874 réponses à ce sujet

[robbyiscool]

Can we stop bumping this to the front page if we don't agree with it? Let people who like the ending support this thread as was intended; let those of us who don't like the ending let this thread fall into oblivion. That way we can see who is actually the 'minority.'

[The Angry One]

Your entire argument is invalidated by two words. Shepard surrendered.

[MintyCool]

EgoMaster wrote...

MintyCool wrote...

pomrink wrote...

Stop debating this. let the topic die

That's a sure fire way to win an argument. Bioware is not going to change a thing whether this topic exists or not.

Accept that.

I made this topic to voice my support for the ending. The End Game Support Momentum keeps building....

Worst psych war effort ever. No one other than you wrote to this thread supporting the endings but there are many people criticizing. With valid points that you choose to ignore completely I might add. Oh, I forgot. They were the "vocal minority", weren't they? (and that's how you win an argument, by calling people who don't share your opinion "minority".)

Your anger is geared at me for primitive reactionary reasons.

Plenty of people on the boards agree with many of my thoughts, feel free to re-read the thread again. The ones who differ in view are mostly respectful and I actually agree with some of the insight they contributed to the discussion.

Like it or not, forums are havens for vocal minorities. You will often find mostly fringe fans who smother themselves with what they enjoy. My suggestion, take a step back and try to find a little perspective.

Breathe.

[Alexius]

Interesting read. I agree with what you point out about leaving some things to imagination.
Personally, I like that the ending made me think, not about whether it makes sense that Liara came out of the Normandy when she supposedly charged with my Shepard (didn't really see her) or not, but about other, bigger things. Sure, nothing we've never seen before, but I bet most people took some, even a little, time to think before making their choice. At least I know I did.

[Caz Neerg]

MintyCool wrote...
Your anger is geared at me for primitive reactionary reasons.

Plenty of people on the boards agree with many of my thoughts, feel free to re-read the thread again. The ones who differ in view are mostly respectful and I actually agree with some of the insight they contributed to the discussion.

Like it or not, forums are havens for vocal minorities. You will often find mostly fringe fans who smother themselves with what they enjoy. My suggestion, take a step back and try to find a little perspective.

Breathe.

The thing you need to remember though, is that every strongly expressed opinion is always expressed by a vocal minority.  Nobody ever hears, directly, what "most people" think.  The nature of the opinions of the "silent majority" are always guessed at based on other factors.  Let's look at what we know.  We know, as a matter of fact, that nine out of every ten people who have finished this game *and* feel strongly enough about it to go on the internet and express an opinion hated the endings.  That is not a good statistic for BioWare, and if they do nothing to address the situation, it will not be good for them in the long run.

[EgoMaster]

MintyCool wrote...

Your anger is geared at me for primitive reactionary reasons.

Plenty of people on the boards agree with many of my thoughts, feel free to re-read the thread again. The ones who differ in view are mostly respectful and I actually agree with some of the insight they contributed to the discussion.

Like it or not, forums are havens for vocal minorities. You will often find mostly fringe fans who smother themselves with what they enjoy. My suggestion, take a step back and try to find a little perspective.

Breathe.

I don't know what gave you the impression that I was angry, you assume too much.

You talk about respect, yet what you do is nothing short of ad hominem. There's nothing you base "they are vocal minority" idea on, except the "forums are their Collector base" generalization. You can't dismiss opposition based on a generalization.

Also, it's clear that you didn't read my first post in this thread, otherwise you wouldn't tell me to find perspective. I wrote why the ending didn't work (which kind of proves I have enough perspective on the subject), and if you say the idea behind the ending is the best route they could have taken, I'm with you there. It's just the execution of the idea I'm complaining about (the details are on page 2). And please, spare us your self righteous comments and psych war efforts. You're clearly lacking in those areas. Let's talk about the ending. The reasons it works or doesn't work.

Modifié par EgoMaster, 13 mars 2012 - 07:33 .

[SilverTheEye]

So. I more won't buy production of the company BioWare until the game ending will be changed. The company BioWare will lose me as the buyer of their production until changes will be made to a game ending.

 Vote for it! Extend it!

[zarnk567]

Yea, the ending was great.... If you like a huge genre shift during the last 10 min of the game followed by a villain from a final fantasy game giving you a Ham-fisted plot hole filled ending..... with a side of Genocide

[Evercrow]

Thing is, momentum shifting only because  people stop caring and just move on. Almost everyone I know didn't like the endings,and agree they should've been crafted better. Most of them didn't bother to go to BSN and vote on local polls. So yeah, no feedback doesn't equals good feedback.

EgoMaster wrote...

I agree everything OP says about the
game, but not the ending. My problems with the ending is not the road
they've taken. In fact, I would be angry if they tried to pull off a
Hollywood style, "and they lived happily ever after" kind of thing. It's
how they did this that bugs me.

1. Quarian - Geth conflict undermines the ending:
The Child God says "The created will always rebel against the created.
Synthetics will wipe out organics" but the Geth stopped before wiping
out Quarians and didn't let it turn into a genocide. The only evil Geth
throughout the series were the ones indoctrinated by Sovereign. Also the
fact that the Geth on the Quarian Homeworld are trying to jump start
immune systems says a lot about the relationship between them. You don't
strengthen your enemy's soft spots, you try to exploit them. Geth don't
do this.

2. The relationship between EDI and Joker undermines the ending:
If combining organics and synthetics is indeed the ultimate step in
evolution, EDI and Joker took a much bigger step in that regard than the
so called Reaper "solution". Wiping out all advanced organics just
resets the relationship between synthetics and organics, thus growing
them apart and taking away any chance of co-existence. The
presupposition of synthetics wiping out all organics borders around
strict fatalism and it doesn't make sense. Why would the rebel
synthetics be any different then Reapers? Why would they even touch
child races or primitive flora and fauna?

3. Trying to prevent something by achieving it? Riiight: What
The Child God says boils down to this: "Rebel synthetics will kill all
organics at once, we killed them by installments." It completely
disregards the fact that nothing changes for organics, it doesn't matter
if they're wiped out by synthetics or Reapers and they don't care if
the child races are spared or not. It doesn't even know the concept of
free will. I think this god is a little confused.

4. All roads lead to Rome:
I think the majority of fans are angry because all 3 endings completely
disregard what you did in 3 games. They all boil down to a meaningless
underlying reason that gives way to 3 meaningless choices, none of which
gives you a sense of victory regardless of Shepard's survival. The
first Fallout's ending got it right. ME3 couldn't.

5. Inconsistencies:
In other news, characters that are implied dead (or supposed to be dead
anyway) magically walk out of Normandy when it's stranded on Gilligan's
planet. If you take EDI to the final mission and choose synthesis, it's
even worse. EDI is killed by the Reapers while approching Citadel's
beam in London and just 15 minutes later she walks out of Normandy,
cuddling with Jeff. How did she even get aboard the Normandy?

And
I'm really sorry to say this but there will be no momentum shift until
these issues are adressed. The best thing Bioware can do is bundle new
ending(s) into DLCs that add characters etc. I'd pay for it.

also,this.Very nicely put,I could never say better myself.

There were no moments in Mass Effect story  to support the  assumption, that all synthetics are inherently evil.And we find Shepard suddenly agreeing with that assumption.Huh?
The second assumption behind Reaper God programming(or logic,but i think he is too limited to be really alive.The fact  that he needs some kind of additional hardware to even consider other possibilities is not reassuring also ) is that all organics are inherently stupid or forgetful.Well, guess what, AI's are already forbidden in Citadel space.If organics survive Reaper invasion to boot, I'm sure they won't forget to pass down some regulations regarding synthetics. So why don't Reapers just fly away,and check out a neighbouring galaxy?Who knows,maybe synthetic genocide machines are already moping up there, and will visit us next?

[Area42T]

MintyCool wrote...
My suggestion, take a step back and try to find a little perspective.

Breathe.

I took a step back, glimpsed over most of the forums and some comments on different reviews across the internet, saw a lot of rage over the endings, doesn't seem like a minority.

You like the ending, I respect that, but don't act like everyone who doesn't is inferior.

[Ameno Xiel]

MintyCool wrote...


Momentum is already shifting to our side, let's finish this...

...

[MintyCool]

Caz Neerg wrote...

 if they do nothing to address the situation, it will not be good for them in the long run.

Wishful thinking.

1. The rage over the ME3 ending is already dying down.
2. The "enraged" fans will continue stay on the boards anticipating the next Bioware game.
3. Bioware will announce a new series.
4. The core will rejoice and be first ones at the store to purchase the game.
5. The Bioware fanbase grows and the dedicated core become a growing assumed asset.

What a cycle...

There are countless reasons why this sequence will persist for a long time but I have work so maybe I'll edit this post later with details if needed.

Harsh truth? Maybe, but in the end you know its how things will be.

Modifié par MintyCool, 21 mars 2012 - 08:11 .

[Arad-Tzui]

MintyCool wrote...

You keep using the term, "First year philosophy major."

I think the attempt is to be derogatory since you are unable to win the argument we are currently discussing but I'll entertain you on this topic a bit....

The themes discussed in this game are often what you would call Pop Philosophy or Layman Philosophy. Why? It's because the topics discussed usually are quite popular with the general public or the everyday layman.

You will see these popular topics discussed in every entertainment medium you watch/read. For example, some sources that may relate to you: Lost, Dr. Who, A Song of Ice and Fire, etc.

These ideas excite the mind with an assortment of possibilities. The science equivalent to this would be known as fringe science. Or in psychology, self help and pop psychology is popular.

This is why someone like Malcomn Gladwell is so successful because he writes about topics that the everyday person can relate to.

Obviously your intelligence and understanding is superior to ours since you find these topics discussed unfulfilling. So I look forward to your groundbreaking contributions to science, psychology, or philosophy that will change the way we look at the world. Please keep in touch.

You make an excellent case. It's pop philosophy. Now go back and tell this to your former self, who at the start of this exclaimed that it was the great heights of philosophical themes. I'm pretty sure the watered down cheap version of something, i.e. the "pop" version, isn't all that interesting.

That isn't to say that you can't treat this topics properly and make them engaging. But you have to do it proper, you have to set it up and make it believable. This wasn't done here. It was shoehorned in at the tail end of the last instalment of the series. And as already said, the game as it appeared in the previous instalments had no dearth of philosophical and moral implications. You made grand decisions whether to side with liberty and self determination or whether to side with a fatalist or isolationist view of the world. There's so much to work with, and they are far more interesting and delivered so well.

I take it back. I doubt you're a philosophy major. Any philosophy major would have already reveled in the implications of the first two games.

Oh and the reason Malcolm Gladwell is so well received is because he writes well, he's insightful, he's funny, and he speaks of truths of the issues he approaches. You can do the same for any subject, no matter how apparently boring, if you're good enough. A great example of this is Bill Brysons "A Short History of Nearly Everything", which makes everything people hate about science class in school and makes it interesting and engaging.

[Joel_O]

 @MintyCool: Thanks for a good read, I agree with much of what you said. Expressed my own take on the philosophical themes here. 

As for the discussion about pop vs. real philosophy, is the difference really that big? It's the same discussion, when it all boils down to it. I've read the same argument in The Economist (pop) and per-reviews academic papers (real?). It's just a question of what language is used to present it and what reference is made to previous work. The point remains the same. 

Of course, you can argue that the philosophical themes where presented better or worse, but that becomes a much more subjective evaluation. I loved the symbolic approach in ME3, where as I think ME1 and ME2 where more concrete. And in this sense I think ME3 did a good job at hinting towards these interesting themes, which then my imagination could run with and expand upon. 

[EgoMaster]

MintyCool wrote...

Caz Neerg wrote...

 if they do nothing to address the situation, it will not be good for them in the long run.

Wishful thinking.

1. The rage over the ME3 ending is already dying down.
2. The "enraged" fans will continue stay anticipating the next Bioware game.
3. Bioware will announce a new series.
4. The core will rejoice and be first ones at the store to purchase the game.
5. The Bioware fanbase grows and the dedicated core become a growing assumed asset.

What a cycle...

There are countless reasons why this sequence will persist for a long time but I have work so maybe I'll edit this post later with details if needed.

Harsh truth? Maybe, but in the end you know its how things will be.

Aside from the fact that you're starting to sound like the Child God (with wild presuppositions, cycles and harsh truths and all), your view is too generalized to have a perspective. And you're still ignoring valid opposition. What *you wish* may be the truth for most cases but here people have legitimate reasons. I think this will effect DLC sales in the short run. Especially single player DLCs. Less people will be buying them. Since all the choices they made in the past 3 games had no effect on how the story ended, people just won't be interested in making new ones until the issues surrounding the game's last 15 minutes are adressed. I know I won't and I'm not the only one.

One other thing. Another inconsistency about the ending. When you first come face to face, Child God says "I control the Reapers". Then it says "I have 3 solutions but I need you to carry them out." Two of these solutions consists of controlling the Reapers and destroying synthetic life. Why does it need Shepard for that? Didn't it say it controlled the Reapers already? Child God only needs Shepard for Synthesis solution.

Modifié par EgoMaster, 13 mars 2012 - 09:50 .

[Deltoran]

Wow, this sure grew while I was away. Again and again I see the phrase 'vocal minority'. Well...maybe yes, out of the 7 or so billion people on the planet, we're a vocal minority...but out of the 7 billion people on the planet, how many people will play Mass Effect 3...3-5 million tops?

And how many of those will be upset but not say anything on the internet? I've got several friends who beat the game but were equally disappointed as I but only I am actually responding online. And how many people have finished the game?

Truly, both sides of this argument will grow, and its fair to say that the sides will even out a little, but for the most part the 'majority' is in agreement with the 'vocal minority'. I've been watching the polls, articles, and forums all over the internet as well as talking with people offline and one thing they have in common is the growth of our 'vocal minority'. Yes, there are those like the OP who believe otherwise, and they are entitled to that belief, but the fact of the matter is: even a 'vocal minority' can encourage change and I'm by no means agreeing that those upset are a vocal minority.

[MintyCool]

Arad-Tzui wrote...
I take it back. I doubt you're a philosophy major. Any philosophy major would have already reveled in the implications of the first two games.

I view philosophy and psychology as fun hobbies, that said, I would never make the mistake of obtaining such useless degrees that have very little worth in the real world.

In college, my goals were to obtain education that would strengthen my financial future and not diminish it.

Joel_O wrote...

@MintyCool: Thanks for a good read, I agree with much of what you said. Expressed my own take on the philosophical themes here.

As for the discussion about pop vs. real philosophy, is the difference really that big? It's the same discussion, when it all boils down to it. I've read the same argument in The Economist (pop) and per-reviews academic papers (real?). It's just a question of what language is used to present it and what reference is made to previous work. The point remains the same.

Of course, you can argue that the philosophical themes where presented better or worse, but that becomes a much more subjective evaluation. I loved the symbolic approach in ME3, where as I think ME1 and ME2 where more concrete. And in this sense I think ME3 did a good job at hinting towards these interesting themes, which then my imagination could run with and expand upon.

Thanks mate, I think it's only a matter of time that the community will realize they are fighting a lost cause and end up accepting the finished Mass Effect saga as it is written.

The good news is that we have the chance to see a entirely new i.p. coming down the pipe. Here's to a bright future.

Modifié par MintyCool, 13 mars 2012 - 10:18 .

[Arad-Tzui]

MintyCool wrote...

I view philosophy and psychology as fun hobbies, that said, I would never make the mistake of obtaining such useless degrees that have very little worth in the real world.

In college, my goals were to obtain education that would strengthen my financial future and not diminish it.

It's nice that you chose to so entirely dismiss two whole fields of human inquiry. Really makes you come accross as a beacon of enlightenment.

Oh and I'm an econ major myself. Hasn't stopped me from educating myself on philosophical questions, so not really sure what your excuse was again.

[Dark Penitant]

MintyCool wrote...

TheOptimist wrote...

http://social.biowar...06/polls/28989/

Welcome to the 2%. Good luck with your topic.

A poll created by a vocal angry minority. Do you really feel this random forum poll actually has any real significance what-so-ever?  Or is it simply a prop to make you feel better about your disappointment with the story?

Insignificant poll is insignificant.

The $25,000 raised for charity, on the other hand, certainly isn't.

[Moshaaver]

I don't suppose OPs name is Colin Moriarty. Or wait did you not read anything people have been saying and then write a story for Kotaku?

[Flamewielder]

Personally, I have nothing against the chosen endings per se; all three are interesting ends to a series of sci-fi novels or even movies. I just don't feel they "fit" with the Mass Effect series of games.

1) After using Paragon/Renegade moral choices for the whole series, using a Law/Chaos/Outside the Box choice in the conclusion felt jarring. It's completely out of the continuity players have come to expect. Not that I am against Law/Order concepts: I play/read Warhammer 40,000 games/novels and relish that universe. I love the Babylon 5 series and totally get the Vorlon/Shadows view of the universe. I just feel that's not where the ME series was taking us.

2) The Mass Effect series is a grand heroic space opera, yet the endings choices are film noir/cyberpunk/dystopian. Again. the last second change of tone is jarring and I found that disturbing to the point I felt I'd screwed up somewhere before. I absolutely LOVED the original Deus Ex. That's not what attracted me to Mass Effect.

3) The whole series was built around choice; so the endings should have included renegade/paragon options that allowed Shep to survive. Yes, the hardcore elitists among us will rant about "Michael Bay'ish" endings and pandering to the mainstream crowds, etc... But the bottom line is that blockbuster happy endings are more lucrative franchises than independent, original but less accessible movies.
 
Unless Bioware is planning to pull the plug on the ME franchise (I'm REALLY NOT interested in any "prequel" game, knowing how it will all end; I've seen Star Wars episodes IV, V & VI several times in theaters at full admission price but only went once to see episodes I, II and III), they're gonna have to think of a sweet incentive for me to buy back into this IP.

If you want future DLC to sell, you gotta offer an incentive for the players to buy it and I believe Lair of the Shadowbroker proved it. I'm 47 years old and have a fair bit of discretional money to throw at EA/Bioware to scoop up ME3 DLC, but as things stand, they won't be getting a dime from me until they offer a chance for my Shep to ride off in the sunset with his/her LI. Keep the three current endings; they're OK, but not for me. Offer me more choices and I'll come back to the ME I loved.

[zarnk567]

MintyCool wrote...

Arad-Tzui wrote...
I take it back. I doubt you're a philosophy major. Any philosophy major would have already reveled in the implications of the first two games.

I view philosophy and psychology as fun hobbies, that said, I would never make the mistake of obtaining such useless degrees that have very little worth in the real world.

In college, my goals were to obtain education that would strengthen my financial future and not diminish it.

Joel_O wrote...

@MintyCool: Thanks for a good read, I agree with much of what you said. Expressed my own take on the philosophical themes here.

As for the discussion about pop vs. real philosophy, is the difference really that big? It's the same discussion, when it all boils down to it. I've read the same argument in The Economist (pop) and per-reviews academic papers (real?). It's just a question of what language is used to present it and what reference is made to previous work. The point remains the same.

Of course, you can argue that the philosophical themes where presented better or worse, but that becomes a much more subjective evaluation. I loved the symbolic approach in ME3, where as I think ME1 and ME2 where more concrete. And in this sense I think ME3 did a good job at hinting towards these interesting themes, which then my imagination could run with and expand upon.

Thanks mate, I think it's only a matter of time that the community will realize they are fighting a lost cause and end up accepting the finished Mass Effect saga as it is written.

The good news is that we have the chance to see a entirely new i.p. coming down the pipe. Here's to a bright future.

..... A bright future? that game will just end like this one with the plot holes destroying story

[garf]

MintyCool wrote...


Momentum is already shifting to our side, let's finish this...

1. Shepard, war torn and exhausted, leaped into the crucibles energy source sacrificing his life to intertwine existences between synthetics and organics.

A few hours ago, this is how my tale ended after five years of Mass Effect; and I was quite satisfied with the ending.

2. The writing team behind Mass Effect 3 was able to elevate the narrative premise by weaving a philosophical debate about the relationship between organic and synthetic coexistence. The entire story throughout the third
addition is laced with the ideas of life, harmony, and self preservation.

More than ever, the story has morphed into a game about big themes and big ideas.

Just some of the thoughts explored throughout this game...

EDI and free will, Synthetic dominance, Lineage, Genophage, Causality, Geth/quarian conflict, Determinism, Legacy - Miranda's father, Synchronicity and Kaiden, False Theology-Asari Prothean Gods, personal fulfillment, etc.

Compared to the previous installments that may have skimmed over some of these topics, all the philosophical and sociological debates/conflicts in this iteration have the main goal of bolstering the main theme of Mass Effect 3,

The existence of The Creators vs. The Created. 

3. Two camps are formed because of this instance. The story the writers wish to tell, and the fans who feel entitled to observe the story they themselves envisioned.

The writers, it seems, realized the message that they wanted people to take from this third installment. This had the team shifting the narrative focus to a more elevated dynamic.

The coexistence of Synthetics vs. Organics.

4. To this end, Mass Effect 3 succeeds in weaving a narrative from beginning to end. To say otherwise is disingenuous.

Philosophical themes trounce the Neanderthal-dopamine induced urges people wish to see in this addition. Especially in the end game where this theme becomes the stories main focal point.

Honestly is a cameo appearance from Wrex for the 50th time really going to add anything to the finality of this story? No.

5. Unfortunately I find a Star Wars Syndrome happening with this series. A fan base digesting every bit of corn fructose they can gulp down. Needing everything to be spelled out; desperate to know every last bit of information.

Why must one need to see Tali's face? Why do we need to know a detailed history of the Protheans? How come we need to see the Rachni and Krogan attack the enemy? Isn't the struggle of loss and war already inferred
multiple times throughout the story? The focus of the end game is obviously being developed on a much deeper/different theme.

Midichlorians anyone? You do not need to know how exactly the force works...

This desperate need to dig up plot holes and inconsistencies from the hard core is entirely unhealthy for the series and it's fans. All stories have inconsistencies, stories you tell to your friends are punched up exaggerations
of what really happened. Your Facebook account is not a mirror image of the life you lead, but the life you wish you lived.

You had the chance to say goodbye to the entire main cast in one way or another. Multiple times is it mentioned/inferred that all races are about to battle the Reapers.

Needing to know a detailed resolution of what happens to everyone in the galaxy only dilutes the escapist reality the writers created.  

Some things are better left to the imagination. Less is more and allowing the mind to explore possibilities is one of the great strengths of human thought.

6. In the end, it would seem the Bioware writing team effectively succeeded in what they wanted to say in the Mass Effect saga. This is something I can respect. Instead of appeasing to the vocal mob; they finished the story on
their own terms.

Mass Effect became a tale about cultural synthesis. The Mass Effect team was finally able to find this series a voice. Knowing this, makes me content that I have finished this series in its entirety in the way it was meant to be seen.

And I enjoyed every minute of it.

1)  I'm glad you enoyed YOUR shepherd HE is not my Shepherd. SHE (my shepherd) was betrayed by Bio. I was lied to Iwas promised my shepherd's choices would be meaningful.

2) story was great, agreed. your point? Ending blew bloody chunks. Alls these wonderful theme you talk about about are betrayed and cheapened by Mini-Monty Hall reducing it to the same singular deal hidden behind three different coloured doors.

3) you missed the point entirely. Do you work for IGN?

4) you are the disengenious one. The begining was great. the middle was truly good, and lead up to the ending glorious. And it's all contratdicted and dimished by ending that might has welll have been entering the crucible to find Rick Astley singing to us. That is the crux of the matter. If you refuse to acknowledge  the disconnect between 99% of the game what what was force fed us in the last 5 minutes, we really have very little room for dialogue.

5) wow. So becuase We didn't like the green ending like you did. we're dumb spoiled fans. Again you are not inviting dialogue. Not that I really care but I don't think you're going to convince me to change my mind either.

Some things perhaps are better left to the imagination. Less IS more. I'd rather not have had to see the endind as presented at all.

I'm really happy you got YOUR ending. But we were promised OUR ending(S) plural. and an ending that was more menaingful than 'what is your favourite colour?'

So what is your goal here? I'm not trying to harm you. enjoy your ending. If bioware gives us more endings. Don't select them , don't even download the content. it's your prerogative. Why do you feel obliged to attempt to convince me or some third party that I shouldn't ask for what I think I've been promised. Why can I not complain when I'm unhappy with a product.

Personally that's all in the end I'm expecting to do. Bioware's got it's money. People have short memories. But you know what It STILL was a betrayal of the game. and I am stilll so disheartned that I don't feel like playing anymore.

but you have the Arrogance to say that you can 'finish this' for me.

And then you trot the same crap the industry shills have been saying all along.

You are deluded.

Bioware will be dead to me, if this isn't fixed. That isn't a threat or some hyperbole. it's a simple fact, spoken from the heart.

Modifié par garf, 14 mars 2012 - 05:08 .

[garf]

Flamewielder wrote...

Personally, I have nothing against the chosen endings per se; all three are interesting ends to a series of sci-fi novels or even movies. I just don't feel they "fit" with the Mass Effect series of games.

1) After using Paragon/Renegade moral choices for the whole series, using a Law/Chaos/Outside the Box choice in the conclusion felt jarring. It's completely out of the continuity players have come to expect. Not that I am against Law/Order concepts: I play/read Warhammer 40,000 games/novels and relish that universe. I love the Babylon 5 series and totally get the Vorlon/Shadows view of the universe. I just feel that's not where the ME series was taking us.

2) The Mass Effect series is a grand heroic space opera, yet the endings choices are film noir/cyberpunk/dystopian. Again. the last second change of tone is jarring and I found that disturbing to the point I felt I'd screwed up somewhere before. I absolutely LOVED the original Deus Ex. That's not what attracted me to Mass Effect.

3) The whole series was built around choice; so the endings should have included renegade/paragon options that allowed Shep to survive. Yes, the hardcore elitists among us will rant about "Michael Bay'ish" endings and pandering to the mainstream crowds, etc... But the bottom line is that blockbuster happy endings are more lucrative franchises than independent, original but less accessible movies.
 
Unless Bioware is planning to pull the plug on the ME franchise (I'm REALLY NOT interested in any "prequel" game, knowing how it will all end; I've seen Star Wars episodes IV, V & VI several times in theaters at full admission price but only went once to see episodes I, II and III), they're gonna have to think of a sweet incentive for me to buy back into this IP.

If you want future DLC to sell, you gotta offer an incentive for the players to buy it and I believe Lair of the Shadowbroker proved it. I'm 47 years old and have a fair bit of discretional money to throw at EA/Bioware to scoop up ME3 DLC, but as things stand, they won't be getting a dime from me until they offer a chance for my Shep to ride off in the sunset with his/her LI. Keep the three current endings; they're OK, but not for me. Offer me more choices and I'll come back to the ME I loved.

Off topic but.. where'd you get your sig.  I need one of those.

[Dormitorius]

Liking the fact that for some reason my counter-argument hasn't even been refuted by OP.