Fan frustrations over the Mass Effect 3 endings appear to have calmed-down a bit – following the announcement of the Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut DLC add-on. However, BioWare hasn’t been especially forthcoming about what players can expect when the free Extended Cut content is made available this summer – so it’s hard to know whether or not fans will finally get the closure they’d been expecting.
New details suggest that response to the DLC could be mixed, depending on why frustrated players were let-down by the current endings, as the Extended Cut will reportedly focus on fleshing-out the endings with new “variations” – dependent on the player’s choices over the course of the series. That said, the DLC will not include new gameplay sections or choices.
According to Kotaku, who was contacted by a spokesperson at BioWare, players will be able to access the new, and more individualized, ending content by loading-up a pre-end game save file – which will contain the necessary data for the updated game to present new ending “variations”:
“[Players] should be able to grab a save file before the endgame and experience the new content from there [...] Much of the focus of the Extended Cut is to expand on the variety of consequences of player choices and degrees of success. So, with the new content, the player’s choices should result in a much more varied experience.”
News that the extended cut won’t allow for decisions, and instead will simply deliver a more personalized conclusion, should satisfy the host of gamers who, after watching their respective Mass Effect 3 ending, still wondered about the fate of their favorite characters – as well as larger plot implications (such as the Mass Relays, etc). However, players who were hoping for an entirely retooled ending that actually allowed for more choices (such as the involved progression at the end of Mass Effect 2), could still be pretty underwhelmed with BioWare’s Mass Effect 3 finale 2.0.
While the design process is still in flux, considering FemShep actress Jennifer Hale has yet to be contacted about doing further voice work, according to BioWare (as addressed by Dr. Ray Muzyka), the team still believes very strongly in the core ending – but understood why players might have felt like their respective endings weren’t representative of their full franchise journey. As a result, the developer opted-out of completely altering the endings (either by way of new gameplay or dramatically changing the outcomes) and, instead, decided to focus on allowing for more of the player’s prior choices to pay-off:
“BioWare strongly believes in the team’s artistic vision for the end of this arc of the Mass Effect franchise. The extended cut DLC will expand on the existing endings, but no further ending DLC is planned.”
According to the spokesperson, BioWare’s post-launch DLC plans have been pushed-back in order to divert assets to the Extended Cut content but confirms that “several projects are underway and in various stages of development.”
It’ll certainly be interesting to see what comes of the Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut (not to mention further DLC offerings) – since it will be especially disastrous if the developer doesn’t deliver in round two. It’s a very delicate balance, considering that (as mentioned) gamers were frustrated by the endings for entirely different reasons. While the vocal minority of “outraged” fans who led personal attacks against BioWare employees, complained to the FTC, and freaked out online, may never be satisfied, most level-headed players (the ones who have genuinely focused on helping BioWare craft a more satisfying conclusion via constructive criticism), aren’t likely to be broken-up about the lack of options in the DLC add-on – so long as they get closure on the personal relationships (as well as larger Mass Effect storyline).
In the meantime, frustrated gamers who are still underwhelmed by the game’s ending should head over to our Mass Effect 3 Endings Explained? The ‘Indoctrination Theory’ Answer post – maybe they’ll find some closure over there.
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Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick for further updates.
Mass Effect 3 is available now for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
Source: Kotaku
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SCREW THIS IM MAKING MY OWN GAME COMPANY AND MAKING MY OWN GAME AT LEAST THEN I WONT BE DISAPPOINTED
My thoughts exactly dude. Actually been planing once since I got excited about Deus Ex Human Revolution, and that disappointed me and made me feel “good” that my ideas were still possible to implement in that they haven’t been done yet. Mass Effect pissed me off royally with the hammer fisted potholes they chose to conclude on, so, its’ just helped me flesh out what I would do even more. So a middle finger to them, check out what the “extended cut” offers when its out, bitch some more when it just digs those holes ever deeper, and abandon them for my own project.
If BioWare gets away with using this “artistic vision” crap then Michael Bay fan’s could start calling his movies artistic…do we really want that? Seriously? Do you want that?
If someone beat the game aready before the relese of the DLC, will they re play the ending?
I think that’s why they’re saying you should keep a pre-end game save. So you can load it up and just finish off the game again.
That said, when you finish the game – it kicks you back to a point before the final mission. So, worst case scenario, you’d just need to play through a few missions again.
Yea you start off before assaulting the Invisible Man’s base. I dont know if I’ll replay it or not. I just want Shep to live and be kicked back on a beach with Jack relaxing not worring about saving the galaxy again.
Spoilers for the ending of Gears of War 3!
I will just wait for angry joe to download and play before I get anywhere near this.
Yeah sorry I’m waiting for people to download this and see how it is first. I already have a set of crappy endings from BW; I don’t need an even LONGER set of crappy endings.
To all the whining babys, its just a game for god sakes get a life thisistrulydepressingto us real game fans to see you people acting like a snot nosed punk over something as stupid as you didn’t like the ending
Concurred. Somebody needs to call the wambulance for these people.
Yes, sorry we have passion for an artistic medium. My bad, it’s all just mindless entertainment, not worthy of thought or inspection.
BABY MEN LOVE RPG STORY ELEMENTS IN GAME AND DEMAND AN ACTUAL THOUGHT PROCESS WHEN DEVELOPING AN ENDING. WAAAAH.
i just hope that we are not taking the focus and resources out of their other “projects”
There is a reason I do not listen to this pretalk stuff and wait untill the thing there working on is released.
ME 2 will not be on the ps3
*puts me 2 on the ps3*
ME 3 will not have multiplayer
*puts multiplayer in ME 3*
ME 3 will not have same sex romance
*Puts same sex romance in me 3*
ME 3 will not have A,B,C choice ending and it will create closure.
*Create a A,B,C choice ending, confuses the hell out of every one and creates more questions then answers.*
Bioware is known to do the opposite of what they say and the fact that one of the mass effect producer Michael Gamble is saying the complete opposite on his twitter page then what we are seeing in the news seems to show that there doing it again.
https://twitter.com/#!/gamblemike
Click on the “You heard wrong comment” and the ” no it wont just be “A few cinematics” Tweets
I hate how it seems like most are trying to marginalize the negativety surrounding the ending as a “vocal minority.” I have yet to see people support the ending(singular) in numbers higher than I have fingers. Nearly everyone I know outside of the internet is malcontented in some way. This isn’t a tiny fraction of the fanbase. Vocal minorities don’t raise 80,000 dollars for charity, organize a giant RGB cupcake delivery, and they most certianly aren’t addressed directly by developers by way of free, extra content.
As for the DLC itself, I’m hoping for the best, but am honestly expecting the worst. BW’s treatment of our complaints, and generally showing a lack of empathy with us (whipping out their ‘artistic integrity’ card, even though gaming is more of a service industry) doesn’t exactly paint them as sympathetic. They hear our complaints, but to say that they are really listening seems unlikely. This is simply being done to quell the flames.
DLC WITH NO NEWGAMEPLAY -__- THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE AND THEY CANT FIX IT UNLESS THE ENDING IS CHANGED COMPLETELY OR THIS DLC IS AMAZEING THATS THE ONLY WAY THEY CAN MAKE UP FOR IT
you seriously they didn’t have to give us anything at all if they didn’t want to so before you get mad because of what there giving us (for free mind you) wait until you play it to see then state your opinion
As a whole the game was amazing yes there are things about the ending i don’t understand and ill be glad for more cut scenes to kinda flesh it out for me but i’m more excited for eh other DLC they have planned that they have been working MONTHS if not a year on if its anything like the me 2 and 1 dlc.
My God people shut up! You know what? The 1st poster had it right; You don’t like it, then make your own gaming company. Whining is not productive of anything and if you can’t do anything productive of something that you don’t like, then shut up and get over it. Society has become full of cry baby whiners that figure if they whine enough they will get their way. All of this over a freaking video game? I beat the game today and I actually liked the ending. You know what? I kind of wish the Reapers were real. Maybe then people would stop whining and will actually do something useful. Bunch of wasted air of SOMETHING THAT ISN’T REAL!
A fleshed out ending is an ok compromise, but the only logical ending is, Shepard failed, everyone died and the galaxy ends up being cleansed by the reapers again. I also see no point in any other DLC apart from the muti player components, which was a big sap from the single player story and should never have been created. All in all I will vote with my dollars and avoid EA and Bioware games in the future. Not whining I am being a smart consumer and not buying the artistic integrity BS. videos games are a product not Art, and this product failed to meet many standards. The standards that Bioware set in previous games and standards that the fans had become accustom to Bioware living up to. sadly Either by EAs influence or by Biowares own intent those standards were not met. Luckily more are out there, but it will always be with sadness when I think what could have been when my mind falls on Mass Effect.
i wish to reword the point i was trying to get across. Do not… I repeat do not make a opinion on this pretalk chatter. It’s great news that bioware is making a compromise! Accept that there doing something and it is the right step foward and then keep all opinions on the matter idle until you play it!
Im glad there doing this but I have nothing to get pissed or be excited about until the dlc is in my hands. Every one should be doing the same. Remain nutural on this subject.
Its really not a big deal really i mean you are indoctrinated so the ending technically really didn’t happen i know i played as paragon the right way to know that because if you let tali die she comes back to life in your head and the fact if you destroy the reapers you live in the end and when your alive your not in London and also if you got the star gazer ending the boy says tell me another story of “The Shepard” the ending wasn’t the ending they were actually going to continue probably with DLC until everyone complained about the ending everything is actually pretty solid if your paying attention i thought the game was great the ONLY PROBLEM I HAD WAS WHO ARE THE REAPERS thats all i want too know, like where did they come from i give two shits about the characters i know their alive doing something with their life its just like a movie you don’t really get any closure on what happens to the rest of the characters, i just want my closure on what the hell a reaper is and how was it created i think that would be a better ending it will be a shocking moment
I can’t believe people are saying games are not art they are products that is BS do you people know how long it takes to make a game or even create proper characters to make the story flow or seem real it takes about 3 to 5 years these people are leaving their families to make these games you people want to complain about BS i damn well know you guys can’t create jack @#$% you guys are getting your money worth on these games. This is their job they need the money to make more games who cares about your pocket if your a smart consumer as you people say you are then don’t buy the DLC get out of peoples faces i am defending bioware 100% i understand them perfectly on what their doing i am becoming a game designer myself and i understand their pain when it comes too 3D modeling and level designing and voice acting. This stuff takes time and skill i have never heard stupid comments ever like this before you must dumb or something make your own games if you got what it takes i am done i stated my point YOU GO BIOWARE i love you guys i am surprise no one is complaining about activision your not getting your money worth with them just saying
Seems to me as though the majority of points have already been stated… In all honesty the only problem I really had with the ending was the lack of closure, and even then that wasn’t a major deal, just seemed like everything dropped all of a sudden, it was rather abrupt. I then went outside, smoke, vented my frustration with it dropping, and twenty minutes later was replaying the game with a different character, I now have four files, three different classes and one import of my soldier. The game, all save for that last bit, is awesome.
On the note of whether a game is art or not… games are another form of a story telling medium. They can be likened to books or movies in this sense. Yes, they are a form of art, they are a story that you interact with, that you work through, with characters/decisions that you control (especially with this one.) But, they are also a product, just as some posters said. Like movies and books, there will be those that you don’t like, authors you are not a fan of, and you will not give them your money. Bioware has every right to defend their artistic integrity, just as those of us who are left unsatisfied will have every right to stop giving them our money. As such they walk a fine line, between their own pride and their own need for income, and that will ultimately be the determining factor in how this dlc fleshes out.
Personal opinion? A much wider array of choices at the end would have been preferable, between the possibility of this ending and its choices, and a few more endings, each with their own set of choices. It would have been a lot of work, yes, but it would have been an ending this saga was worth. Was I disappointed? Yes. If they decided to continue designing games in the Mass Effect Universe would I buy them? Most definitely. And honestly the fact that I was just given six new multiplayer classes for free, as well as two new maps, tends to improve my already great opinion of them. They made an epic saga, one that will be long remembered, hating them for a single bad ending seems just wrong.