Bioware: Next Mass Effect on "The Right Track"

[You Can't Take the Sky From Me]

I've been rather hyped about this for quite a while.
I fall into the category of hating the pre-EC endings of ME3, but absolutely loving the EC endings. I also really liked the overall game too.
Seeing as the two main reasons for the "i love faith in bioware" (DA2, ME3) were games I actually liked and enjoyed to a rather extensive degree, and based on what we've seen of DA:I, I'm rather confident that this will turn out quite nicely.

I... I thought I was the only one... I'm not alone any more!

Anyhoo... I am actually quite excited to see more of the ME universe, and, since Bioware still has my faith, I look forward to seeing what the team has in store for it next.

 

[MarsProbe]

So, it'll have at least one kind of tank in it, real exploration, meaningful sidequests, procedurally generated landscapes and multiple possible solutions to singular problems?

Great, because you guys cut all of those things from number three and that's why I'm probably not buying number 4.

Whilst we're at it, real money gambling, let's not be having any of that, although given EA's obsession with it (And it's appearance in Battlefield 4 of all things) I'm not holding much hope.

Yeh, they need to bring back planets for the next Mass Effect. They were sorely missing from the ME2 & 3 I thought. I really missed the planets in ME2 & 3.

I'm going to remain optimistic (perhaps not even cautiously) until we some tangible form of this game. I know I could fly off the handle like this was a new Batman casting announcement or something, but you know, it's really not worth the bother.

 

[MiskWisk]

snip
Also, how does one add the spoilers tag on the forums?

Here, this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.198114-Escapist-User-Guide-to-Posting-Commands] has pretty much every command on it. Just don't put the spaces between the [ and the command.

OT: Yeah, colour me sceptical. The Bioware universe is a little written into a corner with regards to a sequel and a prequel or a story taking place at the same time will just feel... inconsequential? I mean, we know how the story will turn out and that no decisions made in this one will mean anything. Unless they decide to pick one canon ending in which case they'll piss off a lot of people.

Captcha: umbrella corporation. Are you hinting at something captcha?

 

[Dragonbums]

snip
Also, how does one add the spoilers tag on the forums?

Here, this thread [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.198114-Escapist-User-Guide-to-Posting-Commands] has pretty much every command on it. Just don't put the spaces between the [ and the command.

OT: Yeah, colour me sceptical. The Bioware universe is a little written into a corner with regards to a sequel and a prequel or a story taking place at the same time will just feel... inconsequential? I mean, we know how the story will turn out and that no decisions made in this one will mean anything. Unless they decide to pick one canon ending in which case they'll piss off a lot of people.

Captcha: umbrella corporation. Are you hinting at something captcha?

The only way I can see this working is if they pull a classic Fanfiction.net style Alternate Universe sort of deal and re write the whole thing so that the original trilogy is canon but the AU is also canon just not canon to the trilogy and you know what? fuck this clusterfuck.

 

[lunavixen]

I wish they'd stop hyping it, excessive hype can only lead to disappointment (See Duke Nukem and Mass Effect 3 for this particular lesson). I'm not excited, i'd rather wait until there is more information before I start to get excited.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

While I don't take word of what a dev says cause I didn't see it. I am excited for more mass effect, I must be one of those weirdo's who liked how the series ended and prefers the gameplay of ME 2/3 over ME1 (God ME1 sucks so hard for gameplay -_-).

 

[Ticklefist]

While I don't take word of what a dev says cause I didn't see it. I am excited for more mass effect, I must be one of those weirdo's who liked how the series ended.

The original ending where you destroy the galaxy you just busted your ass to put into order or the extended cut? Extended cut is a fine ending, if a bit anticlimactic. I think Bioware's handling of the whole thing is why it still wasn't good enough for a lot of fans. Calling a complete retcon of your intended ending an "extended cut" is pretty insulting.

 

[BoredRolePlayer]

While I don't take word of what a dev says cause I didn't see it. I am excited for more mass effect, I must be one of those weirdo's who liked how the series ended.

The original ending where you destroy the galaxy you just busted your ass to put into order or the extended cut? Extended cut is a fine ending, if a bit anticlimactic. I think Bioware's handling of the whole thing is why it still wasn't good enough for a lot of fans. Calling a complete retcon of your intended ending an "extended cut" is pretty insulting.

I saw Extended Ending, but read up on the original ending. But I've seen people complain about how your choices didn't effect the game and I didn't get that honestly. While playing (and I just finished it) I'm sitting thinking "I wonder how this would have turned out if I done X instead of Y in ME1/2". Also I think Bioware was trying to do right by their fans and fix the very thing the fans where whining about. So if they felt insulted by what Bioware did it's their own fault honestly(To be honest I was shocked when I read the news about that, because I figure they would go oh well). It's not like Capcom where they announce a squeal to a game that ended in a cliff hanger, and brag about how they have fan input on their forums for the game then cancel blaming the fans for not being interested.

 

[heroicbob]

maybe its because i played the entire series after the whole ending controversy thing happened but i thought mass effect 3 was fine, certainly not as good as mass effect 2 but that is setting the bar pretty damn high

i did dislike the ending given that it contradicted something that had happened half way through the game but if you made different choices i guess it might make sense

still why are they making a new mass effect game? that story's over why not just make a new science fiction series

 

[GAunderrated]

maybe its because i played the entire series after the whole ending controversy thing happened but i thought mass effect 3 was fine, certainly not as good as mass effect 2 but that is setting the bar pretty damn high

i did dislike the ending given that it contradicted something that had happened half way through the game but if you made different choices i guess it might make sense

still why are they making a new mass effect game? that story's over why not just make a new science fiction series

Well yes you will have lower expectations if you wern't invested in the story over several years. People are mad because they were promised a great experience, meaningful choices, and the developer actually had the talent to back it up the promises. Instead they opted for the cheap and lazy way out hollywood style.

Turning what could have been a meaningful trilogy into another washout series that has a bland story that will never end and marginal gameplay improvements (God of war, Assisins creed, and Gears of War comes to mind while there are dozens more that are trying the franchise route).

 

[McKitten]

Let's ignore ME3 and other previous Bioware experiences for a second. Let's just take unbiased looked.


So, we've got the guys from Bioware going: "Hey! Psst! We've got this game! Wanna buy it? It'll be aaaawesome!
What, show it to you? Nah, we can't do that. But we've seen, and we know it's awesome, you should totally trust us on that!"


And that's supposed to make me optimistic about the game quality? Yeah, fuck that. If it were any good, they wouldn't talk about it, they'd post footage on youtube. They're trying to drum up hype without showing any content. I bet they know the game can't sell on its quality alone so they're laying the groundwork for a massive marketing campaign asap.

 

[Palora]

The developer claims that the game they are developing is going to be awesome, WHAT A SHOCK!

 

[Trunkage]

Couldn't the "Shepherd saga" be continued like it was in Citadel DLC? Another copy?
The ending of ME3 was as bad as ME1 - you killing Saren helps destroy Sovereign? How does that make any sense?

 

[jklinders]

I think I'm just going to leave this here.

Pretty much sums up all I have to say in regards to the myth that the people who hated the ME3 endings are a "vocal minority"

http://youtu.be/gu731UtTFqo

Also, how does one add the spoilers tag on the forums?

The guy that made a huge video rant about how Citadel wasn't want the audience wanted right before it was released and it turned out to be EXACTLY what the audience wanted?

Indeed. i watched that video last year to see if it was really the smoking gun that it was made out to be. In looking at the source of the data in a way that is not looking for affirmation of a previously held belief the methods used to come to the conclusions he did were seriously flawed. the largest data samples came from the BSN. Which is a venue filled with...extremely vocal people who voice their opinions vocally. by the time he collected that info anyone who did not feel ridiculously emotional over the ending had already stopped posting and looking there. Not a very representative sample.

Most of the public polls that this guy used were not at all scientific, not monitored for sock accounts and are pretty unreliable. Lots of folks spent a lot of effort in being unhappy.

the ending was crap. It did not destroy the franchise. It did not destroy the game. Hell Thessia pissed me off way more than the endings. loss of all player agency to a cutscene with a FF inspired villain wearing plot armour.

Also the obsession with the "indoctrination theory" with all of it's even more massive plot holes and problems destroys Clever Noobs credibility and exposes their bias.

 

[Megalodon]

I think I'm just going to leave this here.

Pretty much sums up all I have to say in regards to the myth that the people who hated the ME3 endings are a "vocal minority"

http://youtu.be/gu731UtTFqo

Also, how does one add the spoilers tag on the forums?

The guy that made a huge video rant about how Citadel wasn't want the audience wanted right before it was released and it turned out to be EXACTLY what the audience wanted?

Indeed. i watched that video last year to see if it was really the smoking gun that it was made out to be. In looking at the source of the data in a way that is not looking for affirmation of a previously held belief the methods used to come to the conclusions he did were seriously flawed. the largest data samples came from the BSN. Which is a venue filled with...extremely vocal people who voice their opinions vocally. by the time he collected that info anyone who did not feel ridiculously emotional over the ending had already stopped posting and looking there. Not a very representative sample.

Most of the public polls that this guy used were not at all scientific, not monitored for sock accounts and are pretty unreliable. Lots of folks spent a lot of effort in being unhappy.

the ending was crap. It did not destroy the franchise. It did not destroy the game. Hell Thessia pissed me off way more than the endings. loss of all player agency to a cutscene with a FF inspired villain wearing plot armour.

Also the obsession with the "indoctrination theory" with all of it's even more massive plot holes and problems destroys Clever Noobs credibility and exposes their bias.

I think you're missing the point of the video a bit. There was no data, of any quality, to support the Bioware PR position of "you guys who are unhappy with the ending are in the minority". If Bioware had data to support their view, why keep it to themselves? It would have been a useful justification for the line thier PR took. As opposed to helping solidify the distaste for the company in the eyes of their disillusioned fans (of which there were and are a fair few, whatever your stance on the issue).

 

[jklinders]

I think I'm just going to leave this here.

Pretty much sums up all I have to say in regards to the myth that the people who hated the ME3 endings are a "vocal minority"

http://youtu.be/gu731UtTFqo

Also, how does one add the spoilers tag on the forums?

The guy that made a huge video rant about how Citadel wasn't want the audience wanted right before it was released and it turned out to be EXACTLY what the audience wanted?

Indeed. i watched that video last year to see if it was really the smoking gun that it was made out to be. In looking at the source of the data in a way that is not looking for affirmation of a previously held belief the methods used to come to the conclusions he did were seriously flawed. the largest data samples came from the BSN. Which is a venue filled with...extremely vocal people who voice their opinions vocally. by the time he collected that info anyone who did not feel ridiculously emotional over the ending had already stopped posting and looking there. Not a very representative sample.

Most of the public polls that this guy used were not at all scientific, not monitored for sock accounts and are pretty unreliable. Lots of folks spent a lot of effort in being unhappy.

the ending was crap. It did not destroy the franchise. It did not destroy the game. Hell Thessia pissed me off way more than the endings. loss of all player agency to a cutscene with a FF inspired villain wearing plot armour.

Also the obsession with the "indoctrination theory" with all of it's even more massive plot holes and problems destroys Clever Noobs credibility and exposes their bias.

I think you're missing the point of the video a bit. There was no data, of any quality, to support the Bioware PR position of "you guys who are unhappy with the ending are in the minority". If Bioware had data to support their view, why keep it to themselves? It would have been a useful justification for the line thier PR took. As opposed to helping solidify the distaste for the company in the eyes of their disillusioned fans (of which there were and are a fair few, whatever your stance on the issue).

And so we counter no data with flawed data. Because that was the actual point of the video which by extension means it had no point. I saw the "point" of that video quite clearly. It was a "fan creation" with made up crap for stats to flog and alternative ending that was never intended by Bioware. It tried to legitimize the idea that artists cannot control their own work. the endings were what they were and people still moan about it over a year afterwards.

 

[Megalodon]

And so we counter no data with flawed data.

Then how are Bioware meant to recieve fan feedback, which they claimed to welcome at one point, if these polls are worthless? While potentially wrong, they have a better chance of being accurate than just pulling a viewpoint out of thin air.

We have a situation where Bioware claim that they're listening to fan input, only to then assert that what appears to be the majority view isn't. So either they have absolutely no basis to the "you are in a minority" claim, or they have data supporting their view, but are keeping it to themselves, which doesn't seem like a sensible idea to me.

Because that was the actual point of the video which by extension means it had no point. I saw the "point" of that video quite clearly. It was a "fan creation" with made up crap for stats to flog and alternative ending that was never intended by Bioware. It tried to legitimize the idea that artists cannot control their own work. the endings were what they were and people still moan about it over a year afterwards.

Now this is the only Clever Noobs video I've watched, but you're attributing them an agenda that I just don't see in the video itself. The video only lists the polls they tracked down and the results of those polls, with a little speculation at the end that the fans won't let it go unless Bioware do a better job of fixing it. Now you can disagree with that speculation but the only "flogging" of the Indoctrination Theorey in that video was them onberving that it was a popular option in those polls.

 

[AuronFtw]

We'd lose our shit? So, what, ME4 details the adventures of StarChild, amazing deus ex machina setpiece with no continuity or relevance to anyone else's plot, just wandering from NPC protagonist to NPC protagonist forcing him to press buttons to get different colored wallpapers to show?

Fantastic!

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I wonder if the comment was about the gameplay or the story/character. If it was the story/character, then the guy saw something familiar. If it was gameplay, who knows what he saw.

 

[Austin Manning]

It tried to legitimize the idea that artists cannot control their own work. the endings were what they were and people still moan about it over a year afterwards.

Bioware already legitimized that artists can't control their own work when they took Drew Karpyshyn(the series lead writer) off of Mass Effect 3 and replaced him with people who ignored all of the plot devices, foreshadowing, and character arcs that he'd set up.