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DA:O Lead Designer Comments on ME3 Ending Debacle


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#1
Legend78731

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Brent Knowles, who was the lead designer on Dragon Age: Origins, and one of the old guard Bioware developers (Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights), and, when he quit Bioware, made the interesting observation that "Bioware is no longer the company I remember". He's talked a little bit about the ME3 situation on his blog, but they're mainly comments to other posts. Check it out at: www.brentknowles.com

One thing he did say, I thought I would share (if it's already been posted, I apologize), as it's a sentiment I happen to agree with:

"I read one recent blog post where the writer basically said "the ending was awesome because it was just like a movie" and I think she was missing the point.

It is a game. Not a movie.

And more specifically, its a role-playing game. The players are *part* of the game. Part of the process of building and experiencing the game, much more so than with most other forms of entertainment.

Entitlement is really a right, for the gamer, because they have participated, actively, in the game itself.

Again, I can't speak to the actual ending myself, because I have not played it but in general I'd say a Role-Playing Video Game Trilogy Ending should (try to) do the following:

1. Reward the player's choices throughout the series. The big stuff they did should be noted. They should *feel* like they had a unique impact on the world.

2. End on a positive note. This is really important for video games...life in general is full of s****y stuff happening all the time. When I invest a hundred hours into a game I need to walk away feeling like a hero.

When you waste a couple hours of a person's life with an artsy/depressing movie or short story or even a novel, it is more forgivable because the time spent is less. And presumably the consumer knew what they were going into when they started. Certain directors create certain styles of movie. Certain writers write specific types of fiction.

On the other hand somebody playing an epic role-playing video-game trilogy is going to *expect* to be the hero and save the universe. That's why they are playing the game. When expectations don't match reality, disappointment is created.

It might be an artistic/creative move to go with a different style of ending but I feel its the wrong choice, especially for a videogame *trilogy*. Make your middle game bleak if you want to, but end the series on a high note."

EDIT: Fixed the formatting of the quote, and for those looking for the original comment, it's in the following link. Scroll down a few comments to find it.

http://blog.brentkno.../#disqus_thread

Modifié par Legend78731, 17 mars 2012 - 12:13 .


#2
Bigdoser

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I agree with him. If he makes any role playing games I will buy them.  

Modifié par Bigdoser, 16 mars 2012 - 11:51 .


#3
Valah79

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Oh man so well put, where is this guy working now, I gotta buy his video games!

#4
BrotherFluffy

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Nice find! Good to see even former Devs siding with us!

#5
Capeo

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So effing true. No wonder he left BW.

#6
RazorrX

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Ah Brent, so many of the good ones left. :(

He was spot on too.

#7
Sywen

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I agree with this. It's why I can't play again. I didn't walk away feeling like a hero. Real life sucks enough. I don't need a game to remind me of that.

#8
Dylionez

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Dragon Age Origins had a FANTASTIC ending (multiple might I add), he knows what he's talking about.

#9
Guest_Amdnro_*

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Legend78731 wrote...

Make your middle game bleak if you want to, but end the series on a high note."


Agreed

#10
Deemz

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Well said

#11
Spitfiremk87

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Nice read.

#12
TobiTobsen

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I like this human. He understands.

Good times when BioWare still had the Dragon logo.

#13
pomrink

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I wanna buy his games.

#14
Tiger

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RazorrX wrote...

Ah Brent, so many of the good ones left. :(

He was spot on too.

This. So sad...:crying:

#15
Harbinger of Hope

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What article is this from? I am looking on the site and I am not seeing this.

#16
Reptilian Rob

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pomrink wrote...

I wanna buy his games.



#17
Tony208

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Couldn't be more right

#18
jess05

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Well put.
Although, I dont mind if Shepard dies. That part, I think can make for a heroic ending and still have a satisfying outcome.

Just close plotholes, and as the article says, make the player feel as if the desicions made mattered.

The entire 'use your imagination its what you want it to be" just doesnt work.
Well ..to a point its OK, and works .. but not to the extreme it was implemented.

#19
Sam Anders

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Very nice find.

#20
FbangIncentinveX

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He's right.

And not to keep bringing this up, but this is also why you should be able to save Thane and Legion.

#21
Wowlock

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That's why Dragon Age Origins recieved such great praises and ME3 is getting hammered down.

Here is your proof here.... A writer who knows what he is doing.

Origins ended on a somehow cliche note but no one complained about it because it actually satisfied us and our choices. Did it needed to be ''like a movie'' for it ? Nope, just gave players what they wanted. In Mass Effect 3, that is completely opposite.....

#22
movieguyabw

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I'm making what he said at the end my new sig. ^_^

#23
ElectronicPostingInterface

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God, this is written so well.

I want to buy games made by this individual.

#24
Priss Blackburne

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Totally Agree with this, Makes me kinda sad for future games from Bioware now tho.

#25
t003

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He put that so well. Where does he work now?