BioWare Making Mass Effect 3 More Accessible for New Players

[Zen Toombs]

I don't think that this is a completely bad move - if done correctly, newer players get the exposition they need, and veterans get to dive right into the meat of the game. Everybody wins!

If Bioware does it right.

 

[Sixcess]

Removing the need for existing players to sit through the obvious story-so-far info dumps is actually a very good idea, though I occassionally rely on them to remind me what the hell I'm supposed to be doing in a series I haven't played for a while.

Maybe they should have 3 settings - New Player, Veteran and Didn't Pay Attention.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

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.

Yes, cause a game where the NPC's make a few extra comments to fill in the details will just RUIN FUCKING EVERYTHING and means they're just cattering to noobs for more money. It's such obviously good logic, why HAVEN'T they realized this?

Oooo, oooo, I've got this one.

Sarcasm, right?

I'm not saying that they shouldn't help new players along, but when was the last time you heard someone say 'man, the third entry in this trilogy is really confusing, it's like, there was stuff before this or something.'

Most people are going to know that the last game in a story heavy trilogy isn't going to go over every little detail from the last games, and most fair minded people wouldn't expect them too.

It's great that Bioware are catering for both new and old players, it just seems a bit silly in my mind.

 

[sifffffff]

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.

In what way are they doing it wrong. Did you even read the article before replying? If you import a save file there will be more exposition of events because you've already played them. That's a win for returning gamers. If you haven't played the game before there won't be. That's a win for the new gamers.

So what's the problem?

I'll tell you what I think it is. You're upset that Bioware keeps trying to get more people to play their games. In some sort of twisted idea if they deserved to be playing Mass Effect 3 they should have played the other two first.

Accessibility doesn't necessarily mean "dumbing down."

One other thing. Arguing in absolutes makes any argument invalid because it literally cannot be true. Implying NOBODY thought ROTK wasn't accessible is false because on a planet of 6+ billion people there was at least one person who felt that way.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

From how I read it, it seems there is entirely different dialogue depending if you import a save or not. My first reaction to the article title was "Oh goodie, they have dumbed down the gameplay even more. Now it'll be a 'Press "X" to win' game."

Now for the counter point; If you start playing a game that has "3" on the end without playing 1 or 2, then your own dumb-ass deserves to get lost in even the most basic of game elements.

 

[TheDooD]

Oh, great - they still want the CoD crowd, don't they?

Expect ads plastered everywhere, with guns out and the deeper elements of story and universe-building that defined the first game-and-a-half conspicuously absent.

"Epic space opera? All I see is this game about guns and power armor! Look, no boring conversations to distract you! Look, it works as a standalone B-movie FPS! You don't even have to play those old, moldy RPGs we made! Please, CoD fans! Buy our game! Give us your money! Help us compete with Activision!"

...

...Please?

Why are you all still playing CoD? Don't you want other games?"

This made me laugh because I have a feeling SOMEBODY at Bioware was thinking this.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

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.

In what way are they doing it wrong. Did you even read the article before replying? If you import a save file there will be more exposition of events because you've already played them. That's a win for returning gamers. If you haven't played the game before there won't be. That's a win for the new gamers.

So what's the problem?

I'll tell you what I think it is. You're upset that Bioware keeps trying to get more people to play their games. In some sort of twisted idea if they deserved to be playing Mass Effect 3 they should have played the other two first.

Accessibility doesn't necessarily mean "dumbing down."

One other thing. Arguing in absolutes makes any argument invalid because it literally cannot be true. Implying NOBODY thought ROTK wasn't accessible is false because on a planet of 6+ billion people there was at least one person who felt that way.

Don't attempt to pressume what I think, I don't give a flying ferret fuck about Bioware's marketing camapaign, or whether or not they want new players and I've never bought into the 'dumbing down' of games. All I care about is the game.

Ever read a book trilogy? Ever been interested in a TV series with any kind of continuity?
Would you recommend Stephen King's the Dark Tower series if the person was starting with the seventh bloody book?

I want as many people to enjoy this series as possible, but anyone starting at the 3rd game just isn't going to get the same kind of experience. I don't think they shouldn't play it, I think it's a shame that they've missed out on most of the story, and if it gets them to buy the two prequals, brilliant! But it's like starting a fine meal with dessert.

Convenient that you failed to use the quote button, and instead quoted me in such a way so that I don't get notified.

 

[sifffffff]

I have you on my ignore list so I can't directly quote you. Every so often I take a peek at what people I've ignored have to say and every time I regret it. Sometimes I can't help but respond. Help them confront their own bias ya know?

All you care about is the game? So the first thing you do when you read this article is tell them "they're doing it wrong." Even though the way they're doing it is going to have no effect on the game for you.

No I wouldn't recommend somebody start on the third game but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to.

But you're backpedaling from what you initially said after myself and several others called you on it. So if the real point of them "doing it wrong" is just that you feel bad for the people who missed out on the other two games what's the point in saying "you're doing it wrong."

To me it seems like you're hating on Bioware just to hate on them. No real reason you just see a Bioware topic and you need to hate.

How would you suggest Bioware "Do it right?"

Edit: And please don't take the whole "you're on my ignore list personally." I have 262 people on it so far. I use it because I try to abide by the forum rules and so if I read something I can't respond to in a polite manner or I see someone who I don't think I can have an actual discussion with I put them on the list.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I have you on my ignore list so I can't directly quote you. Every so often I take a peek at what people I've ignored have to say and every time I regret it. Sometimes I can't help but respond. Help them confront their own bias ya know?

All you care about is the game? So the first thing you do when you read this article is tell them "they're doing it wrong." Even though the way they're doing it is going to have no effect on the game for you.

No I wouldn't recommend somebody start on the third game but it doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to.

But you're backpedaling from what you initially said after myself and several others called you on it. So if the real point of them "doing it wrong" is just that you feel bad for the people who missed out on the other two games what's the point in saying "you're doing it wrong."

To me it seems like you're hating on Bioware just to hate on them. No real reason you just see a Bioware topic and you need to hate.

How would you suggest Bioware "Do it right?"

Edit: And please don't take the whole "you're on my ignore list personally." I have 262 people on it so far. I use it because I try to abide by the forum rules and so if I read something I can't respond to in a polite manner or I see someone who I don't think I can have an actual discussion with I put them on the list.

Why would I hate on Bioware?

And I wasn't being entirely serious with the whole 'you're doing it wrong' to the point that I actually think Bioware shouldn't do it. More like a 'rolling my eyes' kind of way. Like I said. Like starting a meal with dessert. You're doing it wrong.

 

[sifffffff]

Why would I hate on Bioware?

And I wasn't being entirely serious with the whole 'you're doing it wrong' to the point that I actually think Bioware shouldn't do it. More like a 'rolling my eyes' kind of way. Like I said. Like starting a meal with dessert. You're doing it wrong.

Alright I think I understand now and I feel a bit of an ass. Off the ignore list. We cool.

Still plenty of people who didn't read the article before responding on there though

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Why would I hate on Bioware?

And I wasn't being entirely serious with the whole 'you're doing it wrong' to the point that I actually think Bioware shouldn't do it. More like a 'rolling my eyes' kind of way. Like I said. Like starting a meal with dessert. You're doing it wrong.

Alright I think I understand now and I feel a bit of an ass. Off the ignore list. We cool.

Still plenty of people who didn't read the article before responding on there though

No, it's mostly my fault.

I forget that context is hard to gauge through just text and not everyone would read it in the way I intended.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

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

Exactly. If they were not interested during game 1 and 2, then why would they play 3? I know they are making different play styles for those that are not into rpg gaming. But still, its part 3 of a trilogy.

 

[Al DeLeon]

The crawl at the beginning of Star Wars says "Chapter IV" and always has. You're right that the "official" name changed later, of course.

Negative, the 1977 movie was simply "Star Wars" until a 1981 re-release, where it was subtitled "Episode IV: A New Hope". This was AFTER The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) had already been released (in 1980).

 

[Susan Arendt]

The crawl at the beginning of Star Wars says "Chapter IV" and always has. You're right that the "official" name changed later, of course.

Negative, the 1977 movie was simply "Star Wars" until a 1981 re-release, where it was subtitled "Episode IV: A New Hope". This was AFTER The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V) had already been released (in 1980).

Ok, I'll take you word for it. I was only 6 when I saw it for the first time, after all.

 

[icnfde]

"More Accessible for New Players" like how Dragon Age II was "More Accessible for New Players" by the fact that nobody played it after seeing how truly terrible it was? That's like telling someone that The Phantom Menace is a good starting point for people who haven't watched the Star Wars series.

ME2 was the last Bioware/EA game I purchased. No more. This isn't some "hurr durr internet boycott we are legion" bullshit. No, you're not taking any more of my fucking money, not even if you start turning yourselves around. We're done.

R.I.P: Bullfrog, Maxis, Origin Systems, Pandemic, Black Box, DICE, and now Bioware. It's unbelievable how a company can completely destroy everything they touch, be running at a loss for almost a decade (since 2004, look it up), and STILL be a major player in the gaming industry... It just smells of something fishy going on at the top of the corporate ladder...

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Anyone who doesn't play the first two games I hope is too damn poor to buy them. This game is far too amazing to be wasted by playing them out of order. This isn't like play GL 1 before playing HL2. This is the story is your own, so why come into it at the last chapter?