Shepard's corny lines from the start as so apt for us all.
We fight or we die, except in our case it is: We fight or it dies.
The thing is it will die. I heard some people say Bioware doesn't care because by 'tapping' into the new market they will get more money than the ever did before so we don't matter anymore. The big mistake is people assume Bioware can compete in the 'new markets'.
Certainly they can draw upon them, but to think they are a shoe in to compete inside of it... is a little laughable at best. I will explain why. I usually am in these forms as a fan on Bioware, but now I shall finally speak as a fan of GoW and Halo. I will speak as someone that entirely comes from that school of gaming.
I will criticise ME as a none Bioware fan, put on your coat this won't be pretty.
Some quick facts about this new market (for those who didn't get it I am refering to the TPS/FPS market):
- It is highly competitive and there is plenty of established brand names and brand labels.
- The people of this market do not reconise the name Bioware. They heard of it Bioware maybe but the name is not indication of a 'kick-ass company'.
- We are not that loyal as fans, we swing from one big hit to another. We can be tricked into getting a sequal or two, but we are not the type to give anyone second chances or even first chances. Popularity is earned per release. Just ask ODST.
- Despite we too hate short games, on average most of us hate games that are too long... and yes even ME3 is a little too long for our taste. It is not that we don't want more for our money, but it drags out.
- ME action element is a little tepid. Seriously, it is cool that it has a level up system and diverse powers and it would be cool if the other companies copies that sort of diversity, but it takes too long to acquire these power ups and the game play is the same... for 10s and 10s of hour. No vehicle action section, no diversity in the versus waves of enemies as we go down a linear map route mechanic.
- No cool epic fights. No we are not talking about videogamey boss battles here. We are speaking about manning an orbital gun and shooting down a capital ship. Stuff like that. We get one, the Rannoch Reaper only, even that... this is rather tame to the stuff Bungie has already given us.
- Horde mode only MP.... seriously... that is your only MP offering. I get the only co-op modes, but where is other types of MP co-ops? The Horde mode is good! but is that the only mode... seriously?!
- I heard rumours we need to play MP to unlock some aspects of the ending... seriously?! Even Halo and Gears of War doesn't do that. This is what you call innovation?! SP is SP... leave the SP alone.
- Oh yeah... we think the ending sucks too... and we had to endure Halo 2's ending, atleast that was a cliffhanger when we already knew there would be a 3. So that says a lot. It doesn't have to be long, but it needs to offer a proper resolution and sense of closure to the story we played.
((Yes I spoke with people that are larger fans of these types of the games that still played ME3, on average most hated or just didn't like the ending, even amongst them ending lovers were rare... heck I think they were rarer! It is just they are not emotional about their displeasure with it)).
*takes his Halo/Gears of War fanboy hat off and puts his Bioware/ME fan hat back on*
Yes, that is what these people think. The liked the game and found it fun, but nothing that Bioware did makes them think it is a better series than Halo or Gears of War, heck even CoD fans are not sold.... Many are happy with the writing in those games and even if you think Bioware writes better, it falls on a deaf ear. The game play is great but not on par with the stuff their games have already offered them.
It is near delusional to believe Bioware can remain afloat in the 'mainstream' market. It is a good company, but it is not prepared for what is there. I don't think they even understand what is there. Heck even their overlords is not the most well known publisher in that domain. EA holds shares in other markets... not these ones. So even EA probably doesn't know.
Bioware apologistist, EA analysts, and Bioware employee can read this post (assuming they did) and scoff at what I said. Say I don't know what I am talking about. Go ahead. Time will tell, but I am pretty sure at that point I will only say one thing.
"Told you so."
((Short Version: Bioware can expand and try to pull in new customers from other markets. However it shouldn't forget what it is known for and what it's actual brand power represents. Nor should it dismiss its core audience. Nor should it think it can change its core audience easily without it being a huge risk. Lastly, even the 'average' gamers hated the ending, they just don't get upset about it, but they hated it too.))
Modifié par Madecologist, 26 avril 2012 - 03:32 .