I've decided to introduce a new segment where I review various point-and-click adventure games made with the Adventure Game Studio game design system. This is mainly to increase the entries on the blog because thing's have been going slow. I'm not going to any new films, nor am I playing any new games anytime soon. Not to mention if I do I'll be reviewing them for Nerd Like You. While I have said before that I would provide more spoilerific reviews of the games and films I review over there, I've found that it is just not needed. I've looked over my recent reviews and felt I got my point across without providing spoilers, and doing so would be redundant.
While I will provide reviews of films if I do indeed find I can say more, and I will still do reviews of movies you can find on Netflix, the fact of the matter is that I need a new source of reviews. The readily available games for the AGS system not only provides plenty of fun and interesting games, but a lot of them are surprisingly well done. So, over the next few weeks, I will be going over Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw's cosmic horror game series that many have taken to calling the "Chzo Mythos." However, before we can take a look at this series we need a bit of background (not only that but I am still in the process of playing the first game for the review).
To begin let's go over just what the heck the Adventure Game Studio is for those who aren't aware of it.
The Adventure Game Studio is a freeware game design program used to create adventure games similar to the old Lucasarts games like Maniac Mansion and Indiana Jones and The Fate of Atlantis. It was created in 1997 by Chris Jones and has grown in popularity among fans of the old adventure games of yore. Over the years aspiring game designers and hobbyists have been crafting their own adventure games.
Which brings us to our first entry in this a new segment for the blog: Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw's Chzo Mythos! I will be reviewing the first game in the series, 5 Days a Stranger, next week.
In the meantime, head over to Nerd Like You for plenty of awesome articles written by yours truly, along with other awesome folks!
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Games. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2013
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Small Update and I'm writing for a new site!
If the handful of people who read my little reviews have been wondering what I've been up to I have been very busy. Mostly I've been writing, along with my usual procrastination. However, what I've been working on has been very good.
Firstly, I'm glad to say that my winging and shouting has finally payed off. I was recently contacted by the talented Susie McBeth of A Twin Adventure to be a guest writer for her new website: NerdLikeYou.com. So far I've written a few articles for the site, including my review of Halo 4 if you've been looking for it here. In fact, you will most likely find most of my new reviews there, though I do intend to write more spoiler filled reviews here when I have the time to keep the blog alive. For now, expect a more spoilerific Halo 4 review soon.
In other news, I've been surprisingly busy with other writing projects, including Refuge, but have kinda hit a bit of a wall and have taken the week off to charge my batteries and get some actual work done. One of those things is teaching myself some 3D modeling and animation. I've recently gotten into 3D Animation after taking a course at college that I loved. It was amazing how much I already knew about animation from my geeky tinkerings and obsessive viewings of Pixar movie special features.
I got so into it that I had even decided to change my major from English Literature to Computer Simulation. However, bureaucratic red tape is keeping me from actually going about this. However, I have settled to continue with my English Lit degree and then study Computer Simulation afterward. Hopefully I don't go nuts from all the school but I'm certain my passion will keep me going.
I think that's about it for the update, as you can see I've been a busy bee, and I have all of you awesome readers to thank for that!
Firstly, I'm glad to say that my winging and shouting has finally payed off. I was recently contacted by the talented Susie McBeth of A Twin Adventure to be a guest writer for her new website: NerdLikeYou.com. So far I've written a few articles for the site, including my review of Halo 4 if you've been looking for it here. In fact, you will most likely find most of my new reviews there, though I do intend to write more spoiler filled reviews here when I have the time to keep the blog alive. For now, expect a more spoilerific Halo 4 review soon.
In other news, I've been surprisingly busy with other writing projects, including Refuge, but have kinda hit a bit of a wall and have taken the week off to charge my batteries and get some actual work done. One of those things is teaching myself some 3D modeling and animation. I've recently gotten into 3D Animation after taking a course at college that I loved. It was amazing how much I already knew about animation from my geeky tinkerings and obsessive viewings of Pixar movie special features.
I got so into it that I had even decided to change my major from English Literature to Computer Simulation. However, bureaucratic red tape is keeping me from actually going about this. However, I have settled to continue with my English Lit degree and then study Computer Simulation afterward. Hopefully I don't go nuts from all the school but I'm certain my passion will keep me going.
I think that's about it for the update, as you can see I've been a busy bee, and I have all of you awesome readers to thank for that!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
"...And Life Goes On" My Review of Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut
As most people who follow me on twitter and read my blog posts are well aware of, I was one of many people who found Mass Effect 3's ending to be unsatisfactory. I called it depressing, insulting, and a betrayal to not just the established lore of the series but to the fans who devoted much of their attention and care into it. I jumped on the Bioware Bashing Bandwagon calling the developers "lazy" "uninspired" and a host of other horrible names and curses that I, at present, cannot write on this entry.
I had lost faith in the developer's skill at designing the best games I know of, and as such decided to cut ties to them indefinitely. To call myself angry is an understatement. I felt, for all intents and purposes, betrayed. I had followed Bioware for many years, and devoted a lot of my time and money into their products. There was a level of quality I came to expect from them, an expectation and trust I only reserve for those who have proven they are deserving of it (Pixar is another such example of a studio who has earned that trust). To then have that trust be betrayed like it was when I witnessed the ending to Mass Effect 3 resulted in some of the darkest days of my life.
To say I loved the Mass Effect series is like saying I love my wife. To me, and many others like me, it is more than just a game, it was a part of my personal and social life. I forged friendships through this game, not just the crew of the Normandy but actual real living people here in the real world, and I have Mass Effect to thank for that. I say this because I seemingly cannot stress this point whenever I discuss Mass Effect. I must get across what these games meant to me in order for those who don't feel as I do to understand why myself and others were so affected by the ending.
It is the reason why I was dreading June 26th, a day I normally welcome because it is my birthday, because that day would be the most important day to everyone who ever cared about Mass Effect. For June 26th was the day that Bioware released the Extended Cut DLC, their answer to the outcries over the ending. And today, June 26th, 2012, has finally come, and I have seen the Extended Cut for myself, not only on Youtube but actually in person. So, what is my reaction to the new endings Bioware has produced for us?
In short, these are the endings that should have been in the game upon release. These are the endings, for better or worse, that we the fans deserved to see because they are undoubtedly better than what we received.
To start I must note that I initially wanted to hate the extended cut. In my mind, I wanted to hate them because I couldn't see any way for Bioware to fix the mess the original ending made. I must also point out that ever since the ending controversy began I have always referred to the endings of Mass Effect 3 as singular, ending. This is because, as it stood then, whatever choice you made be it control, synthesis, or destroy, you pretty much got the same ending. So for the more eagle eyed readers out there you may have noticed I just referred to the Extended Cut endings as plural. That is because these do, in fact, feel like multiple endings.
While the end result is inevitably the same: the reaper threat is resolved, the additions to the decisions presented in Mass Effect 3 do truly feel like they vary. This was a primary complaint among many who felt the endings didn't vary enough. Well, in the case of the Extended Cut, that isn't an issue. The variation between endings is, surprisingly, astounding considering what we had with the original ending. The game takes into account your paragon/renegade score and that truly effects the outcome of the endings. An example of this can be seen if you choose to control the reapers. Your Shepard's personality is downloaded into the reaper collective and, depending on whether your Shepard was Paragon or Renegade, he/she either uses the reapers to help rebuild galactic civilization and maintain peace or uses the reapers to create a seemingly totalitarian system of control where Shepard rules with an iron fist/reaper tentacle.
This is what I wanted to see in the original endings. Our choices and decisions playing out and effecting how the endings turned out.
So what about all the nagging issues such as the massive plot holes and seemingly world ending events that transpire during the original endings? Well, for the most part, Bioware did the smart thing and either removed them or downplayed most of them. The Extended Cut explains why your entire squad is back on the Normandy even though you last saw them all on Earth. It explains why Joker took the Normandy away from the battle, and it made logical sense and Joker clearly didn't want to leave Shepard behind. It works. Sure, some of the explanations may seem hamfisted but it works and doesn't leave a huge plot hole you can fly a reaper through.
The destruction of the mass relay network is now either completely omitted from the endings or strongly downplayed. This was a major issue I had with the games because, as I have said before, destroying the mass relays is like blowing up every single stargate in the Stargate franchise, it breaks the fiction. Now, when you see the mass relays go up it is implied that the damage was superficial or that they were easily rebuilt. This was a smart move by Bioware because, even though I can see the thematic significance of the destruction of the relays (they are reaper tech designed as part of their trap after all), the game's codex specifically notes the relays are the crux of galactic civilization (again like the stargates in Stargate).
The crashing of the Normandy is also strongly downplayed in this version of the endings. We don't see the Normandy's engines blowing up as it tries to outrun the crucible shockwave. The damage to the exterior of the ship when you see it on the nameless Eden planet has been removed and we eventually see the ship fly once more before cutting to the credits. Instead, as the new scenes provided imply, it appears that this strange planet is most likely the rendezvous point the fleet was supposed to reach when the Crucible was armed. This is obviously meant to make it clear that the Normandy crew isn't stranded like the original ending seemed to suggest.
To put it simply: the doom and gloom that the original endings seemed to imply has been replaced by a much more welcome victorious feeling.
There are now epilogue scenes that also hint at what the future of the Mass Effect universe may be based upon your choices. Whether you chose control, synthesis, or destroy, you are now given a sense of closure that was lacking in the original ending. You see the galaxy rebuild, and depending on your choices there are variations on how that is accomplished and where the galaxy will go from there. It is what I, personally, expected when I first played the game.
There are also new dialogue options when you speak to the "Star Child" Catalyst. This was one of the things I severely hated about the original endings because dialogue has been the primary gameplay function in the Mass Effect series (despite what more action oriented players say) and to see that not in the original ending hinted that the developers either had no time or simply didn't care. Here, you do get to ask questions and argue with the Star Child about the choices he gives you. The Star Child doesn't really come off as malevolent than he did in the original ending and, instead, comes off as simply an AI designed to control the reapers. While some may find this to be unacceptable at this point there is no way to completely remove him, like Jar Jar Binks in Episode I he is an important part of the plot which cannot be removed. He, however, does give us more information than we had before, even if he still won't give us truly clear answers due to there "being little time."
Hell, if that doesn't please you, Bioware even gave us a new alternate ending. This was one I really wanted to see in the original game and was glad they included it: refusing the choices presented. Of course, this results in the Reapers winning but I expected this to be a possibility in the original game, especially considering the time capsule Liara made seemed like a serious hint at this possibility. Of course, this plot point finally gets the pay off it deserves and I loved the ways you could initiate it (either vocally refuse the choices the Catalyst gives you or simply shoot the kid in the head. Gotta give points for Bioware having a sense of humor.)
To sum it up: the extended cut of the endings is how the game should've ended from the beginning. Had this been the endings presented to us when the game was released I would've been pleased at how Bioware managed to pull it off. As it stands now, Bioware managed to pull their asses out of a huge fire (and without the help of a portal gun! GLaDOS would be impressed!)
Which brings me to Bioware.
Throughout all of this I repeatedly stated my desire for Bioware to explain their decision and elaborate on why the chose to end the game as they did. I didn't want them to change the ending, I didn't even want them to clarify the ending. I wanted to understand why they wanted the game to end like it did. I wanted them to be honest and explain what happened that resulted in the ending I saw upon my first playthrough. I wanted them to accept responsibility for the mistakes they made and apologize.
Well, it seems I'm the one who should be apologizing.
So, I'd like to say that, like many, I have been a selfish, petty, and deluded human being. I made attacks and verbal accusations against a company I had come to respect and trust. While I can't say, at the time, that those actions weren't unwarranted. I can say that I am fully sorry for the way I have acted. Professionally, it was uncalled for. All I can hope to do now is let the folks at Bioware know that, as it stands right now, they have managed to regain the trust I had in them. They have regained me as a, albeit more cautious, customer and I hope to share more experiences with them and their products in the future.
I'd also like to thank them for giving me probably one of the best birthday gifts I could hope for: a reason to play their games once more.
I had lost faith in the developer's skill at designing the best games I know of, and as such decided to cut ties to them indefinitely. To call myself angry is an understatement. I felt, for all intents and purposes, betrayed. I had followed Bioware for many years, and devoted a lot of my time and money into their products. There was a level of quality I came to expect from them, an expectation and trust I only reserve for those who have proven they are deserving of it (Pixar is another such example of a studio who has earned that trust). To then have that trust be betrayed like it was when I witnessed the ending to Mass Effect 3 resulted in some of the darkest days of my life.
To say I loved the Mass Effect series is like saying I love my wife. To me, and many others like me, it is more than just a game, it was a part of my personal and social life. I forged friendships through this game, not just the crew of the Normandy but actual real living people here in the real world, and I have Mass Effect to thank for that. I say this because I seemingly cannot stress this point whenever I discuss Mass Effect. I must get across what these games meant to me in order for those who don't feel as I do to understand why myself and others were so affected by the ending.
It is the reason why I was dreading June 26th, a day I normally welcome because it is my birthday, because that day would be the most important day to everyone who ever cared about Mass Effect. For June 26th was the day that Bioware released the Extended Cut DLC, their answer to the outcries over the ending. And today, June 26th, 2012, has finally come, and I have seen the Extended Cut for myself, not only on Youtube but actually in person. So, what is my reaction to the new endings Bioware has produced for us?
In short, these are the endings that should have been in the game upon release. These are the endings, for better or worse, that we the fans deserved to see because they are undoubtedly better than what we received.
To start I must note that I initially wanted to hate the extended cut. In my mind, I wanted to hate them because I couldn't see any way for Bioware to fix the mess the original ending made. I must also point out that ever since the ending controversy began I have always referred to the endings of Mass Effect 3 as singular, ending. This is because, as it stood then, whatever choice you made be it control, synthesis, or destroy, you pretty much got the same ending. So for the more eagle eyed readers out there you may have noticed I just referred to the Extended Cut endings as plural. That is because these do, in fact, feel like multiple endings.
While the end result is inevitably the same: the reaper threat is resolved, the additions to the decisions presented in Mass Effect 3 do truly feel like they vary. This was a primary complaint among many who felt the endings didn't vary enough. Well, in the case of the Extended Cut, that isn't an issue. The variation between endings is, surprisingly, astounding considering what we had with the original ending. The game takes into account your paragon/renegade score and that truly effects the outcome of the endings. An example of this can be seen if you choose to control the reapers. Your Shepard's personality is downloaded into the reaper collective and, depending on whether your Shepard was Paragon or Renegade, he/she either uses the reapers to help rebuild galactic civilization and maintain peace or uses the reapers to create a seemingly totalitarian system of control where Shepard rules with an iron fist/reaper tentacle.
This is what I wanted to see in the original endings. Our choices and decisions playing out and effecting how the endings turned out.
So what about all the nagging issues such as the massive plot holes and seemingly world ending events that transpire during the original endings? Well, for the most part, Bioware did the smart thing and either removed them or downplayed most of them. The Extended Cut explains why your entire squad is back on the Normandy even though you last saw them all on Earth. It explains why Joker took the Normandy away from the battle, and it made logical sense and Joker clearly didn't want to leave Shepard behind. It works. Sure, some of the explanations may seem hamfisted but it works and doesn't leave a huge plot hole you can fly a reaper through.
The destruction of the mass relay network is now either completely omitted from the endings or strongly downplayed. This was a major issue I had with the games because, as I have said before, destroying the mass relays is like blowing up every single stargate in the Stargate franchise, it breaks the fiction. Now, when you see the mass relays go up it is implied that the damage was superficial or that they were easily rebuilt. This was a smart move by Bioware because, even though I can see the thematic significance of the destruction of the relays (they are reaper tech designed as part of their trap after all), the game's codex specifically notes the relays are the crux of galactic civilization (again like the stargates in Stargate).
The crashing of the Normandy is also strongly downplayed in this version of the endings. We don't see the Normandy's engines blowing up as it tries to outrun the crucible shockwave. The damage to the exterior of the ship when you see it on the nameless Eden planet has been removed and we eventually see the ship fly once more before cutting to the credits. Instead, as the new scenes provided imply, it appears that this strange planet is most likely the rendezvous point the fleet was supposed to reach when the Crucible was armed. This is obviously meant to make it clear that the Normandy crew isn't stranded like the original ending seemed to suggest.
To put it simply: the doom and gloom that the original endings seemed to imply has been replaced by a much more welcome victorious feeling.
There are now epilogue scenes that also hint at what the future of the Mass Effect universe may be based upon your choices. Whether you chose control, synthesis, or destroy, you are now given a sense of closure that was lacking in the original ending. You see the galaxy rebuild, and depending on your choices there are variations on how that is accomplished and where the galaxy will go from there. It is what I, personally, expected when I first played the game.
There are also new dialogue options when you speak to the "Star Child" Catalyst. This was one of the things I severely hated about the original endings because dialogue has been the primary gameplay function in the Mass Effect series (despite what more action oriented players say) and to see that not in the original ending hinted that the developers either had no time or simply didn't care. Here, you do get to ask questions and argue with the Star Child about the choices he gives you. The Star Child doesn't really come off as malevolent than he did in the original ending and, instead, comes off as simply an AI designed to control the reapers. While some may find this to be unacceptable at this point there is no way to completely remove him, like Jar Jar Binks in Episode I he is an important part of the plot which cannot be removed. He, however, does give us more information than we had before, even if he still won't give us truly clear answers due to there "being little time."
Hell, if that doesn't please you, Bioware even gave us a new alternate ending. This was one I really wanted to see in the original game and was glad they included it: refusing the choices presented. Of course, this results in the Reapers winning but I expected this to be a possibility in the original game, especially considering the time capsule Liara made seemed like a serious hint at this possibility. Of course, this plot point finally gets the pay off it deserves and I loved the ways you could initiate it (either vocally refuse the choices the Catalyst gives you or simply shoot the kid in the head. Gotta give points for Bioware having a sense of humor.)
To sum it up: the extended cut of the endings is how the game should've ended from the beginning. Had this been the endings presented to us when the game was released I would've been pleased at how Bioware managed to pull it off. As it stands now, Bioware managed to pull their asses out of a huge fire (and without the help of a portal gun! GLaDOS would be impressed!)
Which brings me to Bioware.
Throughout all of this I repeatedly stated my desire for Bioware to explain their decision and elaborate on why the chose to end the game as they did. I didn't want them to change the ending, I didn't even want them to clarify the ending. I wanted to understand why they wanted the game to end like it did. I wanted them to be honest and explain what happened that resulted in the ending I saw upon my first playthrough. I wanted them to accept responsibility for the mistakes they made and apologize.
Well, it seems I'm the one who should be apologizing.
So, I'd like to say that, like many, I have been a selfish, petty, and deluded human being. I made attacks and verbal accusations against a company I had come to respect and trust. While I can't say, at the time, that those actions weren't unwarranted. I can say that I am fully sorry for the way I have acted. Professionally, it was uncalled for. All I can hope to do now is let the folks at Bioware know that, as it stands right now, they have managed to regain the trust I had in them. They have regained me as a, albeit more cautious, customer and I hope to share more experiences with them and their products in the future.
I'd also like to thank them for giving me probably one of the best birthday gifts I could hope for: a reason to play their games once more.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
"An End Once And For All" My Thoughts On Bioware And A Message
Okay, so it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who follows my twitter account that I absolutely hated the ending to Mass Effect 3. Over the course of my short life, this is by far the biggest betrayal I have ever faced. A betrayal that left me hollow emotionally and grief stricken for months. I literally went through all the stages of grief over what is basically just a video game. However, it's clearly not just a video game to me. We all have that passion for something that is seemingly trivial if you look at it from an objective point of view be it books, movies, video games, or marriage. What matters (and what I will always respect regardless of how trivial anyone's passion may appear to be) is that you were capable of having a strong emotional reaction to that thing you're passionate about.
For me this was Mass Effect.
My friendships were practically based around this series. Friendships forged in the fires of galactic war and the passion for the epic story Bioware was presenting to us. Which makes what happened to Mass Effect 3 all the more painful because it also put me at odds with the best of my friends. That is how powerful this game is. Like Thor's hammer coming down on Captain America's shield the ending to Mass Effect 3 resulted in devastation and left those in its wake dazed and confused. We (the fans) wanted to know what happened.
Of course no one really knows what happened apart from Bioware themselves, but they will probably never tell us. This is probably the most irritating part of what happened between the loyal fans and Bioware: the lack of communication. Be it corporate PR strategies, embarrassment, or because they really do stand by their game and its horrendous ending they aren't willing to explain the thought processes behind the ending.. Regardless, there are many people, myself included, who would love to have been a fly on the wall at the Bioware offices during the production of the game. Just to see where things went wrong.
The resulting fan rage doesn't help anyone, of course, but what else can us fans do? This really is the first time I've ever really had a true episode of nerd-rage, something I thought myself above, and it has both blinded me and opened my eyes to many things. In the end, I am really no better for what happened. I know that it may sound melodramatic to say that Mass Effect 3 emotionally scarred me for life, but that is the honest and simple truth.
To elaborate, you must understand that this is a game I, and many other people, poured my money, love, and passion into. Think of the Mass Effect series as a house that is being built, that you and others are building together because you truly desire this house to be built and you want to see the final product. The house gets built, and the more of it that is completed the more beautiful you realize it is.Then imagine that, on the final day where the last shingle is being placed onto the roof, the primary group of people who have helped build this house, fund its construction, and supervised everything decided to take a bulldozer to it at the last minute without telling you. How would you feel? Betrayed? I'd go with betrayed.
Now sure, you yourself didn't fund this project and the ones who did do have a right to do what they please with the house you're building but that doesn't take away the sting of realizing the effort you put into this house has been for nothing. Surely you must feel like you've wasted your time building this house. I know it's just a metaphor but it's the only way I can clarify my feelings about what Bioware did.
I can't argue with Bioware's choice to go this route because, ultimately, its their game. They wrote it, programmed it, and shipped it for us to enjoy. I can respect that fact, much to my chagrin. That doesn't mean we didn't have a part to play in this series though. After all, any franchise is only as great as its fanbase and Mass Effect and Bioware had one heck of a fanbase. This is thanks to both their imaginative and creative games as well as their unique relationship with fans. You don't see this level of communication between a developer and its fans, and you probably never will ever again. So why is it that this aspect has changed all of a sudden?
It'd be too easy to blame EA. Far too easy.
But blame doesn't change the fact that what happened in Mass Effect 3 can never be undone. It is, as a certain Time Lord would put it, a fixed point in time. It's now set in stone. I know there are many people out there who really do hope that the Extended Cut DLC will undo everything (and if they feel like it does then that's even better) but take into consideration the fact that, had this ending not received the negative feedback that it did even by a fraction, does anyone really think Bioware would be putting in the effort and resources to create this extended cut?
Of course I base this on the assumption that no one at Bioware was expecting this ending to be met with this much hostility. Which seems to be a fair assumption otherwise we would be expecting an extended cut to have been released much sooner. Top off the fact that if this had been pre-planned from the get-go it wouldn't just be extra cinematics but actual gameplay.
Again, I don't know what went on in Bioware, I'm merely going off my best possible assumptions. Needless to say, it's hard not to see this Extended Cut as being the PR department's saving throw against the negative criticism the ending has been faced with.
I know I am coming off as being negative but that's the point. Because the truth hurts, and it can come off as being negative. No one likes to hear the truth and the truth is this: People aren't stupid and the fans of these games proved that by pointing out the glaring flaws in this game's ending, flaws that the creators somehow managed to overlook. We're smart enough to see through the bullshit. Just look at the numerous reactions to the statement Bioware made when they announced the Extended Cut. And yes there are those who do see hope in this Extended Cut as well, but for this fan simply clarifying things isn't going to help.
At this point, the only thing that could fix things between me personally and Bioware is a genuine apology and an explanation as to how they managed to screw this up. But I'm not going to get that and I accept that. The next best thing would be for the ending to be undone, but as I stated before, what's happened has happened and cannot be undone. Which is why I have chosen to never pick up another Bioware product for as long as I live.
Bioware, if you are reading this, this is my message to you stating that you have forever lost me as a customer. You have betrayed my trust in you as a competent developer of quality products and I will never do business with you ever again. It's as simple as that. I will say that our business together has been great over the years, and I genuinely regret this decision considering our past relationship. However, this betrayal of trust cannot be forgotten nor can it be undone. It has been nice doing business with you but we must now part ways.
For me this was Mass Effect.
My friendships were practically based around this series. Friendships forged in the fires of galactic war and the passion for the epic story Bioware was presenting to us. Which makes what happened to Mass Effect 3 all the more painful because it also put me at odds with the best of my friends. That is how powerful this game is. Like Thor's hammer coming down on Captain America's shield the ending to Mass Effect 3 resulted in devastation and left those in its wake dazed and confused. We (the fans) wanted to know what happened.
Of course no one really knows what happened apart from Bioware themselves, but they will probably never tell us. This is probably the most irritating part of what happened between the loyal fans and Bioware: the lack of communication. Be it corporate PR strategies, embarrassment, or because they really do stand by their game and its horrendous ending they aren't willing to explain the thought processes behind the ending.. Regardless, there are many people, myself included, who would love to have been a fly on the wall at the Bioware offices during the production of the game. Just to see where things went wrong.
The resulting fan rage doesn't help anyone, of course, but what else can us fans do? This really is the first time I've ever really had a true episode of nerd-rage, something I thought myself above, and it has both blinded me and opened my eyes to many things. In the end, I am really no better for what happened. I know that it may sound melodramatic to say that Mass Effect 3 emotionally scarred me for life, but that is the honest and simple truth.
To elaborate, you must understand that this is a game I, and many other people, poured my money, love, and passion into. Think of the Mass Effect series as a house that is being built, that you and others are building together because you truly desire this house to be built and you want to see the final product. The house gets built, and the more of it that is completed the more beautiful you realize it is.Then imagine that, on the final day where the last shingle is being placed onto the roof, the primary group of people who have helped build this house, fund its construction, and supervised everything decided to take a bulldozer to it at the last minute without telling you. How would you feel? Betrayed? I'd go with betrayed.
Now sure, you yourself didn't fund this project and the ones who did do have a right to do what they please with the house you're building but that doesn't take away the sting of realizing the effort you put into this house has been for nothing. Surely you must feel like you've wasted your time building this house. I know it's just a metaphor but it's the only way I can clarify my feelings about what Bioware did.
I can't argue with Bioware's choice to go this route because, ultimately, its their game. They wrote it, programmed it, and shipped it for us to enjoy. I can respect that fact, much to my chagrin. That doesn't mean we didn't have a part to play in this series though. After all, any franchise is only as great as its fanbase and Mass Effect and Bioware had one heck of a fanbase. This is thanks to both their imaginative and creative games as well as their unique relationship with fans. You don't see this level of communication between a developer and its fans, and you probably never will ever again. So why is it that this aspect has changed all of a sudden?
It'd be too easy to blame EA. Far too easy.
But blame doesn't change the fact that what happened in Mass Effect 3 can never be undone. It is, as a certain Time Lord would put it, a fixed point in time. It's now set in stone. I know there are many people out there who really do hope that the Extended Cut DLC will undo everything (and if they feel like it does then that's even better) but take into consideration the fact that, had this ending not received the negative feedback that it did even by a fraction, does anyone really think Bioware would be putting in the effort and resources to create this extended cut?
Of course I base this on the assumption that no one at Bioware was expecting this ending to be met with this much hostility. Which seems to be a fair assumption otherwise we would be expecting an extended cut to have been released much sooner. Top off the fact that if this had been pre-planned from the get-go it wouldn't just be extra cinematics but actual gameplay.
Again, I don't know what went on in Bioware, I'm merely going off my best possible assumptions. Needless to say, it's hard not to see this Extended Cut as being the PR department's saving throw against the negative criticism the ending has been faced with.
I know I am coming off as being negative but that's the point. Because the truth hurts, and it can come off as being negative. No one likes to hear the truth and the truth is this: People aren't stupid and the fans of these games proved that by pointing out the glaring flaws in this game's ending, flaws that the creators somehow managed to overlook. We're smart enough to see through the bullshit. Just look at the numerous reactions to the statement Bioware made when they announced the Extended Cut. And yes there are those who do see hope in this Extended Cut as well, but for this fan simply clarifying things isn't going to help.
At this point, the only thing that could fix things between me personally and Bioware is a genuine apology and an explanation as to how they managed to screw this up. But I'm not going to get that and I accept that. The next best thing would be for the ending to be undone, but as I stated before, what's happened has happened and cannot be undone. Which is why I have chosen to never pick up another Bioware product for as long as I live.
Bioware, if you are reading this, this is my message to you stating that you have forever lost me as a customer. You have betrayed my trust in you as a competent developer of quality products and I will never do business with you ever again. It's as simple as that. I will say that our business together has been great over the years, and I genuinely regret this decision considering our past relationship. However, this betrayal of trust cannot be forgotten nor can it be undone. It has been nice doing business with you but we must now part ways.
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