226 réponses à ce sujet

[Brightside8]

The simple fact is that Bioware is at the end of it's creative life span.

The original passion and fire for art and artistic integrity can't last forever, and it's fading from Bioware. It shows.
So as painful as it is, this is goodbye, Bioware.

I'm not being fatalistic, but a wonderful, passionate, artistic studio can only exist for so long before it burns itself out. We've had two decades of *incredible* games, for which I thank you, but you've all burned yourselves out on creativity, and now it's just a job.

Thanks for the Baldur's Gate series.
Thanks for Never Winter Nights.
Thanks for Knights of the Old Republic
Thanks for Mass Effect 1
Thanks for Dragon Age: Origins
Thanks for Mass Effect 2

You've stocked my shelves with memorable games for two decades, games I will replay for years. I will watch the credits roll by again and thank every name there.

So goodbye, and goodluck in your careers.

P.S. I know he's not with Bioware anymore, but a very, very special thanks and lots of fan love to Drew Karpshyn, one of the best writers the industry has ever seen, and responsible for the moving stories and characters behind four of my favorite games of all time. Thank you Drew, I'll be watching for your new novels, and hope you get the time to write something original.

Edit for clarification:
I doubt Bioware will cease to exist as a label, but they have hit the end of their creative lifespan, or so it seems. Most of the original staff is gone, including their best writers, and they've been tethered to a larger corporate entity with deadlines and a bottom line. There's nothing bad or good about that. They'll probably keep making decent but not great games for a while.

Well, here's to looking for the next Bioware
Cheers, folks.

Modifié par Brightside8, 25 mars 2012 - 05:39 .

[gmboy902]

yEAh that about sums it up.

[Americ4nPunk]

What if they succeed with Dragon Age 3 and go beyond the stars to create the fated Baldur's Gate 3? Who am I kidding, even I doubt it. The CRPG genre is dwindling down in quality because it costs more money to make a single cut scene than write a giant non voiced script with different permutations on endings, choices, etc.

Modifié par Americ4nPunk, 25 mars 2012 - 05:02 .

[JerusPI]

*Cue So long and thanks for all the fish song*

[Hajilestone]

You're just being a drama queen, calm down and wait until they release a game that can actually be considered bad before you say your goodbyes. Mass Effect 3 was amazing and they only messed up on the ending everything else story wise was beyond great, it was one of the best stories of any video game to date.

[Clumsy Astronaut]

The way I see it the way they fix "or if they don't) determines whether they will be able to limp this debacle off and make it into this decade at all.

[Torga_DW]

I think the problem is the original team has/is left. Now we've got people who think they automatically deserve the reputation for quality the original team worked so hard to establish.

[Drumsmasher]

The cycle continues. The rEApers have taken Bioware. They should've learned from Harmonix.

I think Drew knew what was goin' down, so he ran his ass outta there.

And, Dice should be commended. They still manage to pop out some great games, even with that looming shadow over them.

Modifié par Drumsmasher, 25 mars 2012 - 05:05 .

[locsphere]

It just sucks they had to ruin this series though, I mean, I never could have imagined this... Really a bummer.

[Jaron Oberyn]

Too true OP. Whos going to fill the void next? That's all we can ask. biowares just shooter developer #384857392 now.

-Polite

[M12311]

I think we are not there yet. ME3 was still pretty far from the blatant money grab type sequal status.

[AdmiralJacket]

Here here.

[Lyne Holden]

They haven't pulled a "Team Ninja" just yet... But they came close a few times in the past year.

[Adanu]

You got your attention thread. You can go now.

[warrior256]

This is the sad truth of the matter. Bioware used to be something unique, but that fire that seperated it from other companies is dimming with each game. Perhaps the fire may brighten if this ending debacle passes. But if it does not then it may go out completely.

[Kenta Shuuichi]

Lets not be fatalistic here. They have made a mistake, but they can get on the right track again. Im sure of it and Im relatively new (my first Bio game was NWN).

My point: While DA2 was not as good as the first, It was still awesome and I was able to BE the character. I valued that and I found the characters enticing. Sure there were mistakes, but not grisly ones.

Now, Mass Effect 3 was an exercise in awesomeness up to the final part. Sure, the ending is, for lack of a better word, a huge dissapointment, but I still find it very hard to believe that it is the definitive ending, so I would not lose hope until all is lost. That's how I am. Im not throwing the towel just yet.

So please, Bioware, dont make us do. I refuse to say goodbye to you. Im not yet prepared. Dont try to force me.

[jb1983]

Hajilestone wrote...

You're just being a drama queen, calm down and wait until they release a game that can actually be considered bad before you say your goodbyes. Mass Effect 3 was amazing and they only messed up on the ending everything else story wise was beyond great, it was one of the best stories of any video game to date.

I don't know, he's making some pretty legitimate statements from a business standpoint.

I posted and showed that the last few released from Bioware have all hurt EA's stock (ME3 stands as somewhat of an exception - the stock is a good 50 cents above what it was on March 6 [hint: that's not a good thing]). 

The last few games by Bioware have upset their fanbase. You can only upset your fanbse so much before they decide to stop being your fanbse. 

[Kanner]

The awkward coincidence is that Bioware has not developed a fully deserving AAA title while under EA ownership. Prior to that, they were a factory.

I'd love to know what's up with that.

[Jaron Oberyn]

Kenta Shuuichi wrote...

Lets not be fatalistic here. They have made a mistake, but they can get on the right track again. Im sure of it and Im relatively new (my first Bio game was NWN).

My point: While DA2 was not as good as the first, It was still awesome and I was able to BE the character. I valued that and I found the characters enticing. Sure there were mistakes, but not grisly ones.

Now, Mass Effect 3 was an exercise in awesomeness up to the final part. Sure, the ending is, for lack of a better word, a huge dissapointment, but I still find it very hard to believe that it is the definitive ending, so I would not lose hope until all is lost. That's how I am. Im not throwing the towel just yet.

So please, Bioware, dont make us do. I refuse to say goodbye to you. Im not yet prepared. Dont try to force me.

Really? Everything but the endings were awesome? Even the forced canon Shepard in rpg mode? The linear dialogue? The lack of dialogue control? The lack of dialogue choice? The zaeed dialogue everywhere? I could go on.

-Polite

[gmboy902]

Americ4nPunk wrote...

What if they succeed with Dragon Age 3 and go beyond the stars to create the fated Baldur's Gate 3? Who am I kidding, even I doubt it. The CRPG genre is dwindling down in quality because it costs more money to make a single cut scene than write a giant non voiced script with different permutations on endings, choices, etc.

Haven't played Baldur's Gate games, so I can't comment on that. But I don't see DA 3 making a comeback. Let's face it, when stuff like this happens - when games just lose what they had - it usually doesn't come back. Especially with EA, who is bent on marketing to the masses, which like you said means more cinematics, more flashy effects, and less substance.

For example, Mass Effect. All three games (yep, even 3) are good, but the first one and first one alone had a feeling of discovery and a much less "look at us blowing sh*t up" feel. The story and the music and the setting and missions all fit together, and the galaxy was invigoratingly fresh for a sci-fi game.

For example, KOTOR. First one was great. Second one had gameplay improvements, but the story just kind of flatlined. They dropped that series, until the MMO came out which I've heard is half-decent. Can't comment too much on this, though.

For example, Call of Duty. It eventually just hit a point where the game stopped developing entirely. Modern Warfare 1.3 is all I have to offer for that.

Assassin's Creed seems to be following stuff like this. Better gameplay, sure, but the story just gets worse each game.

My point is, while it is perfectly possible to continue a great series/elements of a series (Zelda, for example), it is not easy to redeem a lost one (the only example I've seen of this is Halo, which just went garbage with ODST/Halo Wars and came back with Reach). Especially if EA is calling your shots. I predict DA3 to be a highly combat-centric, but simplified game with flashy effects, liberal use of CGI, and a decent story.

[Darthbill52]

locsphere wrote...

It just sucks they had to ruin this series though, I mean, I never could have imagined this... Really a bummer.

I dont think anyone was expecting this art house crap....nobody.   If you told me back a year ago, Mass effect 3 is gonna be delayed and its really going to be a downer.  I dont think anyone was expecting those endings .... nobody. 

[Brightside8]

Hajilestone wrote...

You're just being a drama queen, calm down and wait until they release a game that can actually be considered bad before you say your goodbyes. Mass Effect 3 was amazing and they only messed up on the ending everything else story wise was beyond great, it was one of the best stories of any video game to date.

I am being a tad prosaic in my farewells, but I got ME3 the day it came out, CE edition, all pumped. I've had a lot of time to stew, and played through it a second time. The reality is really apparent on that second play through.

The writing, most of which was done far in advance, is very good. The game does not live up to it. 
Sure the gameplay is fun and the settings are nice, but it lacks flair and passion. 

There are some parts you can tell were put together just because someone was paid to put it together.
The Cerberus base for instance. It's bland, repetitive, lacks any stirring moments, and just isn't all that fun. All the rooms are rectangular, filled with boxes, and contain nothing.
Most of what held me over the first play through was the *desire* to believe the game was incredible. Parts were, parts weren't. The game just really shows its seams. 

[majormajormmajor]

Adanu wrote...

You got your attention thread. You can go now.

You've made your attention post. You can enjoy your ban now.

[Wolven_Soul]

Brightside8 wrote...

The simple fact is that Bioware is at the end of it's creative life span.

The original passion and fire for art and artistic integrity can't last forever, and it's fading from Bioware. It shows.
So as painful as it is, this is goodbye, Bioware.

I'm not being fatalistic, but a wonderful, passionate, artistic studio can only exist for so long before it burns itself out. We've had two decades of *incredible* games, for which I thank you, but you've all burned yourselves out on creativity, and now it's just a job.

Thanks for the Baldur's Gate series.
Thanks for Never Winter Nights.
Thanks for Knights of the Old Republic
Thanks for Mass Effect 1
Thanks for Dragon Age: Origins
Thanks for Mass Effect 2

You've stocked my shelves with memorable games for two decades, games I will replay for years. I will watch the credits roll by again and thank every name there.

So goodbye, and goodluck in your careers.

P.S. I know he's not with Bioware anymore, but a very, very special thanks and lots of fan love to Drew Karpshyn, one of the best writers the industry has ever seen, and responsible for the moving stories and characters behind four of my favorite games of all time. Thank you Drew, I'll be watching for your new novels, and hope you get the time to write something original.

You could be right.  Which would be really said because they have been my favorite RPG company for such a long time.  They have made a lot of my favorites. 

[Lyrandori]

Let's not forget MDK2 please, that game was gold and often forgotten.

Also, Jade Empire was a very solid game.