229 réponses à ce sujet

[Mutineer81]

Sorry everyone, but Bioware is not going to fix Mass Effect 3’s ending; at least not the way we want them to. Why not? It will cost too much. 

Now, I don’t think Bioware is TRULY greedy (even though the Javik DLC controversy suggests otherwise), but imagine the scope/cost of trying to fix the ending to Mass Effect 3. It is just too high a price to pay. But why? What would be involved? Consider previous DLCs.

If Bioware half-asses a “fix” they can make it like Mass Effect 2’s DLCs. Think about it, how much new dialogue and character interactions popped up in those DLC’s. Sure, you got more Liara (literally) in Liar of the Shadow Broker, but all your squad mates did was come along for the ride. Mass Effect 2’s DLCs were just extra missions, they may add a little to the story, but – and most people would agree – they are side notes, not an expansion pack. Again, Shadow Broker is kinda-sorta an expansion, but why doesn’t Garrus or Tali say, “Hey Liara! How you been?”

Mind you, I bought all the DLC’s for Mass Effect 2. Sure, Firewalker was a bit lame, but I still enjoyed zipping around in the Hammerhead! Mass Effect 2’s DLC were just a side-story, nothing more. How much did saving David from his brother really add to Mass Effect 3? A few weapon upgrades in the locked room? Yippee! So if Bioware tries to pump out the typical cookie-cutter DLC to fix Mass Effect 3 the backlash will be twice as bad as it is now.

More thoughts: When thinking about trying to fix Mass Effect 3, right away my thoughts go to all the voice actors. To do it right you would have to write them new dialogue - pivotal to the entirety of Mass Effect 3 – and “weave” it in. That would cost a boat-load! You got Bioware man-hours and resources to account for, plus – and this is a biggie - paying the voice actors. I’m sure Seth Green and Keith David don’t come cheap. Good thing the Illusive Man is dead! No way are the corporate suits going to allow that expenditure. Making games is a business and I’m sure Bioware’s plan is to shift most of their focus to the next thing – a new Dragon Age, right?

Now, you can brainstorm all you want about how a revised story would fit into the game – personally I have spent hours mulling over ideas in my head – but it doesn’t matter. In order to truly fix the game Bioware would need to put considerable time, effort, and money into it. And that isn’t going to happen. Take a minute and start calculating the cost – pretty pricey, hunh? Especially since I think a proper/corrective DLC for Mass Effect 3 should exceed ten hours of game play and be heavily intertwined into the original game. 

So sorry my fellow Mass Effect devotees, but the “best” we can hope for is some lame tangential DLC that will feel like a patch job and feel totally separate from the entirety of the game. Mass Effect is dead and Bioware killed it: Commander Shepard. R.I.P. 2007-2012.

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Hopefully this kicks off a discussion, I really want to hear people’s thoughts on this: the money/cost issue killing any chance of a new/proper ending to Mass Effect 3.  

Oh! And here’s how devoted I am to the series. I have fifteen games from ME2 to upload to ME3. So far, I have completed three of them (one for each ending choice), but I just had to ship my Xbox out for service because my marathons of playing Mass Effect 3 these past two weeks burned it out. So yeah, I’m a fan!

[Paulinius]

I didn't even see a breakeven analysis.

[XiaShou]

i dont see money being an issue, cause many ppl stated they would pay alot for that. so costs are not really an issue

[Mutineer81]

Paulinius wrote...

I didn't even see a breakeven analysis.

I agree, I think lots of people wouldn't bother with it.

[Mutineer81]

XiaShou wrote...

i dont see money being an issue, cause many ppl stated they would pay alot for that. so costs are not really an issue

I don't think to the level that would make it REALLY "worth it" for Bioware.

[Vaktathi]

This is one of those things where it may make business sense to do it even if you have to eat a loss on the project for the sake of the brand name and future sales of DLC content, further ME universe games, and other games under the studio brand. Protecting the value of the company and the potential viability of future sales may warrant this action even if by itself it loses money.

[chris fenton]

I'd be happy with a CGI video and text.

anything else..

[Funkcase]

not doing it could cost them more in the future.

[chris fenton]

Funkcase wrote...

not doing it could cost them more in the future.

QFT

[AkiKishi]

Well you have to weigh that against what the possible long term fallout is going to be. The hole is already dug ,it's just a case of whether it gets deeper or they can somehow dig themselves out. Charging for it would just dig deeper, of course absorbing the cost may not be an option either, in which case it's best to just fess up and appologise. At least then everyone will move on to the next big issue rather than news sites daily spreading the word wider and wider.

You would be talking about needing VA for most of the main characters as well.

[arial]

XiaShou wrote...

i dont see money being an issue, cause many ppl stated they would pay alot for that. so costs are not really an issue

however I am sure many (not all, but many) are younger gamers who don't have a crdit card to purchase online DLC. therefore could not follow through on their claim.

[Faust1979]

just because a lot of people say they will buy it doesn't actually make it so

[arial]

Faust1979 wrote...

just because a lot of people say they will buy it doesn't actually make it so

exactly

[The BS Police]

It won't cost them much at all because in the end Bioware is funnded by EA and we all know EA have deep pockets.

[Mutineer81]

Faust1979 wrote...

just because a lot of people say they will buy it doesn't actually make it so

I couldn't agree more.

I think it is sort of like "economy of scale." If you make a longer game that costs $60 it is more cost effective/profitable than trying to REALLY do a good, but much shorter, DLC for $10.

[Traim Eisenblut]

arial wrote...

XiaShou wrote...

i dont see money being an issue, cause many ppl stated they would pay alot for that. so costs are not really an issue

however I am sure many (not all, but many) are younger gamers who don't have a crdit card to purchase online DLC. therefore could not follow through on their claim.

And on what data do you sustain this assumption?
Gamers have grown up. The times when only 12 year olds were playing "street fighter II" are passé. DLCs were a major income for ME:2, you can bet your a** on BioWare expecting ME:3 to be a cashcow through DLCs for at least the rest of this year.
Lowering the anticipated income through this yet not released DLCs can be a much bigger financial loss than developing a yet-not-planned new ending-DLC (and selling it even for crappy returnrates).

[Alexraptor1]

EA made 3.8 billion last year, money isn't an issue for them.

The decision EA will have to make is, do they want to continue making money off the Mass Effect franchise and Bioware brand?

[Funkcase]

I actually have a feeling Bioware are making something, due to info people are posting from the datapad thing, and how quite they're being other than the fact they're ''taking in ower feedback'' If they make something great they may regain old fans, gain more new fans, the press is covering this so they would look good andhave their reputation restored as it shows they listen and care about their fans, in the long run they gain more sales on dlc and other games. I'm sure EA are breathing down their neck at the moment.

[Overule]

That's fine. They don't have to. But then I don't have to keep coming back to the troth to be fed BS either. My whole enjoyment of this thing was predicated on feeling like the choices I made mattered. Take that away and Bioware is a generic RPG studio with above average writing. There are a dozen of those.

[Mutineer81]

Overule wrote...

That's fine. They don't have to. But then I don't have to keep coming back to the troth to be fed BS either. My whole enjoyment of this thing was predicated on feeling like the choices I made mattered. Take that away and Bioware is a generic RPG studio with above average writing. There are a dozen of those.

Yup. I feel the same way, in regard to your "generic RPG studio with above average writing" comment.

Modifié par Mutineer81, 20 mars 2012 - 08:13 .

[arial]

Traim Eisenblut wrote...

arial wrote...

XiaShou wrote...

i dont see money being an issue, cause many ppl stated they would pay alot for that. so costs are not really an issue

however I am sure many (not all, but many) are younger gamers who don't have a crdit card to purchase online DLC. therefore could not follow through on their claim.

And on what data do you sustain this assumption?
Gamers have grown up. The times when only 12 year olds were playing "street fighter II" are passé. DLCs were a major income for ME:2, you can bet your a** on BioWare expecting ME:3 to be a cashcow through DLCs for at least the rest of this year.
Lowering the anticipated income through this yet not released DLCs can be a much bigger financial loss than developing a yet-not-planned new ending-DLC (and selling it even for crappy returnrates).

I did not say all, i said most, because in my personal experience us older gamers are more accepting, we dont like an ending we post a review and move on.

but most youths nowadays continuously complain until they get what they want... I blame bad parenting...

[Traim Eisenblut]

Alexraptor1 wrote...

EA made 3.8 billion last year, money isn't an issue for them.

The decision EA will have to make is, do they want to continue making money off the Mass Effect franchise and Bioware brand?

Now that`s the other extreme. Money is ALWAYS an issue to BioWare. They are a frigging company in the biggest selling entertainment-industry. How could Money not be an issue for them? It will be the primary, secondary and third issue in EVERY decision they make. 
BioWare is not some fanatic kid in garage with the hearthy wish to please every single soul of his customers. BioWare is a corporation. They don`t want you to smile or to be happy, they want your money.

And I would give them mine... if they would deliver the quality I demand!

[Wise Men]

Who knows for sure.  They may add new DLC that could be considered a "new ending", but we really won't know for sure.  I'm open for any new DLC that they offer.  

If they do offer new DLC that could be considered a "new or better" ending, we should get ready for another "movement" because some gamers will probably hate that one too and start another petition.

[Korusus]

I don't know. I can see both sides of the issue. Normally a developer would just say "that's the ending we chose, deal with it" but BioWare seems unwilling to do that for some bizarre reason which makes me think they are at least considering something. The problem is I think a lot of people are seeing this issue as part of a bigger picture and are losing faith in BioWare in a way that maybe wouldn't be as prevalent if the ending were the only issue.

[Kilshrek]

Well, you'd be surprised how much good will can pay off when you need a boost.

I think Bioware would do well to consider this situation very carefully, and consider the number of fans they stand to lose if they do nothing about the ending. It may not be a dramatic number, but let's just pull out 20% for the sake of argument, and see how that affects a nominal sale number of 2 million copies.

Got that number? And then factor in the word of mouth from fans saying never to buy Bioware products as well, and then the TOR cancellations in protest of ME 3. There may be a significant blowback when all is said and done. But if Bioware feel that they're not interested in accepting the fans requests, they should also not be hoping for the same fans to be purchasing their products again.

Messing up the ending of DA 2 (in a, why am I fighting the person who was just a few minutes ago my ally, kind of thing) is very different as Hawke was a new character, and nobody had any times to develop their emotional attachments to Hawke.

Shepard is another story altogether, we've played as Shepard over 3 games, been through the trials and tribulations of Shepad, shared the laughs and felt the loss. To leave people very unsatisfied over that may well be the death blow to any notion of that customer returning for a Bioware game.

Not everyone will feel this way, but going by the sentiment on the boards, and elsewhere, would you say its a minority?