This is not to say that video games do not have artistic merit. Art is, in my opinion, an aspect of games; although it is certainly not their sole definition. Also, a quick interjection. I love Mass Effect 3. I think it is a superb game that delivers in a great many ways. That is why it is such a shame that the game ends in the fashion that it does.
Going back to my point, there are two primary reasons why artistic integrity is a flimsy defense in the name of not changing the ending to ME3. First, and more frequently mentioned, is that Bioware has always stated that Mass Effect is the resultant effort between the developers and the fans. Their words (paraphrased) , not mine. Secondly, and far more important to the argument I'm making, is that Bioware has already changed the ending of the game. After the leaked script to the game emerged on the internet people railed against Bioware for their original ending. Guess what happened next. It changed. What we've received is not what was originally intended. In other words, fan outcry changed the game. The difference between then and now is that the first time was before the game released, and this time it's after the fact.
Artistic integrity is a paper shield; especially so when anyone from Bioware uses the term.
Whether or not Bioware knowingly and intentionally supplied us with a mere portion of the ending is something we'll be unlikely to know. Personally, I hope the indoctrination theory is the route Bioware opts for in it's resolution to their Mass Effect 3 woes. Would that they had done this in the first place they would have been worshipped by many as having the best writing team in the games industry, bar none. This, despite the fact that it will invariably cause some additional backlash, is what I believe will win them back a significant portion of their currently disenfranchised* fans.
*Fun fact: the word disenfranchised, much like irony and trope, is commonly missused. The basic definition of disenfranchised is "enslave". It also carries other meanings along the lines of social oppresion, but a better word for the sake of the common usage would be disenchanted. Thanks for reading.
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