101103 réponses à ce sujet

[Alamar2078]

Good night everyone and Hold the Line. It's important that we do not waver.

[TheBigShinz]

atghunter wrote...

Greetings All,

Really flattered with the responses. Respectful regards and thanks to all. Been spending a few minutes reading over Mr. Hudson’s response. Here's my PR insider perspective. Hope it helps a bit.

First, let’s simply look at strategy over content. 1) They definitely released this on a Friday evening to bury it in the news cycle (because it does acknowledge in passing there are unhappy customers, but more next paragraph). Btw, kudos to those who pointed that out earlier in the thread-Solid catch. 2) Several of the “anti-ending” articles (most notably Forbes) are now creeping into front page searches for “Mass Effect 3” instead of “Mass Effect 3 endings” and they are hoping this release will knock those stories to page 2. 3) They are hoping to deflect some of the current silence anger by combining this message with this weekend’s faux olive branches (discussed earlier).

All in all, the message release strategy is nothing too interesting at this point.

The content, however, is interesting. Most of the statement is doublespeak meant to let you see whatever you want as to as to the direction this thing is heading. Mr. Hudson then clearly tries to give validity to the greatness of the game by citing a couple news sources in the hopes of getting those stories more hits and onto search page one (nicely played EA PR), but the main thing is a clear acknowledgement that Houston has a problem with “some” fans. Mind you, he uses the term “some” and “most passionate fans” to try and minimalize the level of the outcry, but the disenfranchised fan base has reached the level of acknowledgement. That is important. Does it mean those disenfranchised fans have won? Not by a long shot. But Mr. Hudson’s statement was written (or at least approved by someone running damage control). And ultimately any time you have to acknowledge a problem with your product or customers, you have issues.

Does he continue on holding his own line that they intended “bittersweet” endings? Yes. Is the comment that you’ll see more of Commander Shepard an illusion to an “ending” DLC? Not certain but probably not at the moment. Does he utilize the “we’re listening to feedback but not promising we’ll do anything” line used on the boards yesterday? Sure.

It is clear most of his statement is insubstantial and leaves tons of room for spin either way down the road. Whether it gets used or not, management is trying to find some wiggle room in case they have to change course.

Last bit. A warning. PR guys know that right now many people’s emotions are on edge and often use a tactic called “Sound and Fury” (Shakespearean reference see Macbeth) to see if it gets people raging. It helps that strategy that people are looking at anything coming out of Bioware to detect wind changes. That said, I was reading through the thread burning with Mr. Hudson’s statement (though to be fair it is a Bioware/EA statement) and it seems for the most part folks are being passionate, but civil. EA PR will probably chalk up that aspect of this release as a failedruse de guerre (trick of war).

Stay civil, stay passionate, and stay vocal no matter which side you take. For myself, I’ll shamelessly

Hold the Line


^this

[Darth Polizei]

I worked by butt off for a good ending! I have 8 separate characters to play through! They all get the same ending! What the hells the point? BW needs to fix this.

[malra]

WvStolzing wrote...

Darth Suetam wrote...

They are usually writen by ignorant people, who just think being pretentious is an art form. People who never opened a book about philosophy, theology or anything really, they just think they can talk about it. It's really just depressing. 

And, sadly, ME3 suffers from that. It's a pretentious ending, with no real "meat" to eat.

Absolutely. Also the 'immutability of the artwork' BS is itself a display of sheer ignorance.

Just being able to tell a good story seems to be going the way of the dinasour.  I always found the end of winnie the pooh to be bittersweet.  Christopher Robbin grows up and leaves the forest.  No bizarre philosophical god/children, just life.

[Computim]

I'd like to politely disagree with that PR dude who thinks this weekend was brought up at the last second.

First off TOR has their major 1.2 patch coming out, they've been advertising the free weekend for like a month now if I recall.

Second - The art for the N7 weekend would have had to be submitted to Microsoft a couple weeks ago to get on the xbox 360 - it's on the dashboard right now. It was probably planned to coincide when most people would be finishing the single player game, to get them interested in the multiplayer one

I suspect we're seeing monsters in the shadows in this instance.. bit of paranoia creeping in.

[Major Swift]

Darth Polizei wrote...

I worked by butt off for a good ending! I have 8 separate characters to play through! They all get the same ending! What the hells the point? BW needs to fix this.

im in exactly the same position except with 9 characters

[TheBull]

IN PEACE VIGILANT
IN WAR VICTORY
IN DEATH SACRIFICE
This is what it means to be part of this community

[TamiBx]

 Honestly, I don't see why people only want bittersweet endings. Why not make all of them available? I mean, I am pretty that with the death of many, it is sad enough. This isn't supposed to be tragedy...or else I would have never started playing it...

[KLGChaos]

Off to work now, but haven't given up. I actually enjoy the multiplayer part of the game, but won't be part of N7 weekend out of respect for my comrades.

Will hold the line as long as needed.

[Eisir]

Idaho checking in

Hold the line

[People4Peace]

zephyrus92 wrote...

Oh man... I'm IMing my friend right now who is currently choosing her flavor of galactic destruction for the first time. Anyone have anything they think I should tell her as she ponders whether to choose synthesis or destroy?

This was probably the hardest part of dealing with these horrible endings. Trying not to ruin the ride for my friends who haven't beaten the game.

Depends on what she wants and how she interrupts the ending.

I hate God Child especially since he is probably Harby. So my Shep ain't giving in to the Reapers. God Child/Casper seemed to support Merge and Control. My Shep isn't going to become TIM/Saren and I don't like the idea of forcing everyone to merge. Plus destroy is the only ending that Shep can live in.

And I am not sure if the geth and EDI are truly lost. God Child is a liar....and I have no reason to trust him.

[Darkspazztic]

Computim wrote...
[snip]
I suspect we're seeing monsters in the shadows in this instance.. bit of paranoia creeping in.

I'd rather be paranoid and wrong than oblivious and surprised.

[Misterdde45000]

Computim wrote...

I'd like to politely disagree with that PR dude who thinks this weekend was brought up at the last second.

First off TOR has their major 1.2 patch coming out, they've been advertising the free weekend for like a month now if I recall.

Second - The art for the N7 weekend would have had to be submitted to Microsoft a couple weeks ago to get on the xbox 360 - it's on the dashboard right now. It was probably planned to coincide when most people would be finishing the single player game, to get them interested in the multiplayer one

I suspect we're seeing monsters in the shadows in this instance.. bit of paranoia creeping in.

Maybe, but it would give them " weapon" against us. Paranoïd or not, they want people to play massivly this WE

[Eadric]

malra wrote...

building on a thought, i actually put the entire blame for this fiasco directly on the people who thought mixing gaming genres was a good idea. what is exceptable in a shooter is not exceptable in an rpg. story matters, logic matters, and you can't take soyalent green, call it people reaper paste and expect me to be so busy running around shooing at monsters that I don't notice.

Reaper paste, hahaha!

Keep holding the line, folks. Participate in the discussion over on the ME3 Suggested Changes Feedback Thread, but keep holding the line. I'll think about it for a few days and post myself.

[ColloquialAnachron]

One more Canadian reporting back in to the line, requesting any updates which happened today as I was fully out of the loop.

[ld1449]

Computim wrote...

I'd like to politely disagree with that PR dude who thinks this weekend was brought up at the last second.

First off TOR has their major 1.2 patch coming out, they've been advertising the free weekend for like a month now if I recall.

Second - The art for the N7 weekend would have had to be submitted to Microsoft a couple weeks ago to get on the xbox 360 - it's on the dashboard right now. It was probably planned to coincide when most people would be finishing the single player game, to get them interested in the multiplayer one

I suspect we're seeing monsters in the shadows in this instance.. bit of paranoia creeping in.

I'll take the Paranoia in this instance Computim. Better to have them get the message that they shattered the trust of their fanbase than to think they can just sweep this under the rug with enough time and free things.

[TamiBx]

TheBull wrote...

IN PEACE VIGILANT
IN WAR VICTORY
IN DEATH SACRIFICE
This is what it means to be part of this community

I agree.

and totally off topic, but have I ever mentioned that your GW looks quite cool? I usually read the posts as if the profile picture was talking, but since GW are mutes, I kind of made up a voice for him in my mind  lol

[Computim]

TamiBx wrote...

 Honestly, I don't see why people only want bittersweet endings. Why not make all of them available? I mean, I am pretty that with the death of many, it is sad enough. This isn't supposed to be tragedy...or else I would have never started playing it...

Agreed.. bittersweet means that although there are sweet parts there's bitterness to it.. AKA Your squad and you survived, or your squad survived (Which they really didn't in this finale), but you have the deaths of your previous mates and, the countless other lives...

this wasn't just bittersweet ending, this was downright tragic.. This is pretty much a post apocalyptic future.. only thing left is for the husks to be freaken zombies haha.

[Generic Name]

Computim wrote...

I'd like to politely disagree with that PR dude who thinks this weekend was brought up at the last second.

First off TOR has their major 1.2 patch coming out, they've been advertising the free weekend for like a month now if I recall.

Second - The art for the N7 weekend would have had to be submitted to Microsoft a couple weeks ago to get on the xbox 360 - it's on the dashboard right now. It was probably planned to coincide when most people would be finishing the single player game, to get them interested in the multiplayer one

I suspect we're seeing monsters in the shadows in this instance.. bit of paranoia creeping in.

It would have been a tactic either way at a later point. I doubt they expected the consumer base to be this upset.

[WvStolzing]

TheBigShinz wrote...

atghunter wrote...

Greetings All,

Really flattered with the responses. Respectful regards and thanks to all. Been spending a few minutes reading over Mr. Hudson’s response. Here's my PR insider perspective. Hope it helps a bit.

First, let’s simply look at strategy over content. 1) They definitely released this on a Friday evening to bury it in the news cycle (because it does acknowledge in passing there are unhappy customers, but more next paragraph). Btw, kudos to those who pointed that out earlier in the thread-Solid catch. 2) Several of the “anti-ending” articles (most notably Forbes) are now creeping into front page searches for “Mass Effect 3” instead of “Mass Effect 3 endings” and they are hoping this release will knock those stories to page 2. 3) They are hoping to deflect some of the current silence anger by combining this message with this weekend’s faux olive branches (discussed earlier).

All in all, the message release strategy is nothing too interesting at this point.

The content, however, is interesting. Most of the statement is doublespeak meant to let you see whatever you want as to as to the direction this thing is heading. Mr. Hudson then clearly tries to give validity to the greatness of the game by citing a couple news sources in the hopes of getting those stories more hits and onto search page one (nicely played EA PR), but the main thing is a clear acknowledgement that Houston has a problem with “some” fans. Mind you, he uses the term “some” and “most passionate fans” to try and minimalize the level of the outcry, but the disenfranchised fan base has reached the level of acknowledgement. That is important. Does it mean those disenfranchised fans have won? Not by a long shot. But Mr. Hudson’s statement was written (or at least approved by someone running damage control). And ultimately any time you have to acknowledge a problem with your product or customers, you have issues.

Does he continue on holding his own line that they intended “bittersweet” endings? Yes. Is the comment that you’ll see more of Commander Shepard an illusion to an “ending” DLC? Not certain but probably not at the moment. Does he utilize the “we’re listening to feedback but not promising we’ll do anything” line used on the boards yesterday? Sure.

It is clear most of his statement is insubstantial and leaves tons of room for spin either way down the road. Whether it gets used or not, management is trying to find some wiggle room in case they have to change course.

Last bit. A warning. PR guys know that right now many people’s emotions are on edge and often use a tactic called “Sound and Fury” (Shakespearean reference see Macbeth) to see if it gets people raging. It helps that strategy that people are looking at anything coming out of Bioware to detect wind changes. That said, I was reading through the thread burning with Mr. Hudson’s statement (though to be fair it is a Bioware/EA statement) and it seems for the most part folks are being passionate, but civil. EA PR will probably chalk up that aspect of this release as a failedruse de guerre (trick of war).

Stay civil, stay passionate, and stay vocal no matter which side you take. For myself, I’ll shamelessly

Hold the Line


^this

1000+, this.

[Nephilim5]

TarielMaeda wrote...


Angry Joe is on our side.

His fallacious ranting is exactly what we do NOT NEED.  It's insulting, hyperbolistic, and just plain rude.

[TheBull]

TamiBx wrote...

 Honestly, I don't see why people only want bittersweet endings. Why not make all of them available? I mean, I am pretty that with the death of many, it is sad enough. This isn't supposed to be tragedy...or else I would have never started playing it...

I agree we could have 1 bittersweet ending i mean ME 2 did it
But we SHOULD have one Good ending that we could reach if we worked hard enough

[LostHero2k9]

Harthouse wrote...

One more Canadian reporting back in to the line, requesting any updates which happened today as I was fully out of the loop.

take a look at the new sticky here.
the things start to role... slowly but it is something. HOPE!

[TerrifiedKiz]

Well, guys i think im off to bed now that the ppl calmed down after Casey's response (i believe im the only European who sticked around anyway...5:30AM -> HURTS Keep things civil and respectful! Hold the line!

[WvStolzing]

TamiBx wrote...

and totally off topic, but have I ever mentioned that your GW looks quite cool? I usually read the posts as if the profile picture was talking, but since GW are mutes, I kind of made up a voice for him in my mind  lol

Don't read mine that way. I'm just a dude who has unhealthy feelings towards certain clusters of blue pixels onscreen.