Bravely facing its legion of somewhat angry fans, BioWare presented a panel at PAX East today consisting of Chris Priestly, Mike Gamble, Corey Gaspur, Patrick Weekes, John Dombrow, and Reid Buckmaster. Whatever people think about the ending of Mass Effect 3, you have give credit to BioWare for facing the public while there is still much angst over the conclusion of the trilogy amongst the fanbase.
Before the event started, I had an opportunity to talk to many of those dedicated fans, and they were not the entitled crybabies that many in the gaming media have portrayed. Instead, most were huge admirers of BioWare who simply felt let down by the major plot holes in the conclusion of the game. In the context of the vague and non-distinct endings, their complaints were extremely reasonable as anyone with a sense of logic could readily realize. Almost uniformly, most were hoping to hear that the popular “Indoctrination Theory” was the correct way to interpret the Mass Effect 3‘s conclusion. So did the panel provide any relief to these Mass Effect diehards?
Well, yes and no. BioWare immediately tried to lighten the mood and tackle the issues on everyone’s minds right away. Chris Priestly started the show off jokingly stating that he knows there’s a lot of “love” for Mass Effect 3 right now, which elicited a lot of laughter. Then Mike Gamble spoke about the controversial endings, the “Extended Cut” ending DLC, and new multiplayer DLC.
- Mike Gamble polled the audience as to which Mass Effect game was their favorite. Mass Effect 2 was clearly the most popular and the most recent installment was least. There was a smattering of boos when Mass Effect 3 was called out.
- Gamble stated that the extended ending DLC will fill in some unknowns, place some events in context, and present a greater sense of personalization to the player.
- However, the ending DLC will not change the endings of Mass Effect 3 or be a reimagining, but it will be more than a coat of paint or a couple of extra cutscenes.
- While his reaction to its mere mention did not appear promising, Gamble would not confirm or deny that the Indoctrination Theory was correct. Ultimately, Gamble stated that he wanted fans to be able to develop their own interpretations.
- When asked why the extra DLC footage was not in the game to begin with, Gamble stated that BioWare didn’t realize that it would be needed. When asked to confirm that only new cinematics would be added in the DLC, Gamble refused to offer additional comment.
- The Resurgence Pack, offering two new maps and additional character classes, will be free and available on April 10, 2012.
Fans left generally feeling good about the panel, even though they were still concerned with the ending DLC, which is due out this summer. We’ll be sure to update fans as more information comes available.
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I think these fan would rather fight some reapers then getting an unconfirmed answer by these stooges.
these guys arent stooges. whether people agree or disagree about the ending, they are still a talented group, who gave us many hours of entertainment.
cudos, for the way they are handling situation and representing bioware, amongst much ridicule.
Whether YOU want o believe it or not, Bioware are artistically bankrupt liars, who have gone from a great, creative company that loves roleplaying and choice, to yet another EA sweatshop shilling ay one on disc DLC, half assed photoshop reveals, and endings designed by an inept narcissist, for the express purpose of “polarizing” fans, who care more about imaginary artistic integrity.
Yea you’d think that they learned that “polarizing” there fans was bad after Dragon Age 2.
No kidding.
No new ending. Okay, I calmed down now that they are giving us answers. Still not happy but I understand. Is it safe to replay ME3 now?
Depends, how much stock do you place in the promises of a good ending DLC, made by the exact same people, who said the exact same things about the initial game itself?
Not following through on promises, is why this elaborative DLC exists in the first place.
i think you are completely letting the complete game slip by you. It was a great game. The ending not completely excluded. Not a great ending but fine. The reat of the game was fantastic. And they’re adding onto it. I really wish people would let EA go. Whoop dee doo. Just because nobody likes EA it doesn’t mean that the games they PUBLISH are terrible. Are they making the games? Do they develop and create them? No. Is the stupid photoshopped picture of Tali that big of a deal either? No. Chances are YOU WOULDN’T even KNOW about it if The videogame media hadn’t picked up on it. Now it was Disappointing absolutely… But ultimately… it’s still just a game.
People are jumping from one extreme to the other on this issue. I’m considering at this point all those people to be overdramatic.
Another reason Bioware isn’t that bad… Is because they are listening. But not to you. They aren’t listening to the cliche crybabies that are making a terrible rep for every disheartened ME fan… They are listening to the real fans who are honestly trying to help them.
So please do us all a favor and shut up. Not just you. All the ridiculous people whining about the ending. Let the sane and calm speak instead of giving everybody a crybaby title.
Settle down, children.
Hey look, another self righteous gamer hypocrite!
Got news for you.
1. Being angry at a company for lying, doesn’t make anyone a “cliche baby” (or whatever self congratulatory flamebait nonsense you’re using this week to make yourself feel like less of a loser). YOU however, are every bit the cliche fanboy/forum contrarian/habitual complaint derider
2. You aren’t mature. If you were, you wouldn’t have written any of that BS. Mature people don’t tel people to shut up, because you take what they say about a game company personally.
3. Bioware ain’t listening to players like you either. Ass kissing Biodrones who feign maturity because they bend over and take it from a bunch of liars. You really think this extended DLC garbage is coming from listening to fans?
4. You’re a cancer on the gaming industry, you and other self righteous tools like you, who pretend to be mature, level headed gamers when in actuality, you’re a corporate yes man, only without getting paid for it.
and you’re a god damn hypocrite, crying about people not willing to put up with all the garbage you do.
so what?they’re pulling some inception BS? that movie had no actual ending in my opinion as the movie did not provide one
as a viewer, I am suppose to view it,not fill the blanks for them,that’s their job,have still not gotten this,don’t know when i will or if…heck did they even release the patch so my char can be properly imported?
then again my net connection sucks and I am loath to lend MS but loads of info just to patch a game that should not have had such an important bug overlooked
Heck yes it did! Oh my gosh I walked away from that movie feeling super intrigued! I really wanted to know what happened, and the lasting pleasure of that movie came from thinking and pondering over that movie. For me, when a movie causes me to think about it longer than just the hour or two it was playing, it’s succeeded in being an adequate form of entertainment to me. I think you’re nuts… But that’s just me.
Anyway, referring back to the ME series… It did not have quite the right concept that Inception had in order to end the way it did. Inception had the right to end that way. It already had the mystery to build up to it. But ME3 should not have ends the way it had because it was first the end of a trilogy, and secondly, did not follow the trend of how the series was written. Too open. Even Inception only had two (maybe three) options… Awake or asleep. Or was the point tw point that it didn’t matter as long as he was with his kids? ME3 ended so open that entire theories were built around it. Too many questions needed answered. Which is why I’m happy for what they are doing with the ending now.
Boy, Casey didn’t want to come out and talk about this himself, huh?
Brave for facing the fans?
Where were Hudson and Walters?
Brave, that is one word. ‘Meatshield’ also comes to mind.
I’m tired of ‘Your own interpretation’ endings. Thats like stopping Star Wars just as they are about to attack the death star and ending the film there and saying “what happens next is your own interpretation” Its nonsense.
Haha. Thats exactly how I felt, where was the boss fight where was the Bioware plot twist you didn’t see coming…
At least they respond and sort-of acknowledge fans discomfort. (Its okay to disagree on that,) I think the ending doesn’t really fit how the other two mass effect endings were compared to three. Personally, I think they didn’t do a complete ending in the original and something is up that we’re not being told. Anyway, I don’t want bring in Mass Effect as its like a book, but a lot of the people upset about the ending, (yes, there is lot of upset fans, not small bunch,) care about how Mass Effect ends. Its like a writing workshop. We’re not wanting the story to end our own versions, we’re trying to help the writers help set the ending that would connect with everything else in the story. Also, if these three endings were their original idea, why not add more to the mix? With dlc and Mass Effect being a story about choice, the story doesn’t have to end originally with those three. More endings could be added later to have more freedom. Do I sound crazy?
I think this frustration of the ending wouldn’t be this bad if we had one big action boss fight with harbinger. I mean after Mass Effect 2, I was expecting that kind of fight. Again do I sound crazy?
P.S. I do hope somehow in the future the Indoctrination theory can be used. How can this theory with so many points be denied?
Sorry if there are some grammar problems.
Just a thought if this all turns out to be the ” Bioware plot twist” people didn’t see coming, how will people react? “ahh yah got me good?” or po’d peoples still….
I’d say its brilliant to get a huge reaction, no?