Aller au contenu

Photo

EA/Bioware in Full PR Damage Control Mode *UPDATED 3/22/12, 5:28 PM UTC/GMT -4 hours*


9972 réponses à ce sujet

#3401
Bachuck

Bachuck
  • Members
  • 192 messages
Attention,

The following PMs were sent to me and requested I post on their behalf.

ChaksChaks wrote...

Good afternoon. Unfortunately, I cannot post to your fantastic thread because Bio/EA does not allow me to do so. I can only assume that this is because I have not registered Mass Effect 3 (or any Origin/EA/Bio product), as I have already waited the necessary 24 hours (according to the FAQ) to allow me to post.

I cannot speak for my entire demographic, but I can speak for myself as a "wait and see" gamer.

I am as rabid a ME fan as anyone else, but I didn't preorder ME3 and I didn't purchase it on day one. Instead I wanted to see what others thought of the game. I read a couple of the early reviews and was hopeful, but the first reviews of the endings began to come out. I was as disappointed as anyone else and came here to add my support, but as Harlan Ellison put it: "I have no mouth, and I must scream!"

I think it's an interesting tactic by Bio/EA to not allow those of us who do not own the game speak about Mass Effect 3. Given the level of activity and publicity this is getting, I'm curious if there are others out there.

I'd like to let everyone in the community know that there are more of us out there who can't speak, but we're standing by your side and are doing our part by not purchasing Mass Effect 3 AT ALL.

I've set up a Facebook page for those of us who want to voice our opinion, but can't because we cant post here. If you could pass this along, I'd appreciate it.

www.facebook.com/ShepardsSilentArmy



Vap0ur_Snake wrote...

I'd just like to let you know that I think bioware is locking us out of the site to prevent the uproar from being heard and spreading. I've met all the requirements and still cannot post.

if you could cut and paste this for me so I can be heard that would be apreciated.

I bought Mass Effect 3 the day it came out. instead of playing it right away i started back at ME1, spent 30+ hours then moved on to ME2 with the same charicter which I spent about 40 hours on. I finally get to ME3 and I'm astonished at the level of work that has went into the game, I'm blown away. Right through the game it was like a dream, EDI getting a body which I never seen coming, resolved conflicts that had lasted 100's of years, so much good stuff. that was until (wait for itttt) the END. I don't have a problem with the fact that the Reapers are controlled by a higher AI and are in place to end each cycle as each cycle has had their turn and they all mess up. The problem I have is with the actual ENDING (not endings, no plural there) I don't need to go into it to much as its been said before but it just means the universe I just spent a week (about 110 hours) in, is gone. Now if they intended for the cycle to end anyway, just not get harvested (all die at Earth due to starvation or whatever) then it fits but it still sucks, they really have killed the universe, I guess it's a way for them to end it ans make us know theres not gonna be any spin off's created that are an epilouge, ony prolouge.

I am still however about 85.% in my own mind certain that the ending we got is not the true ending and sheapard was knocked out by the blast, in fact indoctrinated, something along those lines and will either wake up and he never beamed aboard the citadel and the reapers are still there or, something way more clever and sinster that my brain cannot comprehend... you know, the style the trillogy was known for till it was ruined.

anyway.. I've been wanting to say this for days but I cannot get on the forum. I've registered my game and I signed up well over 24 hoursd ago... I think they are stopping new people signing up so the cause can't grow past you guys on here.


Modifié par Bachuck, 18 mars 2012 - 07:05 .


#3402
Legion211

Legion211
  • Members
  • 12 messages
What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.

#3403
Xellith

Xellith
  • Members
  • 3 606 messages
Thanks for your opinion. I respectfully disagree.

#3404
Samuel_Valkyrie

Samuel_Valkyrie
  • Members
  • 703 messages

Razorsteel wrote...

Drasoini wrote...

 I was very excited to play Mass Effect 3.  One and two had sustained me through a deployment to Iraq and the time following while I was settling back in here in the States, amazing games that helped me unwind and relax.  I was absolutely giddy with excitement when I picked up my copy, I had my wife giving me strange looks and my friends rolling their eyes.  The days following, I had some time to talk with friends about the game, the ending (I'm between jobs right now, having just left the Army, so I've got a lot of time on my hands), and the various choices we had all made in the games prior.

Then I found out about the Hold the Line movement.  It was last night, when I was about to log back on and continue the gleeful slaughter of Brutes that I had enjoyed earlier in the day.  I stopped, I considered, and I haven't logged back in since.  My actions may simply be removing a source of enjoyment from my day to day activities.  I may just be another anonymous statistic in the grand, woven tapestry of this movement.  But the hell with it all, I'm in now, and I'm not going to be playing another minute of Mass Effect 3 until the situation is resolved.

Yes yes, I'll go back to playing like a gleeful little follower, for all of the cynical ones reading this, once the situation is resolved.  This isn't a "I hate you and I'm never coming back to you" statement, this is a "I'm upset at what you did, this is what you did, I'm not coming back until you fix it" statement.  It's part of the interpersonal relationship that has developed between consumer and provider in the age of instant communication.  It's something I and many of those in this threat feel strongly about.

It's also apparently me rambling at my computer!  Well, I'll just leave this here and be done with it.


From one old soldier to another, welcome home. Now you are needed again, hold the line.

Respect to you both, both for your choice in careers, as well as your position in this.

#3405
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.

Your on BSN and your calling us no lifes? Lol. Troll somewhere else, this is for serious discussion.

#3406
Razorsteel

Razorsteel
  • Members
  • 137 messages

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.


So, what do you like about the RetakeMassEffect movement?  

Modifié par Razorsteel, 18 mars 2012 - 07:08 .


#3407
Harbing3r

Harbing3r
  • Members
  • 19 messages

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.


What you're saying is true of most of the Arts... and the world would be poorer if we all thought as you do.

Still holding the line

#3408
InsaneNarwhal

InsaneNarwhal
  • Members
  • 87 messages

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.


If it's just a video game to you, don't worry about this issue at all. Go on, enjoy your hobbies that matter deeply to you, and hope that some company doesn't make you feel like you wasted your time pursuing said hobbies.

#3409
atghunter

atghunter
  • Members
  • 155 messages

Syrellaris wrote...

Solotalento wrote...

Regarding the Goliath Weekend and the "community" challenge with 1 mio Brute kills. Since there is no counter of any kind, after the weekend they can tell us anything they want...

What do you think would happen if the challenge was won/lost regarding the PR?

I myself find it hard to trust Bioware regarding the final score. They could change it to whatever suits their needs/PR better.


I would really like to stop people from thinking that these types of events are held to sustain damage or to distract you all from the endings.

These so called conspiracies are just getting laughable at this point. As someone in the goliath thread itself stated.

wolfstanus wrote...

Meruvian wrote...

Delpinolikespotatoes wrote...

I won't fall for this. No multiplayer nor singleplayer untill the ending is fixed.


I agree. Could not bring myself to play it anyway, as the endings would be in the back of my mind.

Cry directly in a jar I'll go drink it at the bar.


How
is a 3 day get the community together to play for 3 days supposed to
distract you from the endings? Do you guys have such bad ADD that you
think it would work? Or is it that the "knee jerk" reaction you are
having has not worn off and you are lashing out at everything they do? 

Hold the line guys they shalt not distract is with.... OH MY GOD SHINY!





    
While I believe Goliath was probably always planned (and things like the SW weekend were not IMO), it is just as logical that Goliath was a firewall promotion which could be repurposed.  PR folks are paid to plan for contingencies, not just respond to crisis.  To not design long-term sales campaigns forecasting success and failure scenarios would have been illogical. 
 

#3410
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages

Harbing3r wrote...

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.


What you're saying is true of most of the Arts... and the world would be poorer if we all thought as you do.

Still holding the line

Couldn't have said it better myself. Ignore him, back to the line.

#3411
Legion211

Legion211
  • Members
  • 12 messages
I'm not a troll. I just don't see what the big deal is with this. If you look at the bigger picture, it's just a video game. Not a life and death situation.

#3412
Boceephus

Boceephus
  • Members
  • 202 messages

atghunter wrote...


Sure, I'd be happy to take a stab at it.  Mostly, it will depend on where things stand then.  The PR guys right now have to be looking at any public media event as a multiple-scenario option. 

1)  If the PR firestorm is still going, they'll get questions no matter how secure the environment (ultimately it will be news and outlets want to write stories that get read), but they will be "softball" questions in nature and downplayed (look for the immediate use of the word "some" or "few" in conjunction with any acknowledgement of disenfranchised consumers.  Moreover, if they internally know they are taking a bottom line hit outside of projections, they may announce a "change of course" in conjunction with a "we're listening" message. 

2)  If things die down but the bottom line is taking a beating, same possible outcome, but less likely.

3) If things die down and the bottom line is within tolerance, they will politely deflect the questions and your "commercial" scenario is most likely.

Honestly, its just way too early to tell and the data on this is too fluid and too little at the moment.   

Finally as I've said before, I heartily acknowledge that some people approve of the endings.  That said, the use of planted/paid sympathizers is one of the oldest and most accepted PR gambits (It goes back even further than the anti-Jesus people calling for Barabbas' release even though they had no idea who Barabbas was).

Keep your voices strong and stay civil! 


Thanks for your thoughts Atghunter, they're greatly appreciated as are your efforts in this forum. Let's keep the pressure steady and constant till PAX folks, and heed atghunter's wise words about expectations.

#3413
Mhgasa

Mhgasa
  • Members
  • 155 messages

ReavousX wrote...

Mhgasa wrote...

Hey guys, great to see this kind of thread.I have some PR/Business questions regarding ME3 that I really cant come up with an answer to, so i hope some of you guys can provide some insight.

What does EA/Bioware stand to gain? If the outcry does die out and everything settles down, they will have lost alot of long time customers and damaged their own franchise name in the eyes of many.

From what little i know of business, ive always been told that franchise damage is one of the worst things that can happen to a company. Its extremely difficult to regain the lost confidence once its lost. Bioware is multi-million dollar name, so why would they even risk damageing themselves over the mere pennies a dlc would cost? It makes no sense to me. Seems like something that could easily have been fixed has been allowed to grow out of control into something far more serious.

On top of that, there was a guy on BSN posting sales and talking about how word of mouth is a huge factor in sales. Seems odd to bite the hand that feeds you aka the fans.

So from a pure money perspective the way bioware/EA has responded seems odd and maybe even a little naive. Maybe its a matter of hurt ego´s that has dragged this out

English isnt my native language, but i hope you can follow my reasoning.


I think saying ending DLC would be "mere pennies" is a big stretch.  If they do a real DLC, fully voice acted and full of cutscenes (done in various different ways depending on your decisions), not to mention maybe throwing in a final boss (sorry Marauder Shields), it would take a bit of cash.

Not as much as a big DLC with a large side quest, potentially new character, etc...but it wouldn't exactly be cheap.  

They're waiting to see if the angst dies down among the crowd.  Maybe it'll all blow over, fans will get tired of caring, and move along.  That's why it's so important to be wary of playing the game right now, because Bioware's line of thinking may be that if the game is still being played as much as it was before the controversy, people don't really care.


Thanks for the response. Considering that they have already allocated money towards dlc, its really mostly a question of diverting the funds into a ending dlc from another project.
In my opinion it would be better to spend the money fixing it now, than having to lose revenue down the line and maybe even spending more money trying to restore confidence in the brand. Why even take that chance?
 
The fact that people are still paying should be irrelevant in a economic analysis since people have already payed for the product. I would definitely agree with you if we payed a monthly fee, if we kept playing then it would mean that we really didnt care that much. The true test would be if they decided to release a singleplayer dlc, and we would have to refrain from purchaseing it. 

#3414
vigna

vigna
  • Members
  • 1 947 messages

Carnage752 wrote...

Syrellaris wrote...

Carnage752 wrote...

Versus Omnibus wrote...

Carnage752 wrote...

Syrellaris wrote...

I am being civil, but conspiracy theories regarding a simple event are just getting laughable. This was btw not a troll attempt in anyway, but thanks for thinking that.

Let us believe what we want to believe. This doesn't have to concern you at all.

Why is it that people keep coming here telling us "I'm happy with what I got and you all need to stop because I said so?"

We respect other opinions as long as they respect ours. Keep it civil people.


You clearly don't respect mine. I respected yourse and still do, but becoming ass to me and telling me I am a troll, when Im clearly not, told me a lot about you.

I'm calling you a troll because you have made offensive comments towards us, and it annoys me. So ya, you are being offensive, and I will respond in kind until you act more civiliy.

Quit!

#3415
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages
Keep it civil people.

#3416
ramdog7

ramdog7
  • Members
  • 822 messages

Legion211 wrote...

What's the big deal about this? It's just a video game...

And decisions don't matter either way. None of this will happen in real life. None of it is real. Some pixelated CGI-ed cutscenes matter? I don't see what the big deal is. Get a life, people.


"Get a life" says the one on ther forum complaing about people complaing

#3417
thoreauscabin

thoreauscabin
  • Members
  • 202 messages
You're all just posting on a forum. How could this possibly be having any effect on EA? What are you people doing outside of the forum?

It probably feels good to say you're part of some sort of "movement" but so what?

Modifié par thoreauscabin, 18 mars 2012 - 07:12 .


#3418
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages

Legion211 wrote...

I'm not a troll. I just don't see what the big deal is with this. If you look at the bigger picture, it's just a video game. Not a life and death situation.

Then don't worry about it and don't insult us.

#3419
c3pu2

c3pu2
  • Members
  • 359 messages
hold the line
keelah se'lai
to the end i hope to see someday

#3420
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages

thoreauscabin wrote...

You're all just posting on a forum. How could this possibly be having any effect on EA? What are you people doing outside of the forum?

ALOT. You are so behind date

#3421
Guest_BrotherWarth_*

Guest_BrotherWarth_*
  • Guests

Legion211 wrote...

I'm not a troll. I just don't see what the big deal is with this. If you look at the bigger picture, it's just a video game. Not a life and death situation.


If you're so indifferent about the whole thing, why are you even here? Why did you feel the need to insult people who aren't indifferent to it?

#3422
Carnage752

Carnage752
  • Members
  • 1 113 messages

BrotherWarth wrote...

Legion211 wrote...

I'm not a troll. I just don't see what the big deal is with this. If you look at the bigger picture, it's just a video game. Not a life and death situation.


If you're so indifferent about the whole thing, why are you even here? Why did you feel the need to insult people who aren't indifferent to it?

Keep it civil. Don't want any raging going on :P

#3423
vigna

vigna
  • Members
  • 1 947 messages

c3pu2 wrote...

was thinking last night might take monts to get an other end if they decide to do it think about it theyll have to call the voice actor back do a **** load of programing writhing if they intend too do it they probably already are but they sure wont tell


Someone pointed out that much VA work is done over video conferencing now.

#3424
InsaneNarwhal

InsaneNarwhal
  • Members
  • 87 messages

thoreauscabin wrote...

You're all just posting on a forum. How could this possibly be having any effect on EA? What are you people doing outside of the forum?


Umm. Not playing MP, not buying MP weapon packs, a lot of people aren't playing the SWTOR game and even cancelling subscriptions, no one upset by this issue is going to buy any of that DLC they have planned because it doesn't matter to them right now... oh and civil discourse that's been noticed and treated respectfully by Forbes and a couple other gaming magazine/news networks.

#3425
Targy90

Targy90
  • Members
  • 112 messages

thoreauscabin wrote...

You're all just posting on a forum. How could this possibly be having any effect on EA? What are you people doing outside of the forum?


I have talked 7 people out of buying this game and cancelled my SWTOR subscription.