Basically, right now, I feel like we’re being told to use
our imaginations and picture the ending we want, and that’s what the ending is.
After all, each person has their own playthrough, their own motivations, etc,
so it make sense we all have our own ending.
I recently saw the 90- 9 – 1 statistic. Basically, 90% of an
audience are silent consumers, 9% provide feedback, 1% create their own
content. I don’t know how accurate it is, but it seems fair enough. I never
thought I’d say this in my life, but I’m part of the 1% in this case. I write.
I write fancition as a way of exploring what I would have liked to see in the
series, or what I think might have been interesting.
Now, I wouldn’t ever ask an artist to change their art to
make it what I want. Bioware created this piece of art, and let us all enjoy
it. I guess where I take umbrage is that, in the final part of this game, they
let us down. Not by not giving us the endings that we wanted, but by (IMO) cheating
the series out of the emotional resonance that it deserves.
First, by offering us only a few options (none of which made
any sense IMO) and then the same footage being used to support those options,
we feel we ALL get the same ending. I chose destroy. Citadel and mass relays go
kablamo, reapers go kablamo, Normandy goes all Titanic.
Then, I tried synthesis. What do I see? Citadel and mass
relays go kablamo, reapers go get all glowy, Normandy goes all Titanic.
Let’s try control, surely this is… wait, Citadel and mass
relays go kablamo, reapers get all glowy, Normandy goes all Titanic.
And I feel we should be able to see what happens to the indivicual characters that we're grown close to. This is about closure, right? Even if it's bad news, I'd like to know what happened to my friends, even if they are just characters in an epic space opera.
Anyways, I’m not really trying to debate the endings
themselves. The issues have been presented many times before, so there’s no
need to go over them again here (though I guess I did do that already, huh?
Sorry).
Anyways, my main point:
*ahem*
Regarding what I expected/wanted from the ending:
I’m not a professional writer. I write for fun. I’ve written
stories, plays, novellas. I’ve written fanfiction based on Mass Effect because I like
the series, I like the characters, I like the universe. I'm not some great writer (those suffering through this post can attest to that) but I think I have a fair amount of ability regarding coming up with a story.
That all being said, I
was actually expecting something akin to the following endings:
1) Fight Reapers, lose. Everyone dies. You weren't prepared enough. Try getting
more friends. Ciritical mission failure, try again.
2) Fight Reapers, win, Shepard dies, massive casualties. Still weren't
prepared enough, but somehow, you managed to do it. A lot of people died
because you rushed off into battle though, and you’ll be remembered for that. You jerk.
3) Fight Reapers, win, Shepard lives, LI dies. All along, Shepard said
that he couldn't do it without his team (or words to that affect). What better
way of proving this point than the love of Shepard's life having to sacrifice
everyone to help Shepard beat the reapers?
4) Fight Reapers, win, Shepard lives, LI lives. This is the
"fairytale" ending so many people have been lambasting. Sorry, I'm a
romantic at heart, but I think this really should be an option. It should also
be difficult to get, because this is a cosmic war the likes of which we've
never seen before, and it better be difficult to get the “perfect” ending.
Again, something like these endings. Simple enough, in my opinion.
They didn’t do that, though, they went
off in some weird different direction with the ending. Their game, more power
to them, but it didn’t deliver on the promises that they made us, and was the
exact opposite of what we were told we were getting.
Today, with the
announcement that additional content is being worked on (whatever the content
will be), I thought of what could be released to make me satisfied. Not happy,
because that would take something like my ideas, but just satisfied so that I
can understand the endings. Right now, we have to imagine what happens, so I
guess I’m ok imagining my endings happening. Prove me wrong.
At this point, since they are releasing at least explanations, I think it'd be doable to get even a quick little montage
of screenshots/animated scenes, just detailing what happens with the
characters. Below is an example I put together, based on my Shepard's Best Case
Scenario:
(cut to scene of fleets over different planets) VO: After the destruction of
the Mass Relays, the people stranded in different parts of the galaxy had to
scramble to survive. By working together, though, the various races were able
to not only survive. It took years, but with with various systems working
together through quantum entaglement communications, a new technology was
discovered, allowing travel between systems to resume, this time not based on
reaper technology.
(cut to stills of different people of the different species) VO: With the
citadel destroyed, the Council used the Destiny Ascension as their home,
allowing the council to visit with the different races themselves. The krogan,
rachni, and even the remaining batarians, entered into negotiations to build
treaties with the council races.
(cut to picture of Miranda and Oriana) VO: Miranda was able to assume control
of the remnant of Cerberus, and used the organization to help pick up the
pieces left over by the war, specializing in reconnecting families that were
separated.
(cut to picture of Jack) VO: Jack became a head instructor at the Grissom
Academy, and a renowned expert on human biotic abilities, and how to naturally
develop biotic talents in children.
(cut to picture of Shepard and Ash) VO: Commander Shepard and Ashley Williams
both quietly retired from the Alliance Navy after spending years helping with
the galaxy-wide rebuilding process. While Shepard's contributions to galactic
security and peace will never be forgotten, the Shepards themselves settled
into the quiet life, finally able to relax and enjoy the new age of peace.
I think something like that would be pretty easy to do, even just explaining
what we've already had as the ending. Adding a little bit of imagery or
explanation, even by way of releasing them on the website, would go a long way.
I think most people just want an explanation, more than
anything. Where is the Normandy? Why did they choose to ALWAYS destroy the mass
relays? Why is the Star-Child’s logic something out of a Seinfeld episode?
Again, not professional writer. This is just something I put together. I'm sure other people here have come up with much better ideas.
And now for something completely different.
*ahem*
Bioware, in my opinion, doesn’t need to change the endings,
or release new endings. But please, EXPLAIN the endings, so that we can all
understand what you were going for. Yes, I understand the artistic merit of
letting the work speak for itself, but you’ve also said this is a collaborative
process, and have always asked for our feedback.
Obviously, we missed something. We’re not getting something,
something is just beyond us. Since this is so collaborative, could you at least
let us know what we’re missing? Don’t release new “ending” content if you don’t
want to, but can you at least explain what it is that we’re not understanding?
What’s the symbolism behind the end? Was Shepard breathing just a bone being
tossed to romantics like me who feel Shepard’s owed a little down time?
The endings I thought up aren’t happening, except in my
imagination. I’m ok with that, I understand that. But please, help me
understand what I do get.
Pretty please?
With a cherry on top?
Thank you.
*bows*
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