how it works, this would be simple as pie to code. It would take one or two guys like no time at all to code this thing. Just make a simple Boolean when the player starts up a game saying whether or not they imported, then make certain dialog options or parts not appear if that boolean is false. Boom, done. It should take about as much coding, manpower, and testing as having the option to turn off "Auto-Aim" in the options menu (or similar). You could still consider it a waste, but it would a waste of what, a day or three? Not much of a difference in the long run...